Two Products One Review

I recently decided to try a new foundation. I've kinda been shopping around for a while just because I wanted to know if there was anything else better "out there" in Beauty Land. I loved my current brand, which is MAC Studio Fix, mostly because of the medium to full coverage and satin-matte finish. The foundation blends well and doesn't look cakey. It also has staying power.

There are so many foundations that the choice to change can be overwhelming, but I narrowed it down to It Cosmetics CC Illumination. Two reasons I chose this foundation. One: I already loved the brand's Bye Bye Eye concealer and, two: the foundation is anti-aging. It helped that the before and after pictures were pretty amazing, too.

However....

This foundation didn't work for me. First of all, it smelled. And not like a "fragrance" kind of smell, but an unpleasant smell. Secondly, the coverage just wasn't enough for me. I felt like I would have to use so much of the product to get the coverage I needed that a tube (I liked the packaging) wouldn't last me any time. Another thing that I liked about the foundation was the illumination finish, but I get the same results with my contouring palette that I currently use. So, I returned the foundation to Ulta and bought my old MAC standby for now. I might try another foundation this winter.

I had no idea that Lancome had come out with a brand new mascara until Stephanie told me about it. She said that she read that it's suppose to be better than Better Than Sex Mascara and y'all already know how I feel about that mascara! When I went to Ulta to buy the IT foundation, the display for the new mascara hit me as soon as I walked in the door. They had mini trial sizes, so I decided to buy one and try it for myself. You may have seen my snaps that Sunday when I used each mascara on a different eye. Honestly, the results were about the same and since the new brand of mascara was not anything just totally mind blowing, I decided to gift the tube to Stephanie and stay with my Better Than Sex brand.

Speaking of lashes, this summer, Alise has been wiping her lashes before bed wtih olive oil and I can't tell you how long hers have gotten.  I asked her how she found out about this trick and she said You Tube. She simply puts a little oil on a cotton ball and runs it over her lashes. I keep saying I'm going to try it, but who thinks of olive oil before bed time?

I would love to hear if any of my readers have tried these two products and if so, what you thought about them. If you've ever wondered if you're "high maintenance" you may want to check out my post from yesterday.

Linking up today with Tuesday Talk.

How High Maintenance Are You?

I saw this on Facebook last week and just couldn't resist.

+6 - I wear high heels. It didn't ask how often.

+4 - Although I don't consider myself a shoe connoisseur, suffice it to say that I own over twenty.

+6 - I hardly ever go anywhere without makeup. At least mascara and lipstick!

+2 - Only two points for colored hair? As much as it costs??

+2 - Nails painted. Check. Gel nails in the fall and winter.

+6 - And gel would count as acrylic in my book (I'm reaching, I know).

+5 - Yes, ma'am! Brows!

+8 - Sunbed owner but I have been sprayed several times, just not recently.

+6 - Does Better Than Sex Mascara and Two Faced count?

+10 - What counts as alot? But jewelry every. single. day. I feel naked when I forget my earrings!

(Who the hell owns more than 25 scarves??)

Okay I really wanna give myself +10 on the massages, but since it says, 'regularly,' I'll forgo those points.

Total = 55

Equals "Really High Maintenance."

Well, duh!!

Here We Goooooo!

Doing a little reminiscing this morning on our FIRST DAY of SEVENTH GRADE! Goodness time is flying by! But I know that we're going to have a great year! So very proud of this young lady and all that she has accomplished so far. Oh, the places you will go, Alise! We love you!

Seventh Grade - August 2017

First Grade - August 2011

Third Grade - August 2013

Fifth Grade - August 2015

Pre K4 2009 and Seventh Grade

Movies We Saw This Summer

We were on a movie kick this summer! Although we didn't see every blockbuster, we spent more time as a family in the movie theater this summer than we ever have. Much of that has to do with the fact that Alise is older and has totally gotten away from the animation (Thank goodness!) and kid movies. She's more into story lines and so she happily crashed mine and Wayne's movie dates. Of course we didn't mind! Today I thought I would share some of the movies we've seen this summer.

Wonder Woman// My absolute favorite summer move this year! I have to admit, I'm a WW snob. I grew up watching the television series in the 70's and 80's and Linda Carter will always be my favorite.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the acting of Gal Gadot. I'm also not a comic fan, so I was a little skeptical about seeing it and although the ending got a little far fetched for me, I loved how it lead you into the upcoming Justice League movie.

