Influenster’s Beauty Bloggers Voxbox 2012

I finally got my first Voxbox from Influenster. Needless to say, I was pretty excited because not only do I get to try a couple of new items for free so I can decide if I want to purchase them again in the future – but I also get to share my insights with my blog readers as well!

One thing that I want to commend Influenster on, is the fact that they have a very “well-rounded” mindset when it comes to mixing and matching products that they send out to their product reviewers. As you can see from the photos that I posted below, they sent a couple of products that complement one another (e.g. cosmetics, hair products, candles, etc.).

Without further ado…here are the things that Influenster sent to me for review:

This NYC Palette's pretty interesting. It has 4 eye shadows that were respectively labeled (contouring, highlight, crease) according to how/where they should be used. This little palette also comes with an eye base/primer and an illuminator. I must admit...I have never used this brand before so I am very interested about the quality and pigmentation.

I rarely use fake lashes because I'm lazy (lol...hey, at least I'm honest about it, right!) and I have read so many "eye articles" that discourage the use of falsies. I am willing to give this baby a try tho...because if it doesn't irritate my eyes (and that happens a lot), then I just might jump into the false eyelashes bandwagon!

I am a complete and utter failure as far as fixing my hair goes. So when I saw this tiny hair contraption at Walmart....I had all kinds of questions running like athletes on a caffeine high in my brain. I would always hover, inspect and read the instructions at the back of the boxes but I never bought any...because I was too skeptical about the product.

When I found this in my Voxbox, all I could do was look at my husband and give him the goofiest smile I could muster. I am so excited to try it...and I will let y'all know how my adventure with Goody's Spin Pin goes in a more detailed product review!

I have wavy hair that can get extremely curly on some days and straight/flat/icky/lifeless on others. I guess it all depends upon the weather and humidity...but there are those days when my hair makes me wonder if it has a separate working brain that was genetically engineered to irritate the living bejezzuz out of me. My hair just randomly goes on zombie mode sometimes (or so I've noticed)...too much "The Walking Dead", perhaps?!

I am joking of course. Lol. Not about my hair tho...just about the tv show.

I always switch from one brand to another to tame/shape my curls and to keep the curls err...curly?! Wait...what?! Lol. I know...I don't make sense sometimes but neither does my hair *dramatic sigh*. Anyway, I am very thrilled to get this in my voxbox because if it works...then I have another hair product to turn to when my hair's being evil to me. *crosses fingers*

I am a big Emergen-C fan...so I was pleasantly surprised to find this in my box. Beauty should always go hand in hand with health - so I love the fact that on top of the other cool things that I got for product review, I got this too!

I am of the opinion that prevention is always better than cure. A healthy person... is a happy person... is a beautiful person.

Candles and "Smell Good" Stuff - I have all kinds of room in my heart of hearts for these things! I like keeping my home neat and organized - and smelling good all year round! I love plug-ins, diffusers...but candles are my absolute favorites because there is just something sexy and relaxing about lighting them.

This candle from Bath and Body Works is my nose's idea of heaven - more like baked goods heaven. It is just so YUMMY smelling! I cannot wait to get the full-sized jar with the coupon that came with the candle! Hooray for me and my nose!

 I wanted to share the lovely items that came in the voxbox that Influenster sent to me for review purposes. I will do further product reviews with more information on the quality and price of each individual product - so stay tuned!

DISCLAIMER: I did not purchase any of these products. They were sent to me by Influenster for review and blogging purposes.

Product Review: Wildroots Coastal Berry Blend

Before I delve into the actual product review, I would like to share some information on how my typical morning routine goes and what kind of products/food items I consume to jumpstart my day. I may be free from Type 2 Diabetes now, but I am still and will always be on top of my health, nutrition… and my glucose level.

I normally eat a low-carb granola bar or some trail mix and drink a cup o’ joe before I head out to the gym for a morning workout routine with my husband.  I don’t eat my normal breakfast spread until I am back home from my exercise session, but  I always make a conscious effort to eat something light before leaving.

