No Buy July

If you guys follow me on Instagram you know that I have been spending way too much money on beauty products the past couple of months!! I've seen many girls participate in something called 100 Days of Empties, I'm not quite sure what the rules are but the concept is pretty much to empty out as many beauty products as possible. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew, so I've decided to do a No Buy July challenge. I wanted to post about this challenge so I can go back to it for rules and such just in case I forget lol. Also wanted to post about it in case any of you want to give it a go too! I've got so many more important things to pay on that this is definitely going to happen! I'm going to list all the rules I'll be following, of course everyone can tweek them to their liking! If all goes well for the month of July Im gonna continue for the month of August, but like I always say Baby Steps!!! 

Overview: No purchasing of any beauty related products i.e. makeup, skincare, perfume, etc. for the month of July. Try to go through products that I have had for a long time as well as samples that have just been sitting around and collecting dust. I'll be posting and numbering all empties throughout this experiment on Instagram (@_kloobnika_). Below I'm gonna list a few exclusions and rules that I'll be following. 

- Subscription boxes will not be cancelled, I need a little joy in my life! 

- If I completely run out of something that's a necessity, I give myself permission to repurchase! (If I run out of body wash and have no backups, I'm gonna buy some more!)

- If anyone, except my boyfriend, gift me something it will be accepted! Lol

Point System:

- Full Size Products: 1 Point

- Deluxe Size Samples: 1 Point

- Foil Packets: 1/2 Point

- Hitting Pan: 1/2 Point

- Individual Shadow In Palette: 1 Point

It seems pretty simple and self explanatory, but I know it's going to be a challenge! Especially when all these makeup brands continue to release amazing products this summer. I just need to have self control and keep my eye on the prize! I know that I get a great feeling of satisfaction when I finish a product so overall I feel like this will be a fun experiment! Are you up for the challenge?! Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Glamglow Face Mask

My all time favorite part of my skincare routine is definitely face masks! I love them all, mud, Clay, peel off, etc. One mask that I've heard remarkable things about has been the Glamglow Brightmud Fask Mask, but because of how expensive it is, I've never had the pleasure of trying it out for myself. I did however see a few recipes on how to make a DIY dupe and tried it for myself and I'm in love! I'm only calling it a dupe because that's what others say, since I wouldn't know but here is the recipe, try it out and let me know for yourselves!

Ingredients:

- 1/4 Cup Green Clay (This can be any green clay but I prefer to use the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay)

- 4-6 Activated Charcoal Capsules (Beware the more capsules you use the harder it's going to be to wash off)

- 1 Drop Peppermint Essential Oil (Optional)

- 1 Drop Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Optional)

- 1 Tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel 

- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil 

- Chamomile Tea (Brew about 1/2 cup of tea)

- Container to store leftovers

Directions:

- Put the 1/4 cup green clay in your container.

- Pull apart each charcoal capsule and empty contents into container. Like I said before the quantity is up to you but the first time I made it, I used 6 capsules and after every mask I had a funny mustache and unibrow made of charcoal! So now I've settled at only 4 capsules a batch. Charcoal is great in numerous ways, it draws out poisons, bacteria, chemicals and dirt to help achieve a flawless complexion. 

- Next, add a drop of each essential oil, remember this is optional. Peppermint and eucalyptus both have great healing properties, they have calming effects on inflammatory skin and help rid acne not to mention a awesome cooling effect on your skin. 

- Add 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel to the mix. Aloe Vera is well known for anti aging properties and helps reduce wrinkles.

- Drop in the tablespoon of coconut oil. Coconut oil has amazing benefits, including acne treatment, anti aging, and skin tightening.

- Lastly add in the chamomile tea, little by little. Depending on your personal preference, add as much tea as you want. If you like a thick mud mask don't add as much and vice versa. I recommend add a little mix it up and add a little more if needed. 

- Mix all ingredients up and put in a container that has a top so you can seal it up between uses.

