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August ipsy Glam Bag Review and Urban Decay Mini-Haul

Posted on September 5, 2016September 5, 2016 by Mandy

My August ipsy Glam Bag arrived a couple of weeks ago and I was so excited because this was my first ever glam bag. I’ve seen so many people on Facebook raving about ipsy and finally decided in late July to sign up for it. If you aren’t familiar with ipsy, it’s a beauty box subscription site that sends you five different beauty products to try for $10 a month. This is such a bargain if you’re a huge beauty junkie who spends a ton of money each month on makeup, skincare, and beauty tools. And, if you’re like me, and not a huge beauty product junkie at all, it’s still a neat little way to treat yourself each month and help pull you out of a beauty product rut. I also made a couple of purchases from Urban Decay that I’m excited about, so without further ado, here is what I purchased in August:

August ipsy Glam Bag

First of all, I loved the sparkly pink/purple packing envelope my glam bag arrived in. Sparkles! Hello? Glam! Each month you get a different cosmetic bag, and this month’s bag was pretty. I probably won’t ever use it for anything, but it’s not so huge that you couldn’t fit it in your purse, so there’s that. This month’s theme was “Sugar Highness”, and this is what was inside:

Maybelline New York Color Sensation Vivid Matte Liquid in Possessed Plum

Formula X Nail Polish in Dollface

Winky Lux Diamond Complexion Powder in Light

it Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Liner

Organic Surge Protecting Face Polish

I wasn’t too sure about the Winky Lux Diamond Complexion Powder because it looks really light (it does come in other shades), but it’s great for hilighting, so I tried a little on my eyes and above my cheeks and it worked really well. It’s also such a great coverage that you don’t even need to use a whole lot of it, so even though this is a rather small compact of it, I know this will last me a while.

The Formula X Nail Color in Doll Face was a color I was so excited to see in this bag because truth be told, I’m not that adventurous and brave when it comes to color. This is a beautiful neutral color, but the only issue I had with it is that it took several strokes to get complete coverage on my nail. This is a very tiny bottle as well, so this is perfect if you don’t use a whole lot of nail polish to begin with. Again, beautiful color, but not so impressed with the application.

There was only one keeper in the last three of the products I received, so I’ll just get right to that. I am in LOVE with the Organic Surge Perfecting Face Polish. It has a little grit to it, so you’re definitely getting a little exfoliation when you use this. I would definitely use this after you have taken off your makeup or before applying it. I just love how fresh and clean my face feels after using this with ZERO dryness. This is probably the most favorite product I received in this month’s bag and I will definitely be purchasing it again.

I could tell right away that the Maybelline New York Color Sensation Vivid Matte Liquid in Possessed Plum and I would probably not get along, and I was right. I told ya’ll I have this thing about being afraid of color, and this was some seriously excessive color for me. This is just a swipe on my arm:

Now, if bold, dark, and rich colors on your lips is your jam, then you might possibly like this. However, I just can’t talk myself into going there. It’s just too much and screams 1997 to me for some reason.

By far the most disappointing product in this month’s glam bag was the it Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Liner. I was so excited to get this because I finally, finally figured out that the eye liner I was using was irritating my eyes. I had tossed it out, so I figured I could just replace it with this and wouldn’t have to go to the store for more anytime soon. WRONG! I’m guessing the “gel” part is what I’m not digging. It felt like a sticky mess going on and my lashes were clumping up into it. I trashed it and purchased a different brand.

Overall, and even though I was only crazy about a couple of products, the ipsy Glam Bag is a wonderful thing and I love the fact that you get to try several different products all for a great price. When you sign up for your Glam Bag, you answer a series of questions so they can tailor some of the products to your liking. Another great thing is that even if you’re not crazy about something, there are several makeup swap boards floating around on the web where you can trade unused products. It just gives you a great chance to try new products (with generous sample sizes) and not be stuck with so much product that you feel bad if you don’t end up loving it.

