It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Hello my pretties!

Do you like the new snowflake look for Sugarfee? I decided to change it up for the holidays :)
Speaking of the holidays...

I know, I know, EVERYONE loves Christmas, and how could you not? My love/ obession for this time of the year is beyond just that, it is my PASSION! I absolutely live for Christmas, and this whole season in general. December is my all-time favorite month of the year, so in honor of the season, I am doing BLOGIDAYS! I will be blogging at least once per day every day in December!Get ready for recipies, festive looks, gift guides, and anything else you all want to see! If you have any requests, PLEASE let me know! I had requests for the first few days of December already, but it is not too late!

If any of you are doing Blogidays/ festive blogging, let me know so I can check out your blog!!
Let's spread the holiday cheer!!

X's and O's,
Amanda

Brushes on a Budget!

Hello Snowflakes!

Brushes are an essential part to anyone's makeup kit, but let's be real.. they can get REALLY expensive! To make things worse, you see these makeup collection videos on Youtube, and they have hundreds of brushes in their collections! How many brushes does  one girl need, and how does one aqquire them without going broke?? Don't worry, I have got ya covered ;)


First off, how many brushes do you need? I am a hoarder, and have mulitiples of everything, but one of each of the following would suffice:

~Complexion/Powder brush
~ Foundation Brush
~ Flat Shader brush
~Crease Brush (can double as blending brush)
~ Angled liner brush

So, contrary to populr belief, you don't HAVE to splash out alot on brushes. Several brands offer very affordable options. Here are my top 3 choices!

~ E.L.F. offers their normal line of brushes for just $1 each. These are not super quality, but they do function. Their Studio Line is much better quality, and each of those brushes is offered for just $3 a brush.

~ For those of you who are looking to get as many brushes as possible for your money, I got a fabulous brush set at Target. They are the Sonja Kashuk dual sided brushes. Each brush has a dual end, so they each function as 2 when you turn them over. The brushes are amazing quality, and I only paid $19.99 for the set!!

~Target's own brand also offers makeup brushes. I have seen them range from $2-6 depending on the purpose of the brush. I absolutely love these brushes! Excellent quality!

I hope some of you found this helpful, happy brush shopping!!

X's and O's,
Amanda

Product Review: Maybelline's Color Show Nail Polishes

Hello, and happy Saturday!
Did any of you go Black Friday shopping? I was wishing to be in the states yesterday just for the shopping! I will catch it next year, though!

Today, I really wanted to discuss a product that I was pleasently suprised by : The Maybelline Color Show nail polishes. I had read very mixed reviews on them, and noticed that they were super inexpensive at the store, so I was skeptical. I did pick up three of them to give them a go, and I love them!

The three shades I own are Wine Shimmer,Blue Ocean, and Lavender Lies.Now, these polishes do require more than one coat, however, once you have built up the color, they are stunning. They also have really long wear, mine didn't even begin to chip for over a week! The packaging is cute, and the price is a can't beat deal! They are sold here for 2.25 Euros each. These would make the perfect stocking stuffers or small gifts for friends! I am going to pick up Candy Apple Red next!

Do any of you own these polishes? How do you like them?

X's and O's,
Amanda

Review: The 30 Day Shred Program

Hello beautiful ones!

So yesterday, I had a little accomplishment...  I completed the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels!
I feel so, so good, and couldn't be happier with the results! I wanted to thouroughly review this program, and hopefully inspire some of you to give it a try!

What it is:

The 30 Day Shred is an exercise program designed by Jillian Michaels. The goal of the program is to get you "shredded" in 30 days time. It consists of three levels, each lasting ten days. Each workout is 20 minutes long ( a few minutes extra with warm up and cool down), and is set up in circuit training. There are three circuits per workout : 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, 1 minute of abs. This program claims that you can lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days.

How I did it:

The program reccomends that you do not take any days off for resting. I followed this, and I feel like I got fit faster. I felt pretty sore at first, but it is your body trying to get used to the new workouts! I think your body adapts faster if you just push throught the soreness. I really enjoyed that the workout was only 20 minutes long, it was super easy to fit in to my sometimes hectic schedule! As far as diet, I already eat very clean and healthy due to my Celiac Disease, so there was not really any modifications. I did try to be more concious of portions, though. I lost ten pounds on this program, got toned, and I feel so much stronger and fitter now! I couldn't be happier, but I am also aware that this program is more of a kickstart to a better lifestyle, and I will need to continue to exercise to maintain results.

