Allure Fall Beauty Box!!!! (2012)

Check out my review on the Allure Fall Beauty Box! This season's box offered incredible value for your money! For around $50 ($39.99 + $10.00 s&h) you receive over $300 worth of products! I honestly liked this one better than the Summer one, and that is saying a LOT! These boxes are available seasonally. The Winter box should go on sale around November; I will post more information when it becomes available for those of you who are interested! All information on the items mentioned in this box is available in the  description bar below the video. I've included regular retail prices of each item for a reference point of the value you get for your money!

Trey Erwin Day!

Today would have been Trey's 16th birthday. This precious family has been heavy on my heart for months now, since I first learned of Trey's battle with cancer and more importantly, the amazing way God was working through him day in and day out. In honor of the incredible life this amazing young man lead, the city of Collierville, TN has declared his birthday to be "Trey Erwin Day". What an amazing way to commemorate such a precious, precious boy and the legacy he has made! I can't imagine the grief his family is enduring at this time, having to cope with the loss of not physically having their precious boy with them. I do believe strongly however that Trey is with them in spirit and they will be reunited with him someday soon. I think Trey would want us all to celebrate his 16th birthday today! He would want us to celebrate: life, Christ, and our ability to impact those around us for the positive! In honor of his precious life, I wanted to dedicate today's blog post to Trey Erwin and his beautiful family. I pray God continues to work through them, strengthen them, and stirs the souls of countless people who have been impacted by Trey's story and his passion for Christ. For those of you who might not be familiar with Trey's story, here is the link to his CaringBridge.

Happy Trey Erwin Day!

If you feel compelled to do so, there is information on this picture below pertaining to St.Jude donation t-shirts in Trey's honor. 

(Click the picture to enlarge the information).

Get your hair did! (My dogs are obsessed with the blow dryer!)

I thought this post would be appropriate since I'm going to get my hair done later today! The sweet girl I normally go to was booked solid when I called their salon well over a week and a half ago trying to make an appointment. So, I decided to try out another salon my friend recommended, that is actually closer to me! Please say a little prayer that they do a good job! (I just want more highlights and my layers redone...nothing crazy). I'm always a little bit leery about letting new people touch my hair, so I'm hoping this goes well! (My friend's hair always looks amazing, so I trust her recommendation!) 

Why did I want that appointment so badly? Well you see, my birthday is on Sunday. Even if I can't do a darn thing about getting older, I can still make sure I look nice! I refuse...REFUSE to turn 27 (ahh I feel ancient) looking anything less than fabulous! I truly believe that women should be classy and beautiful at all stages of their lives! I don't know about you lovelies, but one thing that always makes me feel beautiful and happy is getting my hair done once in a while! 

There are several other members of my family that also LOVE getting their hair done too: My Australian Shepherds. Yeah, you read that correctly....my dogs are FREAKS lol! They LOVE bath time, they LOVE hair dryers, they LOVE getting their fur brushed....Love it! (Ranger even enjoys having his nails trimmed and dremmeled smooth! (Mykelti has ticklish feet, so that's the only grooming thing she despises...even the new puppy is better about having her nails done!) Ranger and Mykelti always come running up to me anytime they hear me break out the hairdryer to style my hair....they LOVE the hairdryer! Mykelti is especially enamored with the hair dryer and will pester me incessantly until I blow dry her fur too! (She does the same thing with lip gloss, body spray, makeup, and so on. Anything that I, she wants to be right in the middle of the action too! If I put something on, she hounds me until I let her see it or put a pinch on her. She's such a little ham! I know she's a dog, but if it's possible for a dog to be a "girly girl", Mykelti is one!) Even Rosie is now showing interest in the hair dryer since she's seen how into it the Aussies are lol. 

Here are two video clips of my weird dogs and just how enthusiastic they are about hair dryers!

(The song starts off a little loud, but listen closely to the lyrics: Hilarious!)

Ranger equally enjoys the hair dryer! I've linked a video below of him being goofy while I was grooming him before a therapy visit. I'm not sure why my Aussies enjoy the hair dryer so much, but it definitely makes life easier on me when it comes time to groom them for therapy visits and special events! Rosie seems to be following in their footsteps too...hopefully she will be an easy dog to groom as well! :) 

Here's the link to Ranger's video- He's such a goofball!

Early Birthday Present

(In my desperation, I could actually relate to this individual...lol)

Today, I received the best early birthday present a Memphis girl could ever ask for: A working air conditioning unit in my car again! Yay! After months of going without any air in my car (keep in mind that I have a heart condition, and I'm also COMPLETELY heat intolerant about 75 degrees), my sweet dad and his quirky friend fixed my car tonight.

 Yay!!!  YAY!!! YAY!!!

(Love having a retired mechanic in the family!)


