Get Your Feet Ready for Spring!

Spring is here (or for some of us, it's still coming) and everyone is ready to throw those boots in the closet and pull out some cute sandals!  But rough, cracked heels can make wearing sandals uncomfortable and don't look good even in your best wedges. Here is a simple routine and some of my favorite products to get your feet ready to show off those cute sandals that we all have been waiting to wear!

What you need:

A buffer/pumice stone (I love the Spongeables: Pedi-Scrub, Foot Buffer)

Lotion (I like the Earth Therapeutics: Intensive Heel Repair treatment)

Nail tools

Nail Polish (bright pink and glossy coral are classic for a great spring pedicure)

The foot buffer can be used as you shower or in a small bucket. I personally just do it at the end of my shower and it takes less than five minutes. Use the exfoliating side (white) and scrub your foot gently. Rinse off your foot and then use the colored side. (Honestly, this side feels so relaxing and refreshing and I absolutely love it! When I found these they came in two scents, lavender and eucalyptus. I personally like the lavender one.)  After this you just rinse off once more and your feet will feel amazing and smooth. (This foot buffer only lasts about a month so I would recommend replacing it then.)

Once you are out of the shower and dry off a bit (but leave your feet slightly damp!), use the heel repair treatment, about a dime size per foot, and massage your feet. Put on socks for at least an hour so the lotion absorbs. (It's best if you can sleep with the socks on so the lotion can stay on even longer!) This heel repair treatment has a cooling peppermint feel and scent that always feels great when it’s applied. It started to make my feet look better within two days and it continues to work to make my feet look and feel amazing. 

Cut your nails and file them well, then use a cuticle tool or small wooden stick to gently push back your cuticles.  Rub a small amount of lemon juice on your toenails to help get rid of any yellowness you may have, then apply some cuticle oil to keep them from getting dried out and brittle.  (You can gently buff your nails before applying the cuticle oil if you like!)  Add a strengthening base coat to your nails, then two coats of your chosen color.  (One great spring look is a pastel floral watercolor effect!  Start with a color like lavender, then, while the polish is still wet, quickly drop small dots of colors like baby pink, light yellow and mint green on your nails and let them spread.  Apply a top coat immediately.)  Finish with a top coat to make the color last and make your nails extra glossy! 

~Katrina

Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer Update

I’ve continued to use the Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer about twice a week since my first review and overall I think my pores are definitely less visible!  Particularly right under my eyes near my nose and right in the center of my nose bridge; these areas appear smoother with and without makeup and there are fewer blackheads.

I haven’t seen a reduction in oil production for any longer than immediately after using the gel, but with fewer blackheads I assume dirt and oil aren’t getting trapped in my pores as often.

I still haven’t experienced any lasting redness or persistent dryness after using the pore minimizer.  My (super sensitive) skin is reacting well to this product, so I would recommend it!

Overall, I think the Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer is a great product!  It’s no miracle worker, but it definitely seems to shrink your pores (or at least make them less visible) and clear out impurities.  I would recommend using it on Wednesday nights (for a midweek deep clean) and Friday or Saturday nights (when you’re probably up later and wearing more makeup/wearing makeup longer/not taking as great care of your skin as usual).  It’s gentle but effective!

~Alyssa

Trashy Friday: Eye Candy and Walk of Shame Shuttle

Welcome to another edition of Trashy Friday! Today we will be covering MTV's "Eye Candy" and VH1's "Walk of Shame Shuttle". Let's get to the trashiness!

