Get a #FlawlessFinish with Sheer Cover Studio Makeup (Review)

I was so excited to get to try out Sheer Cover Studio makeup.  I'm a makeup klutz and always afraid to try new products that might not be right for me.  The only thing I have to say is this: You have to try this stuff!  Pictures or it didn't happen?  I'm working on them.  I'm a digital dummy sometimes.  But I have them!

Here's my face history:
I don't wear a lot of makeup.  Every few months I'll go on a binge of wearing it a few times a week but mostly I wear it once a week-3 times a month.    
My skin is splotchy and my tone is uneven. 
I suffer from breakouts even at 32.  My 32 year old face isn't nearly as bad as my teenage face, but it still happens.  
I have combo skin- dry and flaky in some spots, oily in others.  
I have large pores.  They are the purest form of evil.  They don't even help me look youthful like I've heard some people say about large pores.  They just make me look gross.  In other words, I need help of the makeup variety.  ASAP.  Thanks to ModernMom and Sheer Cover Studio for providing me with some great products to test! 

Here's what came in the box: 
1.  Base Perfector Primer.  This smooths imperfections (yep) and minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines (yep).  
2.  Conceal and Brighten Trip in Light/Medium.  This conceals, brightens and has a mirror.  The concealer comes in two shades that you can mix to get the right color for you.  It works well as long as I get the right color.  Absolutely worked better with my finger than with a brush!  But that might just be my problem!  The brightener, when applied to the corners of your eyes and your brow bone helps brighten your face.  
3.  Perfect Shade Mineral Foundation in Medium.  Loose powder foundation. 
4.  Sun-kissed Bronzing Mineral Powder.  Hard powder in three shades that you brush over your face in areas you want to highlight.  I'm not sure I was doing this one correctly.  
5.  Numerous brushes in different sizes to apply various makeups.  They did the job well.  
6.  Lash Extending Fibers.  Applied to eyelashes prior to mascara, this extends your lashes.  Might have worked a little.  I wasn't too sure I was doing a good job of applying this!  
7.  Lengthening Mascara in Black.  It's wider on the ends and narrow in the middle.  It does a nice job, my eyes looked much better with than without. 

Confession: I have no clue how to properly apply makeup.  Lipstick is pretty self-explanatory but don't ask me about lip liner.  I know what it is but I look like I'm wearing Sharpie around my lips.  And foundation?  Not a clue.  Even watching makeup tutorials online I'm thinking..."I've never heard of a whatsit" and "Why did she put foundation on her face 3 times?  Oh...that's not foundation?  Then, what is it??"  I'm just so lost and super good at doing all the wrong things.  Guess what else came with the Sheer Cover Studio products?  Instructions- yes!!     

 I was a little overwhelmed at the large group of product sitting before me when I opened the package.  What was I supposed to do with all of this?  Good thing this stuff is for dummies and makeup connoisseurs alike, or I would have been in trouble.  Those instructions were a lifesaver and really helped me get a look I've always wanted but could never achieve.   

My before and after face were definitely different.  After was much better!  I took some (terrible) selfie photos but cannot for the life of me figure out how to get them to STAY on the blog after I upload them from the phone (iphone we use as an ipod.  I'm still learning all that fancy stuff).  
My biggest triumph of this review was when I dropped off my daughter at a rehearsal, went home, put on the makeup then picked her up.  She came out and looked right past me.  Then there was a double-take and she came running over.  "Mommy, you look sooooo different!  I didn't even realize it was you.  You look...younger, you're so pretty!  What did you do?  Are you wearing makeup?"  She went nuts!  Another happy moment was when one of the kids' friends came over and said, "Ohmygosh Miss Alex, you look so pretty!".  Apparently my normal face is nothing to go gaga over.  I was lovin' the positive affirmations. 

My favorite products:
The primer is amazing.  It did what it promised and gave me the dewy look I love when I wear makeup.  It smooths and minimizes and actually works better the more you use it.  If you go days without it, this effect doesn't continue, but I looked better on day three using the makeup than I did on day one. 
The brightener does wonders.  
The powder foundation was one of the best I've tried.  It goes on smooth and you don't need to use much.  

Surprises:
That I didn't need the lightest shades.  Normally I buy the lightest or second lightest product but I went with the medium (recommended for many tones) and it was just right.       


Try it, try it, try it!  And check back for my terrible selfies.  They are laughable, but you can see the difference. 






Modern Mom provided me with Sheer Cover Studio products to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was provided.   

Starbucks Spring Blend and My New Spring Celebrations (Hint: It's Chaos) @Starbucks @ModernMom

Happy spring!!!

