Influenster Vox Box - L'oreal Revitalift Volume Filler Skin Care

I want to tell you about an awesome company that sends you free - yes FREE - items to try out and review.  All you have to do to get involved is click on this link - (it will open in a new window) and sign up!  Link all your social media accounts and unlock as many badges as you can, this will put you in the running for different vox boxes to try out!.


I have gotten a few boxes already, starting out with some small items to try out, but this box is awesome!  I am trying out the L'oreal Revitalift Volume Filler skin care line.  Influenster sent me the day and night cream, eye treatment and concentrated serum.  I've used these products for a few days now and I don't have any complaints - no break outs or irritations.

What came in the box...

The whole range contains hyaluronic acid, the day cream adds in fibroxyl (they say this is a skin booster) and the eye cream adds in caffeine. Let me tell you a little bit about each of the products...

The Day Cream

The day cream is in a nice hefty glass jar, it's a thicker consistency but doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy, it leaves a nice smooth finish - almost like a cream to powder product does.  Here's what it looks like...

Day Cream Claims

The cream claims to replenish skin's fullness and smooth out lines and wrinkles.  Within hours the skin cushion is significantly improved and skin is more hydrated; in 1 week it says it will re-volumize and re-plump the skin and make it feel firmer; in 4 weeks skin fullness will be visibly replenished, forehead wrinkles, nasolabial folds will be significantly reduced and crows feet will be diffused. 

There is a scent, so if you are sensitive to something like that, take not, but it's not overbearing and goes away shortly after applying.  It will be interesting to see what happens to the wrinkles on my forehead after 4 weeks of use.  

The Night Cream

The night cream  is a thinner consistency than the day cream which I found interesting.  The packaging is kind of generic, it comes in a tube kind of like a hand lotion.  Here's a look....

You can kind of see the consistency on my hand....

Night Cream Claims

The night cream claims to recover skin's fullness while sleeping and smooth out lines and wrinkles The next morning skin is smoother and more hydrated, feels fresher, softer, more supple.  In 4 weeks, skin fullness is visibly replumped, looks firmer, sleep lines and pillow traces appear smoother, skin cushion is improved reducing the appearance of sleep lines.  

It does leave a slightly greasy feeling after application, but I don't really mind it at night.  This also has a scent, but it also goes away after application.  

The Eye Treatment

The eye treatment is a thin consistency also, which helps it to absorb easily around the eyes.  It comes in a tube also, and has a fancy clear tip.  Here's a look at it...

Eye Treatment Claims

The eye treatment claims to replenish undereye hollows, reduce sunken shadows and firm eye contour.  In 1 use skin is more hydrated, and firmer.  In 4 weeks undereye hollows are visibly re-volumized, reducing the appearance of shadows and eye contours look more luminous and feel smoother with reduced puffiness and bags.  

I have no complaints about the eye treatment.  It doesn't irritate my eyes and it goes on easy.  

Concentrated Serum

The serum is a thin consistency, about what you would expect a serum to be.  The packaging has a button that you push on one end to dispense the serum out of a clear tip on the other end.  Here's a look...

Serum Claims

The serum states it is an intensive dose to replenish skin fullness.  Within hours skin hydration significantly improves.  In 4 weeks, skin is smoother, more even; cheekbones fullness is improved and more rounded, under eye area is less hollowed, fine lines and wrinkles are reduced.  

I don't really have any complaints about the serum either.  It sinks into the skin, doesn't leave it feeling greasy.  It too has a scent that dissipates after application.  

 I have only been using this for a few days so I haven't realized any of the benefits or claims that the line makes.  I plan to continue to use the line and see what happens.  My normal skin care routine consists of products from Paula's Choice Resist Anti-aging line.  I use Bioderma as a cleanser and an exfoliater, toner, eye cream and moisturizer from Paula's Choice.  I will definitely check back in about a month and let you know how it goes!

It's been a while!

It seems like it has been forever (it doesn't just seem, it has been) since I last had a post and ironically, I think I was busier then than I am now?

