Mandii's Muse

Hi there! Today I wanted to share with you a post I never thought I would be doing, my workout routine! I started to get healthy back in February, and I can honestly say that I have seen results. This is by far, the longest I have stuck with a workout. This is SO true for me! My routine is simple, I walk 3 miles almost every day of the week, and do 100 crunches, and 35 pushups, 150 bicep curls with 5 pound weights, and tricep dips. For my crunches, and arm exercises I do them 4 days in a row and have a rest day. With walking, I only do 1 rest day a week. I also have incorporated speed bursts into my workout, so I will walk a little, then jog for about 120 feet, then walk more. I am also going to try yoga pretty soon. Basic yoga. Haha! I also eat clean about 80% of the time, and that has improved my weight as well. If you want to see what I have on my Clean Eating and Fitness board on Pinterest, click here! I'd love to hear what you do during your fitness routine! Le...

It is a rainy Friday here in PA. I'm linking up with Lauren like I usually do! 1. I subbed in kindergarten the past 2 days. The things they say crack me up sometimes! 2. I have been dreaming of taking a vacation to the beach. I miss it so much! Myrtle Beach ! 3. I have begun to plan my Cinco de Mayo menu! I love cooking for that event!! 4. I have been walking a lot this week! It definitely helps me sleep better, that's for sure! 5. I discovered a new store that I want to explore more. Chico's! I bought a new pair of jeans from there that I LOVE! I will definitely be back! So what did you love about this week? Leave me a comment and let me know!

My April Birchbox came in the mail, and as soon as I saw it I opened it! I tell you, it is like Christmas every single month when that box comes! The theme was Rainy Day, and they gave you a card with a suggestion to do on the next rainy day! This month was a pretty great month, here is what is inside! Color Club|Gala's Gems Collection Nail Polish: I received the color Aquamarine Azulino, and it is a beautiful blue with a pearlized finish. This is going to be a great color on my toes! Gilchrist & Soames|Spa Therapy Body Wash: I have not used this yet, but I absolutely LOVE the scent. I think that this is what a tropical paradise would smell like, fresh clean, and earthy. I imagine that I will be whisked away to the Caribbean when I use this body wash in my shower. Paula's Choice|RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator: This is said to hydrate and repair skin of blemish causing bacteria. I'm all for that! Plus it says it leaves skin matte premakeup. I'm lovi...

I got that wonderful pink bag in the mail! This was a pretty good bag, and I always look forward to getting my bag in the mail every month. Here's what I got! Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide on Pencil: I really like these eyeliners. They do as they say, glide on smoothly, and last. I only wish I had received another color. Can you have too many black eyeliners?? demeter Roll on Perfume Oil: This was a pretty good sized sample. I am still trying to decide if I like this scent. It isn't overpowering, and floral. I am 85% sure I like this. I still have to wear it more to see how I feel. Elizabeth Mott Pop Goes the Shadow: Unfortunately this eyeshadow was broken. I do like the color, so I am going to try and fix it. This color is a beautiful champagne color. Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant: I love using exfoliants on my face to clean off all of the impurities. Plus, it makes your makeup apply more smoothly. Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm: This lip balm is matte, an...

If there is one thing my family knows how to do, it is cook and cook well. I wanted to share with you what was on my Easter plate! So let's begin! Breakfast: In our house, ham is typically our meat of choice. So my mom made cheese omelettes, and we had a side of ham! We had a glass of orange juice, and it was delicious! Every Easter, my Bubba (grandma) makes Easter bread. It is a loaf of bread with raisins, in it and icing on top. We grill ours, and put peanut butter on it. It is DELICIOUS! One day soon, I am going to learn her basic dough recipe so I can make her cinnamon rolls, Syrian bread and this bread. This is best served with a glass of milk! Lunch: Usually, we would have ham and some side dishes, but this year was different. My aunt hosted and we had lasagna. I had the lasagna with sausage and ricotta, and it was very good. We also had salad and Italian dressing. Dessert: My aunt made a chocolate pound cake and homemade caramel sauce. It was topped with wh...

I wanted to wish all of my blog readers a Happy Easter! Remember the real reason we celebrate this day. Jesus dying on the cross to forgive us of our sins.  How wonderful to know that Jesus has forgiven me of my sins! Proverbs 19:21 says "People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord's plan will happen." I find comfort in knowing that my steps are already paved, and that the Lord is directing my path. This is one of my favorite hymns for Easter. Take a listen to the lyrics and pause to reflect them. Have a blessed day!

Happy Good Friday, readers! I am linking up with Lauren like always. Here is what happened this week! 1. We had a dead tree cut down. It was a hassle, but it is safe now. 2. This was a short week subbing. The kiddos are on Easter break now. 3. My grandma made her raisin Easter bread. It is sooooo good, and I can not wait to dig into a loaf! 4. I have lots of posts for next week for you to read! 5. I have been walking 2 miles 3 days a week. It only will help me lose weight! What did you love about this week? Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear from you! P.S. I will be posting a blog on Easter, with my thoughts of reflection. Keep an eye out for it~

I have some great posts coming your way soon. A haul, Easter posts, Birchbox and Ipsy posts! Lots to look forward too! Today, I wanted to look back and share with you my favorite Spring nail polishes ! My polish choices haven't changed since last year, and I am definitely ready to start painting my nails again! I think I am going to wear Shay for Easter this year! It is a great neutral, and will do with what ever dress I decide to wear. What polish are you going to wear for Easter? Please leave me a comment , I'd love to hear from you!