              

DIY Lip Scrub

I've recently discovered the world of DIY and I'm in love! Not only is it great because you get to make stuff that costs an assload in stores but you also know exactly what's going into it! The first DIY that I want to share with you all is the do it yourself lip scrub. I've seen many people post about the Lush Lip Scrub and it runs pretty expensive so I've found a cheaper alternative and it requires stuff that you probably already have laying around! There are a million different ways to make this and it really depends on preference so feel free to tweak it to your liking! 

Ingredients:
- Sugar (This can be any sugar, granulated, cane, brown, as long as it's not too fine. This is for exfoliating purposes so make sure the sugar has got some grain to it.)
- Oil (This can be coconut, olive, jojoba, almond, the oil is to moisturize.)
- Flavoring (You can use actually flavorin drops or even extracts. All the ingredients of the scrub are edible so this will make it even tastier if you decide to just lick it off when you're done!)
- Food Coloring (This is optional, if you want to make it a pretty color.)
- Sprinkles (This is also optional, I've seen that Lush lip scrub has sprinkles at the top so this is a cute addition.)

Directions:
- Put about 1/4 cup of sugar in a bowl, the measurements really depend on how big your container is. Also the type of sugar you use really doesn't matter but take into consideration the color. If you'll be using food coloring than I recommend white granulated sugar because the color will really pop.

- Add oil of your choice, one teaspoon at a time and mix in between teaspoons. The amount of oil is really up to you and depends what type of consistency you like. If you want more of a gritty, grainy texture don't add too much oil and vice versa. As with the sugar, take into consideration color, I prefer coconut because it's clear and makes the color pop.

- Add flavor of your choice, I like to match the flavor with the color. Like I've said before, all ingredients are edible so if you wanted you could just lick it off at the end, so make sure it's a flavor you like!

- Optional: Add two to three drops of food coloring. This step is for aesthetic purposes, so if you want some fun color add the food coloring. Take into consideration that the food coloring may stain your lips so be careful with how many drops and color choice.

- Mix everything well and transfer into jar of your choice. I put my scrub in a little pod I saved from an eye cream. I put the leftovers in little Tupperware containers. 

- Optional: Top off scrub with sprinkles of your choice to make it pretty! 

- When it comes to storage, if you have leftovers I recommend storing them in your fridge.

That's pretty much it, it's so simple and fun! I made a watermelon flavored pink one and a raspberry flavored blue one. Hope you enjoy this fun DIY and be on the lookout for more DIYs coming soon!

          

                        

February Empties

So I've decided to start doing blog posts about my empties. I've realized you can't really review a product until you've used it up completely, only then can you truly give an honest opinion. So every month I'm gonna collect all my products that have been used up and post whether or not it's good. Also a lot of the products I get are free so I will also post links on how you too can get goodies like these!

So here's a photo of all the empties together, the good, the bad, and the ugly! Honestly, this month there wasn't anything that I hated but there were some products that I absolutely loved!! I'm not going to get into huge reviews for each product but more a summary for those of you who have been wanting to try something and needed that little push to finally do it! I'll post a picture of a specific product and give the run down of how, where, why, and all that good stuff. So here goes!

I'm gonna start with my ultimate favorite discovery this month, the Glamglow BrightMud Eye Treatment! I got two sample packs in my February Ipsy bag. I've heard of Glamglow on multiple occasions and how amazing their products were but because of the price of these beauties, I was never able to test them out for myself. Also when it comes to problem areas I would have to say the dark circles under my eyes is my main concern. So when I found these in my Ipsy glam bag I couldn't wait to try them! First of the packaging is cuteness to the max, then the product itself is amazeballs! Each sample package came with product for the left and the right eye, but in my opinion, one side is enough for both eyes, so technically each sample packet is good for two uses! It's pretty much like a mask for your eyes, you apply it under eyes and in three minutes wipe it off. I'm not kidding I saw immediate results and that's something I've never experienced while using eye care products. Some products I've tried in the past I've used up completely and still didn't see results. Usually a 12 pack of these goes for $69 but right now you can get it for $45 on Amazon! So I'm really hoping I win some gift cards from CrowdTap so I can place my order! Here's the link if your interested in trying them out for yourself... Only $45 On Amazon!!

