LOTD #14 and another book finished!

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon

This is one of four new shades from a collection they are calling "Pacific Coast". The other shades of new lip butters are Pink Lemonade, Juicy Papaya, and Sorbet, which I am on the hunt for. I found Wild Watermelon at Target, although for some reason the tag on the bottom with the shade name had been ripped off.

I really like this color. Several bloggers have commented that Wild Watermelon has a different texture than the first batch of lip butter, but I didn't notice that much of a difference. These really aren't long-wearing, but are very moisturizing and feel great on. I also love that the plastic cap is a representation of the shade.

I finished reading Sparky Green Earrings yesterday, and I really enjoyed it. I have to admit that I haven't been a follower of Melanie Shankle's blog, Big Mama, but really that's not for any reason other than I just hadn't stopped by there before. Now that I know her writing style and how funny she is, I'll definitely be a reader. I do understand that some of the stories in her book came from her writings on her blog, so if you are already a follower of her blog, you might make note of that before purchasing the book.

(oh my goodness, look at all the dirty dishes in the sink and on the counter in my pic!)

Have you read anything good lately?

LOTD #13 and baseball

CARGO PlantLove lipstick in CeCe

This line was long ago discontinued, but here's some info Sephora's description way back when:

What it is: A lipstick tube made entirely out of corn - a renewable and abundant resource. This environmentally-friendly innovation also emits less greenhouse gases, which many scientists believe to be the major cause of global warming. The outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. Simply moisten, plant, and wait for a bouquet of wild flowers to grow!

What else you need to know: CARGO is donating two dollars from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The PlantLove™ seeds we sow today affect future generations so we are investing in the earth and our children for the future of the planet!

Now, you and I both know I never got around to planting the package, but what a cool idea! And I love that they donated to St. Jude's- a great cause.

This is actually wears pretty well. It's very moisturizing, and the color is fabulous- not too dark, but such a pretty shade.

If I recall correctly, every color in this line was named for a celebrity, and I think this one was for Courteney Cox.

On another note, BASEBALL SEASON HAS STARTED! Yes, I'm excited! P is playing 10 and under kid pitch and loving it. The are the Mudcats this year and I love it.

I think I may love it just for the hat. I need to add some bling to mine though. Anybody local have a bedazzler I can borrow?

LOTD #12 and The Ducks

Avon Totally Kissable Lipstick

Full-coverage conditioning color infused with fruit enzymes and a blend of natural oils for lips that are visibly fuller, softer and smoother.

Avon Totally Kissable Lipstick in Plum Intrigue

I made a recent Avon order to pick up some of their Spring nail polish shades, and grabbed one of these new lipsticks (they are $5 right now). I was curious to see if it might be balm-like, which is all the rage right now with lipstick, and it is! 

I don't think I would call this full-coverage.... in fact, I think it's kind of sheer. But it feels great and leave my lips so moist, even after it has worn off. Since it's balmy, it doesn't last more than 2 hours or so, but I really like it.

Branson Report:

We were a bit sad that it was a bit chilly during the rest of our stay in Branson. But there are still fun things to do! We decided to Ride the Ducks.  The Ducks are amphibious vehicles based on the classic WWII DUKW. This was our second time and we had a fabulous drive who told us funny stories and filled us with lots of history. It was a great ride and well worth the ticket price.

You may remember that the kids and I often suffer from Carcolepsy, which causes us to fall asleep pretty quickly in the car. And WC also has Duckcolepsy I guess. After just 10 minutes or so, I looked over and this is what I saw!

But she rallied in time to take her turn to drive in the water.

And see these quackers...... I am losing them.... tonight! Enough!

LOTD #11.5

Bright, gorgeous color that can transform your day and your lips. Enriched with a silk moisturizing complex, our formula helps sustain moisture levels and helps create soft, smooth, beautiful lips in just 7 days.

CoverGirl LipPerfection in Smitten

I am SO torn on this one.... I really like the way it looks and feels at first, but it oxidizes into a brighter pink and doesn't stay moist for very long. And although it promises to "sustain moisture levels", my lips actually feel drier after I wear it.

I have heard people rave about this line, so maybe I'd like a different color? Have you tried anything from this line?

LOTD #11 and Empties

2 lipsticks in 1 BlastFlipstick! Flip your look from day to night, soft to bright, with BlastFlipstick's double-ended lipstick duos. With a creamy shade on one side and a shimmer shade on the other, it's two wearable, blendable, lipcolors in one!

CoverGirl Blast Flipstick in Vixen

In December, I joined a BzzAgent campaign for CoverGirl and received this lipstick to try and review.  I was really pleased with this one- it is long-wearing! Very long-wearing. I don't find the Blast Flipstick to be drying at all- in fact, it is very creamy yet it don't run into the lines around my lips. These retail for around $8.50.

 (Dear FTC- note my disclosure- I received this 

lipstick for review.)