Here are the pros/ cons of the program:

Pros:
~Very short, is easy to fit into any schedule
~ Can be watched from Youtube, so it is free if you choose!
~ requires very little equipment. You only need 2-5 pound weights. I used 2, and it seemed too easy at times, but defintely provided enough resistance.
~ It isn't a super long term program
~ It offers beginner modifications for most of the exercises, so it's perfect for people new to exercise or with injuries.

Cons:
~ The specific diet plan is only available if you are a paid member of Jillian's website.

My tips if you try the program:

~ Don't skip days, even if you're sore. Pushing through it will cause your body to change faster.
~ Weigh yourself before you begin the program, but do not get on the scale for at least 2 weeks. I made this mistake of getting on the scale day 5, and was horrified to see that I gained 4 pounds! I later learned that this is because your muscles swell up and gain mass faster than fat goes away, but you will start noticing results shortly afterwards!
~ Don't deprive yourself, but do exercise portion control.

I would reccomend this program to anyone looking to get a good kickstart to a fit healthy lifestyle! It's easy and anyone can do it! If you have any questions, or want the youtube links to the videos, let me know! Happy Shredding :)

X's and O's,
Amanda

Healthy Living : My Disease, and Diet

Helllooooo!

So good to be back and blogging! I've had a crazy amount of stuff going on, and a huge chunk of that has been my health.

As I have talked about in a previous Healthy Living post, I am anemic, and have a low-functioning thyroid. But recently, my doctor diagnosed me with something that not only explains the anemia, it explains the past 10 years of my unsolved health mysteries. My diagnosis?

Celiac Disease.

For those of you who have never heard the term, it means that my body cannot process Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When I eat food containing Gluten, the villi in my intestines are damaged. Unfortunately, my villi are pretty destroyed. My doctor believes that the onset of my disease was about age 11. At age 21, that means that I have been destroying my stomach for 10 years, and the damage shows in my tests. This has not only affected my intestines, but my liver as well. The good news? My villi will repair themselves over time as long as I stick to a strict, gluten free diet. The bad news? I have to be on this diet for life, and EVERYTHING has gluten in it! Ugh!

Despite the challenge to find good, gluten-free foods, I feel amazing! I have truly never felt better, and I have lost 7 pounds in the  last 2 weeks. I have so much energy, I look healthy, and I haven't suffered any tummy aches( before my diagnosis, tummy aches were almost daily!).

I know many people go on Gluten-Free diets to aid in weight loss even when they don't suffer from Celiac or other Gluten Intolerances. I have never heard anything negative, people really do feel better! I would reccomend everyone to try it. So, now that I have explained Celiac, I am going to go over how to go Gluten Free the healthy way, and how a gluten free diet can aid in weight loss.

First, let's talk about how people gain weight, or have trouble losing on a Gluten-Free diet. When you see chips, breads, pastas, cookies, etc. labeled 'Gluten Free', most people's minds translate it into "healthier". Let me clear this up. Gluten Free does not mean 'calorie free', 'carbohydrate free', 'fat free', etc. In fact, most gluten free products have MORE carbs than the regular products do. "Gluten Free" is not a license to eat loads of carb-rich/ fatty foods. It's all about portion control! I reccommend reading labels and measuring food so you can have a clear idea of how much you are consuming. I also reccommend limiting carbohydrate-rich foods. Another thing to keep in mind for those of you who are actually Celiac patients: because your villi will be healing themselves, they will eventually be able to absorb more of the nutrients from the foods you consume. Without a good, monitered diet and exercise, this can cause weight gain. I'm not big on calorie counting, but it is a good idea to talk with your nutritionist (or find a trustworthy online calculator) to learn approximately how many calories you should be consuming, and try to stay at or under that limit daily. The easiest way to do this is with the use of a food journal.

