Spring Break Adventures: Tarpon Springs

As my spring break comes to a close, I thought I would write a post about one of my adventures this week.  My mother and I decided to take a drive to spend the day in the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The town of Tarpon Springs was built around the sponge docks.  Many Greek sponge divers came to Tarpon Springs, and today the town still has a strong Greek influence.  While visiting Tarpon Springs you can sample Greek cuisine from one of the many Greek restaurants, purchase sponges and souvineers, visit the aquarium or the museum, or take a tour of the sponge docks.

Mom and me

Saganaki (flaming cheese)... seriously delish

Bread, Saganaki, Greek salad, and Greek pizza

Sponge boats and sponges

"T-Shirt Outlet
Voted #1 in Tarpon Springs by our mom
Hours
Open: When we are here
Closed: When we are not"

We had a lot of fun shopping and walking around.  One shop had homemade soaps made with goat milk, olive oil, and all-natural ingredients.  The soaps came in a variety of scents.  I chose oatmeal honey, sugared citrus, sandlewood, and blackberry vanilla.  If you would like to check out their soaps and other products, you can visit their website, here.  I also got two new necklaces, two sets of bracelets, and a pair of earrings that match one of the necklaces.

All in all, it was a great day!  If you would like to find out more about Tarpon Springs, click here.

Review: Sephora Professional #45 Mineral Powder Brush

4.5 out of 5 stars

With the multitude of brushes placed before me, I asked a Sephora salesperson for help.  She recommended the mineral brush because it would take less time to use than a regular foundation brush and that it gives your liquid foundation an airbrushed look.  She made a great recommendation!  I love this brush.  I decided to purchase it and use it with the Make Up Forever HD Complexion Starter Kit (You can read my review of the HD Complexion Starter Kit here).

The size of the brush is pretty nice.  The brush is wide enough to cover a large area, but it can get smaller places (such as the bridge of your nose) easily.  The only place I have a little trouble getting to is right around the sides of my nose (you know that awkward place just around your nostrils).  I found that the best thing to do when it comes to that area is to get it as best as I can with my brush (the sides work well) and then blend where needed with my fingers.  When applying my liquid foundation, I use the brush to dab the product where I need it, and then blend it in by using a circular motion.  The thick bristles are perfect for blending!  Why did I take off a half star?  This brush was a little pricey, and it is a little difficult to clean when used with liquid foundation.  I was able to clean it well enough, but the white tips are easy to stain.

Top view

In short, I love the look that this brush gives my makeup.  I will definitely be trying more of the Sephora brush collection.

Be sure to check out the "brushes" label for more brush reviews!

On a final note, I am not affiliated with Sephora in any way.  This review is purely my opinion and was completely honest.  It was not affected by anyone else.  I am not trying to persuade you to purchase any of the products listed.  I try to research my beauty products thoroughly before I purchase them so that I know what to expect before I buy it.  I want to write my own reviews so that I can help others who like to research their purchases too.  I hope that you found this review entertaining and informative.

If you have any questions or comments about my review or the product listed, please feel free to leave them in the comments below! :)

Review: Too Faced Bronzer in Snow Bunny

The issue: During the summer, I tan quickly and my skin looks great.  But during the winter, I have very light skin. I really do not enjoy having such light skin... must be a Florida thing... so I am constantly looking for a way to add a little color to my skin.

During my Sephora Haul last month, I searched for a product to add some color to my pale skin.  While speaking with a saleswoman at Sephora, I told her I was interested in trying a bronzer, but I did not want anything too drastic or anything that would make me orange.  I explained that I was looking for something to add some natural looking color to my skin.  Her suggestion?  Too Faced Perfecting Bronzing Powder in Snow Bunny.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I simply adore this product.  Snow Bunny features four shades, white, golden bronze, delicate pink, and fawn glimmer (see above photo, left to right).  The four shades let you customize your application.  This is not a matte bronzer, but has a bit of shimmer to it.  While it is shimmery, it is not glittery.  I feel that the shimmer helps to make my skin look a little more healthy.  The bronzer comes in a compact which also features a mirror.  The compact is about 3 inches wide, so it is the perfect size to throw in your purse to apply on the go.  I have to add, the outside of the compact is absolutely adorable!

