Favorite Products & Recommendations May 2013

Time goes by too quickly. I enjoyed the month of May a little less than I had hoped. The main reason being that the weather has been horrendous. Spring really skipped by. It is cold one day and hot the next. The unfortunate weather conditions and storms all over the world also really sucks. That said, there are a lot of great products I have thoroughly enjoyed over the past month.

2013 best beauty hair treatment

This nuNaat Brazilian Keratin treatment has been a life saver! I dyed my hair this season and has been so worried about breakage and drying. I've been using the treatment religiously and have noticed that my hair looks ever healthier than before the dying process! I definitely recommend this whole kit. The conditioner makes my hair feel so smooth right after a shower.

Beauty drinks to make skin clearer

The Beauty Nectar drink by Ashieda is really delicious. I'm bewildered that it can actually be good for my skin. It's like feeding someone soda and saying, it will make you lose weight! The added sugar probably helps make the taste, but I do feel like my skin has been looking a lot more radiant and flushed since starting this drink. It's worth a try.

This Villy Customs bike is beautiful!

Okay, so this one is not so much a product as a whole bike. I am in the process of putting a custom bike from Villy Customs together. I love the colors and can't wait to take it for a ride! I'm trying to be more active and returning to biking seems like a such a fun way to get in ship.
Disclosure: This post mentions products sent for consideration. All opinions expressed therein are the honest opinions of the author.

Sigma Coupon 2013 & Sigma Brushes/MAC Giveaway

June is on its way again! It is one of the warmest months here and also the month of my birthday. I'm very excited to sponsor and host the June 2013 giveaway. For additional giveaway details, please visit the giveaway page.

Sigma Beauty July Coupon Code

 
The following giveaway is not sponsored. Coupon codes were provided by Sigma and this post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed therein are those of the author.

The July 2013 coupon code for Sigma Beauty is RNL2013. Just apply it at checkout for 10% off your Sigma order. The coupons are valid for the month of June and July, respectively. For additional coupons or information on monthly free gift, please see the Sigma coupon page.

MAC and Sigma June & July 2013 Giveaway

EDIT. GIVEAWAY CLOSED - Winners Announced HERE
This giveaway is open to all readers, internationally. It ends July 8, 2013 at 11:59PM EST. (I'll be on holiday til then.) There are four prizes and four methods to enter. You can enter by one method or all four if you like a chance to win all four prizes. Each person can enter the giveaway only once. Winners are randomly drawn and will be contacted by method of entry and/or by email.

Sigma and MAC giveaway 2013
A summary of the giveaway prizes/methods:

1. Twitter Giveaway - MAC eyeshadow of choice
To win this prize, tweet/retweet about this giveaway with a link to this page so users know how to entr.
2. Tumblr Giveaway - Sigma $40 gift certificate
Blog/reblog this giveaway under tag #giveaway or some tags to help tumblers find it. If you don't use tumblr, you can also pinterest it instead.
3. Blog Post Giveaway - MAC lipstick of choice
Blog about this giveaway, linking to it our this site so users can find it. You just have to mention it in your blog post. You do not have to dedicate an entire blog post to it.
4. Sidebar Giveaway - Sigma $40 gift certificate
Link this giveaway on your blog sidebar or simply add handmadereviews.net to your blogroll.

To enter this giveaway, fill out the entry form below:

Three Blogging Buddies on Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you for the services of all the men and women - of every country and origin. Thank you for protecting and caring.

Blogging Journal
I've been back to journal writing. I want to write more and think more. I know I have not been blogging as much as I should as of late, but I am trying to change that. I want to challenge myself to do everything a little more and do nothing a little less. I will write in my journal more, write on all my blogs more and read more.

Headphones for lifestyle bloggers
I rely on my Crosley headphones to cancel out external noise to concentrate on the things I do. It actually isn't that great a pair of headphones, but it does its job for now. I think I may have to get a more comfortable pair soon though. These tend to hurt my ears.

Weekend Family Friendly Entertainment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX.

Weekend entertainments for the family can be a little troublesome during the summer time. I love ice skating and winter sports during the colder weather, but things are a little more difficult when it gets really hot outside. For the past weeks, I've been spending more time with the little kids watching television. They are crazy about Netflix - and I can see why. My recent watches list has been filled with children television shows. They have a lot of newer children shows as well the as television shows I watched a kid. The listed shows really make me reminiscent my childhood days.

Watching movies and television used be a lot different when I was younger. You have to visit the movie store to get movies, and you could only pick out one or two movie at a time. In order to catch your favorite television shows, you have rush home after school or record things on your VCR. Everything is a lot more convenient now, with Netflix and readily delivered movies and online television.

Beauty Night Movies

My family loves watching Netflix on weekends with large bags of popcorn and candy treats. I love to wear face masks and relaxing beauty goodies during movies nights. It is the perfect, safe and comfortable relaxation night. The kids love watching Disney shows like Pocahontas. I love them as well. Whenever they put on a show I have already seen or don't enjoy as much, I proceed to apply nail polish or do some other routines. No matter the choice, there seems to be a lot of fun involved in movie night!

