Scentsy

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, smelling the Holidays is almost as good as opening presents 😉 I know when about my Seasonal Scents (Winter Holiday or not) I think of Scentsy. If you’ve never heard of Scentsy, I worry that you might have been living under a rock since, oh I dunno, 2004. Scentsy is most famous for their wickless candles or as I know them “wax warmers” but they have come an amazingly long way to offer you a multitude of ways to enjoy their amazing variety of fragrances.

I received a few Scentsy items from my amazing Scentsy Consultant, Thea Wheeler. She’s prompt, always has a big selection on hand (like for last minute shoppers like me!) and did I mention she is just awesome to talk to! She’s super sweet and takes care of her customers- what more could I ask for!

That being said, order HERE by December 18th to get your Scentsy products by Christmas 🙂

The Scentsy Bar  was one of the first items available for purchase and I’m sure one that most people are familiar with. Scentsy Bars comes in more scents than I can even begin to tell you! With new scents being released and old ones being retired every season. If you’ve got a favorite scent combination, even if you think it’s an odd one- it probably exists. OR you can pop in wax pieces from two different wax bars and create your own concoction! With these waxes, the possibilities are endless and I always like to have several on hand!

If you’re ever in a pinch and need your house to smell “Scentsy Good” (because all other brands are second best, let’s face it!) you can grab one of their newer Room Sprays. If I’ve got family or friends about to pop over for a visit, I usually have time to smooth out some toddler hand and put away dirty dishes- that’s about it! As a busy mom, convenience is key so these ultra concentrated room sprays are a major win in my book! Plus, you get nearly 3oz for only $8 which lasts us about a month between using our warmers!

And let’s not forget your vehicle 🙂 Scentsy has you covered there too. These Scentsy Circles give off just the right amount of scent to keep your car fresh and smelling great without being overpowering. You can get these Circles in a wide variety, much larger than any other car fragrance company I’ve ever seen!

Last, but not least, I can’t not mention the latest Scentsy sent innovation, Layers by Scentsy. Layers is a personal scent line created with all the Scentsy magic that contains bath tablets, shower gel, shower cream, body lotion, body butter, body spray, washer whiffs,  Dryer disks, hand soap, hand cream and my favorite- Solid Perfume. Everything to make you smell just as delicious as your house, but you know, a little different 😉 The solid perfume has a non-greasy, light feeling and absorbs into the skill quickly for long lasing fragrance.

Overall, it’s hard to go wrong with Scentsy! & when you’ve got a rep. as great as Thea standing by you, well, it’s a no brainer! Aside from these AMAZING stocking stuffer ideas, there are many other great deals and sales going on. Like Scentsy Buddies. These are ADORABLE stuffed animals with scent packs inside! You can get two for the price of one right now, a deal this mommy is going to have to do since we lost our buddies! There is also a buy one, get one deal on Fragrance Foams that are super compact to fit into stockings or that extra space in the gift bag you need to fill 😉

Be sure and check them out online and get your Scentsy Fix today!

Starlooks Starbox- December!

As promised, December’s box was huge! I finally got my 15-pan eyeshadow palette, valued at $99! Remember that Starlooks is only $15, plus $1.98 shipping- this was a total steal!

My box arrived in it’s ever changing packaging, as per usual. This month was red and gold to match the Holiday spirit for December.

Inside, we received our card that explains everything inside along with little confetti- an adorable touch.  I was lucky to have opened my box outside because the confetti did go everywhere, but it was fun.

I’ll go ahead and get to the good stuff 🙂 Here is my palette. There are 5 colors: Red, Purple, Blue Green & Orange and there are 3 shades of each. I loved the idea of playing on the color wheel. I’ve been a fan of Starlooks’ eyeshadows and pigments since the first time I got the chance to try them and this just adds to my collection. The options are endless! Each shadow is smooth, applies wonderfully and the color payoff is superb. Of the 15 shadows, only two are matte- the bright red and the deep plum. The rest are beautiful shimmers that add pop and make the eye look more awake.

I decided I would go ahead and swatch them all because I hadn’t seen to many swatches online just yet 🙂

Reds.

Purples.

Blues.

Greens.

Oranges/Yellows.