Application: I like to use delicate pink and fawn glimmer as blush, and use primarily white and golden bronze (with a little of delicate pink and fawn glimmer) for the rest of my face.  I typically apply the bronzer in the shape of the number 3 on each side of my face, and then add a little to the bridge of my nose.  When it comes to brush choice, I use the Too Faced Flatbuki (you can read my review of the Too Faced Flatbuki here).  They work fabulously together.

As you can tell, I absolutely love this product.  I only took off a half star because I feel like I have to apply a lot to get the color that I want.  But everyone uses a different amount, so it make take you less product to achieve your perfect glow.  I have to add, this can be taken as a positive, rather than a negative.  With many bronzers I have seen, you think you are putting on just a little bit, and then you realize that you have put on way too much.  This is definitely not the case with this bronzer.

On a final note, I am not affiliated with Sephora or Too Faced in any way.  This review is purely my opinion and was completely honest.  It was not affected by anyone else.  I am not trying to persuade you to purchase any of the products listed.  I try to research my beauty products thoroughly before I purchase them so that I know what to expect before I buy it.  I want to write my own reviews so that I can help others who like to research their purchases too.  I hope that you found this review entertaining and informative.

As always, I would love to hear what you think about my review.  If you have any questions about the product, please feel free to leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer them. :)

Review: Too Faced Sun on the Run kit

Another review from my recent Sephora Haul.

I had been looking at the Too Faced Flatbuki brush on Sephora's website when I came across this kit.  For $5 more it included a mini bronzer in Sun Bunny.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The flatbuki brush isn't your average brush.  It is, however, more or less what it sounds like... a flat kabuki brush.  The brush stands about 2 1/2 inches tall and rather than being super thick like the kabuki, it has more of a flat appearance.  My favorite things about this brush are the super soft "Teddy Bear Hair"bristles (bonus: they are cruelty free).  Not to mention the shiny pink handle is simply adorable.

The kit also includes a bronzing powder in Sun Bunny (0.08 oz).  At first, I was a little intimidated by the color of it.  Once I tried it on, I fell in love!  The color is simply beautiful, and gave my skin a pretty tan color (without looking orange).  The sad thing is that it made my face a little too tan for the rest of my body, so I think I may keep it in my make up bag for now.  But once it gets a little warmer, you can bet that I will use it daily!

When I opened saw this box, I was pretty surprised.  It was much smaller than I expected.  For the price, I had hoped for a little more.  But because it was only $5 more for the bronzer, I think it was still worth purchasing.

On a final note, I am not affiliated with Sephora or Too Faced in any way.  This review is purely my opinion and was not affected by anyone else and was completely honest.  I am not trying to persuade you to purchase any of the products listed.  I try to research my beauty products thoroughly before I purchase them so that I know what to expect before I buy it.  I want to write my own reviews so that I can help others who like to research their purchases too.  I hope that you found this review entertaining and informative.

Review: Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Starter Kit

For my first review, I thought I would start with the Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Starter Kit which I bought during my recent Sephora Haul.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Let me start off by saying although this kit was pretty expensive, it comes with a lot!  The kit includes the HD Microperfecting Primer (0.5 oz), one bottle of HD Invisible Cover Foundation (1.01 oz), the HD Microfinish Powder (0.17 oz), and the HD Kabuki Brush.  I thought I would give you a break down review of each product in the order in which I use them.

The first product I apply is the HD Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral.  At first, I was a little disappointed by how small it was.  However, I quickly realized that a little goes a long way.  The primer has a very light and pleasant scent which I only smell during the application.  It makes my face feel soft and I can definitely feel it creating the perfect base for applying my foundation.  Be sure to let the primer dry before applying your foundation.