Working out naturally lowers a person’s blood sugar levels and this is why diabetics are encouraged to be more active. However, blood sugar level drops or hypoglycemia is just as dangerous as sugar spikes or hyperglycemia – if not more. For a simple explanation on hypoglycemia versus hyperglycemia, please click on this link.

I like consuming natural food items instead of crazy chemicals before heading out to the gym. Coffee for instance has a lot of anti-oxidants. It’s also a good source of “fuel” before a rigorous workout. Some health studies claim that drinking coffee on a daily basis may help decrease risks of having a stroke, type 2 diabetes, basal cell carcinoma, clinical depression and cirrhosis of the liver – to name a few. Berries are very good for diabetics too – or for people who are trying to shed some weight. Most berries are low in carbohydrates and can easily be burned while working out. Lastly, nuts are great snack alternatives because researches show that they improve our blood lipid profile and lower the risk of coronary heart disease and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes.

I love the fact that Wildroots Coastal Berry Blend has all the ingredients that I love. It’s healthy and it’s DELICIOUS. I kid you not...it’s seriously tasty. This product summarizes everything that I am looking for in a pre-workout snack - so without further ado, here’s my review on this wonderful product:

PROS AND PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:

-          I am a fan of the taste, the quality of the ingredients…and the fact that the makers did not skimp on anything. Some trail mixes go a wee bit “economical” on their products and add “fillers” (way too much at times) - such as heaps upon heaps of the most inexpensive nut out in the market (aka peanuts). Not that I have anything against peanuts . My point is, Wildroots’ Coastal Berry Blend has generous amounts of ALL the ingredients in the list.

-          Wildroots Coastal Berry Blend is made of all natural ingredients.  Some trail mixes that are readily available in local stores have crazy chemicals that I can’t even pronounce.  Most are loaded with sugar, sugar…and you guessed it right – more sugar. Not this bad boy! Berries, nuts, dairy products…these are the main and only ingredients that are in this health nut’s dream snack in a bag.

-          I cannot even begin to articulate how YUMMY this trail mix is. My all time favorite used to be Trader Joe’s Anti-Oxidant Nut and Berry Mix – but Wildroots’ Coastal Berry Blend just tops my favorites chart! I am not saying this because the company was kind enough to send me a free bag of the trail mix. I am happily gibbering about it because I believe in it, it is definitely worth sharing to the public and my wonderful blog reader/subscribers…and I am in love with this product.

-          Eating this trail mix is like having dessert so early in the morning – minus the guilt! For some reason, the yogurt chips taste like white chocolate to me…and the wonderful part is, I don’t have to worry about sugar spikes.

-          I always check my blood sugar levels before and after consuming a food item that I have never eaten before. I did the same when I got the Wildroots Coastal Berry Blend in the mail. When I woke up, I tested my blood sugar level and it was at 90 mg/dl. I went about my normal morning routine:  drank my cup o’ coffee, ate some Coastal Berry Blend Trail Mix and worked out at the gym with my husband. When I got home, I tested my sugar level again just to see how the product impacted my glucose level. I was very happy to see 98 mg/dl on my monitor’s screen.

-          Like most Wildroots Foods Products, you get a lot o’ bang for your buck with this Trail Mix. You get 1.6 pounds of healthy goodness for only $9.99. It’s hard to find great and reasonably priced trail mixes that would send me in a carb-induced coma…so I cannot help but be overly excited about this brand! =)

CONS:

I must admit…coming up with a list of “cons” about this product had me stomped. I literally stared at my computer screen for what seemed like an eternity.

-          As I mentioned earlier, I use this product before a rigorous physical activity. If you’re diabetic and wish to consume this product as a snack, you might have varying glucose level results. Not all pre-diabetics/diabetics are hormonally engineered a certain way, if you know what I mean.

