Category: Uncategorized

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lip gloss makeup perfume Uncategorized

Lighten up your summer makeup @ILovePacifica #sponsored

I tend to carry less items in my make-up bag in the summer. That is why I love a few simple items from Pacifica.  Any of their body washes and shampoos smell great and they are all light and refreshing. The company sent me some items to test out and they all passed the test for the must haves this summer!  You really only need mascara, a lip balm and a great light scent in the summer and these are my new loves!

 

Enlightened Gloss – This light pink lip gloss with coconut oil and anti-oxidants is the perfect shade for the beach – it’s ight and it stays put on your pout! The shade is called beach kiss so you know its the perfect one.

Stellar Gaze – this mascara is all you need to make your eyes pop. It is 100 percent vegan and cruelty free and infused with coconut and vitamin B and it hydrates your lashes too – never clumpy – pair with the Stunning Brows – which is for your eyebrows and helps to nourish your brows while making them a little bit more defined, that is if you choose the color. They also have a clear one that helps to keep your brows in place.  

Their perfume is light and provides just a light scent to not overpower whenever you walk into a room. My favorite is the vanilla. At $22.oo you can try a few – like the fig or indian coconut nectar or even try the custom spray gift set!

Here is a link to all the make-up. 

They also have a great selection of hair products and this shampoo is perfect to toss in your beach bag and a refreshing way to nourish the hair after a day at the beach. Pacifica’s Super Kale Juiced-Up Shampoo deeply cleans and boosts volume for super healthy looking hair. The conditioner protects from damage and offers weightless hydration.  Pacifica also has a mask, oil and dry shampoo too.

 

Disclosure: Pacifica sent me the above items to test out. All opinions in this blog post as always are my own.

Pacifica Beauty Products are light and refreshing - perfect for the summer!
Pacifica Beauty Products are light and refreshing – perfect for the summer!
Categories
Travel Uncategorized

Beauty on the go @tatcha_v #tatcha #travelsize #sponsored

I love my travel size beauty products and I love this line of beauty products  from Tatcha which the creator started by taking a holistic approach to beauty based on classical Japanese beauty secrets and the approach that that less is more. The Tatcha collection has something for everyone.

The website says, “The foundation of the line is Hadasei-3™, a trinity of anti-aging superfoods born from the Japanese diet, and the basis for the original geisha beauty rituals: green tea, rice and algae. Every ingredient is carefully selected and minimally manipulated to be gentle and safe with maximum effectiveness.”

Here are a few products the company sent me to test out.

The Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum is a weightless serum of Okinawa Red Algae, Honeysuckle Leaf and Caffeine. In one use I noticed an instance difference. Loved the hydration it offers.

I have a ton of hand creams everywhere. I like the soothing hand cream as it is super hydrating and it calms irritated skin. What is different about it is that is has a blue color which is a natural Japanese Indigo and disappears upon application. Super cool!

The Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm is unlike any other I have tried. The packaging is so nice and it is ultra hydrating. Made with Camellia Oil it leaves your lips with a bit of golden shimmer. The glossy finish is perfect and it has 23-karat gold flakes right in it! A must for your make-up bag!

Disclosure: The company sent me the above items to test out. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

#TravelBeauty Items from @tatcha_v
#TravelBeauty Items from @tatcha_v

 

Categories
home decor home improvement Uncategorized

Home office makeover #workfromhome #homeofficedecor

Finally, my home office makeover is complete!  Well, I am still looking for the perfect desk but the walls have been painted, shelves cleaned and organized and I feel refreshed and ready to work even harder this year! It is amazing what a bit of paint and clearing the clutter can do! I have worked from home for over 14 years so I had a lot of files and notebooks that stacked up. I did have some help with the organizing thanks to my friend Gretchen from The Fancy Kind. The Fancy Kind is a staging and interior decorating service outside of Boston. Gretchen is great at taking what you have in your home or office and organizing it in a way that is clutter free. My friend Julie helped with the paint selection and she has a great company called design 2 order and can consult on paint colors, interior design and help with organizational challenges and more.