Since the last post I passed the NCLEX and got a job as an RN on a busy telemetry floor, and - well there is no and - I haven't really done anything else!  After being in nursing school for 2 years and having to constantly study or prepare for clinicals,  I kind of like just going to work and coming home.  There's really no preparing for your next shift ahead of time - except getting sleep!

Since I mentioned the NCLEX, I figure I should go into a little bit more detail.  The one major thing to note is that it is a very very very stressful event.  I know every teacher will tell you to calm down, take your time blah blah blah, but it's kind of hard to do that when you have been preparing 2 or 4 years for this moment (and had to pay a lot of money just to sign up for the test). AND you have a job offer riding on passing, and it would be totally humiliating to call your future boss and be like "Um ya, I failed, still want to hire me after I take this test again?"  My stressful experience was exacerbated by this:

While I was waiting outside the door to the testing center, a girl comes up with a bag full of food.  I was in the zone and didn't want to talk to anyone so I was a jerk and stood with my head down and didn't make any eye contact.  An older gentleman walks up and makes a comment to her about how she looks like she's in it of the long haul.  She replies with "ya, I am taking the NCLEX and it can last for up to 6 hours so I brought snacks." After this, I decided it wouldn't be too bad to talk to someone who is going through the exact same emotions that I am, so I broke the ice with something like "NCLEX? me too, when did you graduate?"  She replied with "December (2013, it was September 2014), this is my 3rd time taking the test, I am trying out  a new strategy so don't get frazzled if you hear me coming and going every 15 minutes or so during the test."  Then my stomach sank to the floor and I got even more nervous than I was before!  Her third time?  UGGHHHH!!!

Moral of the story: DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE AT THE TESTING CENTER!

Anyways, I felt even worse when the computer shut off.  I finished in about an hour and 10 minutes, got 75 questions exactly, thought my last question was super super easy and convinced myself that I failed.  Then I felt even more confident that I failed when I walk into the lobby and who is sitting there munching away?  Miss 3rd time!  So I cried on my way home, while my husband is trying to convince me that I passed and that the last question type that I got statistically meant that I passed (according to google - and they are always right, right?).  We all know I passed (kind of gave that away above), but it is just so nerve wracking having to wait for your test results. I went over every question that I could remember in my head for 2 days, and focused on the ones I knew I got wrong, which convinced me even more that I failed.  I wish they could just give them to you right then and there!!!

I think that's all I have for now, I still am subscribed to ipsy, boxycharm and fab fit fun vip, although I think I might cancel some or all of them, I have so much makeup and samples and crap that I am overflowing, and the 31.00 per month for ipsy/boxycharm and 200/year for fabfitfun can be put towards a new vehicle for me.....which I desperately want!  As long as I continue to get these I will try to put up review posts.  I also want to put up a post about the MAC Cinderella collection, and maybe one about a few new things I got from E.L.F, and some product reviews/raves about a few things that I found that I think are now holy grail status for me.


If you made it this far, thanks for reading!

This is how you wait for your ATT!

Anyone who has graduated nursing school has had to endure the wait.  This is the time from graduation until the respective board of nursing and pearson vue (the testing center) get their shiz together and give you an ATT, which basically means "Yep, we read this paper from your school saying you graduated and your background check doesn't show any nefarious activities, now go take your boards!"

So, I've heard this process can take MONTHS, and you basically have your hands tied because it's an actual person inputting that they received your background check, graduation info, etc. and they can only go as fast as they can go.  I graduated exactly 18 days ago (not that I'm counting), and still have no ATT. I just want a J O B, with a paycheck - is that too much to ask for?

Our school utilizes the Kaplan Review Course and I do have QBank questions and sample tests to do, but I wanted to try to pace myself with those so I don't finish all of the questions and then still have to wait even longer for my boards.

So how do I occupy my new found "free time" (at least I think that's what this is...)

