Wake Up and Be Awesome!
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Tag: Lifestyle
How ’bout Them Samples?! Review #2
You may remember that as part of my “strict no buy” I had decided to try to use up a bunch of the neglected samples that I have already received from various places and sample boxes. I have so many samples that I don’t even remember where I got all of them from originally. I know some are from ipsy bags, or Target boxes and others from Walmart beauty boxes.
I posted a few weeks ago that I would let you know what I think of each thing and if I would purchase these items based on my thoughts from these samples. Some products were awesome and I used them up right away, others have taken me longer to use.
Here’s my review of the samples from the second group of what I have been trying out…
Acure Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner
This Acure shampoo and conditioner is ok. It got the job done. My hair felt nice and clean and the conditioner made my hair feel smooth and soft. My only problem with these products was the scent. It took me a few times to figure out what it smells like. We were are a pro soccer game and the people around us were drinking beer. I am not a drinker, but when I smelled it, I though, Ah-ha! That is exactly what the Acure conditioner smells like. I don’t want to go around smelling like a can of beer was spilled on my head. Due to the scent only I would NOT buy this Acure Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner based on the sample.
Aquaphore
Come on it’s Aquaphore, it is awesome. It has so many awesome uses. I use it for my lips, dry spots on my hands and on my cuticles. I have already bought the full size product several times. I have to say though, this little container is perfect for throwing in my purse as well as keeping in my locker at work. I would buy this Aquaphore based on the sample.
Clairol Hairfood dry shampoo
You may remember, I have chin length, very straight, somewhat thin/fine hair (which is the main reason I keep it short). My hair is also more on the oily side, therefore, I have to wash it every day. All that being said, that doesn’t mean that I never use dry shampoo. I just use it for a completely different reason,I use dry shampoo to add volume to my hair. For this purpose I think that this dry shampoo is great. I love the scent and it gets the job done. As far as actually cleaning hair, I don’t know. I really enjoy all the other products that I have used from the Clairol Hairfood line. I would buy this Clairol Hairfood dry shampoo based on the sample.
Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Cream
Everyday as a mother and nurse I wash my hands too many times to count. My hands get so dry and sore. I found that this cream works great and sinks in quickly! I would buy this Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Cream based on the sample.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Booster Face Wash
I love this stuff. It makes my face feel nice and clean without feeling dry and tight. It smells sooooo good! Unfortunately, it does not get my waterproof eye makeup off. I really love the scent: nice, clean, fresh. I really wish that it was a body wash or even a perfume. I would buy this Neutrogena Healthy Skin Booster Face Wash based on the sample.
Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara
Mascara is such a personal thing. I really like when a mascara has a huge brush, and this mascara has a huge brush. The formula is great for length, but not so much for building volume, which is strange since the name claims volume. Who knows? Is it my favorite mascara ever? No. Would I recommend it? Yes. I would buy this Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara based on the sample size.
Olay Ultra Moisturizing Body Wash
I really like the way that this body wash made my skin feel. It is a thick formula that lathers up really well. My skin felt so smooth and moisturized that I probably could have even skipped my daily lotion. It has a pleasant enough honeysuckle scent, but it was just too strong for me. I really did not like the way it smelled, I am so sensitive to scents…I’m “scentsitive”. I would buy this body wash based on the sample just in another scent.
Tarte Lipsurgence in Wonder
I really love this soft poppy pink shade. It looks great with my skin tone. The super creamy formula is infused with their famous maracuja oil which starts off feeling hydrating and great, but after a little while I find that my lips start to feel dry and uncomfortable. One application will give a more sheer wash of color but it can easily be build up for a more intense color. It is also suppose to double as a cheek color, but I haven’t used it that way, and probably won’t. I would not buy this lipsurgence based on the sample, instead I would buy the NYX Simply Nude Lip Cream Sticks $6.50
I feel like this is one of those products that the drugstore version is actually better than the higher priced one. The tarte Lip Surgence tends to be a bit dryer and I find that the NYX Lip Cream has better pigmentation.
Overall this was a great group of samples! I have been enjoying using up my samples and have already started on a new bunch.
What about you? Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?
If you would like to see which samples I have already tried out and what I think about them you can read more by clicking HERE.
I would love for you to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on both. I would also love to follow you on Instagram as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!
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Balance ~ Flab to FAB
It has been a while since I have written a Flab to Fab post. Thankfully, I can report to you that I have been staying closer to the “FAB” side of things and have not returned to Flab. Staying “FAB” is not easy, it is an every day task! I have to work at eating right every day! I still LOVE cookies and ice cream, oh and french fries… cheese burgers too! I don’t always feel like making the right nutritional choice. Sometimes the thought of another healthy salad makes me want to scream!
Despite having long since reached my goal weight, I still have good days and bad days. I have found that maintenance is a lot harder than losing. I kept myself to a pretty strict routine while trying to drop those last few pounds. Now while maintaining, I have more freedom. Freedom is not always easy. While losing the weight, I retaught myself how to eat properly. I knew that I would never return to my old way of eating. But. once I reached my final goal and loosened up my diet, I also knew that I couldn’t allow myself to let those bad habits slowly creep back into my life.
