Clearproof by Mary Kay

HI GUYS!! 
I'm back with another product to review thanks to Influenster & Mary Kay!
This time it's an acne system called Clear Proof.
I'm quite intrigued to see how this turns out because I've been struggling with acne for a long time now...like 13 years. 
I've tried a TON of products and only found a few that were okay. I have not seen the results I've been aching for. 
This is going to be an adventure for sure!
I already took my before picture and will share it with you after 7 days. 
Yup, in ONE WEEK I'll post another blog letting you know & showing you how the treatment is working out for me!
I'm excited! This is going to be real & honest.
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can keep in mind to answer throughout my testing phases. I'll answer whatever I can for you based on my experience.

To learn more about it for yourself, check out their website {HERE}
You'll find testimonials and information about pricing. 

Check out my unboxing & first impressions video!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Spring Fling VoxBox!

#SpringFlingVoxBox

 



Eeek! I always get super duper excited when I get a box from Influenster! This particular box is amazing because it's right up my alley, almost made just for me.


The first thing I wanted to jump into immediately was the softlips cube {Facebook Link}. I'm a bit obsessed with lip products, namely chapstick and lip balm. If I go anywhere and realize I don't have some kind of lip moisturizer then I have a mini panic while I start to think of ways to "survive" until I can get my fix.

I've tried a TON of lip stuff out there and this stuff is awesome! It lasts fairly long, it's smooth, tastes and smells great. The one thing is the packaging. It's packaging shape is both a pro and con for me. Pro: it's odd shaped so I won't lose it in a pocket somewhere. Con: it's odd shaped so I can't really put it in my pocket (so I can eventually lose it). However, I love this thing and keep it in my backpack.

Next was the Nivea Body Skin Firming Moisturizer (Facebook). I carry this baby with me everywhere. I lotion up my legs, hands and face with it. I currently prefer it to another small lotion I have. This one is not super thick, but not so thin that it feels watery. I like the consistency. Another item you'll find in my backpack (not kidding).

Here comes the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retroglam Mascara (Facebook). To be honest, I was super excited about receiving mascara! I love mascara. I won't lie here. Just because I receive these products complimentary for testing doesn't mean I'm going to lie to you.

So here goes. This was not my favorite mascara. HOWEVER. When doubling it up with another mascara, it's fine. It will add volume. As a standalone mascara, it's not a go-to for me. I also believe it's a tad on the watery side. Well, that's my opinion.

Next up are the Kiss Everlasting French Nails (Facebook). Here comes the rave ;)

I lovelovelove these! For me they lasted 2 weeks! It stopped me from biting my nails for those two weeks and kept them very pretty. Super easy to apply, too!

I've tried these in the past and for some reason I remembered them as being complicated and not worth it. This time, however, I loved them and am considering buying them. Maybe they changed something.


Following that comes Playtex Sport Fresh Balance (Facebook). Hello tampons! haha

I was pretty darn lucky to have received the brand that I actually use! BUT I don't use the sport kind. Though after using these that may change ;)
Not much else to say about tampons except that they did their job and they did it well ;)

The last thing in the box was pretty sweet. I mean that literally!
It was an air smelly good type thing. It smelled like pie. It made me want pie. Where's some pie?
Why did they send me a pie smelly good thing? For the Labor Day movie of course! Check out their facebook page here. Have you seen it? Tell me what you thought of it!

Until Next Time!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

All images are my own.

World Rat Day! Update! Plus What I'm Excited About!

Yes, I don't blog over here as often as I should. However, if you want to hear me talk about random thoughts in my head go {HERE} or if you are all about the well-being of your body & mind go {HERE} for great resources and posts on the topic. Then there are all you visual learners, you can go {HERE} to my new YouTube channel dedicated to all that is health & wellness. Then there are the super fan facebookers {HERE} is a special page for you to like!

So April 4th was a big day. It was World Rat Day {yes, that's a thing and don't make fun} and it was the release day for The Elder Scrolls Online {yes, I'm a big fan girl don't make fun}.