I have literally cleaned my house from top to bottom.  I even deep cleaned my refrigerator and stove/oven.  The only real chore I have left is laundry and dishes, but those are never ending tasks and you can only go as fast as the washer/dryer and dishwasher run sooooo.  I moved my son upstairs to his new bedroom then transformed his old room to my office/makeup room/craft room/mom's hangout where the door locks.  This entailed literally throwing 7 years of saved up kid stuff out a window and either donating it or junking it depending on condition.  Then, I went through all of his current toys and clothes and got rid of all of the broken, taken apart, worn out toys.  Once that was done, we moved everything else upstairs.

Then I got to work on my new room!  I painted the walls a nice neutral sandy beige color (I think it was called Mexican Sand?)  I transformed an antique dresser that was my Great Grandmas into a shelving unit of sorts.  The drawers were all broken and it was a fake wood grained pistachio green (no joke), so I got rid of all of them except for two drawer fronts.  I mixed up a pretty dusty sky bluish color from paint I had laying around and slapped on a couple coats over some primer.  Let me tell you, it turned out beautifully!  The only thing I have left to do is hang those drawer fronts with some hinges to make a couple cabinet spaces.  I also hung some makeshift curtains out of fabric that I found upstairs, they will work until I find some that I like  better.  I also hung up a cabinet/shelf thingy that I won at a Chinese auction and painted this the same color as my dresser and added some white "distressing" on it.  This makes great storage for my nail polish and perfume and such.  Then, only because I was bored and found a cool stencil lying around, I decorated the back of the door, that probably no one will see, ever.  But it looks so cute, so who cares!  Here's some pictures of the progress so far.....

My Stenciling......

My antique dresser that I painted/re-purposed

Close up of dresser.  The two drawer fronts will be hung with small hinges to make some cabinets.

Makeshift curtains and my wall cabinet

Desk area...

 The only thing I have left to deal with is the floors.  When we moved in, there was pink marbled carpeting in here.  I left it in until I decorated Cay's room in a spongebob theme.  Under it was hardwood that needed refinishing.  We sanded it, but never got around to sealing/staining it.  Well 6 years later, it is covered in stains from a certain child spilling anything and everything on it.  I have decided that I am going to slap some white pain on it and be done with it.  I've researched and found that porch and floor enamel is the best way to go, so that's what I bought!  Now, I just have to find a night where I can start painting and just do it!

I also started our bathroom reno.  This just consisted of taking down the bathroom surround and putting in a new window and some tile.  I still have to paint the walls, but I am looking for a new vanity and I don't want to paint until I purchase one (pure laziness on my part, the vanity will cover a piece of drywall that we used to patch up a hole in the wall, I just don't want to mess with filling in the joint/hole right now...).  Here's a few before and after of the tub surround....

Before...

I found an old window!

New Window....ripping out some walls

The finished product...

I am so happy with the results!  It's amazing how much bigger our tiny little bathroom looks now.  I like having a window to let in some natural light too.

That's all I have for now.........

I DID IT!!!!!

AHHHHHHH!  I graduated nursing school!  It is still hard to believe that after 2 long, hard years, countless hours of studying and having absolutely no social life, I am a Nurse.  I now have to prep and pass the NCLEX-RN so I can get a J O B.

In the infamous Cap

I told myself I wasn't going to cry at all during graduation, and I didn't, until I saw my family walk in.  My mom already had tears in her eyes and my grandma was smiling from ear to ear.  I instantly welled up, but held it together.  It happened again after the ceremony when my grandma pulled me aside and said I am so proud of you, I wish your grandpa was here to see you accomplish this, but he is with us in spirit.

My and my Mommy

Getting Pinned

The best husband in the world! 

I followed in the footsteps of my Grandma Dee, who is the best nurse I know.  I was so honored to have her at my graduation ceremony.  At the end, one of the Sisters (our school/health system is part of a Catholic Order) performed a blessing of the hands.  She asked that all new, current and former nurses rise to take part.  I was so ecstatic that my Grandma, who just gave up her license at 81 years old, and has been a nurse for 61 years, got to stand up and be recognized and blessed for all of the great things she has done.

Me and my Grandma!!

