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cathubbard@hotmail.com
I love the Benefit Hoola Bronzer. For well over a year I have used this magical bronzer almost daily and loved the beautiful effect it gave my normally sallow skin. I was skeptical that I would ever like another bronzer as much, but I have found one AND it is a drug store dupe!!! OK, I won’t keep you waiting….it is the Milani finishing powder in 06 Medium Tan.
Each of these bronzers have an exceptional color that gives gorgeous depth without being orange or muddy. They both go on smooth and give a natural glow and provide depth when you need to contour. As for the packaging, I could go either way. The Milani compact comes with a mirror which can be helpful but the brush on the Milani powder is awful. I do like the sturdiness of the box that houses the Hoola bronzer and I have really been liking the brush that comes with it as well. All in all with a $20 price difference, I am going to stick with the Milani powder for now. Here are some swatches so you can compare:
HERE THEY ARE OPEN…
SWATCH (NO BLENDING)…
SWATCH (BLENDED)…
Try these out – you won’t be disappointed.
Rainbow Banana Chocolate Muffins
(makes 18 muffins)
Ingedients
1/2 c. canola oil
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
3 very ripe bananas, medium size
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 c. flour
3/4 c. mini M&M chocolate candies
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a food processor bowl add the oil, sugar, vanilla and bananas. Pulse until smooth. Next add the baking soda and salt. Pulse 2-3 times. Add the flour and pulse 2-3 times, just until combined and then add the chocolate candies. Again, pulse just 1-2 times to distribute them evenly.
Scoop the batter into muffin tins and bake for about 20-25 minutes depending on your oven.
Here they are, my five crushes at the moment. These are either new discoveries or re-discovered favorites.
1. Camera Ready Cosmetics Sample Sizes: I have long heard about makeup such as Cinema Secrets however I was reluctant to purchase a large size of this makeup without ever seeing any of the color swatches online. Well…I stumbled upon sample sizes on their website and couldn’t be happier. For only $3 each you can try out numerous different colors and brands on this website. Shipping is not included.
2. Julep Box: This is the first time I have subscribed to a box service and I am loving it!!! For $19,95/month you receive two full size nail polishes and other goodies such as hand lotion, top coats, cuticle creams and lip gloss. Boxes come with four items every month and I have yet to get a box I don’t love! Another added benefit is that once you become a member you receive 20% off all purchases and free shipping. If you enter the code FREEBOX at checkout your first box is free!
3. Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lip Gloss: I am a huge fan of everything Naked and this is no exception. I got the color Love Child which is a glossy, nude-pink color that would look good on anyone. The color is opaque and has good staying power for a moisturizing gloss.
4. Qrunch Quinoa Burgers: These are gluten free, vegan and super delicious! I can’t stand mushrooms so I haven’t ate many veggie burgers, but was thrilled to see that these don’t contain mushrooms. There is only 200 calories in each patty and are a filling and healthy new addition in my home.
5. Soda water with a little fresh fruit: OK, so this is nothing groundbreaking but for some reason I have forgotten about this treat. Being a person that hates drinking water this helps me get my 8 glasses in and it tastes great! My favorites are using fresh orange juice or pomegranate juice.
When I was younger I used Vaseline all the time – as an eye makeup remover, to moisturize, as a gloss. Somewhere along the way I lost my way with this magical jelly and I feel like I have been reunited with a long lost love.
Read more for my favorite ways to use Vaseline:
- Vaseline is a great eye makeup remover. Simply smooth over your eye and gently work the formula in. You will have clean, moisturized eyes in no time. I have also heard that this is a great way to keep your lashes long. I
- For use as a night gel on eyes. I love to put my night eye cream on and then gently pat a bit of Vaseline over the cream. My eyes still absorb the vitamins from the night cream, however with the addition of the Vaseline, I wake up with eyes feeling ultra hydrated.
- Most of us know the old trick of slathering your feet with Vaseline, putting on socks and then falling asleep. I have done this trick several times and it works amazingly well. One addition I have is to put a drop of an essential oil such as lavender to the Vaseline as you are massaging the jelly into your feet. This adds the feeling of a spa like experience.
- I got this tip from Michelle Phan’s website. She recommends adding Vaseline to your pulse points just before spritizing on your perfume for a longer lasting scent. I have tried this and it definitely works!
- I am a lip gloss junkie. That said, there are certain colors of lipstick that I can’t live without. Vaseline is my staple gloss to slather on lips when I need a clear gloss to give my favorite lipstick some oomph and shine.
- If you wake up with chaffed lips and need a quick remedy, try this: slather vaseline on your lips and lightly brush them with a soft bristled toothbrush. Bye, bye chapped lips and hello lusciousness!
- Apply the tiniest amount of Vaseline to fingertips when you are looking to tame away those pesky flyways.
- Apply to the very ends of your hair for the look of hair that is shiny and split end free.
- Have you ever had a bottle of nail polish where you can’t unscrew the cap? For some reason this always happens on my top coat polishes…not anymore though. I simply swipe some Vaseline around the lip and they never get stuck.
- And one of my favorites is to slather Vaseline on body parts that naturally get very rough easily right before a spray tan to prevent streaks. Just slather on backs of ankles, knees and hands to stop those unwanted streaks.
I have a confession…sometimes I skip breakfast. Another confession…I hate wasting calories on food I don’t love.
OK, OK, so I know skipping breakfast isn’t healthy and there are numerous reasons why breakfast should never be missed but there are times I just simply forget or don’t have time. This brings me to my second confession regarding wasting calories…
Sometimes I just don’t want to eat something that I am not looking forward to. As a girl that is in a constant battle between fitting into my skinny jeans and my love of food it just isn’t worth it to me. However, my egg white french toast is both a great item to eat for breakfast and it will keep you in your skinny jeans. The recipe can be whipped up in less than 5 minutes and it is soooooo delicious! I try to keep this recipe extra healthy by using Ekekiel Bread which is 100% flour less and made of organic sprouted whole grains. The bread also has 6 grams of dietary fiber per slice and no sugar! The calorie content may change slightly depending on the type of bread and toppings you use, however the below recipe is for how I like to eat mine.
I hope you have a chance to try this out for yourself. Please let me know what you think!
Egg White French Toast
Ingredients
1 slice of Ezekiel Bread
1/4 cup egg whites (I buy the egg whites in a container for ease)
dash cinnamon
non-stick cooking spray
1 teaspoon light butter (I like Land of Lakes)
1 T. Pure Maple Syrup
Directions
Heat a non-stick skillet to medium heat. Meanwhile, pour egg whites in a shallow dish and sprinkle in a dash of cinnamon. Soak break in egg white mixture for about 15 seconds and then flip over and soak the other side of the bread. Spray the skillet and put the french toast in – cook 1-2 minutes per side and serve. I like to enjoy mine with some light butter and maple syrup but this would be great with fresh berries or jam as well.