Next comes the HD Invisible Cover Foundation.  One thing that is great about this kit is that it lets you choose your own shade of foundation.  At the Sephora store, you just pick your bottle of foundation and place it in the box.  When purchasing online, you choose the kit with your shade in it.  My foundation is #117 in Marble (for light skin with yellow undertones), but I will definitely have to move up a few shades during the summer (although I am very pale in the winter, I tan very easily in the summer).  I noticed a difference between the HD Invisible Cover Foundation and my previous foundation.  This foundation gives great coverage, something that I am always looking for.  I wouldn't say that I have horrible skin, but I wouldn't say that I have great skin either.  I guess I am somewhere in between.  Surprisingly, I found that the foundation feels much lighter and natural on my face than others with extra coverage.  I usually feel that I have to either sacrifice coverage or feel with foundations, but this one has it all!  The HD Invisible Cover Foundation comes in a ton of different shades, so I was able to find one that matched my skin perfectly, rather than having to choose one that was a little too light or a little too dark.  I also have combination skin.  I found that this foundation works well with combo skin because it has enough moisture to not be drying, but it doesn't add extra oil either.  To apply to my skin, I use my Sephora Professional #45 mineral powder brush.  I dab the foundation onto my skin, and then blend it in with the brush in a circular motion.

The last two products, the HD Microfinish Powder and the HD Kabuki Brush, I use together.  The Kabuki is super soft and it feels amazing on my face.  The base is about 1 inch wide, and the brush stands a little under 3 inches tall.  The brush is very thick and despite it's small size, it gives full coverage.

The HD Microfinish Powder pleasantly surprised me.  In fact, it amazed me!  I honestly didn't think it would make that big of a difference, but wow. Wow, wow, wow.  This little pot of powder makes all the difference.  It is ultra fine powder and is made from 100% silica.  It is uber soft and feels like I'm rubbing pixie dust on my face.  Or crushed pearls.  Or you know, something else magical.  Not only does it feel magical, but it really creates the perfect finish to my makeup.  It really makes my skin flawless looking.  The powder slightly mattifies your skin, it's translucent, and it works with any skin tone.  This is also an Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner, so you know it has to be good!

All in all, this is one amazing kit.  My skin feels great, and it looks great too.  It is long lasting, so I don't have to worry about it melting off of my face or having to reapply throughout the day.  I am tempted to carry my powder and kabuki in my purse with me, just because they feel so amazing.  Although this set is a little pricey, it is a great deal.  The kit costs $79, but it is a $109 value.  When I first bought this kit, I thought that it probably wouldn't be too much better than my usual foundation (which I could pick up at any drugstore or my local Walmart), but I was dead wrong.  I know now that I will never be able to go back to my old makeup.

At Sephora, you can test these products before you buy them, so I would definitely recommend trying trying out the foundation before purchasing it so that you are able to match your shade.

Now it's your turn.  What do you think of this kit?  Would you like to try it?  Have you tried any of the products before?  Which products do you use and love?

On a final note, I am not affiliated with Sephora or Make Up For Ever in any way.  This review is purely my opinion and was not affected by anyone else and was completely honest.  I am not trying to persuade you to purchase the Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Starter Kit or any of the products listed.  I try to research my beauty products thoroughly before I purchase them so that I know what to expect before I buy it.  I want to write my own reviews so that I can help others who like to research their purchases too.  I hope that you found this review entertaining and informative.

Sephora Haul!

For Christmas, I received a few gift cards for my local mall.  What happens when I have money to spend at the mall?  I go crazy in Sephora!

If you haven't heard of Sephora, I urge you to find one near you or check out their website as soon as you finish reading this post.  You can check out their website here.  One of the things that I love most about Sephora is that they carry a number of different brands in addition to their own.  This makes it easy to pick out the best product for you without having to remain with the same brand.  I also love that you can try almost every product before you buy it.  Also the salespeople at my Sephora are so friendly and helpful.

I had my eye on the Make Up Forever HD Complexion Starter Kit for a few weeks, so naturally that is where I headed first.  The kit includes HD Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral, HD Invisible Cover Foundation in your shade (mine is #117), HD Microfinish Powder, and HD Kabuki Brush.  (You can read my review of the HD Complexion Starter Kit here).