Now, onto the weight loss/ being healthier tips when going gluten-free:
~ Use a food journal. Recording everything you eat not only helps keep you aware of calorie consumption, it gives you an idea of where you should increase/ cut back. If you can look back in the diary and see that most of your calories came from breads, and there weren't many veggies, you can be more concious of where those calories are coming from.

~ Make sure to get the majority of your calories from Fruits and Veggies. Fruits and veggies are naturally gluten free foods, and are high in fiber, hence, more filling. I have been eating fresh foods and eating little to no processed foods. I have lost 8 pounds in just 2 weeks.

I hope you found this information helpful! Are any of you on a gluten-free diet?

X's and O's,
Amanda

Fashion Issues - Counterfeit Merchandise

Hello, and Happy Monday!

Today, I want to take the time to address an issue that is a pretty big deal : counterfeit fashion and cosmetics.

It seems harmless, purchasing a bag with the Louis Vuitton logo for a super small fraction of the cost. But purchasing fake fashion merchandise and cosmetics is wrong, and harmful to you, the consumer, in the long run.

I have been swept up in the whole knock-off bag thing before. Having visited New York a few times, I did happen to enevtiably run into Canal Street, a.k.a. Counterfeit Central. My first time, I was 16, and thought it was marvelous that you could purchase a Coach handbag for $25. But with education and maturity, I retired my knockoffs to boxes in my garage. Here's why :


1. YOU the consumer pay taxes every year that are a result of the counterfeit business. Yep, the counterfeiting problem in the United States alone costs tax payers over $2 Billon per year. So while you are giving cold hard cash to the sketchy guy in a van on Canal street, you are paying taxes for this. Suddenly, that bag just got more expensive.

2. It is ethically wrong. They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but in the case of counterfeiting, this is NOT the case. Because knock-off items are not manufactured with nearly the same quality, it is an insult to the designer who spends so long designing high-quality, luxurious items. Sure you may idolize Marc Jacobs, but you are essentially disrespecting him buy purchasing a fake one of his bags, instead of perhaps saving for a while to purchase an authentic one. Saving and working hard for the authentic item would show more loyalty to the brand.

3. You look, well, ridiculous. Yes, most people who can afford real, authentic designer items can spot a fake from a mile away. Although nobody may directly say it to your face, you will get laughed at and judged. Buying couterfeits to show that you have more money than you do just makes you look desperate, and worse than if you were poor.

So now that you have an idea of WHY you shouldn't purchase these items, here are some ways to spot fakes so you don't purchase them on accident :

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Louis Vuitton will never sell a bag for $100, MAC will never sell a brush for $3. If it sounds like a dream deal, you'd be wasting your money.

2. Where you purchase the bag. The only way to guaruntee that you are purchasing a %100 authentic item is to purchase the item from the official website, one of the designers stores or outlets, or an authorized retailer (such as a department store). Never trust an online retailer like Ebay for designer items, and keep in mind that no designer will sell their merchandise in a sketchy warehouse or from the back of the van. If you have doubt about a retailer, contact the company first hand and ask if the seller is authorized.

3. Look for mistakes. Common tell tale signs of fakies are things like : mispelled logos, poor crafstmanship, imperfections such as things that aren't centered, cheap-feeling materials, cosmetics with odd features unlike authentic versions (i.e. extra compartment for sponge tip applicator for a "Mac Eyeshadow" is FAKE)

If you come across a fake retailer, gather as many details about it, and report it to the designer by mail or email. You can find information on their websites.

In closing, I know it's tempting. Most of us love the style and luxury of designer items, but often cannot afford the rather hefty price tag. That is simply the nature of the beast. My philosophy is that if you want it bad enough, you will work to get it. I can promise you that working hard and saving will be so rewarding when you have the item in your hand, a much better feeling than having a luxury item that you and your friends know isn't real. The truth is, counterfeiting is a serious issue that needs to be taken more seriously. You want to support fashion? Don't purchase these cheap items, and report those who sell. Honestly, a knockoff bag for $50 seems like a great deal, but you could get a nice bag that maybe isn't 'designer" for $50, rather than the cheaply made counterfeit.

I hope some of you found these tips helpful, or that you learned something!

X's and O's,
Amanda

Learn to Enjoy Your Job!

Hey Beauties!

