Product Review: Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse Foudation

Hello Beauties!

For today's product review ( yes, another drugstore review), I want to talk about The Dream Matte Mousse Foundation from Maybelline. I am going to be straight up honest with you. This is by far the worst foundation I have ever used. When I first purchased it, I was excited because I had seen the commmercials, and the concept seemed so cool. Then I got it home, and used it for a few weeks. It was AWFUL. Yes, the mousse texture is awesome, and defintely a cool idea. However, no matter how little of product I used, it always felt extremely heavy on my face. It appeared very cakey, no matter how much effort I would spend blending it. I tried both a foundation brush and sponge, neither could fix it! I am an extremely pale person, and I usually need one of, if not the lightest foundation available in most lines of makeup. I got the very lightest that they had, and it would still appear orange-ish. It also felt like it settled into my skin. My mother (she's 48, and has wrinkles) used the foundaiton, and it just settled into he wrinkles and fine lines. I have combination skin, and it really accentuated dry patching. All in all, the product was dissappointing, and I would defintely not repurchase it. There are too many decent foundations available at drugstores that are such better quality, for a similar price. I reccomed purchasing a different one! I have the same complaints about their airbrush liquid foundation, and have heard that the new foam foundation is not the best, either. I think the concepts are awesome, but need perfecting. But hey, Maybelline has my favorite drugstore mascaras and eyeshadows-props!

Have you tried this product? Thoughts?

X's and O's,
Amanda

German Makeup Trend : The Minimalist

Hey Sunshines!

Since I have been living here in Germany, I have noticed a common trend when it comes to makeup- minimalist makeup! Maybe it's just the people I have personally seen, but I can't say I don't love it! Here, I hardly know of many women who use a liquid foundation. most girls use powder, a bit of eyeliner, mascara, and maybe a lip product. When I see girls with eyeshadows, many only use one or two colors at a time ( i am nuts and use about 4 at a time or more!). I love the minimalist look. It lets your natural beauty shine through, while palying up your features. This spring, I have been toning down my eyes quite a bit, and focusing on bright lips:) I think minimal makeup is better in warmer weather, not all the creasing and smudging. It is so carefree and confident! You don't have to pile makeup on your face to be beautiful!
How have you been doing your makeup this spring?
X's and O's,
Amanda

Closet Essential : Black & Nude Pumps

Hello Beauties!

In today's Closet Essential post, I want to talk about my favorite shoes : black& nude pumps! Black or nude pumps are classics, and can go with anything from jeans to dresses! They are versatille, and I think they really add something to your outfit.

Unlike other closet essentials , (i.e. perfect jeans), your pumps can be more tailored to your preferences. They can be as high as you like, platform, no platform, etc! My reccomendation is that they aren't any style that is too extreme ( lacing halfway up your leg, anyone?). Nude pumps go with absolutely EVERYTHING. Yes, I mean EVERYTHING! They will match any color you are wearing. Black will match just about everything. I defintely reccomend having a pair of each in your closet. You can pair your pumps with skinny jeans and any top for a casual/put together look, or go for glam by rocking a beautiful dress. A bonus? Nude pumps elongate your legs when you are showing off your legs. Who couldn't use longer legs, right? Here are a few extra tips for your never-fail pumps:

1. If you are fuller in your legs, avoid straps that wrap around the ankle when purchasing black pumps. They can cut your leg length off, and make your legs appear thicker.

2. Make sure you can walk in your pumps. Walk around the store a bit to get a feel for them. Practice makes perfect! Remember to walk heel to toe, don't lift your legs  up and set them down! A tip to see if they are a good heaight for you : stand straight, and try to stand up in your shoes. If you can life yourself out of the shoe with ease, these will likely be comfy for you!

3. The color "nude" can vary. While general nude tones will look great with anything, I reccomend a nude that is similar to your personal skin tone.

That's all for today's Closet Essential! I love heels:) Look out for another product review and Wedding things post coming soon!
X's and O's,
Amanda

Wedding Things : Invitations and Favors

Hello Dolls!
For today's main post, I want to discuss two crucial wedding elements ; the invitations, and the favors. While seemingly small, these two elements are some of the most crucial. They can make a huge difference in your wedding. So read on for some advice! :)

Invitations:
Okay, I said seemingly small, but the invitation is probably one of most important things in your wedding. Not only do invitations tell you guests when and where your big day will take place( a tad important, eh?), they can set the mood for the wedding, and announce the formality of the event without directly stating it. For example, if the wedding is going to be a more formal event, the wording might go a little something like " Anna Green and Joe Smith Request the honor of your presence at their marriage on....",etc. A more informal wedding might read along the lines of " Anna Green and Joe Smith request the pleasure of your company .....". Wording is key. To answer some invitation FAQ's, here are a few extra pieces of advice:

1. Whoever is footing the bill of the wedding should be included in the invitation. For example, if the bride's parents are paying, the invitation could say:

Carla and Arthur Green Request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter
  Anna Green
        to
  Joe Smith

If you want to mention the groom's parents, you can do so after the groom's name ( Joe Smith , son of Marie and Bill Smith)

If the couple is paying, or the wedding is more informal, you can omit the parent's names, and just let you and your fiance' be the ones inviting.
No matter what, the bride's name should be placed first, and the mother of either set of parents should also be placed before the father.