I am so proud of not only myself, but our whole class.  When we all first met during orientation, the instructors had told us that when it is all said and done, you will be a family.  We looked around the room and said Ya Right!  How wrong were we!  We have cried together, laughed together, studied for hours on end..sometimes seeing more of each other than our actual family.  We were there for each other at 2 am when we would call each other crying "I'm going to fail this test!  I don't think I studied enough!" and then again at 10 am laughing at how over dramatic we were when we did in fact pass the test with flying colors.

This is a second career for me, and I can't believe how different it is than any other.  Nurses are a close knit, loving and caring bunch.  I have never had a "college" experience like this one.  Everyone knows each other, how many kids they have, if they are married or seeing someone, the health of the parents, grandparents, literally everything about each others lives.  We laughed together, cried together, screamed together, worried together, vented to each other.  The instructors are equally in the know, asking you about your family, friends, life in general.  They actually WANT you to succeed, even though at the time we are thinking they have it out for us!

I can not wait to pass my boards and get a job, doing something that I absolutely love.  Nursing is my passion, I love to take care of people, make them feel better, help them out in their time of need, and I will be getting paid to do it!

Thank-you to my family and friends for helping me out on this amazing journey, I could not have done it without you!

Sephora Haul....and mini reviews

I had a wedding to go to a few weeks back, my husband was in the wedding, but alas I was just a guest.  I found the perfect dress to coordinate with his suit, I'll post up a pic below.  I was shopping in JC Penney's to look for shoes and a clutch and ran stumbled into Sephora and walked out with a few things and then went home and shopped some more online......

I have always wanted to try some Makeup Forever HD Foundation....so I got matched...with their new fangled Color IQ system.  They hold it up to your clean skin and it takes a picture of your complexion or something (like a square inch or so).  It is pretty cool because it gives you shade references for a few different brands.  It was surprisingly accurate too, the first shade it brought up was MUFE HD in 118 "Flesh".  The associate put some on me and it matched perfectly.  Since I was in the mood to try MUFE, I also purchased travel sizes of the HD setting powder (pressed, not loose) and the setting spray...primarily because they were in those pesky bins by the register.  I love love love the foundation and powder.  I have come to find out that I do not need a full coverage foundation and a full coverage powder (especially in the summer).  The finish on this foundation is amazing, it somehow manages to look like you have on nothing, but still provides coverage for those areas that need it.  The powder sets it beautifully to a nice finish, not too matte, but not glistening at all!

I also wanted to try out something from Hourglass, but didn't want to shell out 45 bucks for a powder.  I opted for a travel size of the veil mineral primer and boy am I impressed!  It has a unique feeling when you apply it, not at all like most silicone based primers.  This is white when you pump it and dot it on the face, but disappears into the skin and hides pores.  It makes the foundation go on super smooth and doesn't grab on dry spots if you happen to have any.  I also notice that I don't need to touch up my oily t-zone during the day, this somehow controls that too!

I finally jumped on the Naked 2 train.  I already own Naked 1 and thought - why do I need another neutral palate? I ordered it anyways and thought - why didn't I buy this sooner?!?!?!  I know these are neutral palates and they are supposed to suit all skin tones, but let me tell you - 2 suits my coloring way better than 1.  I used to watch tutorials on YouTube with 1 and try it on myself and it never looked right.  Now I know why, skin tone makes a difference!  I Love Love Love Naked 2!  I also got a travel sized primer potion....those darn bins right by the register get me every time!!

I am loving bright lips for the summer, and I hear quite a lot of hype about the OCC lip tars.  While I was browsing the website, I came across the Lip Tar: Test Tubes x3.  It comes with 2 colors, the lip primer and a small brush.  I figured this was a good way to try it out, especially since you get a couple of colors that you can mix together. I ordered Champagne Shores, which includes Trollop (matte) and Pris (metallic). I haven't done much mixing, but I am IN LOVE with the Matte formula and the color Trollop.  It is the PERFECT summer coral shade and it goes on so opaque and lasts on the lips (as in stains your lips perfectly after the tar wears off).  A little little teeny tiny bit goes a long way, so this will last forever. And the primer is awesome too, it makes the perfect canvas to apply the tar to. I can't wait to try more!!

