Guest Post: Women and Weight Lifting

Today's post is brought to you by my good friend, and personal trainer, Corbin Brosneck. Thanks Corbin!

~Erin

First off, women absolutely should lift weights. There are a ton of pay-offs ranging from the obvious increased muscular strength, all the way to emotional ones like increased self esteem and confidence. There are many rumors floating around about weight lifting. The most common one having to do with whether women should be afraid of gaining too much muscle while strength training. As you will see, this myth is completely baseless. Due to misconceptions like this one, the hidden benefits of weight lifting often go unnoticed. Hopefully, after reading this, you will see that resistance training is not something to be feared or avoided, but a great fitness tool to be loved. Perhaps you already know this, in which case maybe you'll at least learn something new about the potential benefits of resistance training. So, let us begin!

If women aren't careful lifting weights, won't they get buff?

The simple answer? No, they will not. Unless they're taking steroids, that is. You see, women do not have the physical capability to become huge body-builder types (again, unless they're on steroids). To understand exactly why that is, you need to know the basics of muscle growth (formally referred to as "hypertrophy").
As with most other things in life, muscle hypertrophy really boils down to good ole' hormones. When you lift a weight and feel that wonderful burning sensation, you are experiencing the muscle breaking down. The body recognizes that the current amount of muscle is not enough for what it needs. It reacts by stuffing the muscles with extra contractile proteins (specifically, actin and myocin, the proteins that give muscles the ability to push and pull), which makes them larger and stronger. This entire process is triggered and maintained by a wonderful little hormone known as testosterone. You might recognize it as the hormone that makes men...well... men. Men produce 7 - 8 times as much testosterone as women. It is the reason why they have more muscle mass and greater potential to gain muscle. Women simply do not have enough testosterone to pack on lots of muscle. Female body builders get around this by using steroids, which are literally just testosterone shots.
Let's set aside all of this complicated witchcraft called "biology" for a moment, and take a look at the question from a practical perspective. Competing body-builders put a lot of work into making sure their exercise programs and diets are as efficient as possible for getting lots of muscle, and getting it fast. They often do this with the help of professionals with years of experience under their belts. If getting huge were as simple as "not being careful" while lifting, why would the professionals need to put so much effort into it? It just doesn't add up. Clearly, there is no reason to fear weightlifting. It has many benefits, as we will see next.

Is weight lifting really worth all the trouble?

Yes! Resistance training not only helps you become physically (and in some ways, mentally) stronger, it also has positive effects on metabolism and bone strength. Regular resistance training has been shown to dramatically increase metabolism speed, making it an essential part of any weight loss exercise program. It also strengthens bones through increased bone density, keeping it strong, yet flexible, as it ages. Finally, weight training helps to fight insomnia, with regular resistance training granting a more refreshing night's sleep.

What if I don't have a gym membership? How am I supposed to weight train without weights?

Dumbells, kettleballs, and barbells are not necessary for a good weight training program. You can use anything that is reasonably heavy. One of my favorites before I bought my own weights was a jug of water or sand. If all else fails, there is always your own body. Nothing beats a good old fashioned bodyweight workout. Remember the classics: The push-up, pull-up, squat, lunge, and the bicycle (the ab workout, not the machine).

None of this is to say that weight lifting is more important than any other part of fitness. They are all essential, and they all must be used in balance. Excessive use of any one type of fitness training (cardio, stretching, strength, etc) will result in an unbalanced body prone to injury. However, clearly all supposed negative effects of weightlifting thus far presented are baseless. There is no real reason to avoid strength training, and many benefits will result from not doing so. Why are you still reading this?! Go get your lift on!

Running for beginners

I was inspired to write today's post by several personal friends that decided this week to "take the plunge", as it were, and take up running. One friend in particular has been coming to me a lot for advice on how to get started, and I thought it might be beneficial to all you, my readers, for me to share all my (not so) vast knowledge!

So, first off, when should you start running?

Right now! If you have been thinking of taking up running as a way to get(or stay) fit, then there's no time like the present. The longer you put it off, the farther away the results that running offers. I must say, though, that all the runners I know(including myself) were in some kind of shape, and at relatively decent weights when we started. If you're more than 50 lbs overweight, I'd talk to a doctor or an actual fitness expert before starting, because running is hard. No sugar coating it here, people. It's hard on your body, and if your body can't handle it, then you shouldn't be doing it!

So often people shy away from going for that first run because they think they don't have the time! Now, I'm a college student with a job....I know busy. And I know that there are going to be those days where you just don't have the time to squeeze in an hour workout. I get it. But let me suggest an app to all you nerds with a smart phone. It's called C25KFree, and it's a running app for beginners. It starts you out from the couch, having you walk for two minutes, run for one minute, then walk again for two, and so on, building you up week by week until you can run a 5k. The best part is, it's only 30 minutes!!! You may not be able to work out for an hour, but 30 minutes? That's nothing!

I also recommend this app because it eases your body into the activity of running. The very first time I went running ever was with my neighbor, who thought a "beginner workout" was four miles. LOL no. Once I was finished weeping, I quickly went on my phone's app store and looked for something that gave it to me in little chunks, and the C25KFree app is what I found. I've been using it ever since!

Something I told my friend just today was this. And it's very important, so pay attention. Just because the app (or your running buddy) move on to harder runs, maybe going from running two minute intervals to five minutes intervals, for example, it DOES NOT mean that you have to do the same. Running, like most things, is very personal. If you're running your two minute intervals thinking "This is hard. There is NOOOO way I can run more than this!" Then don't. You'll know when you're ready to progress, and until then, do what you can. Exercising is meant to make you better, not injure you!

And speaking of injuries(you like my segway?) let's not get them, ok? The best way to prevent injury when running is to warm up beforehand, and to STRETCH AFTER. I cannot stress this enough. So often people will forgo stretching after a workout, because they don't want to take the time, or they want to bulk up their muscles, but guys. Stretch. It relaxes the muscles after a workout and prevents cramping and other bad things. If bulking up is what you're looking for, that's great. Look for it in the workout....then stretch. Pinterest is a fantastic recourse for both warm up and cool down/stretching routines, but I'll include a few on this post for those that don't have access to pinterest. If you want any more details, or any other resources, please leave a comment below and I'll send you stuff!

Finally, it's important to have the right music. You may laugh now, but try getting a good run in while listening to a funeral durge.....IDK do people actually listen to those?! Anywho, check out my last post for suggestions for good running songs. With the right beat, you can get really in the zone with your run, and push yourself more than you thought you could, and a good jam just makes the time go by so much faster!

The best RUNNING songs ever!