Movie Night Popcorn and Snacks

Three Random Makeup Brush Containers

You don't need to splurge on makeup brush containers simply because you probably have a few great ones just sitting around your house. A cup, a mug, an empty bottle: if it fits, it sits!

Pen Holder Into Makeup Brush Holder
My trusty pen holder is still an active pen holder, but it does a good job of being a brush holder as well. A little scrubbing and it can become the perfect brush holder. If you are looking for a little cushion to raise your brushes higher or stand straighter, add some beads, marbles or even uncooked rice grains.

Homemade Makeup Brush Containers
I stuff dirty brushes into this little CVS tin can I had leftover from a Christmas project. I chose a small case to remind myself to wash my brushes often - but as you can see, I have been very lazy! On the right is a "pill" multipurpose container previously used for cotton balls. I ordered it from ModCloth a while back and it has since been one of my favorite nerdy Pharma/Chem case.

Fashion Friday: Little Gold Ring Collection

I have an ever growing obsession with little gold rings. These rings are wearable, versatile and timeless. I don't make a habit of collecting them, but I constantly find myself pulling out my wallet whenever I see a cute dainty ring. As most of them are affordable little things, I don't find this habit too troublesome. (Surely it's better than that designer handbag phase?)

Delicate Gold Rings
I like to store my delicate gold rings on a baby dachshund ring holder.

Pyramid Ring and Infinity Gold Ring
The golden pyramid ring is from DailyLook and the infinity ring is from eBay.

Thin Golden Leaf and Owl Heart Ring
These are a little dated, but I'm almost certain the golden leaf ring is from ModCloth whilst the owl heart ring is from DailyLook.

midi bow ring
My newest obsession is this golden midi bow ring from DailyLook. The whole midi ring trend took a while for me to get into, but I can really get the hang of it now - especially with this bow ring!

We Notice When Your Shoes or Lipstick Don't Match

Do people notice shoes?
Some believe that no one cares for shoes, but shoes are one of the main component of any outfit.

Of the things I notice about people, shoes has to be one of the main things. It's strange to think that little shoes dangling off your feet are something to be noticed, but they definitely are. Why else do we match shoes to our outfits or handbag? If you've ever tried to get away with shoes that are not quite the right color for a suit or dress, you'll know the pain. Sometimes I feel like I can't wear certain outfits because the shoes just don't match quite right.

I have pairs of shoes I've only worn once or twice because I can't make it go well with any outfit. It's extremely important to consider how wearable a pair of shoes are before you make a purchase - especially if the shoes are expensive.

Notice Lipstick
If you are wearing lipstick, people will take notice.

It still amazes me that people can be surprised when I comment on their lipstick. The general rule is that if you are wearing a lipstick - any lipstick - people will notice. You speak through your mouth, so people will focus on your mouth quite often. Knowing this, I try to make sure my lipstick is always clean and neat. Pink and red lips are especially noticeable, so I don't try to cheat the system and overdo any lipliner or gloss.

In the Mail: New Beauty Treatments

In the following week, please look forward to my reviews on the Ashieda Beauty Nectar Collagen Drink and the nuNaat Brazillian Keratin treatment set. I have been incorporating those products into my daily regimen, and have definitely seen some results. A thorough review will be posted once I test the products out fully.

Ashieda Natural Facial Mask
These Natural Facial Masks by Ashieda add great moisture to the face and works well with the collagen drink.


Ashieda Collagen Drink Review
You don't usually think of drinks as a skincare product - but Ashieda does!

nuNaat Keratin Review
nuNaat Brazillian Keratin Treatment Set

Are there any new beauty products you would like to see a review of? Let us know!
Disclosure: This post mentions product(s) sent for testing and/or reviewing consideration. All opinions expressed therein are those of the author. Please read our policies for additional information.

Three Things Haul: Daleks, Cats, Coin Purse

A few knick knacks I ordered from ModCloth came in the mail this week. I'm particularly excited about the Doctor Who salt and pepper shaker set. (Doctor Who has been my bread and butter for the past months.) I don't know if I can bring myself to use it or if I will just keep it on my desk.

Doctor Who Salt and Pepper Shaker
Tardis and Dalek salt and pepper set from ModCloth. Daleks from Doctor Who are officially one of my favorite things ever.

Bunny Wallet
Rabbit coin purse with keyring to carry loose change and keys.

Rabbit Coin Purse
Carrying around loose change in my main wallet has proven to be really annoying as of late. Having a separate coin purse is really convenient - and really cute.

Vintage Pencil Case
This vintage metal pencil case is absolutely adorable with its featured cats. And if you don't like cats, you can always keep the tin case and replace the cat sticker with a different sticker set. The case has a very traditional, school-girly vibe.

Celebrate Mother's Day! E-Cards & Charity Contest

How are you celebrating Mother's Day this year? Perhaps you will have a nice, homemade dinner with the family or relaxing spa day and outing. Whether you enjoy your holidays indoors or out, there are many fantastic ways to honor and celebrate all the great mother's out there.

