5 Under $5

     

     Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm bringing you 5 products under $5, all of which I are well loved pieces in my collection. My goal is not to just show you random things under $5, but products I truly love and recommend! Let's get started - 

Jordana Twist & Shine in Sweet Pink | Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Rosy Lipped | Wet n Wild Color Icon in Walking on Eggshells | Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink | ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Persimmon

Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Sweet Pink | $2.99

The color is showing truer to color here than in the very first picture.

I love these balm stains! They have so much color payoff and shine, and the staining effect lasts all day! I am wanting to pick up another one of these in a fall shade.

Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Rosy Lipped | $4.48

I'm a huge fan of these Liquid Lip Balms (check out my review), and I love this particular shade when I'm wanting a shiny nude lip.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells | $2.99

Please excuse the goosebumps on my arm in all of these pics - it was chilly in my house! :)

Is there a Beauty Blogger out there who doesn't love this trio? :) It's just the perfect little palette for everyday looks, or you could glam it up with winged liner and falsies.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink | $2.99

ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Persimmon | $1.00

These are products that look great on their own, and I also love layering them for a really pretty effect! The facial whip is an awesome highlight when applied lightly, and it brightens up the pink tone in the blush underneath.

     Well there you have five awesome products, all under $5! I will be making this a monthly series, so stay tuned for more beauty bargains! Let me know if you've tried any of these products, or if you have any recommendations of some of your favorites!

     Have you followed me on Bloglovin' yet? It's a great way to stay up-to-date on all of your favorite blogs!

     Have a wonderful weekend!!

<3 Vanessa

     

The Autumn Tag

     It's FALL everyone!! :) Absolutely the best time of the year. I'm blessed to live in central Pennsylvania, surrounded by mountains with changing colors and cornfields turning brown. It's almost like I get a renewed energy this time of year, and I'm trying to make the most of every day. :)

     Lily from Beauty with Lily tagged me to do this, and I'm excited to answer everything! Lily has a wonderful blog with unique, well-written posts - go check her out! :) Now on to the tag...

Favorite thing about Autumn
 -I'm definitely not going to be able to choose just one! The cooler weather, the changing leaves that crunch under your feet, the crispness in the air, Halloween, pumpkins everywhere, Thanksgiving, I could go on and on!

Favorite Drink
-I'm gonna be real original here and go with PSL ;) I also love my homemade version. And I can't forget apple cider - I'm not talking the generic stuff at the grocery store, I'm talking fresh cider from my local orchard!

Fave Scent/Candle
 -I love the smell of BBW Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, I usually spritz some of the body spray on every day during fall. For candles, anything that has a pumpkin, coffee, or spice scent to it.

 Best Lipstick
 -I'm really into the berry lip trend, I've been picking up quite a few products lately. I can't narrow it down to just one yet, I'll have to wear them all some more.

Go to Moisturizer
 -Lately I've been using Yes to Carrots Rich Moisture Day Cream, it's really is very moisturizing.

Fave Go to Color for the eyes

 -I want to incorporate more cranberry tones into my eye looks, it'll go nice with my berry lips!

Favorite Music/Singer/Band to listen to
-This doesn't really change by season (except for of course Christmas!), I really listen to a little bit of everything. 

Favorite Outfit to wear

-Skinny jeans or leggings, a flowy shirt or oversized sweater, scarf, boots, and gold jewelry.

 

Autumn Treat
-Homemade Pumpkin Roll!

Favorite Place to be
-Outside! or inside with all of the windows open :)

I tag:

Elizabeth at Elizabeth: Beauty and Beyond

Amber at All Night Beauty

     Consider yourself tagged as well! Link in the comments if you do this tag, I'd love to read your answers!

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

     Happy Monday Everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend! I can think of no better way to start off the week than with a good cup of coffee. The only thing better than that? An at home version of the season's most popular drink, the beloved PSL! I live about 20-25 minutes away from the nearest Barnes and Noble (45 minutes away from the nearest actual Starbucks!), so a daily PSL isn't really an option for me, not to mention a daily latte wouldn't be easy on the wallet! Being the coffee junkie I am, I was on the hunt for an easy way to make lattes in my own kitchen, without investing in an enormous espresso machine. After some looking into it, I decided to get a Bialetti Moka Pot, a stovetop coffee maker that apparently is as popular in Italy as drip machines are here in the US. The pots come in different sizes, I got the 6-cup, which I find brews just enough coffee to make two drinks (mochas, lattes, etc.). The coffee that this pot produces technically isn't espresso, but it's about as close as you can come without an actual espresso machine. The coffee it brews is smooth, dark, and rich without being bitter. It's as easy as filling the bottom part with water and the filter with coffee grounds, then letting it brew right on your stove. It takes about 10-15 minutes to brew.

     To make my Pumpkin Spice Latte, I use this recipe for the syrup. It's a simple syrup flavored with real spices and real pumpkin, something you won't get if you use a store bought syrup. I keep the syrup in a pint sized Mason jar in my fridge, it keeps for about a week. 

