I'll be back!

Sorry for my absence lately. I've been really busy since graduation is coming up and prom is tomorrow! I have so much to share and I hate that I haven't been blogging lately. Don't worry, I'll be out of school soon and I'll definitely use my time wisely. Thanks for sticking around and waiting up for me. I won't be gone much longer. :)

xox.

krissy

Birchbox - April 2014


Would you look at what showed up yesterday! Birchbox of course. A bit early I must admit, but when is that ever a bad thing? April is profoundly known for it's wonderful spring showers so it's no surprise that Birchbox didn't hesitate to make this month's theme Rainy Days. Here's a peek:


April is all about the simple things in life and the impact it makes on us, such as enjoying a favorite movie or even treating ourselves to a lazy day off. 

What makes this month extra special is the special tip Birchbox included for every subscriber on what to do on a rainy day. I received tip 7 out of 52: Turn off your smartphone and crack open a novel. On our shelf: Elenor Catton's ambitious The Luminaries and our latest not-so-guilty pleasure, the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. If you want more rainy day ideas you can visit birchbox.com/rainy-days for more tips or you can purchase the whole deck of 52 cards in the Birchbox shop!

This is what's included in my box this month:


First off, this box is A-OK.

I received (from left to right) KIND Snacks Healthy Grains in Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt (lifestyle extra), Davines Oi Shampoo & Conditioner, Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser, BeeKind Body Lotion, and Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel.

I can agree to loving the majority of my box this month. I would have enjoyed the lifestyle extra if it didn't have pumpkin seeds as an ingredient as I dislike seeds. My sister sure did take a liking into that one so it didn't go to waste. 

Right away I had to enjoy the Davines Oi Shampoo & Conditioner. I haven't received any Davines products since my very first Birchbox all the way back in June. I absolutely love the smell and literally didn't want to wash the product out of my hair. I will definitely considering splurging on those in the future. I really wished my sample size was enough for more than one use! 

I found the Shea Terra Organics cleanser to come in super handy. As you guys know, I'm always up for trying new skin products. It's super hard to find black soap where I live so I'm super grateful. I know that black soap can be great to help diminish acne, blackheads, blemishes and etc which my skin becomes prone to every once in a while so I definitely won't mind the help. I also love the packaging. The plastic 1 oz bottle is really sturdy to just keep on the go. 

The lovely BeeKind lotion is a new addition to my cosmetic bag (lately my bag has been getting full). I absolutely love the smell. My boyfriend seems to think that it smells like "lemon pledge". Also another friend did mention that the scent was overpowering but not necessarily in a bad way. Maybe it'll have a different impact on you and your senses. It's natural and organic with ingredients such as honey and chamomile and goes on a bit greasy at first but eventually smooths your skin. Hey, I like it!

Last but not least is the wonderful Anastasia Beverly Hills clear brow gel. This is my second time trying a clear brow gel and it's in competition of my currently owned perfekt lash perfection gel. I never knew the difference between plain brows and brows with clear gel. Now I can't help but comb my brows with it! It keeps all the hairs in place and gives it a neat defined look. I honestly wished Birchbox was generous enough to give us this product as a full sized item. I wouldn't mind at all! :)

Ipsy vs Birchbox anyone? There are ups and downs about them both BUT they're both $10 a month. I gotta admit I think I may have found some new favorites from both subscriptions. This month, I think I loved more of my Birchbox items but Ipsy does tend to have a greater value. I can't wait until next month!

Here's everything that was included in my box to shop for as full size items in the Birchbox shop.


xox.

krissy

Ipsy - April 2014


Hooray, Ipsy is here! Lately my glam bag has been arriving way sooner than my Birchbox so it was no surprise when it showed up on Friday. The cosmetic bag is definitely interesting this month. It's more of a square shape and has the theme written on it. This month's theme is "Beauty Rocks". Woo!


This month's products were pretty plain to me. I do like the products but I'm just not so excited about any of them. This month I received over $45 worth of products which is still great considering that a subscription only costs $10. Three of the products were full sized so I know I'll have enough to last.


Starlooks Luscious Longwear Lip Pencil in Naked
Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil (Travel Size)
Elizabeth Mott pop! goes the shadow in Champagne
dr. brandt microdermabrasion (sample)
Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush

I've gotta say that overall I was super excited to try the Urban Decay eyeliner. I really wished it was full sized because eyeliners are my favorite (besides mascara) when it comes to makeup. All of the brands were new to me this month (besides Starlooks) so it was great to see a new variety in my glam bag. 

I'm not much of a lip pencil kind of gal. I've honestly never tried one and I doubt I will. Gladly it's full sized so maybe I can pass it on. The eyeshadow was great I just really wish it was a different color. I think I own way too many "Champagne" colors in my makeup bag (and I also believe most of them came from Ipsy). I already own an eyeshadow brush that is literally identical to the one I received so I believe I'll also pass it on. Lastly I've always wanted to try dr. brandt's skin products from reviews I've overheard so I'll put it to use for sure. 