Eye Candy
We finally reached the season finale! Now we get to the point where Jake is hot and crazy, like seriously out of his mind. Linda finds out that Jake is the killer and just forgets common sense all together. She confronts him at the grave site where his sister is and tries to attack him when she is in the grave. Well one you know he's crazy and you are stuck with him on an island with no way to escape like really you could've waited. Jake gets upset that all his work for Lindy is all for nothing. So she attacks him and of course he chokes her out and brings her to an asylum. Meanwhile Tommy, Connor, and George  investigate where Sofia and Lindy are. They find Tessa dead and so much over acting is done here. (Especially from George)  Tommy uses George's skills to find Lindy. After Lindy wakes up, she breaks out of her room and instead of finding a way out, she investigates the asylum. Jake is there and tells her what happened in his childhood and wants to make it work with Lindy. Again Lindy being dumb, tells him that she isn't perfect. Jake assumes it's because she can't get over her sister, so he lets her get it out of her system by saving Sofia from the same fate as her sister and then they can go find  sister together. She saves Sofia and then they try to find a way off the island. They eventually have to find his server and Lindy tries to hack it. While this is happening  Jake watches Lindy and makes out with himself in the mirror. (Eventually punching it because of his other personality) To me Jake should kiss himself because he is gorgeous. After she finds the server she tries to get more info on Jake and her sister. Jake comes in and stabs Sofia and Lindy is forced to stay with Jake. Tommy tries to save her but Lindy says the only way she'll forgive him is if he saves Sofia. Then Tommy looks for her and with the help of George somehow they find her. The show ends by Lindy going to find her sister, since apparently she ran off with her boyfriend... Wow, she was at home the whole time, that's dumb! Jake finally goes to prison and Tommy tries to apologize to Lindy for everything.
Overall I loved this series! Hopefully they can try and continue it. Not the best acting, but still entertaining!

Walk of Shame Shuttle
This show apparently is a taping of a business that picks up wasted people the morning after. It is so funny. These hungover customers' stories are so funny and the way they talk about everything is great. They talk about dating, sex, weaves, etc. The drivers have to humor these people and I absolutely love it. I would recommend watching this just for a good laugh, because this show is ridiculous!
-Katrina

Strawberry-Lime Punch

Since St. Patty's day is coming up, I thought of making a festive drink for this holiday.

Ingredients:
1 cup of green sherbet.
2 cups of ginger ale
1 cup of diced sugared strawberries
1/4 cup of lime juice

Directions: Over night, cut up the strawberries and put sugar on them, just enough for desired sweetness. Then take the ingredients and blend them together. Leave this mixture in the fridge and drink some when desired.

~Katrina

St. Patrick's Day Nails

These nails are simple but festive, and perfect for a night of celebration!

You need:

Base coat

Top coat

Striper brush

Tape

Gems (or metallic polish and a dotting tool)

Light green, dark green and red polishes (I used: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in 02 Green With Envy; Butter London in British Racing Green; and Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Color in 89 Honeymoon Red)

Start with a base coat, then paint each nail light green, other than the ring finger; paint that nail dark green.

Use some tape (stick each piece on the back of your hand before applying to nail to remove some of the adhesive and lessen the chance of the tape pulling off the base color) to section off part of your pinky, middle and thumb fingernails.  (I covered the left half of my pinky to make a vertical stripe; the top half of my middle to make a horizontal stripe; and the top left of my thumb to make a diagonal stripe.)  Paint the uncovered sections dark green, wait for it to dry a little then remove the tape.  Add some small gems or dots of metallic polish along the edge where the light and dark green polish meet.

Use your striper brush to create a red lip print on your ring finger.  (This can be any size and placement on the nail.)

Use your striper brush to create a dark green four-leaf clover on your index finger.  Make four small heart-shaped leaves, with the points together in the center.  Fill them in and add a stem.

Add a top coat and you’re done!

~Alyssa

Trashy Friday: Eye Candy, Married at First Sight, and Sex Box

Welcome back to another edition of Trashy Fridays! Today we will be covering MTv’s “Eye Candy”, FYI’s “Married at First Sight: The First Year” and WeTv’s “Sex Box”. Let’s get to the trashiness!