The Mummy// As I've said in a previous post, do not waste your time with this one. Even Alise said about three quarters into the movie, "Mama, this is so stupid!" We blamed it on daddy because it was his pick.

Rough Night// I saw this movie with my girlfriends and it was funny, but not overly hilarious. Most of the funny parts were in the previews. I think I was expecting it to be more along the lines of Bad Moms. I know that sounds absolutely horrible, but as this stage of my life, that's just the movie I identified with more.

Transformers// Wayne and Alise actually saw this one. I am not a Transformers fan. They didn't care for it too much.

Despicable Me 3// Everyone is shocked when I tell them that I didn't care for this one. I know right?? I mean, the movie soundtrack is awesome, but I enjoyed the first and second movies better. Still, I say that it's a summer must-see.

Snatched// I took Stephanie and Alise to see this before Stephanie left to go over seas. We loved it. Goldie Hawn is still so funny!

Book of Henry// Alise had been wanting to see this movie ever since we saw the previews, but it was rated PG-13, and although I have "ventured out" a little in monitoring what she watches, I just wasn't sure this was the movie for her. When she wasn't able to go to basketball camp with her teammates, I decided to cheer her up and she and I had a mama/daughter date night. I must say that I thought this was one of the cleanest PG-13 movies I've seen in a while! It was a sad movie, though, with a good ending. 

Atomic Blonde// Wayne loves Charlize Theron, so this was a no brainer that we would see this. Think a female version of Jason Bourne. Loved the twist at the end, too. AND!  Another killer soundtrack!

Spiderman// Definitely not my favorite Spiderman movie. I know the audience was probably intended for the younger crowd, but the role of Peter was just too quirky to me. I guess I like a more "serious" Spiderman.  What can I say?

Still On The List// Of all the summer movie hits, we STILL have not seen Dunkirk. I'm thinking of taking Alise with me to see The Glass Castle. I read the book a few years ago for book club and it was good and I'm thinking she might like it.

What movies have you seen this summer?

The Story Behind My Favorite Angel Food Cake Recipe

I remember one Sunday when Wayne and I were engaged, sitting in church with he and his family, thumbing through a copy of Home Life magazine, waiting for the service to begin. My late father-in-law always sat at the end of the church pew because he helped take up the offering before the pastor began his sermon.  The SAME pastor - to be exact! - that married Wayne and I! 

Towards the back of the Christian magazine, there were always recipes for Southern dishes and as a soon-to-be newlywed, I was all about trying new dishes. The steps were a little overwhelming (there were a lot which I've condensed over the years) and I wasn't sure exactly what it meant to "fold ingredients" or what "soft peaks" looked like, but I was bound and determined to pull it off!  THIS was going to be the first "real" recipe that I tried for my man as a newlywed! 

We lived in a studio apartment when we first got married because I was the only one with a full time job at the time. Wayne was only part time with UPS and didn't get home until nine o'clock every night. We were passing each other at the door. One Friday night, after a really stressful week, I decided to surprise him with the angel food cake. Luckily for us, the local grocery store was right across the street when I had to make a run for cream of tartar. I mean, WHO keeps cream of tartar? 

You can't really tell in the photo, but this page is really worn. I love how I underlined "Fat Free!" at the end!  I'm sure that was due to one of the MANY times I was on the fat free diet kick back in the 90's. But one thing I HAVE learned is that, yes, you have to sift the cake flour!  This recipe is the ONLY reason I even own a sifter!

Our favorite way to eat this heavenly dessert is with fresh cut strawberries and Cool Whip. A few years ago, I served this at a wedding shower crawfish boil that we hosted and everyone loved it. Alise will eat it for breakfast. Cool Whip included.

Aunt Sarah's Angel Food Cake

1 1/4 cup of egg whites

1 1/2 t cream of tartar

1 1/2 c sugar

1 t vanilla extract

1 c sifted cake flour

1/4 t salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift flour with 1/2 cup of sugar together four times. Set aside. Beat egg whites at high speed until foamy.  Sprinkle cream of tartar and salt on top and continue beating until soft peaks form. Add remaining cups of sugar, two heaping tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition.  The whites should be glossy and stand in soft peaks.  Fold in the vanilla.  Sprinkle flour and sugar mixture over egg whites, 1/2 cup at a time.  Gently fold dry ingredients with spatula or wire whisk. Fold gently. Pour batter into Pam-greased pan.  Bake for one hour. When cake is done, invert pan.  Cool cake completely before removing. To remove, run knife between cake and sides of pan Delicious! Fat free!

Enjoy!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesday and Try It Thursday.