The value is always outstanding when it comes to Ipsy and I'm proud to be a glam bag subscriber! I seriously can't wait until next month. I wonder if my Birchbox can top this. :)

xox.

krissy


And the winners are...

Congratulations Robyn, Donna, and Colleen! You guys are the lucky winners to receive a Hello body cream from Harvey Prince. Be sure to check your emails to confirm and accept your prize.

xox.

krissy

And the winner is...

Congratulations Lillian! You're the lucky winner to receive a $50 Sephora giftcard. Be sure to check your email to confirm and accept your prize.

xox.

krissy

Fashion Update

My love for H&M is so real, it's like surreal!


Today was just a casual day. It was so sunny out and actually stayed that way for quite a while which is rare in Colorado Springs. It was like the perfect day for sitting back and soaking up the sun. Sadly, I stayed indoors because my skin got all anti-sun on me. Boo!

But on the brighter side, I received the new H&M magazine in the mail today and was totally excited because once again, I LOVE H&M


I was instantly attracted to the accessories section because it's spring, accessories are a must! The colors and textures are just wonderful. Makes me want to go shopping right away! If only I could. I thought I'd share a glimpse of some of the amazing new products because, why not? 


What I really love about H&M are their affordable prices! There are so many deals and the quality is amazing. For example, you can find such cute ballet flats for about $13 or hair accessories from $3. I don't think you can beat that at your average retailer. H&M rocks! :)

P.S - I ordered my prom dress today! I'm so excited. Just 18 more days until prom!

xox.

krissy

Blog, Blog, Blog

If I can admit to one struggle about being a blogger, it's definitely about finding other common bloggers that you can connect with on a friendly level. Seriously, where are you guys hiding? 

I've been blogging for a few years (but only a few months to my newest creation) and I have yet to find a blogger who I can communicate daily whether about posting, blog tips, or etc. I would really like to find someone my age, gender, or just overall with a few similarities and a passion for blogging. I hope that's not too much to ask for.

I know I'm still an amateur blogger but I will admit to that as I do have a lot to learn. I remember when my friends and I were much younger and we would create temporary blogs to comment on our ideas and leave behind our input. It was all so much fun because we connected not because we were friends but because we understood. 

What I'm really trying to say is, don't be scared to leave a comment, message or even your blog link in your comment. I'm typically an open person. I'd be super happy to visit your blog and check out your insights. C'mon people! I don't bite at all. :)

xox.

krissy

Sephora by OPI - TrendTips

#ManiSunday!


Remember these TrendTips I purchased way back in March? Well I finally got around to using them! Actually, I did use the Floral ones a few weeks ago but they turned out horrible due to me having them being exposed to air for too long. Tip: Once you open your nail appliqués, use them right away! 


The Sephora by OPI TrendTips are pretty similar to other nail appliqués I've tried with the exception of not including a mini nail file or cuticle stick. It includes 16 nail strips (8 for each hand). Instructions are listed on the back on the packet which are pretty easy to follow. This design I'll be showing you is called "Feathers".


Surprisingly these turned out way better than my Sally Hansen ones I did about a week ago. I still ended up with a few wrinkles but practice makes perfect...eventually. I love the contrast of colors too and the application feels pretty smooth after you're all done! 

Overall I can admit to liking these but sadly they're being discontinued by Sephora. They're currently available on sale via online for $6 but once they all sell out, they're probably never coming back. So far there are about 17 designs to choose from so stock up! :)

Yay or Nay?

xox.

krissy

Fantastic Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!

I have a new update to share and I can finally say that my blog construction has come to a delightful end. The last and final piece (my header) was published last night and I'm so excited. Check it out!

Before:


After:


Friendly blogger Amanda Kee from Adorkablii was super kind enough to customize my header and add some finishing touches. I love it! 

What do you guys think?

xox.

krissy

Mobile!

Cheers to the weekend!

Since I'm currently unavailable to a computer, I thought I'd go back to mobile blogging. Definitely not the most interactive idea considering the size of an iPhone's screen but I thought it'd be better than nothing at all. 

Today is just a quite normal Sunday. Even though I'm still sort of sick, I refuse to stay in bed all day. I was absent from my blog yesterday because I decided to hang out with Andrew (and not possibly get him sick too) so this is technically a makeup post. :)

Also I gotta share a dish that turned out great and delicious...on accident! So in my food skills and catering class, my teacher decided to have everyone compete in a mock Chop Challenge. I'm not actually familiar with the actual challenge at all but I did have fun competing and whipping up new dishes from scratch with limited ingredients. In the picture below, I would like to introduce you to our dessert called: Strawberry Cheesecake Croissant. 


