Menu

Followers

Links

Blogs:

Yankee Candle Sisters

Scentizens

The Waxinista

ScentsMakeMyDay


Vendors:

Front Porch

Rosegirls

Scentsy

Orchid Lake

Bathing Garden

CBV




Saturday, September 20, 2014
My poor nails have been completely destroyed.  After moving all of my classroom furniture around 
So I figured I would make this the starting photo to get them back into shape. Today I put on some cuticle oil and cream to help my poor cuticles.  The nails themselves have been peeling a lot! I'm currently trying not to get into a bad habit like picking at them.
We will see if they will ever be like the were.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
When I first started teaching I bought a letter organizer from Office Max.  I used it as their mailboxes ( fill their slot with graded work, newsletters and other things to be sent home).  Friday I would take all of the stuff out and send it home in a folder. The folder would come back emptied and signed acknowledging that parents had gotten the graded work. Repeat.  
After a few years of moving from classroom to classroom, the material that covered the sides started to pull away from the unit.  I wasn't teaching a grade because I was now part of the activity rotation as the computer teacher. Someone said they wished they could have it...of course knowing it was going to a good home, I decided to part ways with it. 
Now back in the classroom, I thought I would try just filing my stuff in a crate with hanging folders. Maybe my fingers are just so fast or clumsy, the stinky hanging folders would get caught up. I was fed up. Yes I know I took up less space, but I felt as if I wanted to throw it in the trash each week.  
I purchased a couple of cardboard letter sorters just to finish the year.  Of course they were close to $15 a piece and it only had eights slots.  At the of the year I made a vow to myself....I will save my money (yes cut back on nail polish and wax) so I could buy a new sorter.  I didn't want a wooden one due to the fact the laminate started peeling off my first one...no, no I wanted a metal one.  Hardcore steel baby!  So this is what it turned out to be:



It is huge!!!  When I ordered it on Amazon it said it would hold a ream of paper in each slot. Well I do believe it is able to hold more since the bottom left slot has a ream of paper in it and you can see there is more space!  
I am in love with it.  I don't have to have anything else out to hold paper.  This has enough space for all of my papers or copies for the week ahead, my clipboard sheets (my classroom management), while you were gone sheets, and extra slots I put my card stock and colored copy paper (and still had space left). 
It was $250 but totally worth every penny!
Saturday, August 2, 2014
I bought a shoe organizer for inside my storage cabinet at work. I move A LOT! I am tired of carrying boxes to my new classroom each year so I figured I could just move this from door to door.   I had one a couple of years ago but then I moved to a room that didn't have a strorage closet. Then I brought the one I had home to hold tarts. Now it holds scrapbook stuff as well.  I buy the ones with plastic pockets. 
This is a great way to see what you actually have without looking all over in several drawers for something. I put anything sharp in the bottom pockets like scissors and staple removers. Less used items on top like my seasonal pens and special erasers I use only on our class book in February.  The one I have now I bought at Walmart for $5.96.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
C and I went to the zoo for a play date the other day. We had so much fun!  I wanted to have a new never tried before mani...this is how it turned out.
  I used I Love Nail Polish - Under the Bleachers, Julie G - White Orchid, and Color Club (silver no name on the bottle). I created a chevron pattern with some vinyl and my cricut machine.  I love how it turned out.  
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Well this was a pleasant surprise.  I went to the SAS and found TF. Every once in a while I come across this candle and every single time I turn it down. I guess I was afraid it's going to be crazy sugary sweet...to the point of blowing it out never to be lit again.  This time I went for it!  Here are my findings..  
According to Yankee Candle, Tutti-Fruitti is described as "Forever young . . . the happy candy aroma of a cherry, raspberry, strawberry and lemon whirly pop."
Tutti-Fruitti is a sugary scent for sure. I instantly get the same cherry scent from Cherry Lemonade and then the other fruity scents come in to play.  I hear it described as fruit punch often. I agree!  Just as fruit punch is a sugary mix of different fruit flavors. 
  I am drawn to this candle each time because of the beautiful label and the Cherry red wax. Each time I say no but I am so glad I took a chance this time around.  After burning one time I went online and bought three more. Although nothing has replaced my beloved Country Lemonade, I feel that this is a fabulous addition to my collection and will use it sparingly.  
Throw: 7
Category: Fruit
Behavior: A+. Flawless burn 