Urban Decay Mini Haul

I fell in love with Urban Decay products last summer and honestly prefer the brand as one of my absolute top three makeup brands, especially for blush and eye shadows. Their products are so pigmented and the eye shadows are so buttery smooth, that once you try them, you just get kind of spoiled. Urban Decay is a higher end brand of cosmetics, so I don’t make purchases from there too often, but I needed to change up my blush color and they were having a sale, so I figured I would treat myself.

I ended up purchasing the Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Blush in the color Video. It’s not too peachy, pink, or dark and I ended up absolutely loving it. It’s such a great color that I think would work on anyone. I also have to use very little of this product, so this will last me a long while until I’m ready to switch it up again.

One of the best things about Urban Decay is that you can sign up for a FREE Urban Decay Beauty Junkies account and get access to specials, free shipping, and earning points with purchase to be redeemed for rewards. They also give you a free eye shadow during your birthday month! Since August was my birthday month, I chose a matte eyeshadow in the color “Buck”. It’s just a beautiful neutral brown/beige color that I will get a ton of wear from.

Urban Decay also allows you to choose a free sample with each order, so I decided to try the new All Nighter Liquid Foundation samples. I still haven’t tried it out yet, but will let you know when I do!

And that’s my beauty haul for the month of August. I’m excited to get my September Glam Bag and will share that long with any other purchases when they arrive!

STEM Without Limits- Boys & Girls Club of America My.Future

Posted on July 5, 2016July 5, 2016 by Mandy

This post was sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club of America as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.”

Our children are growing up in an ever-changing world of technology. Just from my own experience, it’s amazing to me that kids literally have the whole world right at their fingertips. My own child and the students I work with absolutely love using the computer to explore their interests, do research, play games, and communicate with one another. I once had a group of kids who would stay after school to use the computers in the library until it was time for me to leave because they didn’t have access to one in their own homes. I loved that they were excited about technology and wished so much that they were able to do more of this at home. As we all know, learning shouldn’t stop outside of the classroom.

As a librarian, digital literacy is something I teach to my students of all ages to help them become responsible users of the World Wide Web. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs are on the rise and expected to grow almost twice as fast as other fields by 2018. Equipping our children and students with the skills to do these jobs is becoming increasingly important.

The Boys & Girls Club of America is stepping up to meet this need for even more hands-on experiences with STEM with the Boys & Girls Club of America My.Future initiative. This program makes it possible for kids and teens to explore STEM topics that they are already interested in during after school and summer programs. As an educator, I can tell you that students are definitely more excited about learning when it’s something they actually are passionate about and this program gives them that opportunity.

The Boys & Girls Club of America My. Future initiative offers kids and teens over 40 hands-on activities to give them a better understanding of digital citizenship and how to identify their digital interests while earning certifications during the process. This allows participants to learn more about robotics, game design, programming, and online journalism, just to name a few. Thinking back, I would have loved to have been a part of a program like this growing up. I loved writing and journalism and never imagined I would someday have my own blog and be free to write in a digital space that was my own. Participants of the Boys & Girls Club of America My.Future initiative are learning tools to help them achieve success with whatever they choose to do in life.

I am so excited about this program and encourage those of you who live near a Boys & Girls Club of America to check this out. To learn more, visit http://greatfutures.org/Pages/Programs-MyFuture.aspx .

Why We Won’t Be Doing Traditional Summer Reading

Posted on June 28, 2016June 28, 2016 by Mandy

A couple of days ago my son and I made a trip to our local library to see if we could hunt down a couple of books for his summer reading assignment from school. One book has to be about the Revolutionary War, and the other a grade-appropriate fiction book. We were able to find one of the books, and this is what we came home with:

This is light summer reading for an incoming fifth grader. I haven’t even researched the other books on Amazon yet to see what his choices are, but I knew deep down this book would be the death of me and the cause of much protesting and gnashing of teeth on his part. He reads well. He makes excellent grades, and frankly, he is a great kid even if he is mine. However, as most parents know, in order for your younger children to complete assignments, most of the time mom and dad also have to delve deep into the subject matter. And frankly? I don’t want to read Johnny Tremain this summer.

There. I said it.