The value is insane with every Starlooks Starbox I’ve tried but December’s box took the cake. I’m so excited to see what they have in store for next year! If you haven’t signed up yet, be sure and check them out & don’t forget that a subscription box makes a GREAT gift for the beauty junkie on your list!

If you’re kicking yourself for having missed this box, you can pick it up HERE for only $10 more!

Body Media FIT

It’s nearly New Years, the time of resolutions and goals. Almost everyone I know is setting a goal to better themselves is one way or another. For a lot of people, that means loosing weight and getting in shape. It’s easy to say you’re ready to get fit, but it’s not always easy to stay on target and keep motivated. I decided I would give Body Media FIT a try and see if it could help me do just that.

I received my BodyMedia FIT Core Armband a couple weeks ago & I immediately got to work. This armband (and the optional display) works with an online program to track your body throughout the day. With the armband, you can track your sleep, calories burned, steps taken, intensity of your workout (or activity). You also input your meals into the program for help with your nutritional needs.

To start, I charged my armband with the included cable and I set up my account. The arm band comes with a 3 month subscription to the online program to help you get started. There is a small sound that lets you know that the arm band is connected to your body.

This is an actual screen shot from when I set up my armboand. I set a goal to be my target weight and loose about 50lbs by April. In order to do that, I need to take 8000 steps a day, have 45 minutes of activity and have a calorie deficit of 1,000. That means I need to burn 1,000 more calories than I consume.

I also received the optional display. With this, I was able to see real time stats that my Core armband was collecting, like calories burned and steps taken, on this display. I just clipped this to my shirt and went about my day. I really liked having this in case I was coming up short on my steps taken or my activity, I could easily track that information and do some more exercise or go for a walk or in most cases, get up and clean the house 😛

Most days, it was easy to get just over 7,000 steps in my day chasing around two toddlers, but I often had to push to get my last 1,000, but I really enjoyed the challenge!

While I didn’t find it hard to stay within or under my 1800 calories a day goal, the program was quick to catch mistakes I was making that I didn’t even realize I was doing. Like this day I decided to have Kolaches for breakfast! The fat content was out of this world! Needless to say, I haven’t had one since. There are tips that will pop up fro all aspects of your health, whether you’re diet should be improved or you’re not getting enough rest, I loved that this program was there to guide me.

It was also there to cheer me on! It would congratulate me for meeting my goals or having a personal best!

They say that the Body Media FIT program and armbands can help you loose 3 TIMES more weight, but I know what you might be thinking. HOW? It doesn’t actually burn calories for you, so what’s the point? I found that the best part was that this gave me more accountability and knowledge as to what I was putting into my body and what I was getting out of it. It wasn’t until I had to enter in all my meals, that I realized just how much Soda I was actually consuming in a day. I also realized that I get less than 5 and a half hours on any given night. Sleep is an important part in any weight loss journey, but more importantly in your overall health!

I thought the BodyMedia program was easy to use, the armband is comfortable and you forget you’re wearing it. Overall, I really enjoy this program. I was given a longer subscription, so I plan to continue to use this and see if I get any more results. My weight loss has been slow, but consistent so I’m happy with that. I was beginning to feel like I’d tried about everything to get started and something was missing 🙂

 

 

 

 

TastingRoom.com

I wouldn’t classify as a Wine-o, but I love to try new wines with friends or on a calm night with my husband. Because I’ve only been drinking wine for a few years now, I’ve not quite got the palette I’d like to when it comes to a good, rich wine. I started my wine journey off with overly sweet, berry flavored wines and let’s just say, it was a bit of a shock to my system the first time a tried a dry red wine. I’ve come a long way since my first sip and one day, a professional wine tasting will be in order. For now, I can take my taste buds on a journey through Wine Country without ever leaving my home.

At TastingRoom.com is a Wine Super Nova with options to purchase by samples, by the glass by the bottle or in larger batches for gifts or parties. I got the chance to try a  Party Sample and I decided to go with a Holiday sampler put together by Emeril  Lagasse.

Emeril’s Holiday Party Sampler features six wines to help you bring the oohs + aahs and definitely some second helpings to your wine as well as your food. “I loved going through my own tasting to make these selections and food pairings and bring them to you. It was delicious, fun, creative and I can’t wait to do it again! This is truly the way to get to know your own palate and have a blast doing it.”  In the top of the box, was this large card with an overview of each wine you will sample. I loved having all this information at my fingertips to be able to educate myself and figure out what I truly like in a wine.