Here are some photos of the home office space before and after:

My home office had not been organized in 7 years!
My home office had not been organized in 7 years!
The details are what makes my office neat and clean!
The details are what makes my office neat and clean.
All the shelves are cleaned off! It looks so much better!
All the shelves are cleaned off. It looks so much better.
Here is my home office after the makeover. My work space is much more efficient and of course tidy!
Here is my home office after the makeover. My work space is much more efficient and of course tidy.

 

 

The colors I used to decorate the office are white, pink and gray.
The colors I used to decorate the office are white, pink and gray.
I love the beach so I wanted to add in some beach themed touches to the decor.
I love the beach so I wanted to add in some beach themed touches to the decor.

 

Categories
home decor Products Trends Uncategorized

Home office makeover #workathome

The new year has got me fired up! I decided to make a change and clean out my home office. I have 15 plus years of files and stuff and I went through a lot and tossed a lot. It felt very freeing. However I could not stand to have my items in boxes so the painters are coming in this week and hopefully at the end of the week I will have a new, fully decorated office. Here are some of the before photos as well as some of the cool items I purchased to spruce up the space and make it a bit more modern. I never knew I could spend so much time on Pinterest!

Home office decor
Home office decor – I love gold accessories and this is a new color choice for me!
My office is looking better! I cleaned out all the shelves, donated some books but I still have many books to sort through. I am hoping for a more minimalistic look
My office is looking better! I cleaned out all the shelves, donated some books but I still have many books to sort through. I am hoping for a more sleek, clean and modern look!
My office was looking a bit messy. Over the years I have received a ton of books, products and more as you can tell from the photo.
My office was looking a bit messy. Over the years I have received a ton of books, products and more as you can tell from the photo.
Categories
Clothes Uncategorized

New year new bra? # @trueandcompany #trueandco

It’s not something I talk about every day – bras. But lately I have been feeling not so great in a bra that has been sized for me. Every once in a while I go to a certain store and get resized/fitted and each and every time it’s different. What’s not different is the uncomfortable wire bras they try to sell me. That is why I was so excited to work with True & Co. They are a new kind of intimate apparel brand based on one simple ideal: for all of us, every woman, to feel comfortable in our own skin. I have been looking for a more comfortable bra. Wire bras just bug me lately! On the weekends I will wear a sports bra to lounge around in, but most of them are not comfortable to wear all day. True & Co has a wonderful bra called the Second Skin and say it’s like naked, but better. The Second Skin™ hugs your curves and disappears under clothes. It is a pull over, which generally I do not like but once you have it on it feels like you are wearing nothing. No straps digging into you as it’s all once piece. I have tested out no wire bras before but they tend to dig in and hurt even without a wire. This one has no wire, elastic or bulky seams. It is very comfortable and offers double layers for extra smoothing. It is not flimsy by any means and has nice light support and removable pads.

I also got to test out the New Alice Easy Fit pullover bra in charcoal. It is like a sports bra only prettier, supportive and it does not flatten. It is meant for when you do not feel like wearing a bra but it still flatters. I call this my new weekend bra lol! The site has very nice lingerie and you can even take a fit quiz that provides guidance on size and styles. They have try on tents coming up in New York, where you book a complimentary personal fit appointment. Check out all the items online.

 

Disclosure: True & Co sent me a couple bras to test out. All opinions are my own.

Super comfy bras from True & Co.
Super comfy bras from True & Co.

true2

 

Categories
chocolate Christmas Gifts Holidays jewelry make-up Products Uncategorized

Happy holidays from@trendymommies Top 10 #giftguide #sponsored

Here it is! Just a few must have items for those on your holiday list this year. Thank you to all of these companies for sending along their wonderful gifts. We try out and test out all products so you know you are getting a good deal and some truly, fun, unique gift ideas. Whether you are looking for the tween in your life, gifts for mom or gifts for guys we have some thoughts. So here it is – the top ten gift guide.  Happy Holidays from trendymommies!

 

  • Perfect for mom: Soma PJs – we have a tradition on our house of opening up a pair of pjs on Christmas Eve each year. What mom would love are these cool nights PJs. They are super soft, comfy and keep you cool at night. They do work as I tested them out and lounged in them all weekend. Plus technically you can wear them as loungewear! #pajamasallday is what I love during the holiday season. Prices start at $49.