Friday, July 4, 2014
This was my flag mani for one of the challenges I am currently working on.  It totally smeared when I put the top coat on.  I don't know if it is "Out The Door" or it was me being quick to top it off.  Oh well it was okay enough to keep it on for the Fourth of July. I have on Julie G White Orchid with Zoya Livingston stripes and the blue is Sally Hansen xtreme wear Royal Rage. 
Friday, June 27, 2014
I picked up these beauties the other day. I love the fact that Ulta sells Zoya.
This orange, Rocha, does not look as bring in the picture but it is pretty bright in person.  This is one that will be used a lot seeing how it's a popular color for everything I see in the department stores. 
Addison is a pretty mauve with some metallic/shimmer in it. Nice for a neutral tone mani. 
Last is Livingston.  I have looked at this one so many times and well since Ulta was doing buy two get one free I said why not!!  With the 4th of July coming up this would be great for a patriotic mani!  Can't wait!  
Sunday, June 15, 2014
  • Almond Cookie: Sweet and nutty almond extract.
  • Amaretto: An almond scented fragrance sweetened with honey and spice.
  • Apples & Pears: Pears come first, then crisp fall apples.
  • Bananarama: Sweet, golden, ripe bananas.
  • Be Still: Unwind as list mandarin, soft violet petals, and creamy sandal tree envelop your senses and quiet your mind.
  • Cherry Almond Pie: Orville’s favorite dessert. Graham crackers, sweet almond, cream, and cherries.
  • Citrus Sun Tea: Southern-style sweet tea with zesty citrus and lemongrass.
  • Coconut Palm: A blend of tropical coconut and musky patchouli with subtle green notes.
  • Coffee Tree: Bold and sophisticated. Wake up to the rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans.
  • Cookie Dough: The scent of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies. Got Milk?
  • Cranberry Muffin: Bursting with bright cranberries enveloped in a buttery brown sugar batter, with nuances of walnuts and toffee.
  • Echo: Sophisticated, metropolitan fragrance of manly spice notes, Mediterranean citrus and herbs, and bitter orange.
  • Flirtatious: Fruity and vibrant, a combination of green apple, grapefruit, and white amber.
  • French Kiss: Sweet fig tenderly caressed by coconut pulp, exotic cedar and caramel.
  • Fresh Cut Grass: Smells just like freshly cut fairway on a cool summer morning.
  • German Chocolate: Decadent, moist, chocolate cake, icing, and coconut.
  • Go-Go Goji: An exotic blend of tart Chinese goji berry, sweet lotus flowers, and ripe, warm dewberries.
  • Key Lime Tortilla: Lime and Kiwi combine for a south of the border sweet treat.
  • Lemon Coconut Chiffon: Lemon custard layered with butter cake and sprinkled with toasted coconut.
  • Lemon Lavender: Inviting blend of tangy lemon and sweet lavender flowers.
  • Lily of the Valley: Very fresh and green, true to the scent of this white flower.
  • Lots of Lavender: Calming blend of chamomile and lavender.
  • Mediterranean Spa: Relax with this smooth, fresh, and breezy scent.
  • Midnight Fig: Earthy, ripened figs and golden berries tempered by musky woods.
  • Mums & Marigolds: The sunny scent of summer marigolds, rosy rhubarb, earthy cedar and musk.
  • My Wish: A confection of earthy fig, sweet violet, and playful marshmallow will have you wishing for more
  • Oatmeal Cookie: Savory cinnamon, oatmeal, and warm sugar.
  • Oats & Honey: A buttery mix of toasted oats and tupelo honey, oven-crisped with vanilla and maple.
  • Pima Cotton: A light, clean blend of lilies, freesia, and jasmine.
  • Rev’d Up Raspberry: Raspberries covered in sweet cream and sprinkled with French vanilla.
These are for the upcoming BBMB in July!  I am not sure if ALL of these are coming I just know they were the ones to vote from. 
Saturday, May 31, 2014
I ordered this color recently and thought it was just the right amount of holographic-ness and nudeness. 
If your looking for something that still had sparkle but maybe need something that isn't so colorful then this is for you!  I love it. I have several bottles from KB Shimmer and I really love the consistency. Their duochromes are stuning. Check them out!  Http://www.kbshimmer.com 
Sunday, April 27, 2014

I love thermal polishes!!  This beauty is by Fancy Gloss ( here is her website).  I love seeing these change throughout the day, especially when I am leaving work.  This polish has a red/orange glitters which remind me of Ariel's hair.  The green which reminds me of her mermaid tail.  It really is a beautiful polish.  Stayed on for a long time too!! 