I came home from work in the morning {I work graves} and thought to check on my ratties. The super beggar was where she always is, hanging from the cage begging for treats as I walked in the room. Then I checked in the hammock to find Vex snuggled up against Mara. I pet them both and noticed something I didn't want to believe. I'll cut out all the sad details and ask this, what are the chances your pet rat dies on World Rat Day? Hmm? I mean seriously. We had a lovely little funeral, though.

Mara

Like I said, I'm going to save you all the sad details, so we'll move on.

We began our busy day. Errands after errands made our day long. A random stop at a cell phone place for my younger brother to see if he could get a new phone made it even longer. However, I saved him from making a huge mistake that day. He's a much happier man-child for it.

We made a stop at Best Buy to pick up my pre-order of The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition. OF COURSE there had to be an issue with the order status. We went through three employees and a phone call to their head people.

Anyway, more boring details later and Jayk got a new LG flex phone, I got my stuff and poor Mara wasn't with us anymore.

btw have you SEEN my short hair?

This was supposed to be an update on like life in general, but I seem to have gone off on the details of one particular day.

UPDATES! Well, go visit all the links I've shared up above. You'll find all of what's new up there. I'm way excited ALL THE TIME about Whole Body. So if you're in to living life and being awesome, then it's the place to be. ;) Go follow, comment and get involved. It makes me happy.

Books! I've treated myself to books! {It's my dream to have a mini library at home} I am excited, I just bought 4 books on Amazon, I can't wait. If you're into book reviews, follow me on YouTube or Whole Body Blog to see or read them. I'm not certain which method I want to use for the reviews....hmm video reviews or typed ones? What do you think?

I recently finished a 3 day juice cleanse! That was fun and I always seem to learn something new when I do it. Subscribe to my channel to see a video about it!

YOUTUBE * WHOLE BODY BLOG * GOOODMORNINGLIFE * WHOLE BODY FACEBOOK

OH and my bookclub is voting on a new book to read from APRIL through JUNE! Join the club and vote:

Poll

What to read from April through June?

The Husband's Secret

The Goldfinch

Me Before You

Tenth of December

comments and details

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show results

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invite friends

25 By 25 List Update

Hello Hello!
Check this post to see what the list is all about.
Here's an update:
#1 keep a budget - check! it's not perfect, but I'm working through it and love it. I use YNAB
#4 read 25 books - well... I've read one. Divergent. You going to see the movie!?
#5 try 25 new things - I tried something new: dry brushing. I read about it in Kris Carr's book "Crazy Sexy Diet". I finally tried it before my shower the other day and it was interesting. It was numbing, but not and painful, but not. Gross enough, I could see all the dead skin coming off {yuck}. Which makes me want to do this more often.
#7 try another 3 day detox - Check out my plans here and join me! Starts the 30th.
#10 stop biting my nails - I tried, really. Fail.
#19 get better sleep - the last few days weren't bad. I still woke up in between, but I somehow managed to fall back asleep. Progress.
#21 get indoor plants to detox the air - bought two plants so far! I plan to buy a plant each month. First two are peace lily and philodendron. You can briefly see them in this clip here.

Jayk helping me buy plants

 So far that's my progress! On another note, check out my whole body blog here. My profile on #Giveit100 here and like my whole body facebook page!

Until Next Time!

My 25 By 25 List

What's a 25 by 25 list?
It's a list of things you want to accomplish before you turn 25. Now, I just had a birthday. I turned 24.

Yes, I took a picture of myself jumping on my birthday. I'm weird like that. 

SO, my list. It actually took me much longer than I thought to come up with this list. I also would like to sidestep for a second to point out my poofy hair in that jumping picture -__-

I am leaning towards a pixie cut....and soon. We'll see if I go through with it. 

I'm thinking we'll just get right to the list. I will also be doing this on my other blog to keep myself super accountable. My other blog is a different style of blogging and writing, but I believe this list needs to be everywhere, I don't want to cut myself short. 

Now, in no particular order...