    Soma pjs are the best
    Soma pjs are the best

 

  • Perfect for your sister, officemate:  Tata Harper – beauty kits are a great gift for mom or tweens in your life. I will always give products that are non-toxic, safe and effective. I love this line and my teen steals some of these products from my bathroom. Super cute sets for teens on their site including the detox defense set. This is a four-piece regimen, which includes a very nice Purifying Mask that adds a touch of nourishing moisture. The kit also contains mini sizes of  Nourishing Oil Cleanser (15 ml), a Purifying Cleanser (15 ml) and their must have product – the Replenishing Nutrient Complex (3 ml)  ($42) AND as an extra stocking stuffer get the Be Smitten lip treatment. With a hint of pink color this tinted plumping & hydrating lip treatment leaves lips so smooth and the color really will flatter anyone. Super nourishing too! ($29)

    Tata Harper has a great selection of beauty kits online
    Tata Harper has a great selection of beauty kits online

 

  • Perfect for the BFF: Of course my beloved Beautycounter holiday kits are also my favorite. What can I say about these gorgeous red boxed gift sets? Any mom would love to receive a packaged gift like the lip gloss or travel set. If you did not order in time there is always Valentine’s Day!

 

  • Perfect for anyone: David’s  Tea – you all know I love tea but have you been to a David’s Tea retailer? They have the best selection of teas and adorable gifts for the tea lover in your life. What? You don’t know a tea lover? Well if you gift any of these items to anyone on your list they will be hooked!  From the sets, mugs and loose teas you cannot go wrong in this store or their online site.  These adorable affordable gift ideas are perfect for the teacher, sister, bus driver – anyone really. I love the mini pouch of tea bags, the 25 days of teas and of course any of their tea mugs (especially the travel mugs) The travel pouch is $10 and has 5 sachets. As a memorable gift the collectible tea-filled ornament is filled with hot chocolate tea which is a medium caffeine tea with chocolate nibs and chocolate chips in a base of black tea – delightful.  Kids will love the night before Christmas which is nice book of nine caffeine free teas with fun names like sleigh ride, sweet dreams and apple cider.

    David's Tea has the best selection of teas and all of their holiday kits are beautiful!
    David’s Tea has the best selection of teas and all of their holiday kits are beautiful!

 

  • Perfect for the kids: Harbor Sweets  – not all chocolate is alike and these chocolates are handmade in Salem, Mass  Kids will love them. Of course the kids immediately had to test out the chocolate Christmas calendar – like a traditional advent calendar each window is filled with dark horse chocolates- some with almond butter crunch, caramel and peppermint crunch. Really, any boxed chocolate you purchase from this company is sure to please anyone on your list. The company also has a new line called Gather Chocolate to raise awareness of the plight of the honeybee. 2.5% of all Gather sales goes to the Pollinator Partnership to aid in their efforts to preserve and protect the pollinators.

    Harbor Sweets has a sweet treat for anyone on your list
    Harbor Sweets has a sweet treat for anyone on your list

 

  • Perfect for the hubby: Anything at CVS – this is THE retailer where I buy small gifts and ornaments and the gifts for dad like chargers and tech stuff. Hubby would even appreciate a gift card to CVS too. Who doesn’t love a gift card?

 

  • Perfect for those that are hard to buy for or for those that have everything:  Anything from The Grommet – Shop for unique gifts, innovative tech gadgets, and more as The Grommet has truly unique gadgets for everyone on your list. For little girls/tweens order the Vegan nail polish set (perfectly safe and cute colors) and the Wearable nail polish holder is the most inventive product on the market. It makes it easy for them to paint their own nails. Mom will love this invention too. I loved it – it was super easy to use and make it much easier to do your own nails.  For your bff she will love the Bittersweet hair tie bracelet. If you are sick of seeing that hair elastic on your wrist and the dents it leaves, bittersweet by Maria Shireen® makes a sleek hair tie bracelets holder out of stainless steel. Simply, slip the bracelet on, then the elastic over to rest in the groove. It looks very chic and just like a bracelet.  For boys and tween boys they will think the Wristband headphones are cool. Plus, they won’t lose them mom! These braided wrist brand head phones transform into an undercover bracelet. Plus their textured fabric exterior prevents any tangling. For your pet – the Silent pet tag. No more jiggling tags as this super cute tag is the perfect gift. All products on this site are creative, solve problems and I love how easy it is to navigate through the site for your last minute gift giving needs!