And a few empties:

Bath and Body Works Country Chic Body Lotion

This is my all-time favorite scent and I love this so much I could drink it! This retails for $11, but I only buy when they are having deals like they are right now- Buy 3 Get 2 Free.

John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Boosting Leave In Spray

It appears that this might have been reformulated since I last bought it- the only leave-in in this line is now called Lift + Refresh Root Spray. (Which I might like even better!) The product I had just seemed to be a detangler, but if the new one boosts roots..... that would be even better. It retails for $6.50 and there are often $1-2 coupons in the Sunday paper for John Frieda products.

While we were in Branson, I taught WC the art of the George Washington hairstyle- where you bend your head forward in the pool and let all your hair go over your face, then fold the hair back once you lift your head out of the water. She thought it was great and we did it about a million times. So cute! Did you do this?

LOTD #10 and SDC

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart

Revlon's Lip Butters were all the rage last year, and I bought 4 and really like them. These certainly aren't long-wearing, but they feel great on and don't bleed outside my lipline.  I reach for these when my lips feels a bit chapped.

These retail for about $7.50. The cap of each shade is different and represents the color inside.

Empties:

Opti-Free Replenish is the only contact solution I can use- all others burn my eyes. Since I have worn contacts since 4th grade, I can't even begin to figure the amount of solution I have gone through over the years!

Last summer when I was wearing my hair wavy, I bought Dove Style + Care Nourishing Amplifier Mousse to help scrunch it a bit. This was just OK- nothing I'll specifically repurchase, but it seemed to do the job OK. I think a mousse geared towards curls would probably work better.

This week is our Spring Break, so we headed to Branson last Friday and hit Silver Dollar City on Saturday. The weather was gorgeous and we had a fabulous time as usual. We got season passes this year and plan on making several trips to MO.

But folks, let me tell you, their new coaster called Outlaw Run is NO JOKE. Poor WC was crying when it was over and about to throw up. Just be prepared if you plan to ride it! It's pretty amazing, but even I was scared a bit!

LOTD #9 and some Empties

Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss in Berry Heavenly

Lasting color. Vibrant sheen.
Meet the first-ever 10HR stain gloss.
Shine enhancing formula glides on lightweight color that won't dry out.

Last year before I invested in the YSL Glossy Stain, I was excited to try Maybelline's Stain Gloss. Although I do like it, the 10HR claim in the title is definitely misleading. I would say the stain lasts through the morning, but the gloss does wear off after a few hours. The YSL Glossy Stains and the L'Oreal Wet Shine Stains stay glossy for quite a bit longer on me.

The Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss retails for about $9, I would suggest watching for a deal on Maybelline products at either CVS and Walgreens. I think it's a good value, and since I do like it, it will be staying in my stash.

Now for a few empties:

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads

I found this poor lonely half-empty container of cleansing pads in my cabinet and decided to finish it off. They are pre-moistened with a foaming cleanser and do a great job of removing makeup and cleansing my skin.

I definitely like them and feel like they do a good job, but to me it's a bit expensive at 28 pads for $7ish. That's just a month's worth! However, let me tell you how big these pads are..... they a huDge! Like bigger than your palm. For a while, I would cut these in half because half is definitely enough to use to clean your face. But then I felt like I was dulling my scissors, which was a bother because dull scissors are no fun! So I quit cutting them and went back to feeling like I was wasting an expensive product. Frustrating. I'd defintely love these more if there were half-size.

Pure Silk Sensitive Skin Shaving Cream

I have to tell you, I was *so* glad to finally finish this off! I was not a fan of it at all- it certainly did not leave my legs feeling like silk! I picked it up at Walmart just because it was their lowest priced shaving cream and I thought I'd give it a try. I'll be going back to Skintimate for sure.

WC is gearing up for her first speaking part in a play- her first grade musical at school. It's called "Hats" and as of today, this is the hat she wants to wear. This is definitely subject to change knowing WC. Her line is "There's definitely something wrong with that!" and I have a feeling she's leave her mark on the musical. She's been practicing every day and even took her script with her to the skating rink last week, just in case the opportunity arose to do a quick read-thru with friends. This musical should be fun to watch!

LOTD #8 and an Empty

L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Infinite Fuchsia

This is another shade in the same lines as the shade I wore yesterday and I love this one too. I really need to pick up a few more shades- Endless Red look pretty too.

Again, this is fabulous value compared to the YSL product it's a dupe for. And here's one thing I forgot to mention that I love about these: I love that the tube is partially clear so that you can see the shade. Makes it easy to grab the one you want as well as see the actual shade rather than a plastic representation.

Empty Videos

Have you watched any Empties Videos on Youtube? I think they are pretty fun to watch- people gather up products they have finished up and talk about if they like them and whether they would repurchase. Although I'm not quite camera-ready, and don't want to subject you to my hick accent, I thought I'd show some of my empties too!