I also purchased the Sephora professional #45 mineral powder brush.  With the multitude of brushes placed before me, I asked a Sephora salesperson for help.  She recommended the mineral brush because it would take less time to use than a regular foundation brush and that it gave your makeup an airbrushed look.

I also looked for a concealer to help hide my dark under-eye circles (more on that in a post coming soon).  Once again, I was overwhelmed, but my salesperson helped me narrow down my choices.  After trying on a few concealers, I chose the Amazing Concealer in Light Golden.  I chose the smallest tube, but a larger one is also available.

In addition to concealer, I looked for a bronzer to add a little color to my light skin.  I was a little nervous about choosing a bronzer because I did not want to look like a pumpkin.  I tried on Too Faced bronzer in Snow Bunny and fell in love!  The color is great to add some warmth to my often too pale skin. (You can read my review of the Too Faced Bronzer in Snow Bunny here.)

As I hunted for a good bronzer brush, I picked the Too Faced Sun on the Run kit.  The kit includes a mini bronzer in Sun Bunny and the Too Faced flatbuki brush.  So small.  So cute.  (You can read my review of the Too Faced Sun on the Run kit here.)

Last, I picked up some Sephora brush cleaner to help me clean off my pretty new brushes.  I chose the small bottle so that I can see how much I like it, but a larger bottle is also available.

As usual, Sephora also hooked me up with lots of awesome free samples!  Really, who doesn't love free stuff?


Through the poll I posted last week, I found out that you all would like to read some reviews and recommendations.  As a result, I decided that I will be posting reviews of all of these products in the near future.  Once I do, I will add the links to this post so that if you ever decide to re-read it, you will have access to all of the product reviews.  Don't worry, I will be sure to spread them out so that you don't get too tired of make up (if that could ever happen).  Look for my first review on the MUFE HD kit soon.  It is definitely my favorite out of these purchases and I am dying to write about it.

Have you tried any of these products?  If so, which one?  If not, which one would you most likely want to try?

Oh and before I forget, for those of you wanting to know a little more about me, check out my new "About Me" tab located at the top of the page.  If you have any questions about me that are not answered there, feel free to ask.  There is another new tab up there as well with a list of a few of my favorite blogs.  Let me know what you think! :)

I (heart) free stuff!

As most of you know, the holidays are quickly approaching.  As a newly married, full time college student, it goes without saying that a little extra money for Christmas presents wouldn't be a bad thing.  I thought I would share two of my favorite websites with you in the hopes that you would be able to earn a few free gifts for your loved ones this holiday season.  I know what you're probably thinking, "Aren't those sites just scams?"  I would never recommend anything that I don't believe in.  The two following websites are ones that I personally use and have redeemed free stuff from.

Site #1: Swagbucks.com

What it is: Swagbucks is a website that is free and easy to use.  You preform searches and do other activities on the website to earn "swagbucks" which can then be redeemed for prizes or used to enter raffles.  The easiest way to win swagbucks is by using the search engine.  You use it like you would use Google.  Type in your search and you may win swagbucks!  Another way to win is to view videos on SBTV (Swagbucks TV).  Watch videos until your meter fills up and then you get swagbucks.  There are also ways to win swagbucks like voting on the daily poll, completing surveys, viewing the no obligation special offers, using coupons, and more!

My experience: I have been using swagbucks for just under a year and a half.  During that time I have redeemed 7 prizes.  In the past two weeks I have been using the site more often that I used to and have redeemed 3 prizes in that period alone!  My favorite prize is the $5 Amazon.com gift card.  I am currently saving up to use them to buy Christmas presents.

If you would like to join swagbucks.com, please consider using my referral info.  That way when you win, I win too! All you have to do is click the banner below and sign up.  :)

Site #2: MyCokeRewards.com

What it is: This site will only be useful if you drink Coke products.  If you didn't know it by now, I LOVE Diet Coke.  So I find this site extremely rewarding.  Have you ever noticed the code on the bottom of your twist off Coke caps?  Simply set up an account on the My Coke Rewards website and start entering your codes.  They can be found on all Coke products.  Once you set up an account online you can even set it up so that you can text your codes and they will add the points to your account.  It's so easy!