It's been a long time coming, but I was finally able to compile a list of running songs! Each song has a beat and is at a pace that is great for running and burning calories! Not all the songs are the same tempo, so you'll get a little variety in your morning run!

Each song has been tested personally. I did a lot of running, guys. You're welcome ;)

-"The power of Love"-Hewey Lewis and the News
-"Second Chances"-Veggie tales soundtrack
-"Sing, sing, sing"-Benny Goodman
-"Roar"-Katy Perry
-"What made us"-Everlife
-"Wide awake"-Katy Perry
-"Don't you worry child"-Swedish house mafia
-"Demons"-Imagion Dragons
-"So what(clean)"-P!NK
-"We are"-Kari Jobe
-"Wannabe"-The spice girls
-"My paper heart"-Francesca Battistelli
-"Outsiders"-Eric Church
-"We are never, ever getting back together"-Taylor Swift
-"She wouldn't be gone"-Blake Shelton
-"Santa Barbara Skies"-PSYCH:The musical soundtrack
-"To love somebody"-Michael Buble
-"Last name"-Carrie Underwood
-"Stand in the rain"-Superchic[k]
-"Compass"-Lady Antebellum
-"Feels like I am just too close to love you"-Alex Clare

All total, there is over an hour of run-worthy music on here. 77 minutes, 23 seconds, to be exact. But let's face it. Who would run for that long?!

Get out there today and run like the wind, bullseye!

Let's talk squash.

It's nearing summer time, and we're all getting a little more concerned with healthier eating. Today I want you to try something new, and a little weird. Spaghetti squash. You've probably heard of it, but were too afraid to try it...I mean, yeah. A squash that replaces pasta? LOL no. But seriously, Spaghetti squash is worth the try. Why? Well, I'll tell you. 

Spaghetti squash gets its name from the fact that when it is cooked, the inside flesh pulls out of the shell in long strands, resembling spaghetti pasta. Oval shaped and yellow, spaghetti squash can be considered a summer or winter squash and is available year-round in most grocery stores.

Vitamins

Spaghetti squash contains a wide range of vitamins. A 1-cup serving offers 5.4 mg of vitamin C, which is almost 10 percent of the recommended daily intake, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. Other vitamins include A, B-6, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid and vitamin K. A report from Colorado State University explains that obtaining your daily vitamins through food sources such as spaghetti squash may be more beneficial than taking vitamin supplements, as food contains several chemicals that work together, making the vitamins function more efficiently. Researchers from China, published in the January 2011 issue of "Journal of Environmental Science and Health," report that the flavonoids found in plant foods work with vitamins and play a role in protecting the body from cancer.

Minerals

A 1-cup serving of spaghetti squash also contains several minerals that are vital to good health. The dominant mineral is manganese, with 0.2 mg, which is 8 percent of the RDI. Manganese is needed only in small amounts, but it has a big job. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports manganese aids in the production of healthy bones, tissues and sex hormones. It also plays a part in metabolism, regulation of blood sugar, absorption of calcium and the functioning of the nervous system. Other minerals found in smaller amounts in spaghetti squash include potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, sodium, zinc and selenium.

Apart from these super science-y facts about spaghetti squash, it's really tasty, and one cup of squash is only about 30 calories! In my opinion, this just leaves wiggle room for yummy meat sauce and some fetta cheese sprinkled on top! Spaghetti squash is Extremely good for you, but it's also yummy and a really fun food to make!

Little cooking tip from someone who has tried it both ways. Cook it first, THEN cut it. Just pop the squash in a pan and cook it in the oven for about 45 min.-1 hour. Then, take a tea towel and wrap the squash in it, so you can hold it without burning yourself. The squash will cut like butter. If you try to cut the squash raw, you will be there for awhile. Spaghetti squash is quite solid when it's raw. Once you've got the squash cut in half, just take a fork and scrape out the insides(hint:This is a great task for the kids!) And voila! You have healthy spaghetti. 

But Spaghetti squash isn't limited to meat sauce. It also makes good mac and cheese. Just whip up your favorite cheese sauce, add in some peas, or broccoli, or tuna, or mushrooms, or whatever you like to add to your macaroni and cheese, and mix the sauce in with the squash noodles. There you are. Two recipes for one squash! 

A little word to the wise, though. cooked spaghetti squash doesn't do well as leftovers. The taste doesn't change at all, but it gets really watery and mushy after awhile, so eat it all. Save it for a family dinner, or buy a small squash.

Life Hack: Beauty tips!

It's coming. Summer is nearly upon us, and you know what that means, ladies! With the warm weather on it's way, many women are getting themselves ready for swimsuit season. Regardless of your moral convictions on modesty, you're gonna want to look good for summer! But there's only one problem. You don't have the time or money to get that perfect tan,

First things first. Legs. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. In summer we want perfectly smooth, tan legs so we can be proud to wear our shorts in public, rather than see the general public run in terror after one look at dem white gams! We'll get to the tan bit in a minute, but first let's address the problem of smooth legs...and by problem I mean razor burn. In the winter, you probably don't get it as much, because you don't shave your legs more than a couple times a week. (at least I don't) But come summer, you don't want to walk around looking like the wolf man! Not cute girls. Not. Cute. But, as with most things, every good thing has its downside, and the downside to keeping your legs silky smooth is razor burn. But are you ready for the beauty tip of a lifetime? Aloe. That's right. I know y'all have a bottle of Aloe in your house. It's the clear stuff your mom always put on your sunburn when you were a kid. It stung like the dickens, and was bloody freezing, but you felt so much better after. Yeah, that Aloe. Not the Aloe Vera, which is the green stuff. Just straight up Aloe. I'm pretty sure you can get this stuff literally everywhere. Just apply the aloe to your legs right after you get out of the shower(and after you've dried yourself, of course!) and let it dry completely. It makes your skin amazingly smooth and reduces chance of razor burn.

The reason you need to apply it right out of the shower is because your pours are still open from the steamy shower, which means the product will soak in faster. You can do this with lotion too. I used to apply lotion every day after I got out of the shower, but it didn't help my razor burn at all....in fact, sometimes it just made it worse. Aloe. That's where it's at people! (sorry about the bad grammar mom! Love you ) I like to apply aloe twice a day. Morning and night. You don't have to do this, but I just find it makes for even softer skin, and my mom rubs a thick layer onto her feet, and then puts socks on and goes to bed. Her feet are then really soft the next day.