Mothers Day Painting by French Painter
19th century painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painted a portrait of his mother in the garden.

We can't all be famous French painters, but how about sending a lovely Mother's Day e-card that also raises awareness about the importance of early cancer detection? E-cards are great for the moms who are always attached to their computers. Flower shops and postal services don't work on Sundays, so an e-card is the perfect bonus gift to add on Mother's Day for the faraway mothers!

Mothers Day Free eCards and Message
Noreen Fraser Foundation has collaborated with many celebrities to produce funny Mother's Day cards in an effort to honor mothers and raise awareness. See the quick and hilarious clips here - and send one out today! (Some notable celebrities include Seth MacFarlane, Jack Black, Zach Galifianakis, Kim Kardashian, Will Farrel, Neil Patrick Harris and more.)

Is your mom extraordinary? Tell everyone why by entering Extraordinary #MOMents campaign and you and your mom can win a year's supply of Wet 'n Wild makeup! This campaign is a collaboration effort between the Noreen Fraser Foundation and Wet 'n Wild to support women's cancer research. The best part is that for each #MOMent shared, Wet 'n Wild will give a dollar to the Noreen Fraser Foundation to support women’s cancer research!

What Gets You Noticed?

What do you notice
What do you notice about others? What do they see in you?

What is the first thing people notice about you? Is it your dazzling smile? Your perfume? Your fashionable outfits? Or maybe everything at once? I asked my best friend what she noticed about me the first time we met. And she is a dear friend - no matter how blunt she gets.

Me: What was the first thing you noticed about me when we first met?
Em: I thought you were a bit dazed - but had nice hair! That's right. I noticed the nice hair first, but you were totally just spacing out.

Me: I think I was trying to concentrate on studying or something, wasn't I?
Em: Nope, it was like the opposite. You didn't notice me until I spoke up.

Me: Oops! Well, glad you like the hair. What did you like about it?
Em: I don't know. It was straight and neat and looked really healthy and shiny.

Me: I think I had it permed straight the previous week. What else did you notice?
Em: You were nice, friendly and easy enough to get along with. I was pretty nervous about getting the roommate from hell that everyone kept talking about. Glad you seemed so normal.

Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove Review & Dupe

The Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove is one of Sigma's latest inventions designed to effectively clean makeup brushes. This patent-pending, dual-sided glove offers a variety of necessary textures and surfaces for removing makeup from brushes.

While I like the idea of the Sigma Brush Cleaning Glove, I am surprised by the price. A Spa Brush Cleaning Glove retails for $39 before shipping. Even with the 10% discount code, the cleaning glove sells for more than $35! Unless you're really big on makeup brushes, requiring a lot of usage and cleansing daily, this cleaner might not live up to all of your expectations.

Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove Review

The Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove is fairly large, fully capable of washing even the largest body brush. The different textures definitely helps scrub away a lot of makeup. The product reduces the need to use a lot of makeup remover or brush cleansing solution. It probably reduced the scrubbing time by 25% for me. So it is very effective - but the price is still a bit too high to justify the large silicone-like oven glove-esque cleanser.

Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove

The brush kit also came with an instructional guide on how to effectively use the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove to clean your makeup brushes:
1. WASH - Add a small amount of cleaning solution and water to glove and swirl brush on ‘Wash’ texture to begin deep cleaning the brush(es).
2. RINSE - Place brush under running water and sweep brush back and forth on the ‘Rinse’ texture of the glove to remove makeup residue & soap.
3. REFINE - Swirl brush on the ‘Refine’ texture of the glove for an added deep cleaning
4. RINSE - Place brush under running water & sweep brush back and forth on the ‘Rinse’ texture for a final rinse.
5. SHAPE - Reshape brush bristles by placing brush head on the ‘Shape’ section of the glove while squeezing with your hand to remove excess water.

Mother's Day Gift Guide - Beauty Box, Gift Sets, Promos

The Beauty Gift: Sigma Mother's Day Beauty Box


Sigma 20 Off Coupon Beauty Box

Sigma just released a Mother's Day Beauty Box ($45) that includes a Provoke Eye Shadow Base, Publicize Eye Shadow, Notre Dame Eye Shadow and E70 Medium Angled Shading brush.


Sigma gave us a 20% coupon code for the Beauty Box. Just apply MOTHERSDAY at checkout. The 20% off discount is for the Mother's Day special only. For the 10% off everything discount or other deals, see the Sigma discount page.




The Handmade Gift: Mother's Day Cookie Jar or Dessert Box


Mothers Day Handmade Gift Dessert
Something handmade and warm is probably the best route to go when it comes to Mother's Day. And what's better than homemade cookies? Bake a few of your mother's favorite cookies or treats, add them to a jar and decorate.

You can also buy a really cute cookie jar and personalize it. I've done this several times and they make great gifts. Handmade treats and projects add a personal, warm touch while screaming, yum!

(Chocolate chips and walnuts go great together!)