1. Keep a budget
2. Get a new car
3. 1000 miles (run or bike)
4. Read 25 books
5. Try 25 new things
6. Take a pole dancing or self defense class
7. Try another 3 day detox
8. Make a new friend
9. Get my health coach certification
10. Stop biting my nails
11. Have a movie marathon {Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter...}
12. Sell my photography
13. Grow something {more importantly, don't kill it}
14. Get a laptop
15. Save money
16. Start paying off student loans and credit cards
17. Hike the narrows or subway
18. Learn some German
19. Get better sleep
20. Visit a new National Park
21. Get indoor plants to detox the air
22. Clear up my skin
23. Complete 25 projects
24. Document my life {project life scrapbooking}
25. Make the best of it!

That's my list. Did you make one? Plan on making one? What would you add? I'm thinking of making it look fun and hanging it up on my walls somewhere to keep reminding me of what's on my list so I can keep focused. Think I can do it? I have no clue to be honest. 

I'll tell you this, I'm already back on a running schedule {#3}, I have started using YNAB {#1}, I've set up a photography website/Etsy/Blog/Facebook page {#12}, I got a full-time position at the job I'm at {#15, #16, #14, #2}, I live near two or three National Parks I haven't been to {#20}, I already have the Project Life supplies/camera/blog {#24}, I have plenty of books awaiting one-on-one time on the Kindle {#4}, and I've picked up some materials to assist in learning German {#18}... 

That's a start, but there's a lot to be done to get through it!! Keep following me to find out how this journey goes. 

That's me, on my 24th birthday, making the most of life.

Why We Work

We work because... 

 ♥ He eats the stuff I don't like and saves the stuff I do like.

♥ We both love each other's butts

♥ I understand his quirky way of telling me he loves me

♥ We workout together

♥ I make him lunch every night before he goes to work

♥ He eats everything I make {even if it isn't that good}

♥ We play video games together

♥ He cleans the bathroom {he started cooking and doing dishes, too!}

♥ I usually move the seat back after I drive, unless I intentionally want to hear him say, "What is this? A car for ANTS!?!" hahahaha it gets me every time ;)

♥ We help each other with our goals

♥ We like to do everything together, even pay the bills

♥ He understands my gibberish, I've gotten so accustomed to it that I hardly speak clear english and only realize it when others are around...staring at me. 

♥ He takes photos of me knowing that I'm always the one behind the camera

♥ We go on adventures together

♥ We support and love each others families

♥ We work because we know what we need from each other. We work because we made a few things clear from the start and kept working at it. We know what the other needs. 

♥ We work because he's shy and quiet and I'm bold and loud. We work because I'm social and he's well...not. We work because we trust each other. 

♥ We work because he takes care of me and I take care of him. 

Diving in Head First

So I finally did it. I opened up my photo business online. I was on the edge, forcing myself to jump into the portrait photography business when it's landscapes, natures, and cityscapes that I love to shoot. Why was I going to force myself to participate in portrait photography when it's not my favorite thing? Kind of seems a little ass-backwards {if you don't mind me saying}. You get into a passionate business like photography because you love it and want to get paid doing what you love. Why then should you settle for less? Well, I had this feeling that it was the only way to go about getting paid for photography. I had this idea that it was either portraits or no one would pay me. So far I'm right, but I'm happier for trying to go at what I really love.

I set up an Etsy shop with my photography. I crunched all the ridiculous numbers. The charges from Etsy, PayPal, the drop shipping {so my customers don't get a branded box with invoices inside}, the cost of the actual photographic print with my personal favorite pearl photo papers, and the sales tax. What I'm left with is barely enough to profit, but it's a profit. The first time I saw a photographer charging $30 dollars for an 8 X 10 I thought, "Holy smokes they're making BANK!" I guess now that I'm knee deep in my own calculations, I was wrong. However, no one else will see that.

I need to focus my energy on marketing to the people that either understand that or to the people that will appreciate the original photographic art they can get in their home at the end.
Not only do I have the Etsy store, but also a website of my own: www.gladyannephotography.com. I officially got it up and running about a week ago. It has a store and blog. I encourage everyone to check it out, this stuff is hard work {good thing it's fun} and I'm trying to get a handle on it all before I get into a full-time groove at my job.

