January Birchbox

Hi everyone! I apologize for being such a terrible blogger lately and missing days on end but life has gotten hectic...in a good way....but, really hectic!

I needed to get this post out ASAP since my next Birchbox is on the way! I have not even posted about last months goodies and this months is around the corner.

Oh well, here we go!!! This is my Birchbox loot this month! If you do not know what Birchbox is - it is a subscription box sent to you each month.  You pay $10 and a box of makeup goodies is sent your way each month! I LOVE these more and more - it's like a little present to myself each month! If you want to join in on the fun click HERE!!

Here is the loot!!!!! Such a cute box this month! I recycle these and organize all kinds of things in them!

Each month it comes with a card explaining all your products and how much they cost on the Birchbox website for the full size product!

There was this tiny delight-lip stain! I gave this to a co-worker that is obsessed with this company. She said it was awesome!

Some Dry Shampoo - this was awesome! Perfect for after Barre class!

 Some blowout spray for your hair - I have not tried this yet...

This lotion was like BUTTER! Loved it!

 This was a big favorite! I am loving this eyeliner pen!

That is it for last month's Birchbox. I will post February as soon as it arrives in my happy little mailbox!

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It's An Etsy Sale!

Hi everyone! I wanted to thank you all for being such amazing blog friends in the spirit of Valentines Day so I'm having a sale at my Etsy shop!

Stop in at My Esty Shop - Annsterw and take 20% your entire purchase using the coupon code VALENTINE20.

I make hand-stamped jewelry - I can customize any necklace to say anything you want!

All necklaces come with your choice of silver chain or black leather rope chain and you can choose your necklace length!

Come on by and check it out!!! Here are just a few samples of my work...

Stop in at My Esty Shop - Annsterw and take 20% your entire purchase using the coupon code VALENTINE20.

Hurry!!! Expires 2/14/16

 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY - Thanks for being my blog buddies!

Ipsy rocks as always

Happy February everyone!!

Yeah!!!

It's almost Valentines Day!

I was sick last week so I was not able to update you at all. I am going to try to get you updated on all my subscription boxes from last month before the new ones for February arrive! HA

So, here we go...one of my favorites!!! IPSY!!

Every month for only $10 you get an adorable makeup bag filled with loot (many are full size products)...January's was so cute!! My purse contents has NEVER been so organized - I use these bags to contain everything from my 100 chargers to jewelry to change - oh, and makeup sometimes!!

Here's the whole stash all together!

This is so smooth and really goes on well and soaks into the skin around my eyes...maybe just because I am very dry in the Winter but I love this already! Just kinda small :-(

 A new blender/smudge  brush!!!

Urban Decay full size glide on lip liner...this is clear and after you line your lips; you fill them in with your color...LOVE it!

This is a cream eyeshadow. It is very pretty and metallic and I think it will be my new evening out color.

Smells amazing and feels so smooth and amazing...that is all!!

This is a really pretty full size copper color eyeliner! It twists up so no need for a sharpener...LOVE IT!

As always, IPSY was a huge success and I am holding my breath waiting for February's package!!! YIPPEE!!!!

If you like trying different brands and types of makeup you will love this!!! It is only $10 a month. Also, if you like getting a gift from yourself every month!!! If you want to sign up -here is the link for IPSY!!

Happy Monday and Happy February to you all!!! 

Questions for you...

What is your favorite subscription box? 

Do you use eyeliner and mascara on the bottom lashes? I just started doing this and I love the look!!! 

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Snowmageddon 2016

Oh what a weekend! So if you are hnot from the East Coast then maybe you missed this little bit of news...what a snowy weekend! In Pittsburgh, in 24 hours, we went from no snow at all on the ground at all to 10 inches!!! I think it varied but where I was we measured ten inches!!! Here are a few of the pictures...

Halfway through the storm...

Saturday afternoon after we shoveled out...

 The woods behind my BF's house...

A few more at Sunset on Saturday...