In traditional summer reading assignment fashion, he has to read these books and answer several questions in great detail about what he read. He can turn this in for two extra 100s when he returns to school. I’ve actually made him do these summer reading assignments ever since he was in first grade. The good thing about this is that it’s all optional. He doesn’t have to do it at all. But in the past I made him do it because I thought it might reflect badly on us since I’m an elementary school librarian. I didn’t want his teachers to think he had a lazy mama.

When I was growing up, summer meant spending the day at my grandmother’s house playing outside, climbing trees, and drinking from the water hose. I had a little friend who lived next door to my grandmother and we made up dance routines, roller skated, and came in during the hours of 1-3 PM to cool off and take a nap while grandma watched her soap operas. I always made sure I stayed up long enough to see “As the World Turns”. I was never left with a stack of books I was required to read. I’ve even asked some of my friends if they ever remember us having to do summer reading assignments growing up and we just can’t recall ever having to do so. Do I think summer reading is bad? Of course not.

I finally decided today to return Johnny Tremain to the library and not make him do the summer reading assignments. If his grade in reading depended on it, of course he would have to do it. I know the extra 100s would be great, but like I said before, I also know that actually forcing him to read these books won’t be pleasant for either one of us. I’m also fully aware that sometimes we have to do things in life that we don’t want to do, and this would be an excellent learning experience about that for him, but what I found sitting on the couch two nights ago convinced me that it really was ok if he doesn’t do the summer reading assignments this summer.

Yes, this kid woke up during the night and chose this twenty-pound book off of our bookshelf to entertain himself with until he could get back to sleep. He loves reading about history and anything related to the military, especially anything about tanks. He loves humor and I even caught a picture book probably better suited for a kid a few years younger than him sitting in the floor next to the bookshelf. Goodness knows I honed my “fine” reading skills growing up on The National Enquirer (again, at Grandma’s house) and Family Circus books. In junior high and high school I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next Sweet Valley High book. Was it reading the classics? Not even close. But I was reading. And eventually, I came to appreciate reading “better” literature later on and fell in love with books like The War of the Worlds, Tarzan of the Apes, Fahrenheit 451, and many, many more.

The bottom line? He is reading, and that makes my librarian heart smile. I think more kids would enjoy summer reading and reading anytime of the year if they had more of a choice and not be forced to read at certain grade levels and subject matters chosen for them. And, who knows? Someday he might even want to read Johnny Tremain.

Three Time-Saving Kitchen Tips

Posted on June 21, 2016June 21, 2016 by Mandy

When we moved into our new home in March, I vowed I would spend more time in our kitchen. I was so excited because we would have so much more room to work with than in our small apartment. I’ve definitely kept that vow, and our kitchen is constantly hopping now. We’re eating healthier, which requires more food prep. My husband also loves to grill out on the weekends and somehow manages to use a whole lot of pots and pans. I can live with that if it means getting to eat some of his amazing steaks! Ultimately, we have made our kitchen work for us with a system that keeps us organized and flowing. Here are three time-saving kitchen tips I use daily to maintain some order and save a little time when cooking and cleaning.

Quality Counts

Is there anything worse than trying to bag up your garbage and it starts leaking? Or how about if your bag just falls through entirely? Yuck! I can tell you from experience it’s not fun to clean up. That’s why I use Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags to handle our garbage. These bags have active tear resistance technology for better puncture resistance and Arm & Hammer odor neutralizers. There are also great new scents to help keep those garbage odors at bay. My personal favorite is the Lavender & Sweet Vanilla Scent, but if you prefer your garbage bags unscented, there’s that option as well.

But the best part? Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags offer excellent quality at a new, lower price. You can also earn $1.00 cash back via Ibotta after purchasing one box of Hefty trash bags. Saving money is my next favorite thing along with saving time!

Clean As You Go

I’d definitely choose cleaning over cooking any day. I love to clean and I love the satisfaction of leaving a clean kitchen area at the end of the day. To save time, I clean as I go while cooking or doing food prep. I load the dishwasher with whatever utensils and dishes I use to prepare our meals while food is cooking and wash up pots and pans as soon as I can. I love sitting down to meals with my family, but a mountain of dishes waiting for me when we finish eating just isn’t any fun. Cleaning up as I go along saves me so much time at the end of our meals because usually all I have to do is load the dishwasher and maybe wash up another pot.