As a child growing up in South Central Pennsylvania, spring was hot, windy, snowy, rainy, cold or practically any other weather you could imagine.  It was also when families- determined to free up closet space or living in denial- would pack away the winter gear and send the kids outside no matter how poor the weather conditions were.  It was spring and we were going to enjoy it!

I’ve always been a creature of comfort.  Tradition is my way of life.  Every Christmas we go to the same places and see the same people at the same time.  Birthdays are spent partying with friends and family.  Mornings are spent drinking coffee (preferably a smooth blend of Starbucks).  I always welcome new people, but new places throw me off and a totally new schedule causes an internal meltdown.  For less significant activities I’m okay with a little variety.  I wasn’t too upset to leave the Mother’s Day Street Fair early the year that it felt more like mid-January than May.  I won’t cry if we don’t go to the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade every year. 

But this spring has been a major test for me.  It’s truly been a season of change, stress, little sleep and crazy days.  I’ve been thrown out of my comfort zones and have been busier than ever.  I’ve been much more active in Girl Scouts, and even managed some (stressful) camping and overnight trips.  Rather than our yearly Easter dinners, egg-decorating and Easter egg hunts with family and annual birthday party for my daughter, Amara and I had a girls’ weekend with my mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Leaving my little boys overnight was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  
 

Love these guys!

And the ones that wouldn't let me take photos too.

Before this year, I had never been away from them overnight.  They have left me- going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house or Nana’s but that’s different.  When they go away I can retrieve them in a flash.  When I was gone, I was hours away and too busy to call.  I was missing them and wishing they could enjoy my experiences.  Not that I didn’t have fun; I spent the night and following day at the Philadelphia Zoo.  I had a girls’ weekend in Manhattan.   

FAO Schwarz, NYC girls' weekend and 9th birthday celebration.

I camped in a lodge at a beautiful campsite in perfect weather.  I went to a PTO Expo in Philadelphia (yes, that IS fun!).    

What’s kept me awake during these long days and sleepless nights?  Coffee!  During these busy weeks, thanks to the awesome Starbucks and Modern Mom, I’ve been downing Starbucks Spring Blend coffee, stopping in the Starbucks in NYC (on Broadway!) for a drink and an awesome new mug and chugging it to get through another few hours after 4 hours of sleep. 
 

Starbucks on BROADWAY!!!  I think you can see a Broadway sign in the background.  Can you see my new #Starbucks mug?

Here's a close-up.  It's the New York skyline!  But there's more:

A taxi AND a Starbucks store on the mug!

And here we are outside of #Starbucks with Ellen's Stardust Diner in the background.  Awesome place!

I even brought a few VIAs with me when I went camping, since I knew they wouldn’t have a coffee maker. 

By the way, that Starbucks Spring Blend I mentioned?  It includes notes of milk chocolate and sweet orange.  I thought this might be strange, but it's probably my new favorite.  It combines beans from Latin America and East Africa.  I'm not an aficionado so I'll describe it as best as I can.  It's smooth and just strong enough.  A hint of the flavors can be smelled when it's dry and it smells amazing.  When it's brewed, it smells and tastes like good coffee. I had a picture of it but a virus got my computer and currently my photos from the last month or so are missing.   

So anyway, while this has been an incredibly difficult time for me, it’s also been full of amazing experiences.  I fell in love with the orangutans at the Philly Zoo.   

The hippos were pretty cute too.  And how can you not adore a massive, dumb rhino?  They are afraid of birds.  Tiny birds!  They have no idea how big they are and are scared of everything.  

While visiting New York we had the opportunity to stay in China Town, tour the skyline by boat, eat amazing food (Lebanese was awesome and the servers at Ellen’s Stardust Diner sing!!!).   

 

Can we join the crew at Ellen's Stardust Diner?

We were serenaded on our first ever subway ride, 

Lucky Amara getting a nice song for her birthday.

we walked to Times Square and listened to live jazz while eating brunch.  Central Park was mind-blowing!   

Look at that skyline!

No, really, just look at that!

I never expected the size and seeing the city behind the trees was amazing.  The amount of people (so many people!) but there was still so much space!  We took a carriage ride around and learned about some landmarks in and around the park.  We watched the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center and checked out all of the gorgeous Easter egg art on display.  I played chess with a guy in Washington Square Park- and I won!

He said he was rated near 2000.  I think he was just flattering me.

While I missed out on a lot of family moments this spring, I wouldn't have changed anything for these experiences.  I'm grateful for the memories we've created and I'm glad I had some energetic family members and Starbucks coffee to keep me awake!

How else could I keep up with these girls?

Do you have any spring traditions or memories? 

 




Starbucks and Modern Mom provided me with Starbucks Spring Blend ground coffee and a gift card to try some great mugs and other coffee.  All opinions are expressly my own.