-          I could not find it in my local stores but I am happy to note that I can order some online. I know that we can never put a price tag on our health…but I would rather get these in stores, so that I don’t have to worry about shipping fees. Honestly tho...I would still purchase it online because it is a very good product and surely worth the extra money for shipping.

I honestly think that this product is worth raving about – because it truly is made with high quality ingredients. This company is a personal favorite of mine because of so many reasons. One being the fact that their products epitomize "health and nutrition" in its truest form. They make awesome products that are worth your while and worth trying out for yourselves. If you wish to try out their delicious products, you can visit their online shop (click me!).

Disclaimer: I’m no health guru, dietician, what-have-you. I’m just a normal consumer and an “ex-diabetic” – it feels so good to say that! I appreciate honest feedback about products that regular people like me use on a regular basis or consider buying. That is why I am paying it forward and giving reviews/opinions of my own on products that I have bought and used. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Scarves...scarves...and yeah, more of 'em!

The colder months are just around the corner, so I started making scarves of various designs and forms.

Scarves are one of my favorite winter fashion staples - next to cute boots! I absolutely enjoy making them because of several reasons: crafting has always been therapeutic for me, i DO NOT like looking like everybody else ( if you make your own stuff...no one else has it, right?!)...and I sell some of my crafts on my eBay store so it becomes a work/play mix of sorts for me (if that even makes any sense...lol).

Scarves...scarves...scarves! Plain, embellished, long, blinged...I love all of them!

What about you? What are your favorite "clothing add-ons/fashion staples/what-have-you" for the colder months?!

 

 

 

I give a hoot!

I'm not sure how my love for owls started and where it all began but anyway...I love 'em as much as I love crafting, makeup and anything/everything that's carb-free - lol!

I decided to visit one of my "happy places" - Pier 1 Imports and sure enough...they had new owls! For almost 2 hours...I was in owl heaven! I wish I could take all of them home!

Unfortunately, I wasn't there for more owls or home decor...I wanted to pick up stuff that me and my husband can give as Christmas presents to the supervisors and employees under his management. I know...it's a wee bit early to go Christmas shopping but the thing is...I wanted to be prepared ahead of time this year. I did a lot of cramming and last minute shopping last year and it was a nightmare. Last minute shopping trips always spells out disaster and spending more money out of desperation. That is not going to happen this year - not if I can help it!

Have y'all started making shopping plans for the upcoming Holidays?!

Goodbye Diabetes, Good Riddance High Blood Pressure...Hello Wild Roots!

I have always been open about the fact that I used to be a full blown Type 2 Diabetic for several years.  The changes I made to my lifestyle and most importantly to my diet, all led to a clean bill of health and a significant amount of weight loss (yay me!). No more diabetes, no more blood pressure and cholesterol issues, no more palpitations, no more kidney problems...and the list goes on and on!  Needless to say, I am a VERY happy camper.

I'm sure some of you are wondering how flaxseed helped me kick type 2 diabetes out of my system. It took me and my husband months and months of research before we figured out what we can do to address my health concerns - and flaxseed was a big part of the equation. Here are a few (out of the MANY) health benefits of flaxseed consumption:

• Flaxseed is very low in carbohydrates. This equates to low or zero blood sugar level spikes.


• Flaxseed is rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids that generally helps with inflammation, which is associated with heart disease, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and even some cancers.


• Flaxseed is very high in fiber and is considered a "power food".  It is very beneficial to diabetics because fiber promotes weight loss and weight maintenance.


• Flax Seed is high in Antioxidants and Phytochemicals. Some researches that I've encountered in the past mentioned that these characteristics of flax seed promotes hormonal balance and helps combat type 2 diabetes. I've also read that flaxseed may possibly promote fertility and help prevent breast cancer.

I recently blogged about a product that I absolutely am in love with - Wild Roots' Milled Golden Flaxseed (click on this link for the product review). This brand was (and still is) my BFF as far as my fight against diabetes goes.