Let's face it; not many of us who work can say that they love their job. Having worked various jobs since the age of 14, I can relate to dreading going to work. Although you may not yet have your dream job, there's no reason that you can't learn to enjoy the job you currently hold. Here are some tips to enjoy your job and be a better employee! This is  a little lengthy, so I hope you're snuggled in!

I know you. You get consumed with thoughts of "ughhh.... I don't want to work!" when the clock strikes time to leave. You think of a million other things you could be doing, and may or may not have pulled some ridiculous excuses to get out of working.

First things first, if you don't like your job, you need to have an honest look into the reason why.
Let me guess, you don't like work because your boss is a jerk, there's drama with the people you work with, customers are rude, you don't like your schedule, yada yada. Here are tips on how to deal:

1. You don't like work because of your boss. Try putting a new perspective on things. Your boss may be cranky, "unfair", etc, but have you ever considered why? Here's the thing, with greater power comes with greater responsibility. Yes, they may have a higher paying, "better" job, but they have to also put up with a LOT. Having been an assistant manager, I can say, it's hard to always be fair and please your crew. No matter how carefully you plan a good schedule, someone will have a problem. When someone calls in sick, you have to find a replacement, and when you can't YOU have to work. The manager deals with unhappy customers, and has a multitude of other responsibilities. So instead of constantly coming to your boss with issues, and looking at things negatively, give people a break. When you interact with your boss, always be kind and respectful, and try to be part of solutuions, not issues. If you have a scheduling issue, bring it up poilitely, and be willing to bend. You'd rather have a different shift Thursday? Offer to work on a different day, worka little longer, etc. When you are willing to work with people. they will often respond better.
    OR
Your boss doesn't like you. The answer to this is simple. If your boss seemingly has a problem with you, YOU could very likely be the cause. Let's be honest, you complain about how your boss doesn't care for you, but do you really perform to your best capability at work? Sure, you boss may not care for you because they are simply a negative nancy. If that's the case, that's their problem. But chances are, you will see improvement if you improve yourself and your work performance first.

2. There's drama with coworkers. No matter where you work, there will always be drama. Always. Some people will not get along with one another and may try to convince you to take sides. You are at work to do just that; WORK. You are not at work to be bffs with your colleagues. You will benefit immensely from remaining drama free at work. Mind your own business, and be nice to everyone. If someone at work says something nasty about you, or doesn't like you, take the high road. Continue to be nice to them, and don't worry about it. When someone tries to talk about another coworker, change the topic, or simply state that you don't want to discuss others.

3. You don't like the customers. Think about it like this : these customers, no matter how rude, are the reason you make a paycheck. Fake it until you make it and force yourself to smile and be nice.

4. Scheduling issues. In a perfect world, you'd never work on weekends, holidays, etc. Welcome to adult life. There are a few things you can do to earn yourself a more favorable schedule on occassion.If you're willing to bend, your boss will be, too. If you want an upcoming weekend off, consider volunteering to work the couple of weekends leading up to it. If something comes up, try switching with a coworker. Volunteer when people are ill. These are things most managers appreciate, and will be more than willing to reward you every once and a while/

Here are some other general tips to make you more successful at work:

1. Be on time. If you are rolling in just in the nick of time, or a few minutes late, you're setting yourself up for negativity. Firstly, no manager appreciates people who are late constantly, or barely making it. Second, when you're rushed, you will likely have a stressful day at work. I suggest leaving 5 minutes earlier than normal, or plan to show up 5-10 minutes early. When you are early, you can get yourself settled in, and take a deep breath.

2. Stop cutting corners, and ask questions. We all cut corners somehow. No matter how insignifigant they seem, stop. When you do your job thouroughly, you are allowing no room for complaints from others.

3. Take care of yourself. In all aspects. Make sure you have eaten before your shift, make sure you are rested, have a drink with you to keep hydrated, all necessary medications, etc. Make sure you are clean and presentable. It's easier to get through the day when you are well taken care of.

4. Never, ever, complain or discuss salary with other colleagues. This will backfire, I promise.

All in all, work isn't always fun, and we often wish we could be somewhere-anywhere else. All you can do is whistle while you work! I hope you found some of these tips helpful, and feel free to add any you have below!
X's and O's,
Amanda