Nestled safe inside we 6 50ml (1.7oz) tasting size bottles. I loved the large variety in this  set. From Chardonnay to Zinfandel and even a solid Merlot.  I shared my sampler with family and we were all able to find something we liked. I can see how this would be a great mix for friends, dinner parties and more. Emeril really knows how to pick ’em!

It goes without saying that these little bottles are adorable, but the best part is that you can revisit TastingRoom.com and easily order a full bottle of your favorite sampler. These wines were all delicious and even though they were chosen by someone as high profile as Emeril Lagasse, I was shocked at the modest price tags! Most of the bottles retail right around $25! This particular Chardonnay is only $20.95

Overall, I loved getting to try all these Wines and being able to share with loved ones, it was the icing on the cake for our small dinner party last month. I love the concept behind the Tasting Room and I look forward to ordering from them again!

If you’re thinking you might want to give TastingRoom.com a try, they’ve got a special offer to invite a friend and give them a $25 credit towards a $50 order! If you’re interested in an invite, leave a comment and I’ll send you an invitation via email!

 

 

Mineral Hygienics Eyeshadows

If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know that a couple months ago I got to try a Starter Kit with Mineral Hygienics and I fell in love! Their foundations and concealer was spot on even on my oily complexion and I’m still enjoying those products now! I loved them so much that I couldn’t leave well enough and in the Holiday Spirit, they agreed to send me another present to enjoy and share with you all!

I received my eyeshadows and eyeshadow brush packed up perfectly just like before. Mineral Hygienics doesn’t skimp on the details; in their products, in their ingredients or in their presentation. I always know I’m going to get a product that looks beautiful in the bottle and on my skin 🙂

I chose two colors that I knew would go with just about everything and especially a bold lip 😉
Pesto is described as “a bright olive shadow with a touch of green sparkles throughout”. At first, I thought it wasn’t as “bright” as I expected, that was until I swatched it. The lime pop certainly comes through and the dark (almost Emerald) micro glitter in this shadow makes it a true “WOW” color for the winter. I cannot wait to pair this with with an Ugly Red Christmas Sweater. This is going to be EPIC!
Nestle (which just SOUNDS like a cozy Winter color, right?!) is described as “a soft cashmere brown with light coverage and a delicate shimmer”. This color proved to be an amazing, warm wash of color and glamor with even the lightest touch. When packed on, this adds an amazing bronzed look to my blue eyes and it makes them pop and sparkle, it’s really magical. I think this might be my favorite of the two because with this color alone, I often get compliments and people think I spent a lot of time layering and placing my shadow when really, Nestle is my one shadow wonder!

I’m never disappointed with Mineral Hygienics, but these velvet smooth, uber pigmented shadows have me wondering why I even both with other brands!

Have you ever tried Mineral Hygienics? What color do you need in your Winter Wardrobe?

EveryBodies Lingerie- Shoe Shopping

It’s no secret that I’m not a size 2 & frankly, I don’t know a lot of women (or moms) that are. I’ve shopped in a few lingerie boutiques and browsed Victoria’s Secret and I can say it was less than ideal. Things in my size are either scarce or they’re just unflattering. It’s like they’ll throw anything in their stores for their “plus size” section just to saw they have one! Not to mention the sizing! On a trip to visit a boutique with a friend last year, I probably spent an hour in a hot, stuffy dressing room trying to get something that fit my waist and bust and NO women wants to wear a 5x when she’s typically a L/XL…ever. Under ANY circumstance. I eventually found a nightie and went about my day, but it’s the experience that comes to mind when a girlfriend of mine chimes up with the idea to go shopping. After that, I took up looking online and found a lot of the same issues: a confusing sizing system and a limited selection for the average or plus size women. Then I found EverybodiesLingerie.com and my headache went away!

EveryBodies Lingerie owner, Nichole G., set out with a mission- to offer lingerie and other accessories for women of all shapes and sizes. She wanted to have a place where everything was easy to find and the selection was big enough to match anyone’s personal style. After browsing her site for an hour or so, I have to say she succeeded- in a big way.