The aloe is all for nothing, however, if you don't have a close shave. I have found that the best way to do that is to use a body scrub BEFORE I shave. If that's your thing, you can find a million body scrub recipes on pinterest, and they're all good, though most of them can be rather pricey. I'm trying to keep the cost down here. I have used store-bought sugar scrubs, my favorite brand being found in Kroger of all places...but even that's $6-$8. Currently, I like the meijer brand apricot face scrub. It's the meijer version of St. Ives face scrub. It's like $2 and you get a huge bottle....plus you can also use it on your face!(but we'll get to that later)

Also replace your razor every couple of weeks. You can't get a close shave with a dull razor, and it's a lot easier to get razor burn(or worse). There's no need to spend mongo bucks on something you're going to throw away in a week. The plain old 20 pack of disposable pink razors from wal-mart will do just fine.

While we're still on the topic of legs, I have one more little tip to get softer legs. Ditch the shaving cream and use conditioner instead. It's WAY cheaper than shaving cream, and you get, like, triple the product. Nothing fancy. There's no need to dash out and by Garnier deep conditioner. Suave, or whatever the cheapest  brand your store has will do the trick. In fact I've found the cheaper conditioners work better than the expensive ones, and it makes your skin very smooth. Plus it smells nice!




So you've scrubbed, shaved, and aloed, and your legs are looking mighty fine and smooth!!! There's just one problem. You have vampire skin and jut looking at that pale whiteness brings on a migrane. You don't have time to lay out and get a tan, and a tanning booth is either too expensive or just to darn scary. Well self-tanner has come a long way in recent years. Gone are the days of strong chemical smell and orange palms. There are soooooo many good brands out there now that will give you a gradual tan, and you can buy your Jergen's, or whatever, but my personal favorite is just the Equate Healthy Glow daily moisturizer. It's really inexpensive, and it works. It's a moisturizer....that tans you! You get soft skin AND a healthy glow! Also, bonus. It has almost no smell at all, and the little aroma it does have is more lotion than tanner. I seriously love this stuff for the beginning of summer when I'm not naturally tan yet, or if I had a sun burn and now I have massive tan lines. Obviously, the best way to get a healthy glow to your skin would be to eat healthy, exercise, and soak up some of God's rays, but if you can't do that, I definitely say you stop by your local wal-mart and pick up the Equate Healthy Glow Daily Moisturizer.

Lastly, I want to talk about hair. Specifically hair masks. I don't really have any specific recommendations here. I say all hair masks are created equal....mostly because every hair type is going to require different specifications. All I can say here is do your research. Only you can know your hair, so look for products that will meet your individual needs.

And you're one step closer to being "summer ready"!

In case of emergency

So the other day I was at work when I got a text from my boyfriend, asking if I wanted to go see a movie when I got off. Basically I freaked out, because I hadn't been in the mood to put makeup on that day, and I had let my hair dry air dry, leaving it au natural, if you know what I'm sayin'. Now, I could give a lecture on how the right guy will love you no matter that you look like(as he did), but let's face it ladies. You're gonna wish you had put some eyeliner on or something! Y'all know how it is.

I do have to thank the man for being my inspiration for this post, because today I'm going to talk about what you need to keep in your purse at all times for emergencies such as this:

First thing's first. You need a comb. I'm not expecting you to somehow shove a round brush in your bag, but you can buy those little fold-up ones pretty much anywhere that sells hair stuff. It won't take up that much space, I promise!

And while we're on the topic of hair stuff, make sure you have a hair tie wrapped around the brush, because you'll need it. Trust me. A hair tie was the one thing I didn't have, and I sorely regretted it. I had to use a rubber band instead! It worked, but it hurt coming out lol.

Lastly for hair products, I strongly suggest adding a few bobby pins to the mix. I have a little pouch where I keep bobby pins, safety pins, spot remover, etc. just in case, but if you don't have that, just latch those puppies onto that hair tie you WILL be putting in your purse!

Next you're gonna need some makeup. I don't want you all going out and buying a bigger bag so you can fit a full face of makeup in there. You'll only need one or two things.

First off, you'll need some eyeliner. Nothing crazy here, ladies. Stick with the basics, brown or black. I like to take my eyeliner pencils, once they're stubs, and put them in my purse. Instant travel size! Plus I don't feel wasteful throwing away an eyeliner that's still good, but won't fit in my sharpener anymore. If you can, try to find one will a little smudging power, because you can line your eyes, smudge it out, and have a little smokey eye action going on. It's shadow and liner all in one!

Really the only other makeup item you need is a tinted lip balm. You won't want lipstick, though, because that'll be too dramatic for your natural eyes. Or, better yet, a lip and cheek stain. That way you can add a little color to your face and lips both! I didn't have that, just burt's bees chapstick, but hey, that's why I'm telling you this, so you can learn from my mistakes.

This next thing is optional, but I work at a dry cleaner and it was hot that day, so I badly needed it, if you catch my drift. This thing would be an atomizer, otherwise known as a lifesaver. For those that don't know what an atomizer is, it's a little tube that you can put perfume in, and it won't spill or break, and therefore great for traveling. Just put a little of whatever fragrance you're wearing that day in that little tube, stick it in your purse, and you're good to go! I got mine from Old Navy, but I have seen them at Wal-Mart in the travel section as well. They're super cheap, like $2.

And there you have it! So next time you get invited unexpectedly on a date(or an interview, or a party, whatever the case may be) you'll be ready. Have fun :)

Best workout songs EVAH!

Every self-respecting fitness addict knows that the key to a killer workout is a rocking playlist! Now, I have googled many a "workout playlist" in my day, and I never find playlists that I like usually the songs aren't my style, or all the songs are inappropriate....all of them. So here's the deal. I compiled a list of all my favorite songs to listen to while I work out! Enjoy these tunes knowing you are safe when you press play :)

1. Cameo Lover-Kimbra
2. Black horse and the Cherry Tree-KT Tunstall
3.One more round-Barlowgirl
4.Rise Up-Matt Maher
5. Eye of the Tiger-Survivor
6.Stop Time-Landon Austin
7. Zero to Hero-Hercules soundtrack
8.Undignified-David Crowder Band
9.Titanium-David Guetta
10.Mr. Saxobeat(radio edit)-Alexandra Stan
11. Good Girl- Carrie Underwood
12. Come and Get it- Selena Gomez
13. Roar- Katy Perry
14. DJ Got us falling in love-Usher, Pitbull
15. Sweet Serendipity- Lee DeWyze
16. Best Song Ever- One Direction
17. The Power of Love- Huey Lewis & the News
18. Counting stars-OneRepublic
19.What made us-Everlife
20. Best day of my life-American Authors
21. Aint it fun-Paramore
22. Can't remember to forget you-Shakira, Rihanna
23. Feels like I am just too close-Boom Masters
24. Feelin' Good-Christina Grimmie
25. Chainsaw-The Band Perry
26. Easy Street-Annie soundtrack
27. Ya Got Trouble-Music Man soundtrack
28. Happy-Pharrell Williams
29.Wannabe(radio edit)-The Spice Girls
30. Don't you worry Child(radio edit)-Swedish house mafia
31. Brighter than the sun-Colbie Caillat
32. Outsiders-Eric Church
33. Wide awake-Katy Perry
34. My paper heart-Francesca Battistelli
35. Second chances-Veggie Tales soundtrack
36. We are the Champions-Queen
37. Resistance-Everlife
38. I'm letting go- Francesca Battistelli
39. Open Heavens- Barlowgirl
40. Daydream believer- the monkeys

Total time:  2hrs. 30mins.