    The grommet has gifts for all those that a!re hard to buy for
    The grommet has gifts for all those that a!re hard to buy for

 

  • Perfect for the tech lover  – Clutchette power purse by Chic Buds. The Clutchette Power is a phone charger in a bag. It has an ultra-thin battery, built-in USB cords and room to carry your keys, lip gloss and other night out essentials. I like how it is sleek enough to throw into a larger bag and it makes a perfect gift for the fashionista in your life! $49.99

    Clutchette power purse by chic buds is a tech lovers extra secret weapon for storage and charging
    Clutchette power purse by chic buds is a tech lovers extra secret weapon for storage and charging

 

  • Perfect for the fashionista – Speaking of fashionista she would love a gift from Tartan + Twine. This company makes a range of cosmetic bags – pick her favorite color (sold at Ulta and retailers nationwide) and prices start at $12.00

    tartan + twine has a great selection of make-up cases in a variety of sizes and colors
    tartan + twine has a great selection of make-up cases in a variety of sizes and colors

 

  • Perfect for the kids: I don’t have a lot of young kids to buy for this year but I have heard Hatchimals are the must have item (no I don’t have one so don’t ask) but I always love games for kids and of course I love the classics like bananagrams and apples to apples. A gift card to Barnes & Noble is a great option as they have a great toy selection and it is not too overwhelming and of course their kids book section is fun to look through

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Disclosure: The companies listed above sent me products to review and test out. As always all opinions in this blog post are my ow  

Categories
Christmas Gifts Holidays jewelry lip gloss make-up shopping Uncategorized

@CVS_Extra holiday gifts for all #sponsored

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I love the holiday season and I am very organized when it comes to gift buying and shopping. I am all for one stop shopping and getting it done early and quickly. CVS sent me a few fun goodies for the holiday season -the retailer really has something for everyone. I stopped there to pick up a few holiday decorations, a gift for the puppy, stocking stuffers and snacks for the girls – see! one stop shopping.  Here are a few gift ideas that you can always find at CVS.  Also, don’t forget to use those extra bucks for extra savings. I love waiting at the register for the print out to see what savings I have – I know – such a shopping geek!

1.  Decorations – I still have my reindeer ears and nose from a few years ago purchased at CVS. They have a nice selection of unique holiday decor from tiny trees, stockings, ornaments and these adorable clear nutcrackers. The holiday isle is perfect for shopping for secret santa gifts.

2. Beauty – Look above at the top shelf in the beauty isles for cute packaged gift ideas for the gal in your life – who doesn’t love lip gloss and nail polish?

3.  Candy – my girls love CVS for the selection of their brand name packaged candy and of course the upfront candy section. The retailer has a nice selection of holiday candy packaged up too.

4. Stocking Stuffer gift ideas – so growing up the stocking was always filled with items that you need like socks, necessities such as lotion, deodorant, etc. Check out the travel section for some cute ideas.

5.  Don’t forget Fido – In case you didn’t know they also have supplies for cats and dogs at CVS too – so it really is easy, fun and quick shopping at CVS!

 

Disclosure: I partnered with CVS and they sent me some fun goodies for the holiday and a gift card. As always all opinions are my own in this blog post.

CVS has lots of goodies for holiday gifts
CVS has lots of goodies for holiday gifts
Holiday decor and more at CVS
Holiday decor and more at CVS
Categories
Birthday Parties Events Toys Uncategorized

Saving on Birthday Party Gifts – top 5 list

Each school year the girls are invited to a ton of birthday parties!  What do families with many children do? What are the cost effective ways to save on Birthday party gifts?  Annmarie sat down with New England Cable News to talk about this topic!

Here are the top 5 ways to save and gift ideas from trendymommies.com.

 

1.  Make a plan each September -  write down your birthday gift needs and start shopping – look for buy one get one free toys, stock up on board games – all ages love a good board or card game (hello apples to apples). Board games are also usually on sale around Christmas time so stock up on multiple games then. You can even buy a smaller card game and add a gift card to the gift bag.

2.  Think seasonal – buy fun summer items at the end of the season and gift them for winter birthdays. A nice tote bag filled with sunglasses, a towel and a t shirt is a nice way to remember summer.