Set Your Kitchen Up to Flow

Because we had so much more counter space and cabinets to work with in our new home, it took me some time and some trial and error to set up our kitchen to flow just right for the way we work. I made sure to have cooking utensils nearby the stove where they are used the most. I have drawers near the stove for oven mitts and kitchen towels and make sure our utensils are also nearby as well. Our pots and pans are in a lower cabinet right next to the stove and our dishes and glasses are in a cabinet near the dishwasher. It’s a system that works for us, but it took a couple of times of actually preparing meals and cleaning up to see where things needed to be. Small appliances we use daily, like our coffee maker, are on the counter, but anything we don’t use very often is stored away. We still have room to improve when it comes to organizing the pantry area and some of the cabinets, but I’m getting there.

Be sure to grab your savings for Hefty Ultra Strong garbage bags and I’d love for you to leave me a comment below telling me how you save time in your own kitchen.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

5 Free Time-Wasting Games to Beat The Summer Heat

Posted on June 12, 2016June 12, 2016 by Mandy

One of the best things about working in a school is being able to be at home during the summer. I’m able to stay on top of the household chores better and usually knock most of those out in the early morning hours. My internal clock still won’t let me sleep too late in the summer, so I get up and start my day as normal. Right after lunch is when it starts to just get unbearably hot, so this is the time we stay indoors and do something relaxing, like reading or playing games. I have a few time-wasting games I play online, but one of the things I don’t like about these games is that you can only play them for so long before you have to wait for a friend to send you extra lives, or else make in-app purchases to continue playing. Can anyone else feel my pain?

Fortunately, I’ve discovered a better way to game that’s absolutely free. Yep, FREE! If you love Amazon, then you need to check out Amazon Underground, which is an app for Android phones that combines Amazon’s best mobile shopping experience with instant streaming of Amazon Instant Video PLUS 100% free apps, games, and even in-app items. Unlimited lives, levels, upgrades – everything! This means you can play for free for as long as you like! No more having to bother your friends for extra moves or waste your money making in-app purchases. That’s definitely a good thing in my book!

You don’t even have to enjoy gaming to appreciate all that Amazon Underground offers because there are apps for everyone. If you have a child that likes to play games, but you’d prefer them to learn as they play, Amazon Underground has tons of educational apps for all skill levels. There are apps for health and fitness, household management, everyday productivity, and so much more.

After playing a few of the games, I picked five of my favorites to share with you in case you might want to check them out as well. This is how I’m currently beating the summer heat at home.

1. Candy Party: Coin Carnival– I love any game with a candy theme, and I have no idea why. However, I was so excited to see Candy Party: Coin Carnival, which is exactly like the games you see at a carnival where you insert your coin and watch the slider move back and forth and see what prize you win. My husband was also a big fan of this game as well and he may or may not have stayed up into the wee hours playing this.

2. PAC-MAN Friends– I will always be an 80’s girl forever in my heart, and PAC-MAN was definitely a part of my childhood. This one is a little more fast-paced and slightly different from the original you might remember, but it still has the same characters.

3. Coloring Books for Adults– If you love to get artsy, Coloring Books for Adults is a great way to create a beautiful piece of artwork. I’ve always heard that coloring books were a great way to relax, and I have to agree because this app makes it so easy.

4. Ice Cream Sundae Jam– I love candy games, but anything with a food theme ranks high on my gaming radar, so of course I had to try out Ice Cream Sundae Jam. I am so in love with the graphics in this game!

5. Simple Solitaire– I learned to play Solitaire when I was a teenager and playing it on a device is just that much more fun. Amazon Underground has several card games to choose from, but this one is my favorite of them all.