Eye Candy:

We got an amazing episode of Eye Candy this week. Finally we get to know who the killer is. Lindy tries to investigate her sister’s disappearance with Jake. She has decided to ignore the Cyber Crime’s unit because they have betrayed her trust. Tommy decides to investigate Hamish because he thinks he is behind the trafficking site. But really the main point in this episode, is that Jake is sooo cute J.  Anyway, Lindy confronts Catherine and wants to know the information she has on her sister. We get some weird back story about her niece, but the important thing is that it is believed that Sara is dead. So Lindy goes with Jake to find her body number and wants to go to the grave site to see if her sister is really dead. (She has to go there personally since the killer took the photo of the dead body associated with her number.) Meanwhile, the killer attacks Catherine in her home and she ends up getting ran over by a truck. (Ouch.) Tommy works with Connor to find Hamish’s other servers. Hamish finds this out and makes a deal with Tommy that he won’t be prosecuted and he will give him a tip on the killer if he shuts down the site himself. (He does it.) Meanwhile in cute Jake land, his car breaks down and he and Lindy are forced to stay at a bed and breakfast. They end up having sex. (Jake also has a very nice body J) Jake gets his car fixed and they go to a boat so they can go the island to find her sisters body. Hamish’s tip to Tommy and Catherine identified (dramatic music) Jake was the creepy stalker killer all along and now Lindy is in a lot of trouble.

I was kinda disappointed that Jake was the killer, because I have been rooting for him but at the same time I really like it. Next week is the finale and I’m super excited. Lindy will learn that Jake is the killer and now she and Sofia, who was kidnapped, will be in trouble.

Married at First Sight:

Last episode we left off with Doug wanting to propose to Jamie, without spending 100,000 dollars on a ring and Jason offering to marry Cortney again in Vegas, and she says no.

Jason and Cortney: Cortney wants a break and move to North Carolina. She is willing to go without Jason. (Girl what is your problem.) Jason is really nice and still wants to work things out with her and feels bad that she has been hurting so much.  He also explains why he wants to get remarried and after some convincing (and her feeling really loved I guess) Cortney agrees. So now she is all of a sudden excited about a remarriage and she invites her friends to go wedding dress shopping.  Jason’s friend gives him advice on his marriage and how to make Cortney happier. It’s the wedding. They do a dumb and dumber suits. (Orange is not a good color…)  They have a little cheesy Vegas wedding. Haha its really funny. “Elvis” is the preacher in this wedding.  When they return home they seem to have a renewed appreciation for each other. Jason decides to take Cortney out more often to give her reasons to love NYC and to make it home for her.

Jamie and Doug: Jamie vents to Doug’s mom about her own mom. They still have a great relationship. Jamie gets a TV hosting job.  Doug is stressing out about proposing to Jamie, like he has no idea how to do it. He is trying to plan something nice for the proposal (but he can’t tell Jamie) so she is getting suspicious and he is acting weird. So she feels like she can’t trust him. Jamie thinks she has to go to another interview but really they arrange it so Doug proposes in the cutest way. She was very very surprised. Jamie is so happy with Doug and they seem like a really nice couple.

Monet: Monet meets with Jamie and she has decide to be friends with her dates first. Not to rush into intimacy like she did with Vaughn. But I’m happy to hear that she is enjoying the single life.

For the next episode, Jamie decides to remarry Doug and she wants to plan everything. They are having a huge wedding special for them, which is really nice and I just really like Doug and Jamie as a couple.

Sex Box:

I saw commercials about this show and I heard about it on a local radio station. Apparently this show first started off in England but has now been brought to the U.S. (Probably a bad idea but oh well.) The purpose of the show is to have sex therapists help couples spice things up in the bedroom and they get to go in this sex box to try new things XD.  The warning in the first 5 second saying this talks about a lot of sex, tells me I’m in for an entertaining ride. XD

Couple 1: We have Brandon and Elle married for less than a year and they barely have sex, but when they do no one is satisfied. Brandon seems nice saying he just wants to please his wife. Well being interview apparently wifey won’t orgasm but Brandon will making her very sad. However, Brandon seems to use jokes to get out of the issues, which is really immature.  The therapists suggest that he listens to her more and that wifey becomes more assertive to her own needs. Now they pop the question, are you ready for the box(dun dun)? Brandon and Elle go in the box together. (This show is ridiculous and then they are like when you come out where your favorite pjs that weve provided..)  As they wait for them to come out the therapist talk about the couple and what they need to do. (It’s so sad they just wait there outside. But its weird they record how long they are in there and such.) After they get out everyone cheers. The therapist ask to rate Brandon’s performance. (Wait what???) He thinks he did pretty well, and she agrees.  Elle said they talked more and she orgasmed first. (Brandon gives a cocky kinda look like yes I did, omg..)  She also said that he wouldn’t allow her to do a thing until she did orgasm.  The therapists are hopeful for this couple.