May Glam bag first impressions

Hello all! Watch my first vlog, where I show myself opening my May Ipsy Glam bag for the first time and find out what I got this month. Product review to come....




*Eva NYC Therapy Hair session- $14.99
*Hang 10 SPF 50 sunscreen-$13.99
*Pacifica Mineral eyeshadow duo-I couldn't find the price :(
*Evene thermal spring water(NOT for your hair, as originally thought)-$16.00
*Hey Honey Take it off Exfoliating honey mask-$35.00

Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out here: http://www.ipsy.com/r/7m3t

April 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

Hey guys! April's Ipsy review is a little late(I should be revieving May's bag any day now!) but I wasn't sure of my opinion on a couple of the products I received, and I wanted to give them all a good try before posting my review. BUT I have had time to try all the products I got in my April bag, and I'm ready to give my opinion! :)

April's Glam Bag theme was Rockstar glam, so the bag looked like a turntable. That was awesome, I must say! Also, before I dive into the product review, I have to mention that the ipsy bags are really great! The designs are cute and the bags themselves are nice quality! On top of that they're a great size for slipping in your bag or suit case for easy travel usage! Bonus!

Swatch of the lip balm

Anyway, on to business. My first product was the Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in the color "Acid Pink". This stuff retails for $19, and I must say, they weren't fooling around when they named that color! It's pink alright! The color pay-off is frankly fabulous, and once you put it on your lips, it stays 'till you take it off. I also thought the packaging was really cute and creative. The pot of balm is at the bottom, and then the lid has a brush applicator hidden in the handle! I'm not one for lipsticks myself, but if lip colors are your thing, this is definitely a product to check out! I must say, though, that $19 seems a little steep for a lipstick.

The next item on the list is called "Looks so natural" Kiss Lashes. "Kiss Lashes" is the brand name, and "Looks so natural" is the style name. They're falsies, in case you couldn't guess ;) Now, my first impression for these was "But I don't wear false lashes!" Seriously, guys. I've never warn false lashes in my life. I don't even really know how to apply them. I have been wanting to try them, though. Not for everyday use....the lashes God gave me generally suffice....but for a play/stage makeup, or a costume of some kind, I could see me needing a little help in the lash department. I haven't had to use this product yet so I can't give my personal opinion, but I like the way they look and I've heard good things from other reviews! On top of that they retail for only $3.99! I think that's about as inexpensive as you can get and still get quality lashes.

so pretty!!!

Up next was something called City Color Mousse Shadow in the color "White Gold". This little gem of a product retails for $3.99, and, c'mon guys. The packaging is totes adorbs. I have this thing about makeup in little pots, and this mousse eyeshadow comes in a little pot! Right there I fell in love with it. But more importantly, the shadow itself is very well-made, and a little shadow goes a long way....which is awesome because there is a LOT of product. This stuff is legit magic. It's white in the pot, but as you apply it, it goes on gold. I don't know how it works, but it's sooooo cool you guys! I must say I would definitely recommend this product. It's well made with great color pay-off, but it's also quite a bit cheaper than any other brand of mousse shadow I've seen, even at the drug store. As of now, the brand is only selling their mousse shadow in this color, but they plan to expand the line soon.

Swatch of mousse shadow

Swatch of Eyeliner

The next product is an eyeliner....but not just any eyeliner...Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in "Black Velvet". Anyone who watched makeup tutorials on youtube knows this product. Urban Decay eyeliners usually retail for around" $20 in places like ULTA and Sephora, so that right there makes me not want to recommend it. No eyeliner is worth twenty bucks....even if it is heaven in a pencil. Cuz legit, you guys. This is the smoothest, creamiest eyeliner I've ever used! I've heard a lot of good things about this eyeliner from all the youtube makeup gurus, and I'd been wanting to try it for some time, so I was extremely excited when I opened my glam bag and saw that I got the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner! It doesn't budge, and it goes on matte. Even though I'm not crazy about the price, I can say that if you are wanting to try a high-end eyeliner, but don't want to pay the big bucks for it, try the Urban Decay eyeliners. They're high-end quality for middle road prices.

Finally, I got the Benefit lollitint lip and cheek stain in the color "Candy Orchid". The lollitint was the sample size product for the month of April. The bottle is so cute and tiny, and the applicator looks like nail polish. To apply you just dot the color on your lips or cheeks and then blend into your skin. The color pay-off is pretty great and, as it's a stain, it blends easily while wet, and doesn't budge once dry. I would like to say I can totally recommend the Benefit lollitint lip and cheek stain, but I looked up the full size bottle, and, while the full size bottle is quite large, the price tag is also quite large. The Benefit lollitint lip and cheek stain retails for $30.....for blush. Eh, yeah it's a great product, but it's not THAT much better than regular drugstore blushes.

And that just about wraps it up for April's Ipsy Glam Bag product review! Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out here: http://www.ipsy.com/r/7m3t

Starting from scratch

Anyone who's ever tried to get healthy and fit knows that getting started is the hardest part, especially if you never were very active or concerned with health. I was one of those people. My decision to become healthier was a new one for me, and let me tell you, getting the ball rolling was really hard. So here's some things I learned along the way that may help you first timers out there!

First of all, you have to actually make the decision to change your lifestyle. And here's the kicker. All those doctor shows and health magazines tell you to make that same decision every single day, so you can't talk yourself out of it, but I'm telling you to only make it once. If you really have made the decision, there shouldn't be any other question about it. You've decided, so you're going to do it. You should have to make another decision to stop doing it! So before you begin, make sure you've actually made the decision to get healthy, because that choice means you're committed.

Once you're on board, I challenge you to give up one thing in your diet. For me it was soda. I actually stopped drinking it because I read somewhere that soda was really bad for your skin and was a strong contributing factor to breakouts. My skin was really bad at the time, and I was desperate to try anything! I went from drinking two or more cans a day to none at all. What I didn't know was that the sugars in soda also cause belly fat. I mean, so do other things, obviously, but the sugars used in soda go straight to the gut, so when I stopped drinking it, I lost a lot of weight! It was a total surprise to me, but I think that was really my turning point, and what got me inspired to do more.