As you can see, aside from shoveling Saturday and escaping to the gym Sunday...this past weekend was REALLY chill! I spent it looking at this A LOT...

And having fun with these two little cuties...

And relaxing in this amazing whirlpool tub!!!

All this...just to say...I survived Snowmageddon 2016!!

Happy Monday ya'll!

Anyone else snowed in? Anyone sled ride?

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I simply love it

Hi all my adorable blogger friends! Hope everyone is having an amazing "DAY BEFORE FRIDAY"! Yes, you read that right...it's the day before Friday! Yippee!

Today I am writing a totally unbaised, unpaid and uncompensated review of my new favorite HOT beverage Sant! You can drink this awesome stuff cold or hot but I love it hot!

Here is the description from their website...

Simple

Healthy really can be this easy

• All natural - No additives or preservatives
• Organically grown & sun-dried
• 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugar
• Vitamins B & C, manganese, magnesium, potassium

Super Healthy

5X more antioxidants than Kale

The super powerful antioxidants Garcinol and HCA help restore balance to the mind and body.
HCA helps increases serotonin and regulates glycogen to

• Manage weight
• Stabilize mood
• Improve sleep

Garcinol has anti-inflammatory properties which

• Promote digestion
• Relieve joint and muscle aches
• Cleanse skin
• Fight illness and infection

Garcinia indica has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to prevent and treat illnesses.

 This stuff is awesome! It is dehydrated Garcinia indica. I received a sample in my Stridebox last month and I love it! It tastes great in hot water (just infuse it like you would a tea bag) or along with tea!

I ordered a full size container and it came with this little note that I love! The full size packet was 50g and only $8.00 - a little goes a long way!

Here is my packet of joy...my taste buds are exploding just from looking at the picture!

Here is a look inside at the dehydrated little guys...

 My new nightly drink now consists of about 5 or 6 pieces of dried Sant in my favorite Pittsburgh mug!

Then I pop a Sleepytime tea into my Keurig...

Brew the tea right on top of the Sant and add a little sweetener of your choice.

Then you just let it steep about 5 minutes and spoon out the pieces of Sant and enjoy. It tastes a little like a tart cherry or cranberry. If you like tart you will love this! Like I said, add a little sweetener and you will be in heaven. It tastes wonderful!

I can definitely benefit from all the vitamins it infuses and also need all the healthy anti-oxidants I can get! It seems very reasonable to me as this $8 packet will last me over a month drinking it once a day. 

Again, I was not paid, reimbursed or even given product for this review - it really is something I just wanted to share with my readers since I was so very excited when I found it for myself!

It's my new favorite and I just wanted to share...I wish I could give you a sip!

Have a great day and en every better FRIDAY!

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Skate On Over

Thanks to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for hosting another great linkup for Wednesday HodgePodge!  This is my favorite post of the week - I love meeting new friends!! Here we go!!!!!
1. Speaking of skating...when did you last 'skate on thin ice', 'skate over the details', 'encounter a cheapskate', or just plain skate?
  
I skate over the details daily! LOL! I am a very spontaneous person and not very detail oriented AT ALL! It is actually one of those weekends I am working on in my life. I tend to lean to the "the less I know the better" side of life! Not good - I know, but I just don't have time to ponder details...HA!
2. What would you say is the biggest problem of people your age? 
My age is 48 - I am not sure how to answer this. I have friends my age that have money issues or health issues or children issues. I am single and live with my fur baby cats so I tend to just be grateful for everyday and make it the best it can be.



3. What's your favorite accessory? Is it something you wear every day, often, or only on special occasions?
I got a beautiful scarf for Christmas form my friend Kathy and it is really my favorite! I love it and I get so many compliments on it when I wear it! Here it is below...

4. January 20th is National Cheese Lover's Day. Are you a lover of cheese? What's your favorite dish made with cheese? Last thing you ate that contained some kind of cheese?