Couple 2: Dyson and Rebecca have been together for 17 years.  They have apparently tried everything so they need the help of the sex box. (I’m sorry Rebeccas’s boobs are just huge omg..) Even though they have tried everything, Dyson wants to have a 3 person committed relationship. (That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.) He is crazy, the preacher asks why do you want another woman. He says oh like old is good, but new is a lot better. (Preacher lady seems kinda pissed.)  Basically Dyson is an asshole and keeps insulting Rebecca but she will still stick up for him. (I do not like Dyson..) Chris asks them if they want to go in the sex box. They agree. The therapists just want them to enjoy each other.  Dyson and Rebecca come out and he is exhausted. (Thank goodness he doesn’t have another girl to please.) Anyway she liked it because he did more work on her than usual. Even though Rebecca would be uncomfortable bringing another girl in the house, Dyson won’t promise not to do it. (again I really don’t like how he won’t work with his wife!)  But he agrees that he will not pursue that right now.

Couple 3: Alexia and Chris are together and she has lost interest in having sex with him. This has also caused their relationship to go downhill. (They don’t even talk much anymore.)  The talk about what these people do is uncomfortable. Apparently she had a huge sex drive when pregnant and gave him a bj while having contractions. (OMG!!) Alexia now feels different when he touches her because she is a mom and doesn’t want things to be as kinky. But Chris thinks that could still be fun once in a while. So Chris asks if they want to go in the box. They agree. Everytime people come out of the box, the therapist get too excited for my liking. Alexia and Chris had a good time and she admits that she changed because her mom wasn’t there for her growing up. The therapists are very hopeful for this couple.

They also interview all the couples and they all do very well after therapy.

Well this was way too much for me and I just can’t believe this show exists. 
~Katrina

Pineapple Quinoa

This recipe is really quick and easy, healthy, and super delicious!  It’s completely customizable so make it however you like it.

Ingredients:

1 cup of quinoa

1 cup of pineapple juice

Diced/crushed pineapple

Diced Onion

Black beans

Red chili powder

Salt

Anything you want to add (for example, diced red pepper)

Directions: Prepare the quinoa according to the directions on the package, substituting the water for the pineapple juice.  In a large skillet, sauté the onion, pineapple and black beans (and peppers or whatever else you added) until softened.  Mix in the prepared quinoa then add salt and chili powder to your liking!

~Alyssa

Color of the Moment: Light Blue

Marsala may be the color of the year, but the color of the moment is definitely a light blue fit for a princess.  With the new Cinderella hitting theaters soon, you can find this pretty color everywhere.  Here are a few of my favorite light blue picks!

·      Express (Minus the) Leather Quilted Shoulder Moto Jacket in Sky Blue- For a modern princess look, or a slightly tougher take on the usual princess style, this is perfect!  It’s a great light jacket for spring, perfect to pair with some light wash, cuffed jeans or a pretty patterned circle skirt.

·      Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s Tulle Skirt in Cindyhood- This skirt (actually from a Cinderella collection) is a really fun look for spring!  It’s perfect for an extra feminine look; pair it with a light sweater for a more casual style when it’s still cooler out, or tuck a fitted tank into the skirt and add a cool jacket for a little toughness to balance out the tulle.

·      Forever 21 Life in Progress Floral-Embroidered Chambray Dress- This tee dress is simple and cute, perfect to throw on quickly when you’re running late with sandals or to add wedges and dress up a little!  The light color keeps your look soft and understated.

·      BaubleBar Aquamarine Cavalier Collar- This gorgeous statement necklace is a great way to dress up any casual outfit easily and instantly.  Add it to jeans and a tee or a simple dress to pull your outfit together and automatically look like you put some effort into getting ready (even if you really didn’t)!  The light blue stones add a soft, pretty element to your outfit without being too loud.