Salon Selectives was a favorite brand of mine growing up- the green apple scent was yummy! I discovered this bottle of hairspray in the back of my cabinet late last year and decided to use it up. I really don't use a lot of hairspray, but do use it to give a little body to the top of my hair. 

Although this line was discontinued for a bit and I believe this particular bottle is in a formula no longer available, it looks like Salon Selectives came back in 2011 and has some products now available at Walgreens for about $3. I'll definitely be picking up a bottle of their current hairspray to try this week because the Freeze It hairspray I've been using is terrible- it gets clogged almost every time I use it and is driving me crazy!

Do you have a hairspray you love?

LOTD #7 and Spring Shoes

L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Berry Persistent

Remember last week I wore a YSL Glossy Stain and commented that L'Oreal had recently come out with a drugstore version of this $34 product? This is it! The retail price is about $10, but you can often find a coupon as well as good sales at CVS or Walgreens. I think I picked mine up for BOGO half off.

 But I love this so much I would have paid the full $10 for it! The above swatch is just one thin coat, and I get great wear and only need to reapply after meals. And I love how it feels- glossy but not sticky.

Discover a stain that thinks it’s a gloss. Now hydration & shine meet lasting, lightweight color. Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain combines the power of a lip stain with lip-gloss luster. This next generation lip stain, formulated with a blend of light hydrating oils & concentrated pigments, delivers lasting color with a glossy finish. Packed with 30% water, Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain leaves lips soft, comfortable and hydrated for up to 6 hours. 

Fioni Women's Kit Bow Pump from Payless

In shopping news, I am going to need to find something to wear with these shoes because I must have them. I know I do it backwards, but I find shoes and then find things to go with them. Aren't these darling? I am SO SO ready for Spring!

Have you gotten any new fun Spring clothes or shoes recently?

LOTD #6 and a book recommendation

Avon Pro-To-Go in Party Rouge

Sadly, the Pro-To-Go lippies were discontinued. I first discovered them back in 2008 when Reese Witherspoon was serving as a Beauty Ambassador for Avon and was in all the ads wearing lipstick from this line.

Pro-to-Go is a creamy, moisturizing, highly-pigmented formula that also contains SPF 15. It glides on smooth, the texture is light, the color is even a little bit shiny, and the one-hand application packaging is fabulous!
Slide: Slide up button to raise lid…and lipstick.
Glide: Glide on color for beautiful lips.
Hide: Slide down button…see lid close.

I would describe the Pro To Go as a highly pigmented lip balm (sort of a first gen Revlon Lip Butter). They don't have a lot of staying power, but they feel absolutely fabulous on your lips and wears off extremely evenly, so I didn't mind reapplying it. I've got about 4-5 shades to rediscover and see if I still want to keep them in my stash- I'm definitely keeping Party Rouge.

Book Club

Last week I attended my church's Children's Ministries Book Club and we discussed Words Kids Need to Hear. I have to say, it was an AMAZING book and I am trying to constantly keeping the author's recommended phrases in mind.

Words matter. Words can build up, or words can tear down. As parents and church leaders, do we use our words well? Words Kids Need to Hear offers compelling, yet simple ways to build up the hearts of children through meaningful and well-chosen words. What children hear from adults they trust makes a significant impact---now and for years to come. Words Kids Need to Hear offers an easy-to-follow learning path. Each of the seven chapters focuses on a single statement kids need to hear from parents, children's workers, and other close adults. These seven statements are simple to share, yet guaranteed to make a profound impact on a child's life. 

They are: 

* I Believe in You 

* You Can Count on Me 

* I Treasure You 

* I'm Sorry, Please Forgive Me 

* Because 

* No 

* I Love You 

Each chapter seeks to educate first, equip, and then motivate to action. Words Kids Need to Hear helps parents and children's workers use words to build up the hearts of elementary-age children, resulting in closer parent-child relationships that pave a path toward a relationship with God.

This was a quick easy read filled with good examples and situations. I feel like I got *so* much out of it- I just can't recommend this book enough. It's also a great good to pick up and read a chapter when you don't have much time- I read several chapters in the pickup line at school while waiting to pick up the kids. Have you read it?

LOTD #5

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick

It’s a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood.

I have five of these, and they are lippies I reach for over and over. Lovesick is one of my faves- it's such a bright cheery color! One thing that I love about these is that although they have a balmy texture, they don't bleed at all or run outside the lines of my lips. And even after the balm has faded away, I am left with a nice stain of color.

Another bonus- these are twist-up and don't require sharpening. I always feel like pencils that require sharpening are such a waste of product!

Miranda Lambert

Tonight I am super-excited to get to see Miranda Lambert in concert- she's been a fave since we first saw her on Nashville Star years ago! I've seen her a few times in concert, but this is her first headlining show I've seen and I am so looking forward to it! Do you have fun weekend plans?