We Have a Winner!

Check to see if you are the winner of the $15 Starbucks gift card from the Holidays with Starbucks #sharejoy giveaway.  If you are the winner I will email you and if I don't hear anything by Saturday, January 11, 2014 I'll choose a new winner. 

Holidays with Starbucks: Share the Joy! A Review and a Giveaway

Starbucks goodies!

Happy Holidays!  My Christmas hasn't met the expectations that one with a family full of children might anticipate, due to the loss of my father after a battle with cancer.  I know I have to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for my kiddos and while it's been a struggle, I realize what a strong support system I have in my family and friends and without them- and copious amounts of coffee- I'm not sure I'd have left my bed much.  What's Christmas without a tree (at least we got it decorated by Christmas Eve), lights, holiday music and shopping for presents (something I didn't begin until Christmas Eve)?  Without moping any longer, I give you a review of good coffee and the chance to win some of your own. 

Holidays in my home are a bustling time of visiting family, drinking coffee, running to the store for last-minute things, eating cookies, forgetting to by regular groceries, visiting more family, drinking more coffee, going back to the store, ignoring the laundry build-up, avoiding piles of boxes of Christmas decorations until I have no other choice, watching others put up Christmas lights while I stand by being helpful (telling people there's a light out can be helpful)...all while listening to Christmas music, which I diligently avoid until about December 10th.  I get too angry at the world when it reminds me that two of my boys (my hubby Jason and my son Jonas) have to share their birthday with one of the biggest holidays and I don't have enough time or money to focus on all of them at once.  Probably sounds a lot like the holiday for many people.  

Thankfully, Starbucks and Modern Mom sensed my plight and blessed me with the opportunity to try a new holiday blend of Starbucks ground coffee.  I didn't have to run back to the store for coffee after all.  
I made some right away, with my favorite milk (shameless plug for Rutter's right here) in my Keurig.   

How did I make ground coffee in my Keurig, you ask?  With my handy-dandy reusable k-cup!  Close up so you can't see the clutter.

The Starbucks Holiday Blend- available at major grocery stores- is created with "vibrant Latin American and smooth Indonesian coffees.  It's balance of herbal and sweet maple notes pairs pairs beautifully with everything the holiday season has in store for you."  That's what Starbucks has to say about their coffee.  I have to say it's definitely smooth; it's not a strong coffee and does have a holiday flavor.  I prefer strong, smooth coffees and while this one is weaker than my normal choices I can fix that by adding extra when I brew it.  Without reading the description I honestly couldn't have told you what flavors were incorporated into this blend, but it's a relaxing taste (that's the best way to describe it!).  After knowing what's in it, I can smell a light maple scent.  I made sure to use only sugar and milk to be sure I didn't think I was drinking coffee but was actually drinking cigarette ashes (I never had cigarette ash flavored Starbucks but there have been quite a few others that really did taste like cigarette ashes so I wanted to be certain).  It was very good.  Good enough that I wanted to keep drinking beyond my normal two cups in the morning.  

I had it while stringing up the tree lights:

I'm so helpful.

While wrapping Christmas presents at 1am:

This was just the first one...

 And of course, I had lots of it while spending the holidays with my family.

Sorry for the blur.  I blame my camera's inability to work with movement.  So unfortunately you can't see the amazing breakfast that my in-laws make every Christmas morning for their family.

Merry Christmas!

And now for the news you've been waiting for:

Starbucks and Modern Mom also provided me with a bag of Holiday Blend ground coffee to give away to one of my readers.  I decided to keep the coffee because it's good, and sponsor a giveaway for a $15 gift card instead (with permission).  Then you can try the Holiday Blend yourself, or any other coffee or Starbucks product (but if you don't try something new I will think you're boring).  United States entries only.    


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Disclosure: Starbucks & Modern Mom supplied me with Starbucks Coffee Holiday Blend to help facilitate this review and giveaway.  I didn't want to share the giveaway coffee and was given the okay, so I am sponsoring the gift card giveaway myself.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions are expressly my own.

Review of the Oral-B Professional Precision 5000 Toothbrush #OralBSponsored

I am approximately 3 weeks into trying the Oral-B® Professional™ Precision 5000.  Prior to that my brushing regime was pretty basic but never something I looked forward to.  I was using a regular manual toothbrush.  In the past I had also used the cheapest battery-powered toothbrushes.  I was always hesitant to spend the money on those though, because most died before I should have gotten rid of them, and there was little to no improvement over a manual brush.  I brush 2-3 times per day, floss when I remember to buy it, I prefer Colgate Total gel toothpaste to any other, I sometimes rise with perxoide and every so often I brush with baking soda.  But with my terribly crooked teeth (I'm talking cover-my-mouth-when-I-smile crooked) it was a pain, figuratively and literally to mess with my mouth for those 3-5 minutes morning, noon and night.  I was very excited to try this Oral-B electric toothbrush but had mixed feeling about having to think about my teeth every time I brushed.  Maybe I'm dramatic. 