Ready to try Amazon Underground out for yourself? Download the Amazon Underground app from your Android Smartphone HERE. Reading this on a laptop? Go HERE and follow the on-screen instructions.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Doctor Visits at Home with Doctor On Demand

Posted on May 4, 2016May 11, 2016 by Mandy

This post was sponsored by Doctor On Demand as part of a Blog Blast Activation for Influence Central.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to see a doctor from the comfort of your own home? Especially at any hour of the day or night? I don’t know about your family, but it seems like a sickness always strikes us long after the doctor office has closed. We do have an after hours clinic nearby, but even there the wait can be a little long and the cost of a visit can be very expensive. If this has ever happened to you and seeing a doctor without having to leave your home interests you, keep on reading!

Doctor On Demand is the fastest way to see a doctor exactly when you need one and provides video visits with board-certified physicians and psychiatrists, and doctorate-level psychologists via smartphones, tablets, and computers. All you have to do is download the free Doctor On Demand app or visit the website, enter your symptoms and get instantly connected for a video visit with a physician. Doctor On Demand physicians can diagnose and treat specific conditions like allergies & asthma, acne or other skin issues, and can provide prescription refills. The average wait time to see a Doctor On Demand doctor is only three minutes and visits are just $40 or less. Doctor On Demand is also covered by many health plans. Your visit may be fully or partially covered by your health plan or employer. You can find out your visit cost when you register.

Ready to try out Doctor On Demand? You can enter code MELISA10 to get $10 off your first visit! Doctor On Demand is a fast and affordable way to see a physician exactly when you need one.

To learn more about Doctor On Demand, visit them at online and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Printable Kitchen Wall Art

Posted on May 4, 2016September 29, 2022 by Mandy

We all know that work goes on in the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean your kitchen walls have to look boring! I love art work, but sometimes the things I want just aren’t affordable. Since moving into our home, it has become quite a job finding some great pieces of art to fill in the empty spaces on the walls, and that’s why I love free printables! This collection of printable kitchen wall art is absolutely free to download and print. It also makes a great gift for someone. Just find yourself a cute frame to complete them and you have a great little happy for a friend.

Ready to snag yours? Just click on the photos to download and print!

Want more? You might also enjoy these free printables.

How to Stick to a Budget at the Grocery Store

Posted on May 3, 2016April 1, 2017 by Mandy

You have compiled data, research and analyzed your family usage for toiletries and food. Now that you have your budget set for groceries you are ready to hit the road. Then it happens, you arrive at the store only to find that the latest sales, end cap promotions and the fact that your belly is growling is testing your strength to stick with a grocery budget. Have no fear, let go of all those distractions and remain confident. You can learn how to stick to a budget at the grocery store without completely losing your mind!

Stick to a List – the first rule of success in sticking to a budget is creating a list and sticking to it. While creating a grocery list may take time, it will save money. You have loads of time to devote and not as much cash to devote; taking the time to write a list for grocery shopping will eliminate your overspending habits.

Do Without Extras – have a family meeting to discuss extras that you were spending money on but don’t necessary need in the home. Have each family member give up one extra in their life as a means to maintain your budget. Working together to eliminate one extra that you can go without allows for you to have a little wiggle room when it comes to your grocery shopping trip.

Meal Plan – this is something people either love or hate. While a meal plan can be tedious, it can save you a boat load of money. There are many websites geared towards creating the meal plan for you, so really all you have to do is find them, print the grocery list and head out the door. When you incorporate meal planning into your family life, it alleviates the extra spending. Grab yourself a great cookbook, like those that work with 5 ingredients or less, and you can save time AND money!

Make Homemade – while homemade meals may cost a bit more upfront, they actually save money because you can buy multiple supplies in bulk to store in the pantry. Homemade meals tend to leave you with leftovers, which allow you to incorporate more than one meal out of that homemade dish. Working homemade meals into your budget will better allow you to shop within your means.

There are many ways you can work to stick to a budget at the grocery store and simply learn to have a bit of strength when it comes to those impulse purchases. Using a list and working to designate a meal plan into your family life will ultimately guide you down the path of surviving grocery shopping and arriving back home beaming with pride that you were able to stick to the budget.