I was able to browse lingerie by what style I wanted (or even search color) THEN by what size I needed. So, instead of searching through a few pages in the “Plus Size” section, I was able to choose my favorite night time attire- baby doll nighties and then select my size. I wasn’t limited to 5-10 selections like I have been in the past. I was able to click on a nightie I liked and sure enough- it was available in my size! Plus, on every page featuring an outfit or clothing product, the size chart is clearly laid out in the details. You can choose by your weight, bust, hip or even your dress size, whichever is easier for you! I really felt like all the bases were covered!

I have to admit that I’m not used to having THAT many choices when it goes to Lingerie! It was almost overwhelming and narrowing it down to an item I wanted to review was too hard! So, I went to my safe place. Shoes! I couldn’t turn down these leopard print heels! Shipping with EveryBodies Lingerie is fast- orders ship same or next day. (Meaning you still have time to order before the Holidays!)

I got these Ellie Shoes Satin & Lace Stilettos & I have to say, they’re perfect! These are some serious heels for sure, but they are insanely comfortable for a 6″ heel. The leopard print is super smooth satin and these are detailed in black lacy ribbon with charms on the back heel. They’re bling encrusted keys.

I loved the attention to details on these. Each bow and strip of ribbon was perfectly in it’s place and these shoes are just beautifully designed. Since I picked out this pair, the selection at Everybodies Lingerie has continued to grow!

Aside from your “basic” lingerie, they also carry, shoes, clothing, accessories, cosmetics and they even boast a selection for men. Their styles are current and in style and like I mentioned earlier, it’s hard to pick just one! The damage I could do on a shopping spree at EveryBodiesLingerie.com 😉

If you’re looking for something to wear for that special night it, be sure and check out their selection. Whether you’re looking for something wild or mild, and no matter your “number” they’re sure to have something that’s the right fit for you.
PLUS, right now, they have 10% off your entire order! Applied automatically when you add any item to your cart!

CandleWarmers.com

One of the best things about the Holidays is all the Seasonal Scents. Vanilla, Berry, Cinnamon, Apple- they all just scream Holiday Cheer to me! With little ones, a giant candle burning for several hours isn’t always the best idea. An open flame is just too tempting to little fingers. That’s why I love Candle Warmers and Wax Melts! The biggest selection I’ve ever seen is at CandleWarmers.com.

The first thing I picked out was my scents. Apples & Spice and Merry Berry Plum! They almost sound good enough to eat! CandleWarmers.com carries over 40 varieties of Jamie Clair Wax Melts. Each is available in 2oz or 4oz size and are a great deal! These large ones retail for only $5.99

Each 4oz “block” is sectioned into 12 pieces and each piece last for a very long time! I’m only on my second piece. I keep my warmer on for just a few hours and the scent lingers all day. When I’m ready to switch to a new scent, I let the wax cool, then I just push on one side and “pop” the piece of wax out.

Now let’s get to the warmer. I wanted to do something festive, BUT I didn’t want to have to pack my warmer away after December 25th, so I went with snowflakes. This warmer illuminates and melts the scented wax at the same time. It uses an internal light bulb to melt the wax.

I also wanted to get a warmer that would go with my decor after the holidays, so I picked out this Vintage Turqoise one. This is one of their new designs and I have to say, it’s my favorite of the bunch! They have 43 different warmers so if this one isn’t your style, I’m sure they have something to fit anyone’s personal style.

Aside from the wax blocks and warmers, CandleWarmers.com also carries standard jar candles and warmer lamps,  plate candle warmers, candle crock warmers and more. Everything you need for the wickless candle experience. Be sure and check them out this year for your Seasonal Scent selection!

 

Emani Trio Eye Colors- Review & GIVEAWAY

Nothing makes a better shocking stuffer than cosmetics. Okay, maybe that’s just me! But I’ll help you lovely ladies stock your own stocking with this awesome giveaway 😉

Emani is a cosmetics line establishes in 1998 that is cruelty free, Vegan friendly and PETA certified. Their products are not only friendly to animals, but they are meant to improve your complexion and allow your skin to breathe.  Emani set out to bring a new twist on natural cosmetics and take the boring out of mineral cosmetics. I got the opportunity to try out two of their Trio Eye Colors and I have to say, they’re doing it right!