Yesterday it was 73 degrees here in Pennsylvania. Today, it is 32 and snowing. I feel like we are going to still be seeing snow in June. (Just kidding!) So in hopes of those warm days to come, I am going to repost for you my Lawn Logic Series. This is just a refresher course on caring for your lawn in the Spring, and the steps you need to take for a full and healthy lawn! Part 1 talks about lawn basics such as weeds and the dreaded rodent problem. Part 2 talks about whether or not you should fertilize your lawn, and controlling grubs. Part 3 talks about the actual mowing of your lawn. I hope that this refersher course helps you, and that Spring comes back, without the snow very soon! What do you do to take care of your lawn in the Spring? Is it still snowing where you live? Leave me a comment , I'd love to hear from you!

I have collected this set of trash for a while now. Mainly, they are my necessity products, and products I have and will repurchase. I have broken this down into categories, so, let's dig through my trash! Hair: Suave Touchable Finish is a great affordable hairspray. It does not leave your hair crunchy, and holds your style well. I am going to repurchase this, but my Wal-Mart was out of this hairspray so I had to get a different brand. Rock Your Hair root lifter , was a great find for me! This can lasted FOREVER, and did not make my hair greasy at all. It gave me volume at the crown, which is what I am after. I probably will repurchase this, after I use some other products. Bain de Terre conditioner, is a thin conditioner that did an exceptional job of making my hair manageable. It did not make my hair flat, or extra greasy. I probably won't repurchase this, because I currently like the conditioner I am using now. Face: I LOVE these Equate Cleansing Cloths , and wi...

I have been a totally terrible blogger this week. I'm sorry. I didn't plan well, and am already working on remedying that for next week! As usual, I am linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday! Here is what I loved about this week! 1. The weather in PA has been pretty spectacular. It has been in the mid 60's with the SUN out! It feels so good! Look at the weekend forecast!! Sat Apr 12 72 ° 53 ° Mostly Sunny CHANCE OF RAIN: 10%   WIND: S at 8 mph Now that you know what to expect, what do you think? Sun Apr 13 78 ° 58 ° Partly Cloudy CHANCE OF RAIN: 10%   WIND: SSW at 16 mph 2. So, I gave PSSA tests to 8th graders the other day. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but I'm an elementary girl myself! 3. Blog planning has begun for next week and Easter! I hate missing posts! I have really been loving this one  to plan for the week! 4. I have begun to add some running into my walks. I walk a...

Image found here I ran out of my Michael O' Rourke Root Lifter, so I decided to try this one from Suave. The Root Boost Spray has a concentrated nozzle to get the product into the roots of your hair. It has the classic Suave scent, which I like. How I use this: On wet hair, I lift up sections of my hair and spray 2-3 sprays on each section. Then I rub my scalp to make sure it is evenly distributed, and blow dry. While I am blow drying, I rub my scalp to really lift the hair at the root. Then I flip my hair over and have volumized hair! After, I style as usual. I like this root boost spray. One of the big keys for me is if it made me oily. This did not. I can wash my hair at night, put this spray in and blow dry and wake up with very little oil the next morning. This spray did not make my hair crunchy, or make it feel heavy or greasy. I would definitely repurchase this! What kinds of root lifters do you like? Do you have any recommendations for me? I'd love to hear f...

So, I had my first experience at Ulta on Friday. A new store opened about 30 minutes from my house, and of course this beauty obsessed girl had to check it out!    ;)  All I can say is, I have already started to compile a list of the products I want to buy and try out. It was really nice to see a lot of the products that I have heard about on YouTube, or QVC, and physically touch and swatch them. Needless to say, I am DEFINITELY going back! I did, however buy something on this first trip! My blog readers know how much I detest spending money. Get ready for this readers, I spent $20 on a lipstick! I can still hardly believe it myself. I bought the Vitality Lip Flush in Je Ne Sais Quoi from IT Cosmetics. This color goes on clear but changes with your pH level. Once I try it more, I will write a review. On the lips, this feels wonderful! Since I spent $20, when I checked out, the sales lady gave me a free 4 ounce bottle of It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Conditioner. I was surp...

On my recent High Five for Friday post, I had teased about some items I wanted to buy for Spring. I had a sweet comment from Bailley at Lew Party of 2  saying that she wanted to see my shopping list. You should definitely check out her blog. It is great! She posts great pictures of her travels in Europe, recipes, and has a whole tab dedicated to her beautiful wedding. I hit the subscribe button, and I know you will too! So, here is my shopping list! I saw a plain white t-shirt in Wal-Mart. It was long, and had a small pocket. I envision this being dressed up with some great jewelry, or paired with jean shorts and a cute bandana wrapped around my head. You really can't go wrong with a white t-shirt. Next, I saw a light neon pink v neck t-shirt also at Wal-Mart. This is perfect for the warmer weather. My next item is something that I have been wanting ever since I heard about it. The Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara , is a genius idea. The brush is very tiny and will get every bott...

I recently did a post on my clothing trends that I have been wearing lately. Today, I wanted to share with you some makeup trends that I have been using. First up, is matte makeup. As you have read many times before, I am an oil slick, and I like the matte look on me. I have been wearing my Meet Matte Nude palette a lot, and I love how it looks every time. The colors blend beautifully, and last a long time on me. Next is matte lip colors. I love these ones from Model Co. They go on smoothly, and leave a slight stain behind. These colors are ones that every woman should have in their arsenal. A pretty pink, a nice red, and a coral can easily transition you to Spring and Summer. Can you tell I have been loving all things matte lately? My next trend has been pink and peach/coral blush. For a while in the winter, I was wearing a dark berry shade of blush. Now, I want my skin to have a healthy glow, so I have been switching up my blush with fresher tones. I love the City Color Be...