·      Target Crossbody Handbag in Turquoise- If you want a trendy light blue bag for spring but don’t want to spend a ton of money, this little crossbody is great.  The color adds a fun pop to your spring and summer outfits and the front buckle and chain strap give it a classic look.

~Alyssa

Disney Princess Nails: Mulan

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all…  These nails are inspired by the princess from the movie Mulan (1998).  Each month I will bring you a new set of nails based on a Disney princess, in the order of their release.

You’ll need:

Base coat

Top coat (I prefer Seche Vite)

Striper brush

Dotting tool

Neutral, dark/medium/light green, dark/medium/light blue, red, purple, pink, deep pink, gold, yellow, white, black, brown, light/medium nude, and golden brown nail polishes  (I used: Essie Nail Lacquer in limo-scene; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Emerald City; Sally Girl Nail Color in Surfs Up; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in 340 Mint Sorbet; Lancome Nail Color in 561; Pure Ice in Kissy Kiss; Sinful Colors in Cinderella; Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Nail Paint in a cherry red color; Sephora by OPI in Stop Stocking Me!; Covergirl Continuous Color Nail Polish in Parisian Pink; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in 540 Bedrock; Love My Nails in Gold Dust; Pure Ice in Excuse Me; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in 110 Hard to Get; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in 880 Black Heart; OPI Nail Lacquer in You Don’t Know Jacques! Suede; OPI Nail Lacquer in My Vampire is Buff; Sephora by OPI in Nonfat Soy Half Caff; and Sally Hansen Satin Glam Nail Color in 01 Go Gold)

Start with a base coat.  Paint your pinky nail a neutral color (like a pearl shade), your ring finger dark green (keep it on the sheer side), your middle finger a medium blue, your index finger deep blue and your thumb red.

On your pinky nail, use your striper brush dipped in a light nude to create a small chin and neck shape in the center at the top.  Make a V shape around the neck in light blue, then around that in purple with a short line extending down from the middle.  Add a deep blue horizontal stripe under the extended purple line and at the base of your nail, a red stripe in between the two blue stripes, and a small red lip shape on the chin area.  Fill in the sides of Mulan’s dress with pink polish.

Use your striper brush dipped in light green to make quick, short vertical strokes on your ring finger, and use a clear coat to blur the lines a bit.  Use the striper brush dipped in gold or yellow (I did yellow on top of gold for a brighter shade) to make the curved shape of Mushu’s stomach.  Outline the left edge of the gold/yellow with red, create the shape of his head and ears, and add two small arms, hands on hips.  Then add details: scowling white eyes, a white sneering mouth, blue hair on his head, deep pinkish tufts on his back and as his nose, gold/yellow whiskers, and black tips on the blue hair and his ears.

On your middle nail, use your striper brush dipped in brown to make a bendy tree trunk toward the left side of your nail, with large branches going in different directions near the top.  Add a brown bench at the base of the tree.  Use the striper brush dipped in dark green to make grass, and then use the dotting tool to make small pink dots all along the branches, with a few deep pink dots added in for dimension.

Use your striper brush in medium green to write “Be a man” (or anything you like) on your index finger, then add fireworks around the writing in various colors such as pink and gold.

For your thumb, use the striper brush dipped in a medium nude shade to create the outline of Mulan’s head (and ear and neck) near the center of the nail.  Outline and fill in her shirt (with one arm extended to the left and the other bent inward from the right) with the lighter nude shade.  Use the golden brown color to make the first part of her legs (one extended out toward left, other bent inward from right), then the lighter nude color to finish off the leg shapes.

Use your striper brush in medium green to outline the neckline of her top, extending down toward the left and crossing horizontally as a belt.  Add green cuffs at both wrists.  Then use the medium nude shade to make her hands and use the golden brown for her staff.

Then add the details!  Fierce white eyes and mouth, scowling black eyebrows with black hair in a bun and a medium green hair tie, and black shoes.

Finish with a top coat and you’re done!

~Alyssa