2. Add an R.S.V.P. date, i.e. " Please respond no later than, May 15th, 2012". This can really save you. By having an R.S.V.P. date, you should ideally be able to give the caterers, etc. a final headcount for food. However, don't assume all who recieve invites will adhere to this. If you don't hear from some guests, it is okay to call about 2 weeks before the wedding, you need a final headcount!

3. Make sure those invitations go out in plenty of time before the event! A good rule of thumb is six months in advance, however shorter engagements and other circumstances might require that you send them out on shorter notice. For instances like these, send them out A.S.A.P.!

4. Invitations can be pricey, but they don't have to be.  Unless gilded invitations were on your " Wedding Must Haves" list, it's okay to shop around. Make sure they aren't too flimsy or cheap looking, though. There are tons of places that have quality, beautiful invitations that won't break your budget. It is good however, to leave a little extra room in your budget for these. There are lots of Do-it-yourself ideas when it comes to invitations, but you had better be good at it.

5. Double check, triple check, then check again. The costs for post and the invitations themselves may not be too expensive, but the cost to re-send them could make them such. Not only is re-issuing invitations costly, it's embarrassing. Check over and over for spelling mistakes and missing or incorrect information. after checking it yourself several times, have someone else look over them for anything you may have missed.


Wedding Favors:
Many people ask if wedding favors are a necessary step. I truly wonder why it is even a question! YES, this is a step you cannot skip! Wedding favors are a way of thanking the guests who took the time and energy to come celebrate the biggest day of your life with you. They deserve a thank you, no matter how small. There are so many options when it comes to favors. They can be really inexpensive, too. There's no need to blow a bunch of your budget on these. It can be as simple as filling small, cheap, colored boxes with candy. You can really make inexpensive favors look fancier with ribbon, etc. The bottom line: it is necessary that favors are included to thank your guests.

Look out for lots of posts this week!
X's and O's,
Amanda

Little Things For Healthier Hair

Hey Beautifuls,

We all wish our hair looked like this, right? If you're lucky, yours does. But for the many of us who abuse the crap out of our hair with blow-drying, heat styling, teasing, etc, we long for the style AND the healthy look. When you're always heat styling, etc, it can be hard to have radiant, healthy locks. I've recently been trying to get my hair into a better condition, and there are so many easy, small things you can do with your hair routine that make the biggest difference! Here are a few of my tips:

1. Just like curling, blow-drying, etc., using hot water to rinse your hair can be damaging. Rinse your hair with cool water. Bonus: it helps tame frizz.

2. Washing too frequently is another factor that can dry your hair out and take away it's natural shine! My hair tends to begin to get oily every 24 hours. But it's certainly not way too greasy . If you can, wash every other day, blotting excess oil with powder or dry shampoo on the day you don't wash. Sometimes, dry shampoo doesn't cut it for a nice event, but try to give your hair a couple of days off during the week.

3. Don't brush your hair when it is sopping wet. This can realllllly damage your hair. I shower at night before bed so that I am not rushing to do so in the mornings, and I was guilty of this. Leave your hair alone until it is about 80% dry before brushing.

4. When you can help it, don't blow dry your hair. Let it air dry! This is so much healthier, and I found it doesn't take too long, and I have LONG hair.

5. When you must blow dry, use a blow-dry spray to heat protect your hair. We all know to use heat protectant when heat styling, but most dont think about blow-drying!

6. Tie your hair into a ponytail at night. Trust me.

7. Use good products. Find a shampoo and conditioner that suit your hair's needs.

8. Deep condition. I like to deep condition twice a week. You can purchase a deep conditioner, or make your own! If you want to mix your own, take 3 egg yolks, equal parts olive oil and mayonaise, and mix them up. Apply this to your hair, and pile your hair on top of your head. I reccomend putting a plastic bag over your head. Leave on for 30 minutes, and rinse well! No need to shampoo afterwards!

9. If you can, avoid heat styling a couple of times a week.  Like I mentioned, giving your hair a break will do it good. There are tons of heat-free styles to do that are cute, minus the damage!