Saturday, April 12, 2014
Have been burning this for about a week and WOW!!  It has a crazy throw!  I could still smell it the next day when I woke up. I absolutely love fragrances that have a serious throw!  
I am really pleased with the wax pool.  It formed quickly.  However, once it had a deep wax pool, it had low flames.  I don't quite understand how that work. I guess the flames were just big enough to keep it throwing and perfectly pooled. 
This candle is definitely on my faves list!
Monday, April 7, 2014
I won a giveaway on Instagram!  I was so amazed since I don't often win stuff like that!  

Anyway..  I received several polishes including this beauty!  A gorgeous purple with tons of glitter!!  Sparkles?!? Yes please!  I love wear crazy sparkly polish. Since I work with kids, they always pay attention to my fingers so if I'm showing them something it stands out! Lol!  Wearing this today and stick around for tomorrow's mani!


Wednesday, April 2, 2014
My current manicure... I didn't have time to clean up around my pointer finger.  I have to say that I really have enjoyed this very simple color scheme. OPI's My Vampire's Buff is a beautiful nude that I have seen a lot of people using as a base for glitter topper polishes. My accent nail is Revlon's Parfumerie Spun Sugar...scented silver/gold metallic looking color perfect with this nude. Funny I actually love the bottle!  Maybe not the easiest of handles for the brush but I still love it! As far as the scent goes... I didn't really get anything from it but I did put 2 coats of Out The Door so that might make it hard to smell lol.  



Wednesday, March 19, 2014

So I am a few days late. My baby girl had a ruptured ear drum. Here is my mani for 3/17. 
I am wearing Kiss Me I'm Irish by Liquid Sky Lacquer. 
This is a beautiful thermal that is clear with gold holographic. So much holo it looks golden. Looks greenish down below. 

The nice vibrant green is when this color is cold. 

This one shows it where my tips are warm and the rest is cold. I got out of work and got into my car and it changed. 

Sunday, March 2, 2014
Decided to melt Citrus Tango tonight. 

On cold sniff this is sour tart strong citrus...just the way I LIKE it!!!  I am hoping it will fill the great room. 
This was pretty strong if I say so myself.  The longer I had it going the more it smelled like a sour powdered drink. Like lemonade but not as sweet. Still like it and will continue to use it. It cleaned out the lingering dinner smells. Not something I would melt if I were looking for something sweet...more cleaning up at the end of the day. Might melting it with early sunrise. Just to see what I might end up with. I know ES is citrus too but I think this might just add a touch more :). 

I ordered a set of stamping plates from Amazon the other day. The ones I ordered are by Pueen Cosmetics set number 24E. When they made it here I couldn't wait to try them out. 
I had a party to go to so I thought I would try out a couple.  I am wearing China Glaze Creative Fantasy (purple) and Sally Hansen Silver Sweep Insta Dri for the stamps. 
I had heard that the Insta Dri line was a commonly used polish for stamping. They turned out pretty cute I think. 
Cute little owl.

Vines on the rest. 
I used an old gift card as a scraper. It makes it easier for some reason plus it isn't scratching my plate. 
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Here is a picture of my recent dotticure.  Not the best but it did the job. 

Someone on Instagram told me to try Julie G White Orchid for stamping. It is the closest I can find to stamping with actual stamping paint. I was missing some of the dots during transfer so I had to dot it up with a dotting tool. Should have done a better job measuring the size.  
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Yankee has come out with 5 new fragrances in a new collection call Exotic Escape.  Just the name alone makes me want to pack up my winter wardrobe and pull out the shorts, tanks, and flops.  Here's the run down:
Ocean Star:
According to Yankee, "Soothing and fresh . . the scent of peaceful, sun-kissed waters laced with aloe, citrus, and lotus blossom. Dive in!"

Citrus Tango:
Yankee describes this as "Time to shake things up with this lively, playful melody of sunny orange, lemon zest, and grapefruit."
I have to say just by the description I want it.  Sounds like something I would want a million tarts in.  Citrus...you had me at citrus.

Luau Party:
Yankee's description of this fragrance is "Join the celebration . . .every day is a festival with the fun and fruity mix of orange fizz, sparkling peach, and vanilla ice."  
Sounds like a tropical drink.  I have only smelled this quickly at the store during the SAS but I couldn't tell what was what at the time. I was so excited about what I was getting. I even meant to put these in my basket and FORGOT!!!  I will, however, be grabbing this and it will be melted after Citrus Tango. 