For those of you who don't know what Ipsy is... It's a beauty subscription box which is only $10 a month. You get a cute makeup bag filled with five samples and sometimes they throw in a full size product. It's a great way to discover brands and products you didn't know about! Also they have a points system where you can redeem points for free products! If you're interested in signing up make sure to use my link! Ipsy Signup

Next, I want to talk about the Clairol Hair Food Thickening Hair Treatment. I'm crazy when it comes to my hair, and naturally my hair is pretty thick but I always go nuts for volumizing products! I originally got this in my Target Beauty Box, which is a box that Target randomly has throughout the year for cheap and includes about 5-6 beauty goodies. I loved it so much that I got a second one that I am currently using in a Edivv trade. To start I didnt notice any drastic results but like I said I have thick hair to begin with but the smell is great, mix of kiwi and zesty citrus. You apply this product to your roots after washing and you get a tingly feeling in your scalp, not a bad one but a refreshing one that lets you know it's doing its job! I believe you can only purchase the Hair Food products at Target and I've actually tried other products from this line and am very impressed! If you've tried this product and you have thin hair let me know if it truly does work below in the comments!

Edivv is an awesome website, where you set up your own shop and put up beauty products you have, new and used, and you trade with other girls for stuff they have. I've done this multiple times and it is very legit!

So this guy right here I got from my mother and she apparently purchased while on vacation in Saint Martin. This is called Cattier Green Clay Mask and it is the best clay mask I have ever tried! It's thick and you can feel the tightening immediately! I don't have much to say about this product except that it is a must try! After finding out my mother got it in Saint Martin I did some research and found it on Amazon, here's the link if you're interested in trying it! Best Clay Mask I've Ever Tried!

Okay, so here is a product I can't give too much of a review on, only because the sample was too small. I received this sample from Birchbox, which is another subscription beauty box I recently signed up to but in all honesty I'm not too impressed with, but that's a whole other story! If you are interested in signing up and finding out for yourself please use my link, because overall they do have a great points system! Birchbox Signup Anyway, back to the product, it's the Amika Nourishing Hair Mask, the smell, to die for but because the sample was so small and my hair is long and thick, I ended up only using it on my roots! I could tell it is a good product and am going to look into getting in a bigger size. Hopefully I'll have a more thorough review of this in the future.

I finally used up my Dove Advanced Care Deoderant. I was encouraged to buy this deoderant because of the Influenster campaign they had last year and everyone was saying how amazing it is. I used it and was very disappointed in how quickly it no longer works! I love the scent and the large variety of different ones but when it came time to do its job it was a big flop. I ended up just using it after a shower before bed. I loved how it felt once on and the smell but they need to work on the "long lasting" formula. If I did anything remotely active it made my pits smell worse than if I were to not apply any! It's a major bummer and might just buy a different scent just to make sure!

Here's another purchase of mine that was influenced by an Influenster campaign. The Caress Tahitian Renewal Body Wash. Unlike the deoderant, this I really loved! The scent was awesome and I loved the scrub incorporated into the body wash. I will definitely be checking out the other versions of this soon!

For those of you who don't know what Influenster is, it's a website that sends you out full size products to try for FREE in return for your honest opinion! If you're not signed up yet, I highly reccomend you do! Become An Influenster

One of my first favorite brands of shampoo and conditioner, for as long as I can remember was Herbal Essences. Their stuff always smelled the best and made my hair feel and look silly smooth. So when ExpoTv chose me to try out their new line called Naturals, I was super excited. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it, they haven't changed their formula since the first day I used them which is great and I will definitely continue using Herbal Essences! 

ExpoTv is another great website that sends you stuff to try for free in return for your honest opinion, the only thing is you're required to create a video review. If you're interested make sure to hit the link and sign up! Signup for ExpoTv

I really don't have anything bad or good to say about the Loreal HydraFresh Toner. It's the only toner I've ever used and it seems to do the job. If you guys know of any good brands of toner let me know in the comments, would love to try something new! 

This is another product that my review is short and sweet. Skintimates has always been my go to shave gel. They always have fun and great smelling varieties and leave my legs feeling great! 