Now, if you can't give something up cold-turkey like that, I suggest you try severely limiting it instead. It could be anything that causes you to be unhealthy. It could be soda, it could be rice, it could even be too much tv. When I gave up soda, I didn't want to be a debbie downer at parties, so I told myself I would only drink it when I went out to eat, etc., but the longer I went without it, the less I wanted it. Now, even when I eat out, I generally order water, not because I know it's good for me, but because I want it! And, bonus! Soda tastes REALLY good now, especially with pizza, which is basically the only time I drink it. A lot of people don't want to give up something they love, but I've found that I enjoy those things more now. It's a treat!

By giving up(or severely limiting) one thing from your current lifestyle, you are kick-starting your journey to health not only by eliminating bad calories, but by strengthening your self control! You may not know this, but self control is a muscle, and it needs to be exercised daily, or it will backfire, especially with my next tip. Eat the recommended portion size. I sure hope you were sitting down for this one because that little gem of information probably blew your mind. But I'm serious. When you're making food at home, read the packaging, and see what they recommend be a serving size. Make as much food as you want, leftovers are yummy, but only eat the proper serving size. And not just for one food, or one meal, but all your meals! If you're eating out, google is a lifesaver. There are SOOOOO many resources out there that tell you what a serving size should be for pretty much any food you encounter. And don't think that just because you're at a restaurant you have to clean your plate. No one is going to judge you for taking a box home.

If you've had your properly portioned meal and you're still hungry, by all means, eat more. Your body is telling you it still needs fuel. But be careful, because chances are your body is used to larger portions, and is just telling you you're still hungry because it's used to getting more. Eat until you're satisfied. Candace Cameron Bure says in her book "Reshaping it all", that she will stop every so often during a meal to reevaluate her hunger status. Is she still hungry? Yep. Cool, keep going.

Also, eat slowly. So often we shovel food in as fast as we can, and our bodies keep telling us we're hungry because it hasn't registered that we just fed it. If we eat slowly, we give out bodies time to realize it's getting fed, and it will act accordingly. And the best part is, your body WILL tell you when it's full. You just have to pay attention.

The calorie counter I use is called myfitnesspal

On the subject of food, I suggest getting a calorie counter app for your phone, or if you don't have a smart phone, find a calorie counter website and keep track of what you're eating. I'm not a huge advocate of counting your calories. That just seems like too much work for me, and frankly one giant guilt trip. But knowing what you're eating will really change the way you think about food. I actually started out just writing down everything I ate(and drank) in a day, not worrying about calories, and if you're just beginning your weight loss journey, I say that's a good way to go. Just knowing what you ate that day will help you in making good choices for the next day, and I know that knowing I was going to have to write down that I had three brownies really worked as a deterrent for eating those things. I didn't want that on my record!

I do suggest a calorie counter as the next step, though, because you may not know what you're eating. So many things that seem healthy, especially the "healthy" options at restaurants, aren't as great as they claim, and some of the "unhealthy" or "bad" foods we're told to steer clear from really aren't that bad. Did you know 4 marshmallows is only 50 calories? I didn't. And that's why a calorie counter is so important. Losing weight and eating healthy doesn't have to mean you give up all the things that taste good! It just means being more aware of what you're putting in your body, and making choices accordingly.

I'm gonna blow your mind again. You NEED to make time for exercise. I cannot stress this enough. A busy schedule is the biggest excuse in the book for so many people, but it doesn't have to be! Obviously, my best recommendation would be to workout a minimum of 30 minutes a day, either at the gym or at home, but, being a student with a job and some shadow of a social life, I understand that we all have those days where a full workout plus shower and getting ready time just isn't going to get squeezed in, no matter how you try. HOWEVER, just because you can't fit a full workout into your day does not give you the excuse to not exercise at all.

A great way to fit exercise into your busy day is to multi-task. Ladies, this is our speciality, so let's make it work for us! Do calf raises or squats while you're brushing your teeth. You're just standing there anyway, you might as well make it doubly productive! Another great one is to do counter pushups, squats, calf raises, standing crunches, etc. while you're waiting for that microwave minute to be over. See how many squats you can do before the timer beeps! Butt clenches are great to do in the car on the way to work or the store. And speaking of that, try parking a little farther away. I'm not saying find a spot in the nose bleeds with the tumbleweeds, but don't try to muscle your car as close to the handicap spots as possible. Someplace in the middle should be just fine. That way, you get a bit of a walk in, but if it rains, you don't have to make the dangerous trek through the elements to your long forsaken vehicle.

I'm sure this next one is going to sound funny, but just go with me here. Stand up. Just stand up, move your legs, stretch your arms, whatever. Then, sit back down. At work or at home, remember to stand up every once in awhile. So often we forget to move, and our bodies begin to settle, and we're sore and tired and cranky. My mom has a desk job, and so several times a day she'll just stand up, stretch her arms, maybe walk to the door and back, and then she'll sit back down and continue her work. Not only will this get the blood moving again, but you just did a squat. Now imagine doing that 20 times a day!

That's 20 squats! I'm not saying 20 squats or counter pushups a day are going to make you skinny, but it's a great and easy way to kick-start your new healthy lifestyle and get it incorporated into your daily routine. The hardest thing to remember about getting fit and healthy is that change doesn't happen over night. So many people will start a diet and then quit after a month when they aren't seeing results. You have to give your body time to get used to this new way of living! Give it time....lots of time, but, if you've made the lifetime commitment to a new healthier way of life, you'll be able to push through it and before you know it you'll be healthier and happier!

Book review: Reshaping it all

My new Year's resolution was to read 100 books this year....and because that isn't challenge enough, I decided that I should incorporate as many new(as in, I haven't read before) books as possible, specifically non-fiction, which has never been of much interest to me. The book I'm going to be reviewing today, "Reshaping it all" by Candace Cameron Bure, is a non-fiction book, and my first, actually, since starting my resolution.

alright, let's do this thang!

This book was not recommended to me, I didn't read anything about it, nor had it been something I'd been wanting to read for any amount of time. I literally was in my library, wandering around, saw this on a shelf, grabbed it, and checked it out. For those who may not know, Candace Cameron Bure(Bure is her married name) is an actress, wife, mother, and Christian. She played DJ Tanner on the show "Full House" in the 80s, and her brother, Kirk Cameron, is also an actor, first on "Growing pains" in the 80s, and more recently the "Left Behind" series, among like a hundred other things. Candace is also currently a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars", which is why I think her book was even on display. I already knew these things about her, and I really like her a lot, so I figured her book would be a good place to start in my journey through the realm of non-fiction, so, I checked it out.