I attribute my success to BALANCE! I try to eat a mostly healthy diet, consisting of mainly fruits, veggies, complex carbs, and lean meats, making mostly healthy choices. One of the most important things I do is I let myself indulge. A sweet treat every once in a while helps me to be successful the next time I have to decide what to eat.
My diet is balanced and not overly restrictive. It doesn’t just consist of kale and celery. Every once in a while I will let myself have a bowl of ice cream or piece of a huge reese’s peanut butter cookie. The key is to not eat the entire pint of ice cream or the whole cookie all by myself. I love to eat and I love to exercise, but all diet and no exercise is not right, just as all exercise and not eating a healthy diet is also not best.
When I decided to make a drastic dietary change in my life, I knew I didn’t want to be on a “diet”. I wanted to make a lifestyle change that would last forever. Since reaching my final goal weight I follow the 80/20% rule. Eighty percent of what I eat is healthy, and I let myself splurge the other 20% of the time.
Eating healthy is not a chore, it takes thought and preparation, but it isn’t a chore. I have given myself permission to enjoy food. Being able enjoy a special meal with friends and family or have a piece of birthday cake at a party is all part of enjoying life. I allow myself to go on vacation and fully enjoy foods at restaurants that I will not be visiting again for a long time (or possibly ever). It makes the whole balanced healthy diet attainable for a lifetime, not just to reach a specific goal. I don’t want what I do and don’t allow myself to eat to hold me back from living my life. Once again it is all about BALANCE.
Trust me I have tried to only exercise and not eat healthy! For 5 years I diligently worked out so hard, but I always ate whatever I wanted to. It wasn’t until I improved my diet that I finally started to see all the awesome results I had been trying to achieve with exercise only. Going from flab to fab includes both diet and exercise. I also follow the 80/20 rule with exercise. 80% diet 20% exercise.
If you would like to read more about my journey from flab to FAB, you can do so by clicking HERE.
What about you? Have you been on a journey from flab to FAB? Have you made any major lifestyle and diet changes? What do you do to keep yourself on track and accountable?
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Looking Joli Good!
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Tip Tuesday #25
Here is another tip for Tip Tuesdays…
If you have sad straight eye lashes like I do, there is hope and this tip is for you!
Personally, my super straight eyelashes will curl beautifully… only to become super straight and very sad again as soon as I apply mascara.
Problem solved by only using waterproof mascara. While that is a great tip that I learned from Wayne Goss, that isn’t actually this weeks tip….
Some mascara formulas are awesome in the regular version and terrible in the waterproof version. So, when I want to use a regular non waterproof mascara, but also want my lashes to stay curled, I first apply a thin layer of waterproof mascara concentrating at the roots of my lashes, then using the regular non waterproof mascara I apply a second and third (sometimes even a fourth) coat of mascara. This keeps the curl to my lashes while still being able to get the benefits of whichever regular mascara I want to use.
Let me know if you try it and what you think!
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No Gym? No Problem! #31
I love workouts that use compound movements with weights. Two birds with one stone! This is a great 18 minute workout that uses both a set of lighter and heavier weights. Take some time today to improve you health and well being. You are totally worth it! As always, no excuses, just do it!
Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!
Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on FacebookLookin Joli Good
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Happy 1st Birthday Looking Joli Good!
I cannot even believe that it has been an entire year since I started blogging here on Looking Joli Good! Some of you have been with me right from the start and I really appreciate you! Some have joined along the way and become friends. Thanks for making this first year a great one!
Here’s to another year of Looking Joli Good!
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Looking Joli Good!
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A Little More About Me Tag
Hello everyone! I thought that since I have been blogging for a just about a year now and several of you have joined in a long the way I would introduce myself a bit more. So, today I am doing this “A Little More About Me” tag that I have seen floating around the beauty blogger world.
Here is a list of 31 questions to get to know a little more about me…
1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
My hair is perfectly naturally straight, and I absolutely love how easy it is!
2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
I have never dyed my hair. It is still the same exact color that God gave me. If I do need to start dying it, I will definitely let a pro do it.
3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?
I am a pretty routine kinda gal, so pretty much stick with the same general style, but usually when I mix it up I am not even that far from my usual.
4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
I get my feet done at the salon (not as often as I would like to), but about every 4-6 weeks. I don’t get mani because I don’t like to have my cuticles pushed back, so gross! Just writing about it now makes my fingers hurt!
5. How often do you change your nail polish?
If you have been around Looking Joli Good for very long, you already know the answer to this question. Never, I don’t polish them. It drives me nuts if my polish chips at all! So instead of having to redo them as soon as that happens, I just don’t polish them. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?
My toes are always polished, so yes, I definitely polish my toes in the winter! I like the way my feet look better with polished toes
7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?
Depends on what look I am going for. If it is just a more natural face then 1oish minutes, but if I want to take my time and be more detailed then probably around a half hour. Don’t ask my husband though, he’d say I spend 3 hours every day putting makeup on. (I wish I had that amount of time.)