Now, in case you're thinking that it doesn't look like a croissant at all, you're right because I sort of ate the sides. I can't help these things! I'm attracted to food. Sadly I don't have the recipe to share because this was literally made on accident but I will brag that it was super delicious!

Well enough about food, I will get back to you guys later today with another post...hopefully. 

Happy Sunday! :)

xox.

krissy

Better or Worst?

Hey guys! Hope you all are having a tremendous Thursday.

Today I woke up to a blanket of fluffy white snow in Colorado Springs. Yep. Snow... in spring. Woo. And worst of all, I woke up with a cold. This is not best day ever I can assure you of that. But I survived it!

At the moment I'm crammed with homework so I thought I'd write up a quick post before I go into boring mode. I tried a new recipe today from allrecipes.com once I got home because I was just in the mood to cook! It's called "Tilapia Scampi". I customized the recipe slightly and I gotta say that I loved it. I figured I'd share it with you guys because who doesn't love to try new recipes? I wish I had a picture of my final product but I sort of ate it all. Oops. :)

Here is my edited version of recipe (serving for 1):
  • 1 Tilapia fillet
  • 3 Tablespoons of butter
  • 1/4 Teaspoon of lemon juice
  • 2 cloves of garlic (minced or halves)
  • 3/4 teaspoon of parsley (dried or fresh)
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
  2. Get a small baking dish and coat lightly with cooking spray
  3. Get a small microwave-safe bowl and combine butter, garlic, and lemon juice; microwave-safe bowl and heat in 10 second increments until the butter is completely melted and the garlic is softened (stirring between each increment). 1 minute total.
  4. Place your tilapia fillet in your baking dish; pour the butter mixture over the fillet completely.
  5. Bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
  6. Serve and sprinkle with parsley
The fish tasted great! For sides I had rice and amish potato salad which surprisingly went along wonderfully with the fish instead of making classic spaghetti. You can customize the serving size and ingredients on allrecipes.com depending on how many people you're serving. Hope you all enjoy and continue to have a wonderful day!

xox.

krissy


Sweeten Up Spring With ChapStick Seasonal Flavors

I received this product for review purposes.

Hi guys!


Now I think almost everyone should be familiar with this brand!

Introducing ChapStick! One of the oldest brands of lip balms that's still around today. Today I'll be reviewing their all new seasonal flavors which are limited edition for this spring. 

There are only two flavors for this season which are Citrus Jelly Bean and Pomegranate Gumdrop. These will definitely sweeten up your day while making your lips soft and moisturized. 


Hands down, I love the citrus jelly bean flavor and I think I'll be naming it as my new favorite. Anything citrus-y usually grabs my attention right away. It smells like fresh picked oranges but with a candied jelly bean scent behind it. A bonus is that the lip balm itself is colored orange which just makes my day even better. 

The pomegranate gumdrop is still just as favorable. It's crazy how each flavor smells exactly as what's written on the lip balm! Fruit + candy is a pleasant combination.

Now the purpose of these lip balms from ChapStick are still living up to their consistency of locking in moisture and keeping your lips soft (and sweet with these seasonal flavors). They go on smoothly which is always swell. Even though the lip balms themselves are colored, they go on clear so I would consider these unisex. Now you may need to reapply every couple of hours just to keep your lips constantly hydrated which is typical for almost all lip balms that I know of. 

Now most of you are probably wondering the price for these beauties. Thanks to the ChapStick brand, they are super affordable. Prices range from $0.99 - $2.18 per lip balm depending on your location. They're available for a limited time (beginning since March 1st) at Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens (pomegranate gumdrop only). For more information you can visit the ChapStick website here.

What do you think of these ChapStick flavors?

xox.

krissy

Disclosure: Krissy Deane receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission for payment from in exchange for referrals. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Oh Why Hello April!

Oh April, the second rainiest month of the year, but also the first month of spring!

I miss posts like these where I'm able to write anything on my mind. I haven't done this in quite some time and I hope I'm able to do more of them this month. :)

It has been a nice April Fools day today. I haven't witnessed any outrageous pranks which was surprising but everyone seem to have had a smooth day today which is always great and quite rare on this unofficial holiday.

So far, construction for the blog is improving. I got a lot done over the weekend that I feel proud of. Just a few minor details here and there that I still need to work on but I'll be making progress along the way. I hope you guys like it so far.

Since I'm back in school, it's official that prom is literally 25 days away and I'm still unprepared! Ugh. I need to get everything from head to toe in order. I really love the dress that I found on RTR so I think I'll stick to that. Hopefully I don't see a copy. That would be a nightmare!

Also that means I have about 7 weeks of high school left and just a little more before graduation. Everything is so soon! I'm actually getting a bit nervous now. I'll be on my own in no time. Gah! I'm not so sure if I'm ready anymore.

But I hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday and...

Happy April Fools Day!

xox.

krissy