My experience: I have been using this website a little longer than the swagbucks.com website.  During the time that I have been a My Coke Rewards I have redeemed prizes such as various magazine subscriptions, gift cards, and even a backpack!  But there are so many other awesome prizes to choose from.  I currently have my eye on some very cool products from Snapfish.com.

Want more info?  Check out mycokerewards.com!

Hopefully you have found this information interesting.  Do you use either swagbucks.com or mycokerewards.com?  Do you have another website that you would like to share?  Let me know, I would love to check it out!

Happy saving!

#8. Find a pretty fall nail polish color

The other day while I was visiting my local drugstore (picking up supplies for a school assignment of course), I couldn't resist walking through the beauty department.  I decided that it was time to pick out my fall nail polish color.  After all, it is part of my fall challenge!  There were so many pretty colors to choose from.  During the summer, my nail polish motto is, "the brighter, the better!"  Now that it's fall, I decided to try something a little different.  After much deliberation, I chose a bottle of NYC In A New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in a pretty shade called Manhattan.  Manhattan is a dark purple color (maybe you could call it mauve).  My favorite thing about the NYC nail polish line is how inexpensive it is.  I bought a 0.33 oz bottle for $2.  Although this nail polish is not a top of the line polish, I change colors frequently (I try to repaint them at least once a week), I can't afford to buy the expensive brands every time.  All in all, I was happy with my purchase and I love my new fall color! :)

From NYC:
"At last, a manicure that moves at the speed of Manhattan. NYC's In a New York Color Minute nail polish is slick, glossy polish that goes from wet to set in less than 60 seconds with a special control-flow brush that dispenses just the right amount of color for perfect application…even if you need to apply while heading across town in a taxi. Be vibrant, be brilliant and be bright for less."

Pros:
Wide range of colors
Dries quickly
Inexpensive
Full brush

Cons:
Needs top coat for shine/even finish
Must use at least 2 coats for even color

Here is a photo.  It isn't great but that is only because my camera cord is missing and I had to use my phone. :)  Also, I'm out of clear top coat, so I will have to post another photo once I restock so my nails will look all pretty and shiny.

Here is another photo featuring someone with very pretty nails and a very nice camera. :)

As you can see, the color is dark purple, but in certain light, you can see a hint of red.

Have you every tried NYC nail polish?  What is your favorite "on-a-budget" nail polish line?

#14. Go to a flea market

First of all, happy fall!

As of last Friday, September 23, it is officially the fall season!  If you have been reading my blog lately, you will probably remember that I started a fall challenge as a way to get more into the spirit of fall (if you missed my post, check it out here).

Item number 14 on my list was to visit a flea market.  Today after church, my husband and I thought we would venture out to our local flea market.  The first thing I learned was that if you want to go to the flea market, it is probably best to go early on Saturday morning.  By the time we got there it was late Sunday afternoon (but still a few hours before closing).  Many of the vendors had already packed up and  left.  We did still find some interesting things (though we came home empty handed).  For one, did you know that you can buy socks and underwear and the flea market?  Did you know that you can also have moles removed at the flea market?  Yep, you read that right.  We also found a vendor selling homemade soap (which I must say, it was pretty cool), another selling adorable purses, and another selling more sports memorabilia than I cared to see.  I look forward to going back during the busier hours to see what else I can find.

Wandering around the flea market made me think to myself, "where in the world did they get the name 'flea market' from?"  I decided to look it up.  According to Word-Detective.com, we don't know for sure where the name came from.  The best guess, however, comes from the popular Le Marche aux Puces (that's the "market of the fleas" for all you non-French speakers) in Paris.  The name came from the belief that the merchants' goods were more than likely infested with fleas.  For more information, you can read the full article here.

Have you ever been to the flea market?  If so, what did you think?  What was your best find?  Are you willing to check one out now that you know more about them?

I look forward to my next adventure, and I hope you do too! :)