Most health nuts out there would know that there are a lot of varieties/brands of Milled Flaxseed available in the market. Some are cheaper than most - but with carbohydrates that are unaccounted for. Some are ridiculously expensive because they claim that it's "organic". Uuuh...what...like supercalifragilisticexpialidociously organic? How organic can "organic" get?! *Crickets Chirping* Exactly.

I love Wild Roots' Milled Flaxseed because I get the best of both worlds. It's a non-GMO product, it's naturally organic and cold milled, all the nutrients/carbohydrates are accounted for, and most importantly it's very affordable. It's almost as if this brand echoed my thoughts on how I want health products to be:  economical, honest, straightforward, no beating around the grammar bush with fancy schmancy scientific words that half of us won't even understand and it tastes wonderful! Trust me, I've had brands that tasted overly organic (aka grass-y).  Wild Roots has that nutty flavor that I personally like.

I sent the company a message to convey my heartfelt thanks for coming up with such a wonderful and budget-friendly product.  I never thought I would ever hear from this company when I sent them that message. All I truly wanted to do was thank them from the bottom of my health and budget-conscious heart, for coming up with a product that has tremendously helped me when I had health issues left and right and was at the verge of having kidney and liver issues due to my elevated case of diabetes. I was stoked and touched when I received an email from Renette of Wild Roots. I was right about this company all along - these people do care. Their sales and marketing initiatives do not start and end with "a purchase". Their blogs and  the way they reach out to customers speak in volumes  - to me at least. I guess  I pay attention to small details like that. =)

This morning, my husband found this box of Wild Roots goodies waiting by our doorstep as we were headed out to go to the gym. These babies are not always available at my local stores...so Renette and Wild Roots - thank you very much, from the bottom of ex-diabetic heart!





Again, I'm no health guru, dietician, what-have-you. I'm just a normal consumer and an "ex-diabetic" who appreciates honest feedback about products that I use on a regular basis or consider buying. That is why I am paying it forward and giving reviews/opinions of my own on products that I have bought and used. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

If you would like to check the other products that Wild Roots has to offer, please check their website (click me!).

 

Product Review: L'Oreal's Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream in Medium

PRICE: FIVE STARS

L’Oreal has always been good about providing its patrons with coupons – which  makes this product very affordable. It retails for $7.96 at my local Walmart and L’Oreal had a $2 coupon that I used so I only paid a total of $5.96 (taxes not included) for this product. Not bad, huh? Pretty darn affordable.

QUALITY: TWO STARS

Pros:

• The product starts out green when you initially squeeze it out of the tube – so it also acts as a color corrector, if I’m not mistaken.


• The color contours/matches your skin and the product itself is easy to work with.


• It does what BB creams are supposed to do – it blots away minor imperfections on your skin and makes pores appear smaller.

Cons:

• This cream has tiny beads that are supposed to help exfoliate and beautify the skin.  However, my face does not respond well to products with “exfoliating ingredients” so I had a major breakout after using this product a couple of times. I wasn’t very happy about that.


• My t-zones are VERY oily (they should be called oil spill zones….no, really) but the sides of my face are extremely dry.  I bought L’Oreal’s Magic Skin BB Cream because it claims that it’s supposed to act as a hydrating product that is suitable for combination skins. It didn’t work for me though…and after all was said and done, all I was left with were battle scars – aka zits.


• I have extremely dry skin on certain spots, so I use moisturizers formulated for sensitive skin before putting any kind of makeup on. I was determined to make this BB Cream work, obviously – so I decided to use it with my favorite moisturizer from Origins.  *Insert Horror Music Here* Very bad move.  L’Oreal’s BB Cream does not work well with moisturizers. The product always ends up looking weird and caked up when I apply it in conjunction with another moisturizer. Let’s not even talk about applying it on the eye area – that’s a whole ‘nother horror story in itself.

WOULD I PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN?