Under The Palms:
Yankee's description is "Like cool, refreshing shade . . . a lush, green scent of sea grass, palm leaves, and island coconut."  I am going to try it. Not sure how this will be. I do enjoy yankee's coconut that they use and I do like to have green\ grass type scents every now and then. 

Exotic Bloom:
Yankee describes this scent as "Deep in the tropical night, the seductive perfume of island flora creates an air of mystery and romance."  I will have to sniff this before buying just because it's a floral. 
Over all I am excited for this line up. I am ready for a couple of spring scents ...it's already in the mid 80's here so you can only imagine that mint and pine isn't quite working for me. 

Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Bring Back My Bar event is happening now.  Here's the list of scents that are back for a limited time.  
Amber Road
Banana Nut Bread
Bubble Gum 
Casmere
Cranberry Manho
Cutiepie Cupcake
Eucalyptus
Flower Shop
Fried Ice Cream
Grape Granita
Hazelnut Latte
Hemingway
Maui Mist
Mulberry Bush
Orange Dreamcicle
Toasted Apple Butter
Watermelon Patch
White Sands
Wild Black Cherry



I bought Cutiepie Cupcake, Flower Shop, and Banana Nut Bread. I might just have to grab a few more since they will be gone soon!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
This was the warmer of the month from Scentsy. Now I swore I wouldn't buy another warmer but this was so pretty I had to.
Scentsy describes this as:
"A glorious addition to our new Lampshade CollectionSilver Frost captures the elegance of snowflakes on a silvery glass vase. With a flick of the switch, the delicate flakes cast a radiant glow with plays of shadow and light."

My picture was taken at night, while warming Clemintine Clove. It's beautiful!  
It really does light up the room.  Of course I put something orange in and the light gave an orange glow on the walls.  I will have to buy another lampshade collection piece.
 
 
 
Friday, January 3, 2014
Scentsy's Clementine Clove was the fragrance of the month of November, I believe. I totally was on board by the name alone.  I really wasn't expecting it to have much more to it.  You know it didn't have a crazy name like Christmas Cheer or Holiday Happiness where you really don't know what it will smell like, even after reading the description.  I feel that I often buy stuff online just because it has notes in it that I like and it turns out at least 75% I 3enjoy what I bought.
I did, however, have a chance to smell this over at my friend Jann's house.  I was kind of hoping for a YC Spiced Orange kind of fragrance....I was wrong.
Scentsy describes this fragrance as:
"A bright medley of aromatic citrus with clove and a hint of balsam"

Okay first I was totally NOT expecting the balsam to be so heavy in this.  It's like three equally strong notes.  Now, I want you all to understand that I LOVE this fragrance.  It's sweet, spicy and piney....I had it in my great room and it was perfect!  I would recommend this to anyone who likes the notes mentioned.  If spicy, sweet with a pine tree is what you desire, then what are you waiting for, order it!  I am happy with it and would defiantly buy more.
Tia~
YouTubeFacebookTwitter
Well I am trying another nail art challenge. The first one is Fresh. When I think of fresh of simplistic solid colors and what better than a Tiffany blue color. When ever I think of this particular color, I instantly think elegance.
Materials Used:
China Glaze Strong Adhesive Base Coat
China Glaze For Audrey
NYC Extra Shiny Top Coat
Scotch Tape
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Hi Ho Silver
Sally Hansen Insta Dri Silver Sweep
Dotting Tools
Cotton Swabs
Cotton Balls
Acetone
My Paint Brush for clean up
Out The Door Top Coat

I started my mani with a coat of China Glaze Strong Adhesive Base Coat. I don't let it really dry... by the time I get back to the other hand it's ready to be polished. 
 
This color is by China Glaze...For Audrey. I used two coats and I went ahead and put a cheap top coat on.  I think it was NYC Extra Shiny Top Coat.  After about 2 to 3 minutes I went ahead and cleaned up around the nail.

I placed two pieces of scotch tape on my nail to make a V shape with Sally Hansen's Insta Dri Silver Sweep.  I let one dry and started another and once I got it set up and painted I just peeled the tape gently so I didn't mess up anything.

I pulled out my other Sally Hansen silver color, because I wasn't sure at first which I wanted to use, and dotted the point of the V.  It didn't turn out PERFECT but it was good enough for me!  After a bit, I went back and used Out The Door top coat. 

TADA!  Next on the Nail Art Challenge for January is Sparkle.  I guess I should start thinking about it.