My old toothbrush never cleaned my teeth really well.  My crooked teeth caused a lot of issues, like not being able to get to certain areas as well as others.  My teeth would be smooth for the most part, but there were spots that I would have to go back over, making my teeth bleed from the force and awkward maneuvering.  Those same spots would feel dirty frequently throughout the day, driving me insane!  My biggest hope for the Oral-B electric toothbrush is these issues no longer persisting.  Short of getting braces (which will probably never happen until money begins growing on trees) this is my next best option.

When the Oral-B Professional Precision 5000 package arrived I sorted through everything, figuring out what things were and reading the booklet that came with the toothbrush and accessories.  I won't lie and say everything was simple to set up.  Most of it was, but I had a heck of a time figuring out how to open the back of the wireless Smart Guide so I could put the batteries in it.  I was so sure I would break it.  Once I figured that out, everything else was smooth sailing. 

Fancy traveling case, holder for brush heads, charger, Smart Guide and more.

 Let's begin with the Smart Guide.  The Smart Guide is your wireless helper when using your new toothbrush and comes with two rechargeable batteries.  You could use regular AA batteries too.  There is a 2 minute timer that begins the moment you push the power button on your toothbrush.  You are supposed to brush each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds and the Smart Guide will pause and beep when you've finished each section.  There is also a visual guide to show which section you've completed.  You don't have to follow it to a T; it will just remind you how much time you have.  The smiley face will be complete when you are done.  I tend to go beyond the 2 minute timer (the brush turns off when you hit the power button again, not after 2 minutes) because I like to brush my tongue and the roof of my mouth without taking up my tooth time. 

The obvious: It has a carrying case, the brush case holds up to 4 brushes, the dock plugs into a wall outlet, the toothbrush is rechargeable and charges when you place it on the dock.  Everyone in your family can use the same toothbrush and you can just buy each person a different head.   

Other facts: A red light blinks if you are brushing too hard- you are supposed to let the oscillating, rotating and pulsating do its work.  There are 5 settings: daily clean, deep clean, sensitive, whitening and massage. 

Some facts and opinions from me: At first I hardly noticed a difference in the feeling of my teeth after I brushed with the Oral-B Professional Precision 5000.  But after 2 or 3 days my teeth started feeling noticeably cleaner (a smoothness I can feel with my tongue) even in the hard-to-reach spots that always caused me trouble with my manual toothbrushes.  It lasts longer too.  I still wake up with brushing the first thing on my to-do list but during the day my teeth feel cleaner longer.  My teeth almost never bleed anymore.  They were bleeding sometimes when I used my manual, and frequently when I flossed.  That seems like a big deal.  I still haven't gotten to the point where I can use all of the 5 settings- there are 2 that I don't even bother trying yet.  Maybe someday soon I'll be able to tolerate them but right now those two settings kind of hurt and feel the way I think a drill would feel on your teeth.  I like that you don't have to do funky maneuvers to reach the back of your mouth.  The brush does it all for you.  Is it worth more than $150 more than a manual toothbrush?  I'm not so certain...that is a LOT of money.  But this kind of electric toothbrush is definitely worth an investment over a manual or cheap, battery-operated toothbrush. 

Other Pros: 
-It's rechargeable and the charge lasts a long time.  In 3 weeks I've only recharged it twice.  I'm the only one in my house using the tooth brush so if more of us were then the charge would obviously be more frequent. 
-It will be easy to swap tooth brushes if more family members decide they want to share with me.  And it came with colored bands that you can use to identify which toothbrush belongs to which family member. 
-The cord to the charger base is a decent length.  I honestly don't know how long it is.  But we have two outlets in our bathroom and only one is reasonable to use and sometimes things don't reach from that outlet to our bathroom counter and it's really frustrating.  This doesn't even come close to being too short. 
-One brush and the purchase of extra heads can accomodate a whole family. 

Cons:
-A little pricey at a suggested retail price of $159.99
-My inability to use all 5 settings.  But I think it's just my sensitive teeth and that it's only a matter or time before I can try them again. 

And now I have some great news!  Until December 31, 2012 you can receive a $20 mail-in-rebate when you buy this and other select toothbrushes from http://www.oralb.com.  Visit the website for details. 
After you're done browsing their selection of fabulous brushes join the conversation on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/oralb or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/oralb and use the hashtag #PowerUp


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Modern Mom on behalf of Oral-B and received a product sample to facilitate my review.