If I wanted to be the official endorser of “ProActiv” in my area complete with “before and after” shots – then I guess I would continually use this product.  Kidding aside, L’Oreal has a lot of good products that I’ve used before…but this “Skin Beautifier BB Cream” just doesn’t do it for me. If anything…it had me stressed out because my skin reacted violently to it and I had a major breakout that took forever to go away.  I guess I’ll stick to my old reliable “cleanse-tone-primer-foundation” routine for now. ..and no, I will not buy this particular product again.

DISCLAIMER:

I’m not a makeup artist or cosmetic expert. I’m just a regular consumer and I appreciate honest feedback about products that regular people like me use on a daily basis or consider buying. That is why I am paying it forward and giving reviews/opinions of my own on products that I have bought and used. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

I have a new Cyber Home and I wish y'all can drop by and say hi!

Y'all have been wonderful and I cannot thank you enough for the support you've bestowed on my blog. I decided to move to wordpress tho and I would truly appreciate it if you can drop by my new blog:

There Came This Woman (click me!)

I mentioned a while ago that my blog was looking all confused. I didn't want to delete it tho...because I do have my blog frog folks on here.

Again, I would be very grateful if you can drop by my new blog and leave a comment or two. I would be more than happy to return the favor and show some blog support! <3>

Much Love,

Sharon

Mission Accomplished!

T'was my sister-in-law's birthday and I wanted to give her stuff that were well thought of - not the usual things that can easily be bought from stores.

She's been admiring a bag that I made for myself and was sporting the last time I saw her...so I decided to make one for her special day.

I also made a bib necklace for her because she's a big accessory fan like myself.

I was stoked that she loved 'em! I guess it's safe to say that I accomplished my "birthday mission" and made my sister-in-law happy.

YAY ME!!!

Product Review: NARS' "Hungry Heart"

PRICE: TWO STARS

This product retails for $41 and I feel like I really didn't get my money's worth on this particular purchase. I am a big NARS fan/consumer...but this blush/hi-lighter duo just didn't do it for me.

QUALITY: THREE STARS

I don't like "overly shimmery" makeup or products on my face. A wee bit of shimmer on my eye products is okay but on hi-lighters and blushes...not so much. I purchased this particular product from NARS because I've read a lot of good reviews about it. I don't have a NARS outlet in my area so I had to resort to online shopping. Unfortunately, the item does not look anything like what it's "supposed to look like" based on the photos on NARS' website. I still don't know how I feel about the product but if you like the "glittery/shimmery" look - then this would work for you.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: N/A

I never had problems with shipping or anything and I never had to contact them for problems with my order...so I don't really have a lot to say about their Customer Service. Maybe I'll update this portion sometime in the future...if and when the need to contact their CS Department arises. =)

WOULD I PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCTS AGAIN?!

They have products that I purchase regularly - like their blushes and other face items. So yeah, I would still purchase their items in the future - but not their Hungry Heart Blush Duo.

DISCLAIMER:

I’m not a makeup artist or cosmetic expert. I’m just a regular consumer and I appreciate honest feedback about products that regular people like me use on a daily basis or consider buying. That is why I am paying it forward and giving reviews/opinions of my own on products that I have bought and used. My views and opinions are from a customer/end user’s standpoint.

Fall Favorites

 

MAC's Wonder Woman Eye Quad in Lady Justice

This palette is so much fun because of the colors. Some gurus are not big fans of this eye quad but I'm not a guru...I'm a regular consumer and I love it. Blue is supposedly one of the favored  colors this fall - so I intend to mix and match it with some of my other eye palettes. It's a limited edition eye quad...so it's not available on MAC stores anymore but you can always try your luck online! ♥

Mally's Beauty Professional 24/7 Blush System in Light

I love Mally's Beauty Professional 24/7 Blush System Duo 'coz it's a powder and cream blush in one gorgeous packaging. It also comes with its own dual ended brush. The colors are highly build-able...so a little bit goes a long way with this baby. Nars has always been my go-to brand when it comes to blushes but lately...I've been grabbing this palette more often.