Before I get into the details of the book, I should let you know that "Reshaping it all" is a book geared toward helping people obtain physical and spiritual fitness(remember, Candace is a Christian, so of course it's going to be about God!) In general, it's about her story of weight struggle and eventual weight loss, and how, through hard work and strength in God, she managed to keep off the weight and beat her addiction.

Sound interesting? Yeah, I did to. And guess what! It was really interesting. I wouldn't say I'm on some health kick or anything, but I feel like I have been finding myself gravitating toward more health related talk shows, cooking shows, etc lately, and I'm always open to learning new things that I can apply to myself, and then pass on to you guys, my wonderful readers!

Now down to business. I think the most important thing about a book is how it's written. The content is important, but no one's going to get to the content if the format is bad. Not so with Candace's book. It's written in the typical non-fiction first person, and it's easy to read, without being dumbed down or condescending to those like myself that are used to a little higher level of literature.(I had just finished reading Lord of the Ring, so you can imagine the shock my brain went through reading "Reshaping it all" lol) Also the chapters are short, which makes getting through them much more enjoyable...because nothing is more overwhelming than thumbing through a book and realizing each chapter is like 47 pages long.

While we're on the topic of chapters and writing format, I'll let you know that at the end of each chapter, Candace has a summary of what she talked about, a fan letter with a health or spiritual question, her answer to that letter, all the Bible verses she used in that chapter, simple tips on how to apply that chapter to your life, an inspirational quote, and then a healthy recipe that she makes for her own family. WHEW! That's a lot packed into a few pages, huh?!

Because Candace is a Christian(and not afraid to proclaim it to the world, thank you very much) she does scatter bible verses throughout her book as they apply to what she's talking about, and many of her tips on motivation and staying strong revolve around prayer and staying strong in God, which is something a lot of people don't think about when it comes to their physical health. But think about it. God calls us to take care of our bodies, because they are a temple for Him, so it makes sense that we would need Him to help make us new. Genius.

She also talks a lot about how a healthy lifestyle is necessary, rather than optional. Basically she's saying that, once you've committed to living a healthier lifestyle, you have to stick with it, and not just live healthy when it's convenient for you. She also discourages diets. She doesn't discredit them, but going "on" a diet implies you will one day go "off" the diet, and the only way to stay healthy is to....get this....stay healthy. Candace encourages a lifestyle change, which is what she did, and what I did, and it, frankly, works.

Candace has MANY tips and tricks on how to make that lifestyle change, and how to make it so habitual that you eventually don't even have to work at it. One of the things she suggested was to write down your reasons for losing weight, whatever they may be, and read them whenever you get discouraged. Keep the list somewhere you can see it, like by your bed or on your mirror or fridge, so you never forget WHY you're doing this.

I don't want to give away too much information, because I want you to read this book, but I'll leave you with a quote that really impacted me, and will hopefully speak to you and give you the push you need to get yourself healthy....for the right reasons!

"You are beautiful, interesting, accepted, and loved by the most high God. Be content with both the woman you are today and the woman you'll be tomorrow."
-Candace Cameron Bure

a little T.M.I.

So there's this tag going around the internet, called the TMI tag. Basically It's a bunch of questions about me that you never thought to ask...most likely because you don't care....but I thought this would be a great time to let you all get to know me a little better! Ready? Here we go.

1: What are you wearing?
Jammies. Specifically an Aeropostal shirt and white and blue flannel jammy pants....super sexy, I know. 
2: Ever been in love?
Yes I have :)
3: Ever had a terrible breakup?
Never had a breakup
4: How tall are you?
5ft. 4 1/2 in.
5: How much do you weigh?
This is a nosey question! 133lbs.
6: Any tattoos?
......not yet.
7: Any piercings?
Yes. I have my ears pierced, and I'm getting second piercings in a couple weeks.
8: OTP?
I think this means one true pairing...Shawn and Gus from psych. They're not a couple, they're best friends since birth, and it is hilarious. 
9: Favorite show?
Oh, so much answer, so little blog space!!! I'm gonna say it's a toss-up between Psych and Dr. Who
10: Favorite bands?
I'm not much of a favorite bands person. I have songs that I like, but I generally don't like everything an artist does....however, I can say that I am a huge fan of Barlowgirl, Michael Buble, The Band Perry, and Taylor Swift. 
11: Something you miss? 
I miss the free time I used to have. Figures. Now that I have reasons to plan things, I don't have the time to devote to it!
12: Favorite song?
In Christ Alone.
13: How old are you?
20
14: Zodiac sign?
Sagittarius...just like Bruce Lee and Walt Disney! WHA?!?!?!?!
15: Quality you look for in a partner?
-God-fearing
-Kind
-Funny
-Hard working
16: Favorite Quote?
"It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities." -Albus Dumbledore
17: Favorite actor?
Johnny Depp and Grace Kelly
18: Favorite color?
Perriwinkle
19: Loud music or soft?
Loud baby, all the way!!!
20: Where do you go when you’re sad?
To my room, under the covers, curled up in as small a ball as possible.
21: How long does it take you to shower?
well.....it depends. I can be in and out in five minutes, if I'm just washing my hair. But if I'm doing everything, including standing under the water contemplating life, it can take as long as fifteen minutes
22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
If I'm doing hair and makeup.....20 minutes. 30 if I'm also taking a shower....but I like to give myself an hour, just in case my flat iron decides it's not gonna do my hair that day lol
23: Ever been in a physical fight?
No I haven't. Thank God. My upper body strength leaves much to be desired, unfortunately. 
24: Turn on?
Great sense of humor, smelling good
25: Turn off?
excessive/unnecessary swearing, smelling bad
26: The reason I joined Youtube?
Oh yeah. This was a youtube tag. lol next question!
27: Fears?
Extreme pain that leads to death, being alone(like, in life), failure/being a disappointment 
28: Last thing that made you cry?
Oh gosh. Probably "Call the Midwife". That show turns me into a whimpering fool, I swear!
29: Last time you said you loved someone?
Today. I told my momma I loved her :')
30: Meaning behind your YouTube Name?
Ditto to question 26!
31: Last book you read?
"Reshaping it all" By Candace Cameron Bure(book review coming Thursday! yippee!!!)
32: The book you’re currently reading?
"The Fall of Arthur" by J.R.R. Tolkien, and "Joan of Arc" by Mark Twain
33: Last show you watched?
White Collar *SIGH* Matt Bomer. 
34: Last person you talked to?
The daddeo
35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted?
My BFF Allison
36: Favorite food?
This isn't fair. Pizza. Or my mom's eggrolls. 
37: Place you want to visit?
Everywhere! America(road trip, aw yea!) England, Ireland, Scotland, France, New Zealand, you get the picture. Everywhere. 
38: Last place you were?
Work.
39: Do you have a crush?
Yes I do
40: Last time you kissed someone?
Like a week ago
41: Last time you were insulted?
Last week. My boss's son said I looked like a school teacher. 
42: Favorite flavor of sweet?
CHOCOLATE!!!!!!
43: What instruments do you play??
Piano, and the cup for that one song from "Pitch Perfect" lol
44: Favorite piece of jewelery?
My butterfly earrings from Forever21
45: Last sport you played?
LOL that's funny. Baseball...which quickly ended once Allison hit me in the face with the ball....don't worry. We got it on video. Comment if you want to see it!
46: Last song you sang?
Currently singing "Demons" by Imagine Dragons
47: Favorite chat up line?
Don't have one
48: Have you ever used it?
I hope not! Chat up lines are sooooo cheesy!
49: Last time you hung out with anyone?
Last week
50: Who should answer these questions next?
IDK. whoever wants to. I always like reading junk like this :)