I love cheese in anything and on anything but my favorite is just plain CHEESE! It is definitely my favorite food! I buy cheese by the bus loads! I love a good Huntsman or Lemon Stilton and any other cheese also but those two are my favorites!! YUM!!

5. What's something guaranteed to make you roll your eyes?
Weather forecasters who say we're going to get a lot of snow. It cracks me up! I live in Pittsburgh and everyone is at work today saying we are supposed to get so much snow over the weekend!  I will bet we get an inch, if we are lucky, and it is gone by Wednesday. Meanwhile, the groceries will sell out of milk and bread! LOL!

6. Your favorite book series?

Currently I am loving these! I am only in the middle of book two Insurgent but it is awesome!
7. Why did you choose your profession?
I fell into my profession...I did not choose it. I graduated with a Psychology degree and really wanted to help people. I found out that I could not live on any job that was willing to pay me for using my degree so I got into Computer Helpdesk work since I have always been great at computers.


I have simply worked hard and moved up from there within my current company.
 8. Insert your own random thought here.


Thanks again Joyce for hosting this each week! It is a lot fo work I am sure and I look forward to it every week!

I cant wait to read everyone's responses and get new book ideas and new friends!!! HA

Going Down...

Hi bloggy friends! I am joining Tiffany from The Dwelling Tree for her weekly blog hop! It is a great way to make new friends!! You should link up too! Hope to see you there!

I have some really exciting news to announce!!!

And no, I am NOT pregnant! HA! That ship has sailed!

But, on a more serious note, I have lost ten pounds since the beginning of the year!!

Yippee!

In the weeks leading up the New Years I thought about buying another round of Advocare or re-joining Weight Watchers for the 900th time and then I thought about it. The truth is, I know exactly what I need to do to lose weight! I don't need to spend any more money to achieve it, I just need to have the discipline to do what I know how to do!

The secret for me? Portion control! Every plan I have ever been successful at has portion control.

I exercise, I eat healthy foods...I just have no clue when to stop shoveling all that food in my mouth!

So, Since Jan 1st I have done nothing differently except measure my portions. By measure I mean, pay attention to! HA HA

Here is a sample of my food everyday now!

Breakfast - my usual morning meal shake or spinach shake (this can be Shakeology, SlimFast, Advocare, or a veggie/fruit smoothie) I have been doing this everyday all along and have just been maintaining.

Morning Snack: 24 almonds, 25 pop chips or 2 cups of raw veggies (just a REASONABLE snack that is 100-200 calories) 

Lunch - Lean Cuisine Dinner (my favorites are the squash ravioli and the basil salmon)

Afternoon snack: Fage yogurt, grapefruit segments, light cheese stick or 24 almonds (again just a REASONABLE snack that is 100-200 calories)

Dinner: Large salad (ie Friday's Chicken Apple Harvest Salad with no dressing) with grilled Chicken or Tuna Steak on top - always no dressing (maybe squeezed lemon or hot sauce if anything other than pepper).

Nightly snack: If I am really hungry, or really craving chocolate, then I will have a 60 calorie sugar-free chocolate pudding cup or some veggies but I really try to skip this now

Supplements: I always take my One A Day, Omega 3, drink one glass of Sugar-free Metamucil for the fiber, and ALWAYS over 100 oz of water each day!

Exercise: I have been working out about 3 days a week since the beginning of the year and that is it - not killing myself at all like I used to!

This may not be for everyone but it is working for me. After the first few days I was no longer hungry so I think that may be my stomach shrinking. I am so happy that the scale is finally going in the right direction! YIPPEE!!!

I will be updating my Weight Loss Tab each week until I hit goal to keep me accountable (I am looking to drop another 50 pounds!!!

Wish me luck? Anyone else having successes with their new years resolutions? Anyone else not have an off button when it comes to eating? 

What are you tips and tricks and go to healthy substitute food - I would love to hear about them!

Thanks for stopping by!! Have a happy and healthy day!!!