     To make the latte, I put about two tablespoons of the pumpkin spice syrup in a coffee cup, then microwave it for about 10 seconds, just so it doesn't cool down my latte. Then I fill my cup up about halfway with the espresso (you could also just use strong brewed coffee), top it off with hot milk, and if you're feeling it, whipped cream and caramel sauce and/or nutmeg. It is so delicious! :)

     Do any of you have this wonderful little pot? Let me know in the comments if you try this latte!

     Have a wonderful fall day! :)

<3 Vanessa

Disclaimer: I bought this pot with my own money and am in no way affiliated with the Bialetti company. I truly just love this product!

Empties

     Hey Everyone! Today I wanted to share my thoughts on some products that I've completely used up. This is a pretty popular thing to do on blogs, and I'm jumping on the bandwagon! I think it's a great way to find out what someone really thinks about a product - by the time I've used something up, I definitely have an opinion on it! Let's jump right in (from left to right) -

• Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation in 100 Ivory - this is one of my favorite foundations. I always have a backup of it! It is very longwearing without being cakey, even on my dry skin. Repurchase? Yes.
• Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream for Dry Skin - this was okay, but nothing special. It almost felt like it didn't really sink into my skin, just kind of sat on top of it. For being marketed towards dry skin (which I have), it wasn't very moisturizing at all. Repurchase? No.
• Herbal Essences Smooth Collection Shampoo - I love this shampoo! It gets my hair nice and clean without drying it out, and the classic scent takes me right back to Jr. High! :)  (I have the conditioner too, but I always seem to run out of shampoo first!) Repurchase? Yes.
• Not Your Mother's "She's a Tease" Volumizing Hairspray - This was a really nice hairspray, it had great hold without being stiff or sticky. I didn't like the scent at first, but it kind of grew on me. Repurchase? Probably.
• Bath and Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Japanese Cherry Blossom - This is my signature scent! I wear it almost every day. :) It's just such a beautiful, feminine fragrance. If you've never smelled it, I definitely would the next time you're in a Bath and Body Works store. :) Repurchase? Yes!
• Bath and Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Garden Herbs and Pears - I'm so in love with these soaps! I always have one in my kitchen and one in my bathroom. These were really nice summer scents - I especially loved Pears, it really smelled just like the real deal! Repurchase? Yes.
• Bio True Contact Solution - if you're a contact wearer, I highly recommend this solution. It's the only one I've tried that doesn't irritate my eyes. Repurchase? Yes
• Mary Kay Timewise Night Solution - I bought this probably about a year or so ago, and it's taken me a while to finish because I'm not the biggest fan of it. The texture was similar to the Garnier Gel-Cream, where it didn't really moisturize at all and just sort of sat on my skin. Repurchase? No.

     I'd love to hear if any of you have used any of these products, and if so, what you think about them! Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

This and That Tag

     Hi Everyone! Today I thought I'd do a tag post - I haven't done any yet, but will be doing more in the future as I think they are a fun way to get to know each other better! I was tagged by the lovely Lily over at Beauty with Lily. She is absolutely one of my favorite bloggers, I look forward to her posts so much! Go check her out!

Makeup:

1.) Blush or Bronzer: Definitely blush!
2.) Lip Gloss or Lipstick: Lipstick
3.) Eyeliner or Mascara: I'm probably alone in this as I think most women would say mascara, but I'm going with eyeliner. I think my eyes look naked with just mascara.
4.) Foundation or Concealer: Ugh, this is so hard!! I have dark circles, but I think it would look weirder if I just had concealer on them and nothing else on my face, than if I had foundation on and my face was evened out but you could still see the circles. Long story short I think I'd go with foundation! :)
5.) Natural or Colored Eye Shadow: I'm gonna have to go with the neutrals
6.) Pressed or Loose Eye Shadow: Definitely pressed
7.) Brush or Sponge: I haven't tried the Beauty Blender yet, so I'm going with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Nails:

1.) OPI or China Glaze: Well, I've never used China Glaze, but I'm not the world's biggest fan of OPI either!
2.) Long or Short: Medium!
3.) Acrylic or Natural: Naturals
4.) Bright or Dark: Both, depends on the season, what I'm wearing, etc.
5.) Flower or No Flower: No flower I guess. I like designs and playing around with nail art, but I rarely do a flower.

Body:

1.) Perfume or Body Splash: I definitely wear body spray more often (addicted to Bath and Body Works!)
2.) Lotion or Body Butter: Lotion
3.) Body Wash or Soap: Body Wash
4.) Lush or Other: I've never tried Lush, I'm a huge fan of Bath and Body Works!