Well, now you all know me a little bit better. Tune in again Thursday for that book review, and if you have any more questions about me, or suggestions for future blog posts, comment below! 

Stay Classy, y'all!

Product Review: Burt's Bees Natural cleansing cream

Before we start the review, I'm thinking I want to start doing more product review posts here. What do you guys think? Write your thoughts in the comments below, and if you have any other post suggestions you'd like to share, put 'em there too :)

Alright, to business.


















My first experience with the Burt's Bees Natural face essentials soap bark and Chamomile deep cleansing cream(woah! what a mouthful.) was about two years ago. I got a sampler kit for Christmas that had chapstick, body wash, lotion, etc....and one of the samples was a little bottle of the face wash. I have this thing for face wash. I seriously enjoy just looking at it all at the store, reading all the labels and seeing what they all claim to do. I also really like trying new things, but my skin would beg to differ. My face doesn't like change, which is apparently not uncommon.

But, like any good face wash fanatic, I threw common sense out the window and tried it anyway :) Yay me!

My first impression of this product was, frankly, not good. Not good at all. It came out as a cream, which was suggested in the name, but I'm used to my soaps foaming, ya know? So that was disconcerting. But apart from that, I felt like it was making me break out more! To be honest, the only reason I kept using it was because it was a present from my mom and I didn't want her to know I didn't like it.

But boy am I glad I stuck with it. Suddenly my skin started clearing up in a big way! Here's the thing with face soap. When you switch from something you've been using for years, your skin is going to freak out, and the Burt's Bees soap was doing even more than that. It was purging my skin. It was drawing out all the crap, then getting rid of it! Which was hard to live with while it was happening, but once it got rid of all the nasty, my skin looked better than it ever did, and it stayed clear! My breakouts started getting way less, or sometimes not at all! And my skin itself just looked healthier and smoother and all around great!

Unfortunately, that was a tiny bottle and I made the mistake of letting my mom try it. Bad idea. That puppy got used up reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaalllll quick, and when we went to the store to buy a normal size bottle, the price about gave mom a heart attack. A full size bottle of this stuff is between $8-$10, depending on where you buy it(Target, Walmart, ULTA, just to name a few) and even though that's not expensive, it's WAY more than the $3 we were paying for our go-to face soap. So, in agony and dispair, we went back to old faithful.

Eventually my skin got better and more regulated as I got older, but it was just never as nice as it had been when I had my beloved Burt's bees soap bark and Chamomile deep cleansing cream *SIGH* And very recently, I had a bad(very, very bad!) experience with another face soap. I had a bad reaction and I had more pimples than I did when I was fifteen and hormonal........Not cute. This got me thinking, though, and remembering how good my skin was when I was using the Burt's bees stuff. I decided right there(having a job, and subsequently, money, will do that to you) that I was going to just grit my teeth and buy that face soap. I was talking to my mom about it, and she said she really wanted to go back to using it too, and maybe we could split the cost. Even better.

So we bought it, and, just like last time, I had several bad skin days. But this time I can't blame it entirely on the face soap. I was coming from another face soap that I was allergic to, so I was already starting from bad. Anywho, I had several bad skin days...like a week. Then, right on schedule, my skin cleared right up! At this point, it's been about a month since I switched back to good old Burt's Bees. Now, let's weigh the pros and cons:

PROS-
*Large Bottle. It's like the size of a normal squeeze bottle of lotion, so pretty big, especially for this kind of product. Face washes, not to mention organic face washes, are generally quite small.

*You don't need much. Like at all. Mom and I both have been using this every day(I use it twice a day) for a month, and we're maybe half done with it? Probably not even half. I mean, you have to experiment to see how much YOU will need, but I use about a dime size, and I think mom uses a little less. This is great! You get a large bottle, and you don't need much! That $8 price tag's looking a little more reasonable.

*The smell is good. Mom says it reminds her of juicy fruit gum, but not so artificial. I don't really agree, but as I can't describe what it smells like to me, we're just gonna stick with that description. I can say though that the small is not at all overpowering or lingering. Basically the moment you put it on your face, the smell goes away, and you don't walk around all day with a face smelling like juicy fruit gum ;) The product also has a really great cooling sensation!

*Let's face it. It works. My skin is clear and smooth, and it stays that way, even in stress or other things that would make me break out. I'm not breakout free, but it's so drastically diminished that the one or two zits I get don't even bother me, because the rest of my skin is perfect.

*It's all natural. This isn't really super important to me. I mean, I don't dismiss products because they're not organic or natural, but I must say it is a bonus!

Now let's talk about the cons:

*It's expensive. Like I said before, it can range between $8-$10 dollars, depending on where you buy it. For a lot of people, the price is a huge issue. It was for me! It's not like I'd never see Burt's Bees products before getting that Christmas present! But I always cringed at the price, because if I didn't like it, I was stuck with a $5 chapstick. But trust me, this product is worth the money, and like I talked about in the "pros", you definitely get your money's worth!

now, before we wrap this up I do have to add in a few personal notes(because apparently this whole thing isn't a personal note) I had to give my skin a little longer before it started to calm down, because I was coming from a soap that was actually making me break out more. I had to give this product a good week, week and a half before it really started to work. Obviously, everybody's skin is different, so it may take less time, it may take more time, but the important thing is to GIVE IT TIME.

I'm also at the tail end of hormonal breakouts, and my skin is therefore just generally easier to manage. HOWEVER, I did try this several years ago, like I said before, so you teenagers will still see results!

