Flowerbomb=The Bomb!!

I'm going to try to start doing my favorite things at the end of every month.

Basically, what this will entail is me picking the products and what have you's

that I find myself reaching for the most and are my "It" thing for the moment!

JUNE FAVORITE THING IS!!!???

Drum Roll Please........

Dummmmmm........

Flowerbomb Perfume by Viktor and Rolf

Ok, I cannot express in words on a computer the amount of love I have for this scent. I am a very picky girl when it comes to fragrances and perfumes. I like really light, clean, sweeter smells.

To name a few that I have and enjoy... Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana, Vive la Juicy by Juicy Couture, ESCADA (Sunset Heat was my fav)

You can read the description from Sephora that I attached above, but it doesn't give it justice. It makes it seem floral and I would not describe this scent floral at all. I'm not a big fan of floral scents. It has a very light, clean, powdery, fresh scent that is feminine, romantic, girly, and sexy.

I would say it's more of a daytime perfume. For those of you that like stronger smells you may want something stronger for night, but it's perfect for day or night for me.

The only drawback is the price!! Yikes! It is a bit on the steep side. $100 for a 1.7 ounce bottle is more than I have ever paid for perfume. So, my advice and what I did was search for it on ebay and get the mini bottle.

Click here for Ebay Listing and the size I have.

Try it out and see if you like it. Or, go smell it at Sephora or SAKS.

This smell is YUMMY!! I literally find myself sniffing my arm all day when I wear it!!

Let me know what you think if you buy or smell.

Happy June Favorite Thing!

Food I'm Lovin

I find myself wanting to eat lighter most days in the summer.

I can't say that about the past week... I have eaten

horrible!! But, these foods I have a love for right now and could make a meal

out of or just snack on.

My friend, Alison, got me hooked on these nuts at the beach.

They are AHH-AMZING! Perfect blend of sweet and salty.

I love me some Avocado's this time of the year! I love to

cut these up and put some salt and pepper and eat with crackers!

Perfect light lunch.

These crackers are great. I think you can get them

at Wal-Mart now, but Sam's and Costco sells them in bulk.

These are the most addicting crackers in the world and they are

good for you!!

Me loves some Tomatoes! I don't really like tomatoes on

sandwiches or burgers, but love them by themselves. Have you ever

sprinkled them with lemon pepper?! mmmm, mmmm, good!

Try it! You will not be disappointed, I promise!

I have found myself eating a tomato with saltine crackers

for lunch a lot lately.

What do you like to snack on in the summer?!

Masks

So, when's the last time you treated your face with a mask?!

It seems like one of those things you don't have time for, right?

I really wish there was someone that could wash my face for me every night. I have moments when I enjoy the whole skincare thing... but I'm normally so tired I just want to crawl into bed and be done. However, with all that being said... wash your face a little early and while your watching your favorite tv show, reading, or taking a bath find time to wind down with a good mask!

Your skin and face will thank you for it! It deserves to be pampered every now and then to!

Here are a few I have been trying.

I had heard good things about the Mint Julep by Queen Helene. Now, let me just say I HATE mint!! Hate the smell, taste... it literally nauseates me. I don't chew mint gum, don't brush my teeth with mint flavored toothpaste, hate peppermints... you get the picture. The smell of this masque is not too bad... yes, it smells minty, but with a clay smell mixed in. It goes on like the scary green mask, but it's kind of a fun look! This one is designed to dry up acne, pimples, rinse away blackheads, and shrink pores. Even if you don't have frequent break-outs this one is good for cleansing and relaxing muscles.

The Mary Kay Timewise mask is a new one. I have only used it once, but really enjoyed it. It is white and looks just like a white moisturizing lotion. It isn't scented so it's a nice light mask to help your complexion .

The Peel Off Cucumber Mask is a new one as well. I thought a peel off mask would be fun to play with. It goes on clear and the directions say to leave on for 5-10 min, but I probably left mine on for 15-20 to let it get good and dry. It goes on and dries clear and has that clean cucumber smell. I was a little confused on how I was supposed to peel it off b/c it does dry clear and you couldn't really tell where to start peeling. After opening my mouth it started cracking and it was easy to pull off. Let me just say.... this was SO much fun. If you are a freak like me and enjoy peeling your skin after a bad sunburn you will love this mask! It has that same effect.

The only one that can't be purchased at a drug store or Wal-Mart is the Mary Kay. If you need a representative I will be glad to refer you to a great one!

Have a great day.

Banana Republic Outlet

For those of you that live in central Alabama you are probably familiar

with the new Outlets in Leeds! If your not you should

get familiar real quick!

I heart Banana Outlet... because I can actually afford some of

their stuff.