For all my lovely readers out there, I truly appreciate each and every one of you. I've made a special coupon code for my blog readers: BLOGLOVE24
The code I published on all my social networks will do the same, give you 24% off; however, this one is special because I gave you guys more time to use it. The code that you'll find on my facebook page is good through the 17th in celebration of Valentine's day and my 24th birthday. This code is good through the end of February in celebration of both those things and you, my readers. It is the month of Love, right?

♥ Until Next Time ♥

Update

Vex & Azura
We'll start off with the little furries! Here's an updated list of what I know:

• Vex LOVES the wheel & eating lettuce
• They prefer the newer ferret hammock bed over their plastic igloo
• They turned the bottom bedding of said hammock into a roof
• They do not care for the wooden chew logs, need to find another option
• Azura scared us and got really sick, we thought she wasn't going to make it
• Azura is still sick, but we took her to the vet 
• Azura hates medicine {who doesn't?}
• Azura finally showed the slightest improvement today
• Vex is a maniac who always want to get out of the cage
• They are both little hoodrats, by that I mean they love to chill in my hoodie as I walk around
• Neither are completely fond of being picked up
• They like cran/raz juice

Fitness

Next on the update list is my fitness adventures! I've been maintaining a nice level of activity. Some things thrown back into the mix: Stadiums, Running, & Jump Rope!

Jump rope is absolute killer, so I definitely need to work on it more! Running is going pretty well, getting back into the groove. Stadiums. Enough said. To give you an idea of what a set of stadiums means, I made this absolutely beautiful example on an image from google ;)

To explain: start with a walk around the track. Then go up the large seating steps, not the little baby ones, you want to be lunging! Lunge up fast and controlled to the top, cross over to the baby stairs and go down. Go up again on big steps, then down, then up once more, then down, you end up on the other side of the stadiums. Then once around the track. These are killer. Sometimes we can only manage one set, other times we can go for several. There were days I felt like passing out and days I was so pumped I ran around the track a few times instead of walked... this is a core, lower body, cardio workout. 

Continuing the fitness update...I am always pumped to be on my community page called Whole Body on G+

Why G+ instead of Facebook? Because I like the organization & layout of the G+ page waaaay better than Facebook's groups. Originally, the group was designed for me and some select family members. However, to increase the energy and motivation of the group, we decided to open it up a little more. Hoping we get some positive energy and participation flowing through there. I often will post workouts I want everyone to try, but that doesn't mean you have to stop what you're doing and do them. If you're involved in another workout routine, we still would love to have you! Keep us updated on your progress in the "report in" section and share what workouts you're doing/programs/your diet and so on. It helps us all out to share. Gives good inspiration. 

It's a place to motivate and be motivated, we want to basically create a super fun support group for our whole body health & wellness journeys 

Last thing I want to share on the topic of fitness updates would be my continued desire to become a certified fitness trainer. I've wanted this for a long time, still do. If you keep coming back to something, you might as well get it, right? Well I'm doing my research to find which program would be the best for me based on accreditation, cost, coursework, and lesson plans. 

If ANYONE has any tips & advice on the topic, please comment!

Career

I was tossing the decision back and forth, the decision to apply for the full time position at the place I currently work at. Well, I applied for it and have my interview on Tuesday, January 28th at 10am. Send me your best luck! I'm actually worried I'll get it and worried I won't. I'm still hugging the fence, even if I've chosen a side. 

WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT!! Those are my updates that I wanted to share with you all! Now, for my featured blog/shop person of the moment, check out Emma Elizabeth {blog}! 

Copied links from her blog:

Etsy Shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EmmaElizabethArtwork

Sign up for mailing list:
http://emmaelizabethartwork.com/

Like her Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emma-Elizabeth-Artwork/501294183325528?ref=tn_tnmn

Follow her on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/EmmaElizabethAr

See what inspires her by following Emma on Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/emmaelizabethme/

And if you feel so inclined, you can shop these items available at auction on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/usr/motorfan998qdr

or shop her Storenvy shop:
http://www.storenvy.com/stores/247351-emma-elizabeth
or
http://emmaelizabethartwork.storenvy.com/

Until Next Time!

Our New Family Members

"Vex bit my finger, then looked guilty and backed off"

"Did it break your skin?"