I must also say that I have never had acne. I had my share of pimples, for sure, but never acne. I never needed, like, proactiv or anything. Just your everyday, run-of-the-mill zits. Not cute, but it could have been worse. Therefore, I don't know what this product will do for those that have acne-prone skin. I'd say it's worth a try, though. It's more easily accessable and cheaper than products like proactiv, and because it's natural, it won't be as harsh as some of the less expensive face products formulated for acne.

K you guys! Try this. It's good ;)

March 2014 Ipsy bag review

First of all, I have been accumulating some pretty fun products lately that I've been wanting to review here. Does that sound like something you guys would want to read?

Anyway, you can answer that question in the comments below. Now down to business. For those who don't know what ipsy is, it's a company that sends out personalized makeup bags full of fun stuff every month, for only $10 a month! I have known about this site for ages, but I wasn't sure I wanted to spend my money, so I did my research. I wanted to make sure it was legit, and that the people who were already subscribed to it actually got stuff, and liked what they got. Long story short, eventually I was convinced that ipsy was worth a try. Generally, you get between 4-6 things each month, all of which are full size makeup, hair, or body products, except one, which is generally more high end/expensive. That product is usually a sample size.

SO, I signed up for a glam bag(That's what they're called), and impatiently awaited my package. I have to say, they were really fast. I got the e-mail yesterday that they sent my bag, and I got it in the mail this morning....we're in the middle of yet another blizzard, and I still got my bag in a day! Guess what guys. The package is hot pink. How freaking awesome is that?!

I opened that hot pink package and pulled out my glam bag. Kudos to ipsy, because that was a NICE quality makeup bag! Super heavy duty, but not thick and cumbersome. The design was really pretty too. Dad said it reminded him of candy, and I must say, I agree. I didn't take too long to look at the bag, though, because I was too busy dumping out what was inside to see what I got!

March's bag design! So cute. 

Now, before I go any further, I should say that, when you join ipsy, they give you a quiz that only takes about 15 minutes to answer. The questions generally revolve around your skin type/color, your style, products you love, or would love to try, etc, as well as hair type/color and eye color. They then use this information to personalize your bag, so you don't get anything you wouldn't use. It's a pretty good idea, actually. Then, once you receive your bag, you can go on the site and review each product, which even further allows them to personalize your next bag.

Back to my story. I dumped everything out, and squeeled! There were some brands in there I knew and had always wanted to try, and a brand that I had never heard of, which was almost more exciting!

The first product was a NYX eyeshadow palette called "Love in Rio". I have heard great things about NYX and have always wanted to try it, but couldn't ever justify buying any of their products when I knew cheaper ones would work just fine. So, as you can imagine, I was pretty stoked. The packaging on that palette was beautiful. All black, pretty simple, but the clasp was a bow! I love bows, in case you don't know me. And even though it was plastic, it was pretty nice plastic, very heavy-duty. Also, and I suppose more importantly, the colors were beautiful, and totally something I would wear a lot. There was a pink-champagne color, a sort of caramel brown, and then a chocolate brown, all of which were sparkly....but not in a tacky way. When I put the shadows on the sparkles turned more pearl-y, and just made the whole thing look really, REALLY nice. The shadows weren't super pigmented, but they still had a pretty good color pay-off, and they were really smooth to apply. Ugh! First product was a win!

Second was the Pixi flawless beauty primer. I had heard of pixi, and I know you can buy it at Target, but I've never tried their products. I knew it was a little pricey, and I was of the mind that nothing sold at Target should be that expensive. Just, no. This primer was, once again, a full size product, so that was exciting. So far, I've only tried it on the back of my hand, but it had a slight pink(like skin pink, not bubblegum pink) tint to it, that almost immediately went away as I messaged it into my skin. It smelled really good(and not like sunscreen, which tends to happen with primers) and didn't leave my skin looking shiny or greasy, which is also something that tends to happen. I also noticed that that area of my hand felt a lot smoother than the rest of my hand, so that was really good. Like I said, I haven't tried it on my face yet, but I think I'm still gonna give it a thumbs up.

The third thing in the bag was an eyeliner pen from the brand Chella. Ever heard of it? Yeah, me neither. I think I was the most excited about this product, because the brand was a complete unknown to me. Upon removing the cap, I saw that the eyeliner looked like one of those felt tip "paint brush" markers I had when I was a kid. I know that these types of liquid eyeliners are supposed to be easier to work with if you're not used to applying liquid eyeliner....I am, so the design didn't really impress me. I wasn't unimpressed, but I wasn't like "FINALLY! I can apply liquid eyeliner now!" Actually, I was a bit more distracted by the color. Indigo blue. I was like blue eyeliner? Really? What am I supposed to do with this?! So, I did the only thing I could do in that situation, I started drawing with it on the back of my hand :) and you know what? It didn't come out as shockingly blue as I was expecting. The color had some black undertones to it. The line was definitely blue, but still very wearable. I think, until spring comes, though, I'll be applying some black or navy eyeshadow over top of it to decrease the intensity even further. But the line, oh, it was a beautiful sight. Super thin and even, and it dried almost instantly! Even though the color was a bit of a shock, I think I'll be able to work with it and therefore I give it a thumbs up!

The last product was the sample size, and it was the Bare Minerals lipstick in "Getting ready". Oh my word it's so cute! It's really tiny, like the play lipstick we all had when we were kids! But the packaging is stunning, and, like everything else, really heavy-duty. Now, I don't wear lipstick. Like ever. I have only ever worn lipstick for costumes, and when I'm on stage, and I think, for that reason, whenever I try it wear it in real life, I feel over done. But this color was really pretty, like, my lips but better, and the color pay-off is pretty cray. I literally dabbed it on my lips, and it was pretty intense! Obviously, I'm not too skilled at the art of applying lipstick, so I'm going to have to do a little experimentation with this bad boy. Because I don't wear lipstick that often, I think I would save this for things like Church, or if I were going out, etc. Maybe not on an everyday basis, but I can still definitely see myself wearing it!

So to sum it all up, everything in my March glam bag was a success, and I'm super excited to see what I get next month! One of the biggest things I was worried about was that it wasn't going to be worth my money, but, having received a bag now, I'm pretty sure everything I got was at least $10 each, and I got all of it, plus a cute bag, for the price of one product! If you're interested in joining ipsy, click this link to get started. It's seriously worth it! http://www.ipsy.com/r/7m3t

I'm sure you'll have questions about the site before spending the money. I did my research, and I'd be happy to answer whatever questions you may have about the company, or the products I received! Just leave your questions in the comment section below!