Is it bad that when I spell "Banana" I have to sing that Gwen Stefani

song to remember how to spell it?! I always want to spell it with

two N's. "It's Banana's... B.A.N.A.N.A.S!!!!

And guess what? Most everything I bought was on their

clearance rack!! woop, woop! For those of you that know

me well.... you know I get ANXIETY when it comes

to large stores... too many decisions overwhelm me... and most of the time

SALES RACKS STRESS ME OUT!! But, I did so well this time.

Green Clearance Rack Shirt. Thought it would be perfect for fall!

This was by far my FAVORITE purchase. One b/c it's a purse and I love purses.

Two b/c I love the color and it will go with everything year round.

Three, I am so excited to have a dressy cross over bag when I travel.

This will be a bag I use when traveling to just put a few essentials in.

This bag will also be great for those long shopping days when you don't want

to carry a heavy bag around all day... Black Friday... yes, please!

Look at the side detail... gold hardware. Love it.

Cute belt to wear with dressy shirts or dresses for work or play.

Lovin the shell necklace for summer time!

Great neutral color to go with lots!

Where is your go to place for buying some new clothes or jewelry?

Snakeskin Mani and Pedi

Style Editor of the Today Show, Bobbi Thomas recently gave a look

into the technique behind this new and expensive trend.

This is so cool. I would love to have this done, but don't think I will be paying

$150-$300 anytime soon.

I did find some more affordable solutions.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects in an assortment of options.

Click here for more info

Have a Hisssssterically Wonderful Weekend!

Microwave Tan

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Jergens Natural Glow lotions.

Have you seen or tried their new Express line?

I have both the fair to medium bottle and the medium to dark.

My skin tone varies especially this time of the year... I can get

really dark when I stay out in the sun so I wanted them both.

This Express line is FANTASTIC! It literally works overnight. It is designed to

get you where you want to be in three days.I always put tanning lotion

like this on at night b/c it doesn't smell that great. I don't want to smell like these lotions during the day so it works well to apply at night.

These are great as a tan extender if you have been to the beach, had

a spray tan, or just been out in the sun. They work great to build a tan for

this summer or a special event you may have and need a healthy glow FaSt!!

Happy Fake Tanning!

Real Life to Red Carpet

Lights, Camera, Glam-Action.

Want an eye shadow palette that you can use every day

and punch it up for a night out or special event?

I was in Sephora back in April when I approached a girl to explain

I wanted some eye shadow for a photo shoot I was doing. She pulled

this set and it is practical, affordable, and neutral enough for anyone.

This Lorac set includes:

Eye Shadow Compact of three shades

Eye shadow Primer

Black Liquid Liner

Mascara Primer

Mascara

Eyeshadow Brush for blending and smudging

Tutorial booklet with instructions.

Here are all three eye shadow shades on my hand in natural lighting.

I use the neutral colors EVERY DAY!! I love taking the copper color

in the middle and using as my lid shade and pairing it with a

matte brown for the crease. The lightest color on the far

right would also work great for a lid color or putting

in your inner corners to make your eyes pop.

Here is my Glam-Action photo by Rachel using all three colors. Not sure

if you can really see the lightest color in the corner of my eyes, but

it's there. I will try to do a review soon on that whole technique...

not that it is complicated or anything.

Have a Glamorous Day

Shampoo Splurge

So, here's to a review that I feel very mediocre about. But, I wanted to review it

and give you my thoughts b/c it may be something that you want to try.

Something that you should know about me is that I only wash my hair

about two times a week!! I am a big fan of dry shampoo and being

lazy with my hair. I personally like my hair better dirty b/c it looks

better and styles better.

So, when I went to trade secret several months ago and asked the girl to

recommend a shampoo/conditioner combo that would work well for me.

Something that will CLEANSE is my biggest need, but also something

that will hydrate my hair since it doesn't get conditioned very often.

She recommended this line to me. It's called Enjoy and it's the Hydrating line.

It is Sulfate Free which is becoming a big trend b/c it's supposed to be better

for your hair.... no harsh chemicals.

Pros

Smells Great

Very thick and creamy

Lathers up for clean feel

Leaves your hair feeling silky soft and blows dries out great

Cons

B/c it's sulfate free my hair feels dirty the NEXT DAY! ugh.

Thats really the only bad thing I can say about it, but for me it's a BIG con!

I don't want to use a product that leaves my hair feeling oily and dirty

after a day or two. So, for me personally I won't be using any more

Sulfate Free Shampoo/Conditioner anytime soon. Bring on the harsh chemicals

so I can get my nappy head clean!

However, if you wash and condition your hair every day you may really

"Enjoy" this product. No pun intended!