Left to Right: Primer, Pris, Trollop

Last but not least, I ordered a mascara.  I've been looking for a new high end mascara that actually makes my blonde short lashes look amazing.  I've used Tarte Lights Camera Lashes before and like it, but wanted to try something new.  I came across a kit from Estee Lauder that comes with Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara, a 1 oz bottle of Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, and a .17 oz Advanced Night Repair Eye cream.  I love the mascara, and the eye cream (more like a gel than a cream) has really hydrated my under eyes - after about a week of using it, I already notice less fine lines when I conceal my under eye area.  The remover is Eh, not so great.  I find you have to rub to get mascara off, which kind of defeats the purpose of an anti-aging night cream.  The cream will last a long time, even thought it's only .17 oz, and you get all 3 items for the price of just the mascara.

That's about it for the Sephora haul!!  Here's the pic of me and hubs at the wedding, and the dress that I was trying to accessorize at JC Penney that just made me go into Sephora.....

And of course, I didn't find any accessories at JCP!  Unless you count
the makeup from Sephora!

Thanks for reading, bye loves!

Sunday Funday!

It is really hard to wait on mail order items to get here.  I have an order from sephora.com, jcpenney.com, and my VIP FabFitFun box on the way and let me tell you - I want it all NOW!!  I wish there was a mall close to me where I could purchase what I did online in store, but alas there is not.

I shall pass the time by cleaning my house and hopefully starting the remodel on our teeny tiny (and only) bathroom.  It has a 1980's plastic surround on the walls, which covers up a window, why would anyone want to do that??  I have tile for the walls and also new tile for the floor.  I can't wait to get it all done!!  Right now it is beige and purple, but my new colors are aqua and grey.  I have new towels, rugs and a shower curtain already, just need to go find the perfect shade of light gray for the walls!  I will need to figure out a way to keep the walls dry after the tile goes up while I wait for it to dry then grout and wait some more...  I was thinking of just duct taping up some of the thick plastic painters cloths to protect it while we shower....

I will put up some before and after pics on another post that I will dedicate completely to the remodel.

So far today, I have deep cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, cleaned and vacuumed the living room and put a pistachio cake in the oven.  Now on to the laundry - which is my least favorite chore to do....and while that is running, I'll organize a few shelves in the living room.  Told you it was Sunday Funday!

Hope everyone had a great weekend....ta ta for now!

Organ Donation

Good Morning!  Just wanted to type a real quick post about organ donation.  This is a topic near and dear to my heart.  My dad is in End Stage Renal Disease and is in need of a Kidney Transplant.  He is on the list and they said it could take up to 5 years for a match to be found.  We are in the process of seeing if I am a match for a live donation (which is best), but being his daughter does not guarantee that we are a tissue match.  They have a "donation chain", where they take a group of live donors and their family/friend that they are donating to, but can't because of tissue typing, and try to match them to other recipients.  If they can find a "crossmatch" between a group of people, they do a mass transplant session on the same day.  I don't know if this makes any sense, so here's a quote from the Alliance for Paired Donation:

"The Alliance for Paired Donation can help. Kidney paired donation matches one incompatible donor/recipient pair to another pair in the same situation, so that the donor of the first pair gives to the recipient of the second, and vice versa. In other words, the two pairs swap kidneys . APD has also pioneered a new way of using altruistic, or good Samaritan, donors, so that the transplants no longer have to be performed simultaneously. Non-simultaneous Extended Altruistic Donor Chains (NEAD Chains ) allow donors to “pay it forward” after their loved one receives a transplant."

You can check out their website here for more information.  

Please Please Please, if you are not an organ donor, become one!  You won't need the organs once you are deceased - seriously.  Think of all of the lives YOU could save with your organs - lungs, eyes, kidneys, liver, heart.  There are so many people waiting for organs, from newborns to parents, and grandparents.  All you need to do is check a box on your drivers license to save lives - it's that easy!!  If you don't want to donate certain organs - that's fine too!  Just make sure your wishes are known to your family - they can make them known if the time comes.  

I have two Kidneys and only one Dad, the choice for me is easy - put yourself in that situation with anyone you love, What would you do?