I'm not really sure how I've survived this long in the Memphis heat without AC in my car, but it's so nice to have it working again! I know the dogs will appreciate the AC too, since I take them just about every place I go, and they're in the car a good 5-6 days a week with me. I've been coping sans AC by placing lots of ice packs all over me in the car every time I leave the house to try and stay cool. Ice packs, rolling down the windows, and sipping ice water helped- but still didn't save me from turning into a melty mess every time I'd finally reach my destination. It really is the little things in life that you appreciate the most! I am definitely thrilled to have a working air conditioner in my car again....best early birthday present, EVER! 

Text Message Decoder- Oh, Jenna Marbles! Hilarious!!!

Quote of the Day

"Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more." 
                             -Louis L'Amor

Ten Things Tuesday

1. Woke up and got a nice walk in with the dogs today at the park

2. Spent part of the afternoon with my dad
3. Watched Teen Mom tonight (I'm seriously going to have a meltdown with their season ends for good!)

4. Recieved our very first order from "Mr Chewy's" in the mail today- it's SOO much less expensive to order     dog food/treats online through this company than it is to visit my local feed store (video review to follow!)

5. Discovered Starbuck's "Very Berry Hibiscus" drink recently: HOLY AMAZINGNESS!!!!

6. Currently burning Slatkin & Co's "Market Peach" candle....sooooo yummy!

7. My favorite shower gel at the moment is Bath & Body Work's "Pink Chiffon"

8. I'm slightly obsessed with the Revlon Kissable Balm Stains! I should really do a review on them soon!

9. I tried to make an appointment to get my hair done this week (before my birthday on Sunday). Umm yeah, couldn't get anything until next Tuesday (a week out)...sucks! 

10. Tonight I tried to make Quiona....apparently, it jumps when it boils. Nobody explained this to me. (It's ok, I still salvaged it and made it quite delicious! (I'll post a recipe soon).

Announcement!!! The Allure Fall Beauty Box goes on sale tomorrow at 12:00pm (EST)!

A few months ago, I posted a video about the Allure "Summer Beauty Box", and I received lots of questions/comments about the video review I did on it. Because of that, I wanted to post an update about the new Fall box that is going on sale tomorrow. The Allure "Fall Beauty Box" will go on sale tomorrow (July 24, 2012) at 12:00pm (EST). They sell out very quickly, so you have to order fast! The website that you can order from is: http://allureaccess.com/#fall-beauty-box (When the time to order arrives, you'll see an order option on that link)


I've included a link to my video review of the Allure "Summer Beauty Box" below so that you guys can see how much value you get for your money. I'm still using a ton of these products now; they've really lasted me a while! Everything included in the boxes is full size. I paid $39.99 + $10.00 s&h for the Summer box, and received over $300 worth of products that I've gotten a ton of great use out of. AWESOME DEAL!
(The pricing should be the same for the Fall box)

"Love with Food" Review (July 2012)

Check out my recent review on the "Love with Food" monthly subscription service! 

Thankful

What are you thankful for today? 

Today, I'm thankful for my life. 

I am thankful that God gives us strength to survive difficult things, and to make tough choices. I made the most difficult decision of my life several years ago, when I left a violently abusive marriage that would have undoubtedly ended my life. I'm thankful I made that decision, and survived.


I'm thankful for the lesson that the recent events of "The Dark Night Massacre" have taught and reinforced in me: Life Is Precious. It has really put things into perspective for me, and made me so grateful that I've been blessed with yet another day to live and laugh. We just never know when our time is up. Life is meant to be lived and cherished.


I'm thankful for lunch & Target shopping with my best friend today


I'm thankful for dinner & DVD time with my precious family tonight


I'm thankful for the bravery and the courage that the survivors of the Aurora, CO massacre have displayed for all of us to learn from. My heart and prayers are with each and every one of them.


I'm thankful for the legacy and the stories the families and friends have shared with the nation about those precious souls who passed in Aurora. It's such a sad, devastating thing that happened to steal their precious lives so short. I'm thankful that their legacies and stories will live on, and hopefully result making a positive outcome out of so much heartbreak. 


I'm thankful for a President who is not ashamed to quote scripture. I'm also thankful for a President that spoke out to his country tonight to try and offer comfort during a time of such sorrow and grief.


I'm thankful for all of the little things I so often forget to be thankful for in my day to day life. (roof over my head, a bed, ice cold water to drink, kisses from my puppies, hot showers, hugs from loved ones...)


I'm thankful for my Bible, and the education my mom worked hard to ensure I had growing up so that I could not only learn how to read the words in it, but to try and live it as well, to the best of my flawed abilities. 


God has richly blessed me. 


I encourage you all to take a moment today to think about what you're thankful for in your life...

Nail look of the Day & Walgreens Mini Haul

Today while I was out running a few errands, I stopped into Walgreen's to pick up my heart medicine. Since that's clearly no fun on its own accord, I decided to look around while I was there! I wound up picking up a few nail and hair care items, so thought it would be fun to share my little finds with all of you! 

(Video link of today's "mini-haul/nail polish review" at the bottom of the post!)

Products I picked up today!