So I got the Body Merry Hyaluronic Acid Vitamin C Green Tea Serum courtesy Tomoson.com. It's a website that has not so well known brands send out products for you to test and then you write a blog, and complete some activities in return. I got a few things from them but in my opinion it's too time consuming and the products aren't worth it, so I've given up on Tomoson. Besides that, this serum was actually one of my favorite things I've gotten from them! It goes on so light and isn't greasy at all! I really enjoyed this stuff and am glad I managed to get another one from Tomoson before our breakup! 

Here is my last empty for the month of February. It's the Shea Moisture Strength, Grow And Restore Hair Treatment and it's a sample packet but it had a decent amount of product in it for me to be able to really test it out. I got it through one of the random freebie deals that happen occasionally and I was looking forward to it because I love this brand! I loved how it made my hair feel after but the smell was a little nutty for me, o definitely think I'll be picking up the full size though. The way it left my hair feeling was worth the smell! 

So there you have it! My first ever empties blog! I hope you enjoyed and make sure to leave me comments and let me know if your opinion of one of the products differs from mine or if you have any questions!

Love Being on Team Snuggle!

Loaded Broccoli and Cheese Soup in a Bread Bowl

So I've always loved the Panera Bread Soup Bread Bowls and I'm a big fan of soups in general, so yesterday I decided I was going to give this a go. It turned out to be a great success and everyone loved it! I've decided to share my recipe. Enjoy and let me know how yours turns out!

Ingredients:

- Bread Bowls (However many you are going to be serving and whichever decent sized bread bowls you find at your local supermarket)

- 3 cups chicken broth (I prefer Swanson)

- 1 cup carrots, peeled and diced small

- 1 cup celery, chopped small

- 3 cups potatoes, peeled and finely chopped

- 1/2 cup onion, chopped

- 5 cups broccoli, chopped

- 4 to 6 slices bacon, chopped

- 3 tablespoons butter

- 1/3 cup all purpose flour

- 3 cups milk

- 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 16 oz)

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1. In a large pot, combine the chicken broth, carrots, celery, potatoes and onion and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for about ten minutes, until vegetables become tender.

2. Add the chopped broccoli and summer for another ten minutes. It might not seem soupy enough but once the cheese mixture is added it will!

3. In a separate saucepan, cook the bacon and remove onto a paper towel to drain.

4. Wipe the saucepan and add the butter, until melted. Whisk the flour in until golden, mix constantly. Gradually mix in the milk, until thick, about 7 minutes.

5. Add in the cheese, a handful at a time. Once melted, add in next handful, until all cheese is melted, mix occasionally. Add in salt and pepper.

6. Add cheese mixture with the vegetables and broth and mix.

7. Take bread bowls and cut a hole at the top. Remove bread guts until you have a nicely shaped bread bowl and toast for a few minutes.

8. Pour soup into bread bowls and garnish with cheese and sour cream if you'd like, Enjoy!!

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide Caplet Serum Review

I recently received a box of goodies to test out courtesy Influenster, amongst them was a sample size product of the new Flawless Future Powered by Cermaide Caplet Serum by Elizabeth Arden. As soon as I saw it, I couldn't wait to try it! The packaging was so elegant and fancy, especially the pearls that were mixed in with the serum.

I started using it about a week ago, so I haven't started seeing major results but I definitely feel a difference! It makes my face feel hydrated and smooth, and it is so light that can't even feel like it's on! It leaves me feeling picture ready!

I was so impressed with this product that I immediately went down to my local Macys Department store, to the Elizabeth Arden counter, to inquire about other products in the Flawless Future line. I found about the Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide Eye Gel and Moisture cream and am looking forward to purchasing them in the near or future, or just putting them on my Christmas list for Santa ;) 

All in all, I was very impressed with the quality of this product. Although the products in this line do run a little pricey, after trying it out, I can see it is well worth it and look forward to giving the whole line a try! If you want to learn more about the Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide SkinCare line, feel free to click on the link below!

http://www.elizabetharden.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-ElizabethArden-Site/default/mProduct-Show?pid=1001CERN40201&start=1&cgid=flawless-future-view-all?cm_mmc=Influenster%20-_-Sampling-_-FF%20Serum-_-Product%20&utm_source=Influenster&utm_medium=FF%20sampling&listing=false