3.  Use your retail reward cards for savings – we love CVS and their extra care program – collect and save your extra bucks – it’s money to buy gifts!  CVS is a one stop shop for kids gifts 10 dollars and 5 dollars and under and for small toys, hair accessories, candy, cards and art supplies.

4.  Buy art supplies in bulk – cute note books, personalized note cards and a nice pencil set coupled with a gift card makes a nice gift. Discount retailers have note books in multiples so divide up and package nicely. Use the tote bags at Michael’s crafts for the packaging of the gift!  Kids can decorate it themselves!

5.  Save on tissue paper and gift bags – you can reuse gift bags and buy tissue paper at the dollar store. Stock up and save on these items so you have them and are not running around at the last minute and spending 5 dollars on a gift bag and tissue!

Happy Shopping!

Birthday Party!
Birthday Party!

 

Categories
make-up Uncategorized

All you need in your make-up bag @janeiredale #mineral #ad

I am always looking for products that are easy to use and multi-functional products are always nice too!  That is why I love Jane Iredale’s products. The mineral make-up line has been around a while but always comes out with innovative products. The company sent me several items to test out and review and here are the results.

You know when you are on the go and need a touch up but don’t want to bring the eye shadow, liner and applicator, etc. – well Jane Iredale has this mystikol eye which is a  liner/shadow all in one and it is great. It is compact and creates a soft, smoky eye effect. Great colors too in a slim, eyeliner design.

How many of us use SPF on our hands??? Well you should and that is why I like this staple in my make-up bag. Hand Drink is the item to keep in your car too- it is a hand cream with an SPF 15 and is ultra hydrating. I liked the smell of it – like roses but it is a bit strong – my kids didn’t like.

I never have individual eye shadows in my make-up bag as it takes up too much room!  Jane Iredale’s naturally matte eye shadow kit is perfect for gals on the go as it includes five blendable shades and the colors are so light but look very nice. Plus it is a very slim case so perfect for on the go.

Lip Fixation  is my go to product. It is a lip stain on one end and a gloss on the other. It really is the only product that stays on my lips! I have had several of these over the years actually and finally got to test out a color that is new to me –Cherish – which is a bubblegum pink and sheer frosted gloss. I make it lighter or darker depending on the lip liner I use. Plus with this you always have gloss with you.

 

 

I always admire the Jane Iredale packaging and the Sugar & Butter Lip Exfoliator/Plumper comes in a cute little gold case!  It is lip exfoliator/plumper duo and is an on the go lifesaver. No need for any lip balm when you wake up in the morning use the exfoliator and then wipe and immediately put on the plumper and you are set to go!

Now to go empty out all my old make-up and replace with the new Jane Iredale make-up.

Disclosure: The company sent me the above products to test out. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

Jane Iredale fun, new make-up
Must have make-up from Jane Iredale

Categories
chocolate Products Uncategorized

@harborsweetslaunchesGather chocolate

Gather, The newest purpose-driven chocolate by Salem based Harbor Sweet launches today!

This small batch chocolate line will support a cause critical to the environment: protecting honeybees. The chocolate comes in a beautiful package presented with six distinct taste experiences unified by dark chocolate and a subtle note of local wildflower honey.

The taste and combination of the chocolate and the honey is unlike any other chocolate I have tasted (and I eat a lot of cholate!) What is also nice about this chocolate is a portion of sales will be donated to the Pollinator Partnership which is a 501c3 NGO that educates and advocates best beekeeping practices for honeybee protection.

The honeycomb shaped box showcases six individually shaped honey-infused chocolates including three truffles: caramelized honey, pomegranate molasses and sour cherry and three dark chocolate: cashew caramel, coconut cluster and sesame crunch. They almost look too pretty to eat!  But of course once you have one you will eat the whole box.  The six piece box is $12.50 and the 12-piece box is 18.50. Perfect for holiday gift giving or a hostess gift –Instead of brining wine to a social gathering bring a box of Gather and you will be the hit of the party! Harbor Sweets has been producing handcrafted artisan chocolates from its historic red brick building in Salem and is sold online here and at fine gourmet grocers and gift shops.

New chocolate from harbor sweets called Gather
New chocolate from harbor sweets called Gather

Disclosure:  Harbor Sweets sent me a box of Gather to taste and review. All opinions in this blog post are my own.