"Enjoy" Your Day!!

"She Bangs, She Bangs, Oh Baby"

Have you ever found yourself wanting to be trendy

and try some bangs lately?

Well, I have many of times, but didn't really

want the maintenance of keeping up with bangs or

them annoying me by hanging in my face.

Solution, found!

Jessica Simpson paired up with celebrity stylist Ken Paves to create

clip in bangs. They offer a great way to instantly try out a style without

committing to a permanent look. They are heat friendly so if you want to

straighten them out you can and they clip in easily with three clips.

They retail for $29 so it's an affordable way to be playful.

Here is a before and after picture from the model.

I recently bought these bangs at Ulta for a photo shoot I did

with one of my besties, Rachel.

Here is the BEFORE BANGS

AFTER BANGS!!

Props to Rachel for making me look so good in these pictures!

I have gotten so many compliments on facebook of how cute and GLAM this picture is.

I have not been brave enough, yet, to wear them out in public, but we

will get there!

I have dark brown hair with a hint of auburn and I got the Chestnut color.

I think it was a tad bit lighter than my hair, but matched up ok.

For more information about Jessica Simpson Bangs

Click Here

Happy Monday!

TGIF

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY...

Enjoy this little treat and dance off your week...

Have a great weekend!

Barefoot in Barcelona

One of OPI new nail shades in Barefoot in Barcelona.

I recently got my nails done and picked this shade... So pretty!!

It's a perfect summer neutral if you want something that will go with anything and give you a natural look .

Here it is on my nails...

On another note... doesn't the name of this color make you want to dream a little?! How awesome would it be to walk "barefoot in Barcelona" right now. mmmm. I do love to travel so maybe I should add this to my next place to visit.

Dry Shampoo, my BFF

I am most excited about this post!

WHY?

Because Dry Shampoo is my absolute most favorite product and has been for the past 3 years. I use dry shampoo on pretty much a daily basis. I have gotten my hair to a point where I only have to wash with shampoo 2 days a week!! The other days... this is my GO TO PRODUCT!!

So, what's so great about dry shampoo?

It is perfect for cleansing, refreshing, and volumizing in between shampoo and conditioning.

No water is needed. Just apply to roots or where hair feels oily and spray into hair like you would hairspray, holding 6 to 8 inches away from your head. Wait 30 seconds and brush your hair... or don't... sometimes I just use my fingers and rub it in if I want a more tousled look.

The other main benefit to this product is it makes your life SO EASY!! I don't know about you, but i have thick, curly hair and it's a pain to wash, blow dry, and style every day! No thanks! If you have really thin or oily hair then you might not be able to go as long as I do without shampooing your hair, but you can still benefit from this.

It's great for traveling and on the go if you feel kind of greasy or oily and want a quick hair booster.

I really cannot express to you enough how much I love Dry Shampoo and would be lost without it.

Here are a few different kinds I like and currently have been using:

On the left we have John Frieda Luxurious Volume

(good smell, leaves no residue or mess)

In the middle we have Salon Graphic Dry Shampoo

(fragrance free, blends great, no residue)

On the far right we have Tresemme' Fresh Start Shampoo

(sweet smell, good hold, very affordable)

All of the above products can be purchased at your local drug store.

I have never personally owned the bigsexyhair Volumizing Dry Shampoo below, but my hair stylist uses it on me after he washes and styles my hair to go ahead and let the product be working and preventing the oil from setting in. He loves this one and I will try it at some point.

Here is another I have used several times and enjoyed. Rockaholic by Tigi. This one has a very sweet smell to it if you like that. Blends in well with dark hair and does the job!

So, give your hair a break from all the washing, products, blow-drying, and styling and let it be lazy this summer! It needs and deserves a break too, ya know?!

Birthday Goodies

So, can you tell that I MIGHT be a big birthday person?! :)

I don't really understand people that don't like to celebrate... hint, hint, Alison!

Thought I would share some of my goodies that I received with you.

My roomie made me this delicious parmesan chicken in penne pasta with zucchini and tomato sauce. Thanks Amanda, it was delicious!

Vera Bradley Miller Tote in Very Berry Paisley

Also compliments of the Roomie.

COOKIE CAKE!! Something you should know about me... I really HATE birthday cake. Crazy huh?! Never liked it... ever! So, as long as I can remember my mom got me chocolate chip cookie cakes and that trend has remained faithful!

Little bath goodie from Sephora.

Lovin this off white pencil skirt from Banana Republic Outlet.

Tan ruffled shirt from Banana Outlet to tuck inside skirt. I love these colors in summer. So fresh and clean looking.