1.Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care Shampoo (my scalp/hair has been super dry & itchy lately, so I thought I'd give this a shot!)

2. BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm (paraben & sulfate free)

3. HASK Natural Essentials Complete Conditioning Treatment (for all hair types)

4. Essie's "Pink Diamond" #192

5.The next four polishes were on BOGO from Wet n' Wild's new "Fergie" line! I picked up colors:

-A003 "Grammy Gold"

-A002 "Going Platinum

-A014 "XoXo"

-A005 "Flossy Flossy"

 Another view (sans the shampoo)

 Yay for new nail polishes!!!

NAIL OF THE DAY

-Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

-C.O. Bigelow Lavender Salve

-Nail File & Buffer

-Cuticle Stick/Pusher thingy

-Toe Separators

-Sephora Nail Polish Corrector pen (Seriously, can't rave about this enough!)

-OPI Base Coat

-Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat

-Essie "Pink Diamond" 

-Wet n' Wild *Fergie line* - Grammy Gold (Accent Nail)

 Polish perfection!

 View of the labels

Several pictures of today's nail look!

(sorry no outdoor lighting photos; it was night when I painted my nails)

Watch the video of today's "mini-haul/nail of the day" in the video below!!!

BarkBox Review!! (July 2012)

It's time for another BarkBox review from Ranger, Mykelti, and Rosie! :)
(Want a BarkBox for your dog(s)? visit www.barkbox.com and use promo code: LYGRE005 to save $5 off of your first order!)





The dogs also did a more in depth review on two of the items in this month's BarkBox: the "IncrediBubbles" and the "YumZies" treats! Watch the video below to see their stealth bubble-popping skills! ;)

Maroon 5 - Won't Go Home Without You (Stripped)

Ten Things Thursday

1. This day started off quite gloriously: I took the dogs out for a walk, and saw my middle-aged neighbor. (This is the guy that I've previously blogged about; he likes to dance around his house in his undies to Prince music, and doesn't believe in curtains...he's hilarious.). I jest not, he was walking back towards his house with a McDonald's bag in one hand and a case of beer in the other. I'm guessing he had a long night? hahaha..that guy sure knows how to have a good time!

2. I've been craving Subway all morning! You guys have no idea how badly I want to go to Subway; they're down the street, they'll be opened by the time I post this blog entry, and I have a coupon! How weird would it be of me to go to Subway at 7am and order a sandwich?Pretty weird, huh! Onions, cucumbers, turkey, spicy mustard....sounds so heavenly though! (I'll try and hold off until lunch time!)

3. I am VERY displeased with the way Yankee Candle's "Kitchen Spice" candle burned. The thing is regularly priced at $27.99...that's nearly $30 bucks for a jar of wax! (Granted I got mine with a 50% off coupon, but still! It's the principal! I will say, I've NEVER had that particular issue with any of the Candles by Victoria, Slatkin & Co, or even Mainstay candles from Wal-Mart.) The Yankee candle pooled horribly, had a terrible scent throw, and it didn't burn evenly. Now, I have a wick that's completely unusable, yet a ton of candle/wax left! (Going to freeze it, cut the remaining wax out, and put it on a warmer. Still though, for that price, the candle should vacuum, do laundry, and fetch me a sandwich...preferably from Subway!). I've never had that happen with any of the other Yankee candles, but I will be leery from now on. -I freeze my candles beforehand, trim wicks on all non-Slatkin & co candles (never trim their 3 wick ones unless you want them to drown in wax!), allow it to burn into an even pool so the candle memory holds....nothing worked on that one!

4. Mykelti and Ranger have Advanced Agility and Ob-Fam tonight. I'm going to crash when I get home after running those two! Rosie had her very first obedience class last night; she did pretty darn good! 

5. I'm really not a fan of clingy/needy adults; it's honestly just a bit unsettling! I'm pretty social/outgoing most of the time, and I get along well with most people. That being said, the overly-clingy types make me want to run for the hills! 

6. Last night I watched "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" for the first time in ages. Ahhh I adore that movie!

7. If' you're a local foodie, try the California pizza from Bosco's Squared in midtown! It's so yummy! It has Chevre cheese, pine nuts, basil, sun dried tomatoes, and an olive oil crust. YUMMY!

8. I finally was able to access my Pinterest account again this morning. Yay!  Here's hoping that they fixed whatever issue was going on so that it doesn't happen again.

9. Mykelti has developed a knack for flipping her toys super high into the air and catching them.It's pretty cute to watch! That is, until she misses catching the toy, and said toy hits you in the face with a force that I would assume is equal to the weight of a baby elephant!

10. I'm obsessed with the "Pink Chiffon" shower gel from Bath & Body Works. (I received for free with a coupon I used during my recent Fall Test Scent order.) It smells amazing!

Regina Spektor - "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" Official Music Video

Regina is such a fun, quirky artist; I love her music! She deserves a mention on my blog today! Go check out her music video. It's such a fun, happy song! :)