10. Get frequent trims, and if you can, sleep on a satin pillowcase.

11. When coloring your hair, get it professionally done. You'd be suprised at the damage you can do at home. Leave it to the pros.

12. Wear a hat protectant when you go out in the sun. Even if you aren't heat styling, it's important to wear a protectant spray when you go in the sun. The sun is heat, afterall! Most people don't think of that, however.

By really sticking to this and following these tips, your hair should improve dramatically. Even if you find you do most of these, maybe there's one you didn't think about! Be nice to your hair, and it will return the favor by looking radiant! :)

Happy Conditioning!
X's and O's,
Amanda

Food Love: Unexpected, Easy, Yummy!

Hey Everyone!
I came across these foods since I have been here in Germany, and while they sounded weird at first, they ended up being delicious! The best part? They're extremely easy! So introducing: Orange Juice and Ice Cream, and Ketchup and Noodles.

Orange Juice and Ice Cream:

This unexpected treat is truly yummy. I tried it at a local restaurant here, and was hesitant because it sounded really weird. But once I tasted it, I couldn't get enough! All you need is some OJ, and Vanilla Ice Cream. Fill a glass up with some OJ about half way or so, then add a scoop(or a few, teehee) of vanilla ice cream! A perfect treat for the upcoming warm weather!

Ketchup and Noodles:

Again, this sounded bizarre. In fact, the first time it was ever presented to me, I declined it. I finally tried it though, and YUM! It's genious because it's so easy. All you need is pasta of your choosing, and ketchup. Cook pasta accoring to packaging directions, and serve the desired amout, then put as much or as little ketchup as you'd like over the top, and mix. Voila'! You just made a quick fix dinner. I think this would be a good idea to keep in mind for those times when you're broke. Both ingridients are inexpensive!

I hope you guys give these a try! Let me know what you think! Do you have any "strange"  recipies? Comment below!
X's and O's,
Amanda

A German/American Compare and Contrast:)

Hello Sunshines!
Today, I wanted to make a breif post about some differences I have noticed between America and Germany. This is just a fun little post, I will post again later today! :)

Food:
Germans do some weird things with their food. For example, they eat their hashbrowns with applesauce. In America, most people use ketchup. Mac and cheese, anything mexican, and maple syrup are practically unheard of here. There are no twinkies. No pancake mixes, and no Cool Whip! NO COOL WHIP! In fact, whipped cream in a container is a very new concept here, and you usually have to just make it yourself. When in an American grocery store and you want pasta sauce, you will find tons of options, both red and white sauces. After searching in grocery stores everywhere, I am going out on a limb to say they dont have alfredo, etc. If they do, you probably have to craft that yourself. There are also very few premade cake mixes. Almost all cakes are made from scratch, and they don't really sell cake mixes like you would find at an American store. I also have yet to see frosting. Cakes simply aren't the same here. They do have brownie mix, but it just doesn't taste the same.

Drinking:
As you may be aware, the legal age for alcohol consumption in the states is 21. Here in Germany, you can legally drink beer and wine at 16, and hard liqour with 18. I like this better than the American law. My reasoning is that when people under 21 get together to drink, they do so to get wasted and it gets out of control. They have to hide it from their parents, and hide from the law. Here in Germany, when young people get together, it's mainly to chill while having a few drinks. It's not too overdone here because it is not forbidden.

Driving:
Alright, both countries have some mad-crazy drivers! The cars here in Germany are so much smaller as a whole. I have litterally seen 1 pickup, and the average car is about Prius size. The gas prices here are MUCH higher than in the states. Because Germany doesn't have natural oil resources, ALL fuel is imported, and very expensive. Because the Euro is stronger than the dollar, and gas is sold by the liter, not gallon, when you convert liters to gallons then dollars to Euros, the gas price here works out to about $9.00 a gallon! Here, you also need to be muc older to drive(about 18), and driver's education is very expensive. One thing I like here is the lack of drunk driving. Drivers here are severely punished when they drive intoxicated, much more so than the states, so they don't risk it. Most people I know here won't get behind the wheel if they've had a beer within the last few hours. Also, the majority of cars here are stick shift, few automatics!

Other General Things:
Germans seem much unfriendlier than Americans. In alot of places in America, it is common to recognize people with a smile, nod, something! Here, people come off as extremely cold. Recycling is much more common than in the States. You actually have to seperate your garbage, recycle glass, and there's a .25 Euro cent reward at the stores for every plastic bottle you bring in. I love all the recylcing. Also, alot of towns I have been to have a recycling bin for old clothes, which they donate to the needy. All in all, Both countries have wonderful things about them. It's such a priveledge to be able to experience a new way of life.

Have you been to other countries? Tell me about them!