Ipod Classic from the Lovey. He finally brought me into year 2011.

From my sweetie... Love him!

Thank you Parents for creating and birthing me!

Life is great and thankful to be apart of it.

Happy Birthday ME!!

Destin Pictures

My favorite place to celebrate my birthday in Destin, FL is Louisiana Lagniappe and this is my most favorite meal!! It is snapper with crab and shrimp stuffing in a white wine garlic sauce!

DIVINE!!

This would be the most yummy appetizer at the Lagnaippe. Mushrooms stuffed with crab meat in a butter sauce. Love me some good shrooms!!

Girls before we ate dinner.

Alison and I giving a make-over to our sweet Lonnie Bug! She's too pretty to even need make-up, but we did it for fun!

We Tried...

Birthday Beach Trip

Guess what this week is??!! MY BIRTHDAY WEEK!!! woop woop!!

I just got back from Destin, FL last night to celebrate some birthday fun with some of my best girlie friends. We had such a good time. Great weather, great food, and most important great fellowship and fun!

I figured I would do a post on some of the new summer beachy products I used this weekend. Below are some of the products I found myself grabbing for on a daily basis and am really loving right now.

Beach Trends by bmstory featuring NARS

Ok, so from left to right I am going to give a brief review on what I think of each of these products.

CLINIQUE TINTED MOISTURIZER:

After having two of my friends, Amanda and Alison rave about how much they liked this and how it gives that "no make up look" I decided to try it. I wanted a light weight foundation for the summer and this is great. It blends really well and moisturizers your skin which is great if you have been out in the sun and are peeling.

Click here

BUMBLE & BUMBLE SURF SPRAY:

This is a recent purchase I bought. Read great reviews on this product at Sephora. I have very thick naturally curly/wavy hair and in the summer I love how my hair looks after being in the pool or ocean. This product has salt-water in in so it give you volume, curl, and fullness for that look of just getting in off the beach. It smells great too! I will post pictures later of what my hair looked like after using this! I will say if you have really thin or straight hair I'm not sure how great this will work on your hair type. I do feel like you need some natural wave or curl in your hair for this product to be effective.

Click here

FLOWERBOMB PERFUME by Victor & Rolf

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this perfume right now!! My friend Alison got me hooked on this stuff. It is kind of pricy. However, she and I opted on doing things the cheaper way and bought a mini sample of it on Ebay. For me this is the perfect summer scent. It's sweet, but not too sweet has a clean and almost powdery smell about it and it's not too strong. I prefer much lighter perfumes and this is perfect for me. I was a big fan of Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana which is super light. When I have this on I am constantly sniffing myself and saying....

MMMMMMMM, I smell goood!

Click here

NARS Illuminator:

Great product under or over blush to give you a fresh dewy summer look. I have two samples I am playing with right now in the Super Orgasm shade and Copacabana. Super Orgasm is a peachy pink color and Copacabana is a glistening pearl. This product is great would be great for a night out or just by itself over your foundation if you wanted just a hint of color and a dewy look. The Copacabana is a highlight color so it's going to be just to highlight areas... not giving color.

Click here

GARNIER SURF HAIR:

Good texture paste to mix with the Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray for added texture and style. You only need a small dime size amount. Rub the paste in your hands good and scrunch or twist around hair.

FREDERIC FEKKAI BRILLIANT GLOSSING SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER:

This was another Alison product! She recently bought some sample containers of this and we both tried and really liked. There is olive oil in this line and gives it a unique and clean smell. Great shampoo for silky soft smooth touchable hair! We both really liked it.

Click here

CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE:

This is the best lightweight oil free moisturizer for every day use. It is a cream gel that gives your skin a burst of hydration. This product has gotten great reviews and I highly recommend it. You can even use it as a 5 minute mask if you are wanting to really hydrate your skin.

Click here

Summer is such a fun time of the year to play with new products, colors, and just be carefree with your look!

Happy Shopping!

Happy Playing!!

Happy Summer!!

Soak it in and enjoy this marvelous time of the year!

Welcome to my Blog

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all who choose to embark with me on a new journey. Let me first say that I am totally new to the blogging world... don't really have a clue what I am doing, but hopefully you will enjoy reading what I choose to share.

A few months ago I decided to start a blog based on beauty product reviews. I tend to purchase and try new products frequently... everything from make-up, skin-care, hair products, and so forth. So, I wanted this to be a place where I share secrets, products I am loving, not loving, and also get your feedback. I love hearing what products people are using and what makes them so good! There is SO much out there in the beauty world and I hope this is a place you can begin to use as a resource and hopefully find informative and fun!

So, here we go!

Welcome to my Blog.

Stay tuned.