Fashion:

1.) Jeans or Sweat Pants: Jeans
2.) Long Sleeves or Short Sleeves: Long - I love chilly weather!
3.) Dress or Skirt: Both
4.) Scarves or Hat: Scarves
5.) Studs or Dangling Earring: I love wearing danglies and hoops!
6.) Necklace or Bracelet: Both!
7.) Heels or Flats: Usually flats, but heels when I'm going out.
8.) Cowboy Boots or Riding Boots: Hmm, I wear a lot of boots, but not in either of these styles.
9.) Jackets or Hoodies: Hoodies
10.) Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe: Charlotte Russe

Hair:

1.) Curly or Straight: I almost always curl it when I'm going somewhere
2.) Bun or Ponytail: Ponytail
3.) Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips: Bobby Pins!
4.) Hairspray or Gel: Definitely hairspray!
5.) Long or Short: Long
6.) Dark or Light: Dark
7.) Side Swept Bangs or Fully Bangs: Mine are grown out, but I'd say side swept
8.) Up or Down: Down

Random:

1.) Rain or Shine: I like both!
2.) Summer or Winter: Winter
3.) Fall or Spring: Fall!!
4.) Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

People I tag:
All Night Beauty
Kate Spitz
Nature with a Little Nurture
Lipgloss on my Latte

If you do this tag, leave me a comment with a link! :) I'd love to read your answers!

Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

New Jordana Stuff!

     Hi Everyone! I went to my local Walgreens today with the hopes that they would have some of the new Jordana products that everyone's been talking about. They did! The display was fully stocked and had everything that I had in mind to try. Here's what I got:

• Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Sweet Pink  - this is so beautiful! Just like the name says, very moisturizing and staining.
• Fabuliner - the new Bold one - sorry about the weird swatches. I was playing around with it, trying to get it darker, and then laying it more flat to get the bold line. The first two swatches I built up to get a darker line, the third swatch is just one swipe. I'm kind of disappointed that it's not jet black without going back over it.
• Two 12 Hr Made to Last Eyeshadow Pencils - Endless Emerald and Prolong Purple - these are absolutely gorgeous! Awesome pigmentation with a little shimmer. I haven't worn them on my eyes yet, but the swatches on my hand did not come off with hand soap, so that's a good sign!

     This little haul is just another example of the awesome benefits of being a part of the beauty community. I can't tell you how many times I've walked past the Jordana display with barely a second glance, until I started watching videos and reading blogs where so many of their products are raved about! It just goes to show that price doesn't always matter when it comes to quality!

     Have any of you gotten any of the new products yet? Are there any other Jordana products that I should try? I'm thinking about doing a future post of a look featuring all four of these products!

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

Bath and Body Works Haul

     Hi Everyone! It's getting to be my one of my favorite times of the year! I love it when summer starts winding down, the nights are a little cooler, and you can see just the slightest tint of color starting to come to the leaves. Another favorite of mine - Bath and Body Works hand soaps. There is just something about that bottle of good smelling cuteness sitting on my sink. :) Bath and Body Works is really in the full swing of unveiling their fall scents, but I'm not quite ready to dive into all the pumpkin and spice. As much as I adore autumn, it is still August after all! So I got on the website (armed with my free shipping code) with the goal of getting stocked up on late summer/early autumn scents. I think I did pretty good. :)

     From left to right:

• Vermont Sugar Maple - the name says it all, it really does smell like sugary maple.
• Seattle Hazelnut Latte - this smells like a really creamy hazelnut. I wish I could smell the coffee/espresso more, I can't really detect it at all. Still like it though!
• Aspen Autumn Day - I'm not usually the world's biggest fan of yellow, but I really love the color of this! It really reminds me of a bright fall day. :) The smell is kind of hard to describe, it's almost like a very bright earthy scent. I was kind of hoping it would smell like fall leaves, but it definitely doesn't. Still a fan though!
• Heirloom Pear - Love this!! I think it's my favorite of the bunch. I really have a thing for pear scents done right, and this is! If you picked up or got to smell the Fresh Picked Pear scent from earlier in the summer, this smells a lot like that, only sweeter. I have this one in my bathroom right now.
• Heirloom Cranberries - this is my least favorite. The only scent I'm really getting from it is an artificial cherry.
• Honeycrisp Apple - this is one of my favorite varieties of apples to eat, and the scent didn't let me down! It's a nice slightly sweet apple scent.
• Scarlet Pumpkin - this smells just like pumpkin cake - delicious!!
• Farmstand Apple - a lot like the Honeycrisp, only a little stronger and not quite as sweet. This one's currently at my kitchen sink. :)
• The leaf in front is a Wallflower plug in. I currently have three Wallflowers scattered throughout my house, and absolutely love them!! They have so many scents to choose from, both permanent and seasonal. They make my house smell so good! I got this beautiful bronzey maple leaf to change out one of my other plug ins, I'll probably switch it at the beginning of September. They also have a pumpkin one, I plan on getting that one to use further into fall.

    
     Overall, I am so pleased with everything I got! Bath and Body Works rarely lets me down! They have such awesome products, wonderful scents, and good sales going on all the time!
    
     If you're a fan of Bath and Body Works, I would highly recommend signing up for their email newsletter. Not only will they alert you of sales, but they'll also frequently send out coupon codes for free or $1 shipping, or a percentage off of your order. Usually there's a $25 minimum for the codes, but don't ever find it a problem with getting my total to that. :)
    
     What are some of your favorite scents from Bath and Body? Have you stared transitioning your scents into Autumn, or do you use ones you like year round, regardless of the season? Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

*I am in no way affiliated with Bath and Body Works, and bought everything with my own money.