The first thing I noticed about Emani Minerals is their packaging. It’s beautiful and sturdy. I have plenty of eyeshadows that I would never carry around with me on-the-go or fear they would get broken- this is not one of those! I can even attest that they can withstand a 3 foot drop onto a bathroom flood…twice. There’s a reason my mother didn’t name me Grace…

These trios come in 5 combination. I chose Tantalizing and Aqua God. Each trio features 3 colors with a total of .14oz (4 grams) of eyeshadow- these are BIG trios! & each collection makes a great shadow look with a lid color, crease color and highlight, but the combinations are endless! You can even wet a liner brush and line your top lashes for some extra POP! I even had fun mixing and matching my trios for even more options.
Emani Mineral shadows work best with primer (as I’ve found with most mineral shadows), but with a little bit o a primer base, these shadows lasted all day and were true to color! I couldn’t decide which trio to use to show you guys a look, so do me a favor & leave a comment letting me know which Trio is your favorite!

Now for the Giveaway! One lucky Rosy Snail reader will win her choice of TWO Emani Trio Eye Colors!
Click on the image below to enter!

Stadler Form- Max Heater

It’s late in the winter season, but here in Texas, we’re finally able to switch on the heater and get cozy! Most days, though, the heater runs for a short period of time. Since our house if fairly small and the boys play in only two rooms (for the most part)- I thought getting a heater to use would help save on some energy bills, but it would have to be safe. That’s when I found the Max Heater by Stadler Form.

We received our Max heater a few weeks ago, before we quite needed a heater just yet. That’s how we discovered that it’s not only a heater, but can we used as a fan as well. They say the fan inside (used for both heating and cooling) is whisper quiet and I couldn’t agree more. A few times, my two-year-old (in spite of it being a no-no) has turned our Max Heater on without my knowledge and I never catch it until I’m all the sudden having a hot flash!  This heater does an excellent job of heating a room or two to the perfect temperature.

The controls are really easy, you can control the temperature with one and the fans power with the other. The knobs glide easily and they fit in nicely with the whole look and feel of the Max Heater.

Overall, we love the design and how well this heater worked. Stadler Form took a lot of time and care into the entire design of this heater and even picked up a few awards along the way. When not in use, it is a bright statement in our house and people often ask about it. The Max heater is available in 3 colors: red, yellow or white. With kids in the home, I’m stoked to report that no matter how long you run this heater, it never gets hot to the touch. It gets a little bit warm, but not enough to hurt anyone, especially curious toddlers. That makes this a super family-friendly option in my book!

How are you staying warm this winter?

Block Crayon Color & Stow Farm

As a kid, there was absolutely nothing I loved more than coloring. I was glued to my crayons and I always gave out drawings. It’s no surprise to me now that my little boys BEG to have a good coloring session nearly everyday. Most days I’m happy to join in and Daddy is too. Sometimes, the same crayons day after day can get a little boring so when I heard about Block Crayon, I couldn’t wait to see how it could spice up our doodles!

We received the Block Crayon Color & Stow Barn and right off the bat, I was happy with the “stow” portion of this activity. It’s hard to stay organized as a mom with two toddlers so I have to give credit where credit is due when a company takes the time to consider storage. Everything fits inside and I can just pack the toy away.

Inside the lid of the barn is a large roll of coloring scenes. I wasn’t expecting this adorable touch, but the boys love it! As shown in the first image, you can remove the barns roof and roll the paper out the bottom while placing the crayons on the lid and even stacking them. It makes for organized play as well as more of a station for the block aspect of the block crayons.

On top, there were 6 farm characters. The farmer, his wife, a duck, rooster, sheep and cow. How cute are these?! Jack loved telling me what these animals are and what sounds them make. Too bad he thinks they are all Cats who say “mow!”. The crayons are non-toxic and easily wipe off of hard surfaces. They are also sturdy. We’ve been playing with our crayons for several weeks now and you can still make our each character.

The rest of our crayons were blocks 🙂

These are certainly the highlight of this product. The combination of building and doodling is a win win for me and the boys. They love to stack these, knock them down and draw a few animals in between towers. Each block Crayon was full of details and kept with the farm animal theme throughout along with some letters and numbers.

Overall, we loved our Block Crayon Color & Stow Farm and it would make a great
Holiday Gift for the Toddler or Pre Schooler in your life!