"haha no, it was a little nibble really. Harmless."

So starts the new adventures with Vex and Azura, our new pet rats. Here's what I can tell you so far:

• Vex is slightly older than Azura

• Azura is jumpy and very adventurous and curious. 

• They don't trust me yet

• They're both females

• I honestly don't think Vex knows where the food and water is.

• Azura drinks all the time

• They absolutely love cheerios

Trust training is going to be harder than I thought. Or at least will take longer than I thought. I'm estimating a week or two until they're comfortable enough to come into my hand. Currently, they will take cheerios from me, outside and inside the cage. I talk to them a lot, hoping they'll be more comfortable with my voice. They are in the highest populated place in our house and a welcomed site. 

Time to show off my geek/nerd/fan girl side of me. The names. I'm a crazy-obsessed fan of Elder Scrolls. The name Azura is from my favorite Daedric prince of Dusk and Dawn. Then Vex is from the Thieves guild of Skyrim. I prefer the character of Karliah, but Vex seemed more...ratty. Oh and since Azura is the Daedric prince of dusk and dawn, she is the light & dark one. Vex works in the shadows, so she's the brown/black one. 

I'm sure I'll have a video up soon including these little skeevers. Keep subscribed to my Youtube channel so you don't miss it!

Also, I'm more than open to any and all advice and comments regarding your first experiences with pet rats and how you trust trained them.

Busy Lazy Bookclub

The votes are in and our first of four books we'll be reading together will be......

Divergent

I'm happy about this because the movie is going to come out in March. Great timing. However I am also planning on reading some others before then if the time allows.

I hope you'll join in on the fun. Never too late to join our little bookclub!
Here's a quick overview. We have just 11 members at this time. We our reading four books together. On my own time, I'm planning on a total of 20 for the year. Anyway, we have three months to buy, rent, borrow, get our hands on the book and then read it. For those of you that are super busy or binge readers like myself, this is perfect!
Or if you read a TON and just like bookclubs ♥

Never too late to join in. Even when we're half way through the year. The more the merrier! 

Goals for 2014 & How I'm Going to Keep Them

New year, new set of goals {or the same set over and over}. Here's the deal. I have things I want to accomplish like anyone else. However, I'm going to take my own advice and break them down and keep them interesting! HOW?
First, here's my set of goals for the year 2014:

• Keep better records {financial, fitness, food, business}
• Improve running
• Increase push ups
• More visible abs {Oh yea!}
• Get my photog business off the ground
• Read 20 Books!

I also have a phrase I want to follow this year:

Take Risks. Put yourself out there and don't look back. 

 If I make mistakes...GOOD. If I learn from them...even better! I need to stop being scared, stop stalling, and just DO SOMETHING. I have a habit of wanting to do things the right way or wanting it to be good enough before I show people. I have a habit of letting that stall me so much that I don't do whatever it is at all. 

Now, how am I going to keep these goals the whole year?!? 

Easy.

Each month I'm going to have a fresh set of smaller goals, things I can accomplish in one month. These goals will be new and exciting enough for me to keep going. They will also all help me towards my bigger picture... my goals for the whole year. 

Also, I will need to keep things even more interesting and new to help me with the day-to-day. In this cozy little chat video, I talk about keeping things interesting. How you can get excited over and over again so that your goals don't drift away due to boredom.

SO, what are my smaller goals for the month of January?

• Research systems for better record keeping in all areas of life
• Figure out what exactly I want to improve in my running {time/speed/endurance/pace}
• find my starting number of push ups
• try to practice push ups every week
• Aim for two more push ups by the end of the month
• Do the math! Find my numbers in business.
• Start reading Divergent 

Some of this might make sense to you, some might not. I'm the only person who needs to understand them anyway. BUT each month need not pertain to every single goal for the year. They just need to help you in the direction of your goals overall. 

These January goals are small enough that I can measure them and work on them easily in a month. 

What are your resolutions goals for 2014? Are you going to keep things interesting? Break things down into monthly chunks? KEEP YOUR GOALS!?

Share your post, video, whatever. I'd love to see/read/hear what you're planning for this year!!