8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
Usually face because I take the most time on the eyes, so I don’t want to spend too much time in the beginning and then end up running out of time to do the rest of my face.
9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
I love makeup, but I also like to save money and get the best price possible. I get overwhelmed by too much stuff. I would say I am a makeup wearer, but not a makeup collector.
10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
Never, and I don’t ever plan to start. I think that they look good in certain situations, but as a mom to two youngish kids, totally not necessary in my life.
11. Do you do a full face of makeup everyday?
Not every single day, but usually I am out and about, so I put make up on almost every day.
12. Do you wear makeup when you’re home alone or with family?
Not usually if it is just my husband and kids at home all day, but if we are possibly going somewhere I always put it on just in case.
13. Will you leave the house without makeup?
Um, well…yes, I don’t really like to, but I will if I have to.
Are you still with me? Haha!
14. How many high-end products do you have?
I love a great deal, and don’t like to spend a ton of money, but I really do like nice things. I don’t have a huge collection of high-end products, I’d say off the top of my head less than 20.
15. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you’re getting dressed?
For church, special days and work, I plan ahead and get it ready at night, but usually otherwise it just depends on how I feel that day.
16. How often do you change your handbag?
Quite often. Generally when I find a great purse I will use it for a while, but if I am wearing something nice and it doesn’t match my outfit I will switch to another one.
Quite often. Generally when I find a great purse I will use it for a while, but if I am wearing something nice and it doesn’t match my outfit I will switch to another one.
17. What time do you wake up and go to sleep?
It depends on the day and the season. During the school year most days I wake up at 6 am to work out usually, 7 am during the summer if I want to work out before my kids get up, pretty much never after 8. I go to bed around 10:30pm each night (in bed by 10:24 to be exact), but on the days I work I am usually asleep about 9:00pm on the couch next to my husband.
18. How often or when do you workout?
Six days a week in the morning. (I am pretty obsessed!)
19. Left handed or right handed?
Right handed
20. How tall are you?
5″4′ …ok, ok, ok…5″3 1/2′
21. Do you speak any foreign languages?
Nope, but I have been trying to learn French. It is going pretty slowly though.
22. How many pets do you have?
You all know about my sweet 10 year old Boston Terrier Tessie. She is the sweetest, kindest, most loyal dog in the world!
23. How often are you on WordPress?
Every day, probably too many times a day!
24. Do you read comments posted on blogs?
Yes, but not always. Usually it depends on what the blog is about whether I read the comments or not. Of course I always read all the comments on my blog.
25. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
Yes, I do. If more than one person I trust recommends a product I will add it to my list.
26. How did you come up with your blog name?
My last name is Joli (said Jolly) and I’m sure you have already heard the saying “Jolly good”. Joli/Jolie in French means pretty/beautiful so I just put it together and came up with Looking Joli Good.
27. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?
I have a Nikon D3300 and sometimes my phone a Nexus 6P.
28. How often do you clean your house?
Every. Single. Day. Feels as if that is what I spend the majority of my time doing…(although if you ask my family they will say I spend all my time putting on makeup and talking.)
29. What’s your favorite color?
I am a girly girl all the way and as unoriginal as it probably is, my favorite color is pink. I also like tealish blue as well
30. Do you swear?
Nope, never.
31. What are you doing with the rest of your day?
Hanging out with my dog and my kiddos
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Looking Joli Good!
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Tip Tuesday #24
Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!
I hate dry cracked lips! I can not stand it when my lips are not nice and smoothly moisturized. Here is a simple recipe for making a natural lip exfoliator. Get rid of the dead skin to reveal smooth soft lips.
What you need:
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
In a bowl, warm up the honey and coconut oil. Then, add the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Apply to your lips and gently scrub before rinsing off. I got a pack of 10 little containers from the Dollar Store to store the extra lip scrub in.
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Looking Joli Good!
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Lost and Found!
I have never in my entire life been happier to see this little doggie’s face!
We lost Tessie today for several hours. If you know me in real life you know how devastating this was!
She has never even left our backyard alone before, she is always so good about staying close. So today when I looked out and she was nowhere to be seen, I got very nervous!
I searched every where, I drove all around the neighborhood, I went to all the places we go together, and couldn’t find her! I called animal control, and of course, the only officer for our town just happens to be on vacation for the week!
I kept praying that she was safe and that we would find her quickly.
My husband posted a picture of her to a local Facebook Lost Pets page, and the woman who found her saw it and called the police station to let them know that she had found Tess and where we could go to get her. I was so excited when I got the call that I left immediately to go get her!
I am so thankful that she is home and that God answered our prayers to keep her safe!
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Looking Joli Good!
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No Gym? No Problem! #30
A few weeks ago for “No Gym? No Problem” I shared a 15 minutes to burn 150 calorie workout. Today’s workout you can burn 200 calories in 20 minutes. Do you have 20 minutes to improve your health and wellness? Yes, You Do! No Excuses, Just do it!
Burn 200 Calories in 20 Minutes With This Quick Workout
Take 15-30 minutes and improve your day! Your heath and wellness is worth it! Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!
Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on FacebookLookin Joli Good
Looking Joli Good 