Target Beauty Box // 2

I really enjoyed trying the products from March's Target Beauty Box, so I ordered the April box as well! Here's what was inside: 

Laneige Water Bank Soothing Mask // If you follow me on Snapchat, you saw that I tried this mask out last night, and I really loved it! It's a hydrogel mask, so it stuck to my face really nicely and was immediately cooling. After wearing it for 30 minutes, my face felt so hydrated. My face tends to be really dry, so I have to apply moisturizer each time I cleanse my face. I found that after this mask I didn't need any moisturizer before bed, which was a first for me! This would be great if you (like me) have to wear moisturizer every night, but in the summer it tends to feel really heavy on your skin. This would be  a great mask to do once or twice a week so that you can skip your nighttime moisturizer. 

Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation // I'm not a liquid foundation girl (I use powder foundation exclusively), but I have been wanting to try this foundation since it's a drugstore foundation that Kate of The Small Things Blog thinks is pretty good! I got the shade Classic Ivory, which I think is a pretty good match for me (I also tried Warm Porcelain which was absolutely horrifying). As far as a liquid foundation, I thought this blended in really well (I use this brush). It was pretty full coverage, and if I was interested in getting a liquid foundation for more a flawless look, at $8.99 I would definitely purchase this. 

Pantene AIRspray Hair Spray // This was nothing special. A lot of product sprays out at one time, which made my hair feel a little crunchy. When I do use hair spray, I like a lighter hold so that my hair doesn't feel weighed down, and this hair spray was not that. I wouldn't recommend.

Marlowe No. 022 Body Butter // I absolutely love this stuff! It has a nice, subtle but very pleasant scent, and it is very moisturizing without being sticky at all. This is something that I will definitely be buying when I run out! It is hands down my favorite thing in this box.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes // I've used these wipes before, and I love them! I prefer to use a wipe when I take my makeup off at night, and I like that these are really gentle on my skin. I was really glad to get a pack of these in the box!

CeraVe Healing Ointment // This kind of reminded me of Aquaphor, but maybe a bit thicker. It's to put on dry, cracked, or chafed skin to provide healing and moisture. I didn't have any skin areas that really needed it, so I put it on the rough parts of my feet. It felt a little slippery to me, and I honestly didn't notice any difference. I think my callouses are in need of something a little more than ointment! That being said, this would probably be nice to have on hand in your medicine cabinet, especially in the winter months. 

Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick // I was really excited to try this, since I've been on the search for a flattering lipstick. This particular one was not my favorite. The formula reminded me of all of the lipsticks that I've tried and hated: it bled outside my lips, felt kind of waxy going on, and took a lot of scrubbing to get the stain off my lips. I also didn't like the color at all (you can see it on me here). I will say that I was glad it was included in the box because I've already been trying different lipsticks, it just wasn't a winner for me.

Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport SPF 30 Lotion // I rubbed a little bit of this on my hand to try it out. I liked the scent and it wasn't too greasy feeling, so I will probably be using this on my legs and stomach this summer. Like I said last month, I prefer something a little gentler for my face/neck/chest, but I wouldn't mind using this for my not-so-sensitive skin. 

I thought this was a good box! I loved the Marlowe No. 022 Body Butter, Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes, and Laneige Water Bank Soothing Mask, and I was really glad I was able to try Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick and Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation. I could do without the others but will definitely use the Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport SPF 30 Lotion.

May's Target Beauty Box just went on sale today. You can order it HERE. These do tend to sell out within a couple of hours, so hurry up and order it if you're interested!

Target Beauty Box

I ordered my first Target beauty box at the end of last month. While it's not an official subscription as you can only order one box at a time, Target comes out with a beauty box each month full of products to sample. It's available online only, and they typically sell out in a day or two. You can see which products will be included, which I really like. And, like I mentioned, it's not a subscription so you're not locked in at all. The box was only $5, which included samples that were worth $17. Here's what I got:

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask // I prefer using masks that I can leave on and let soak in, so this was one of my favorite products in the box. My face was so smooth and hydrated in the morning after letting this sit on my face all night. 

Not Your Mother's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray // I've been using this before I curl my hair to give it a little texture and help hold the curl, and I really like it! If I'm planning on air drying my hair, I've also sprayed it in while my hair is still damp to give my hair a little more movement and wave. This is a product I plan to continue using!

you are AMAZING Juicy Grapefruit Body Lotion // The scent of this lotion was a little too fruity for me. BUT, I really liked the formula; it wasn't sticky, it was really moisturizing, and it was long-lasting. So I liked being introduced to the brand and I will definitely look at other lotions and body washes from this same line, just in a different scent!

Hair Food Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner // I hated both of these! The smell was so strong- it honestly turned my stomach. There was enough leftover of each product for at least one more use, but I couldn't handle the smell so I threw them both away. When I got out of the shower, I used a ton of leave-in product to try to mask the scent. Two thumbs down!

Banana Boat Sun Comfort SPF 30 Lotion // I haven't tried this particular product, but I'm pretty familiar with this brand. I prefer to use a sunscreen that's a little gentler on my skin, but I'm sure Caleb will end up using this one this summer, so it's nice to have!

Caress Adore Forever Body Wash // I was pretty neutral about this. The scent is initially a little strong, almost a musk-y scent, but I couldn't smell it on my skin afterwards. I highly doubt I will ever buy a Caress body wash in the future, but I didn't mind using up this sample. 

nügg Anti-Aging Face Mask // I've been curious about these face masks, so I was really glad to be able to try one! The one I received in the box was an anti-aging mask, which I could use as I've seen some fine lines pop up around my eyes. I don't think I could say I've seen any immediate results, but I liked how the mask felt, and there was enough product in the tub for at least two uses. I will be definitely be trying some of the other types of masks from this brand, too!

SinfulColors Professional Nail Color // I rarely try new brands of nail color; I'm pretty loyal to essie, OPI, and Formula X. That being said, I was surprised did like this nail polish. I'm a believer in a quality top coat, which can make up for any possible deficiencies in a cheaper nail color, but I also found that this nail color went on pretty well. It's a good option if you want new colors for really cheap ($2).

Overall, I say that this was totally worth the $5. I only disliked one product, was neutral about 3 products, and liked 4 products. I really liked being introduced to a few new brands that I would continue to use, so that in itself was worth it to me. It's fun to get a box of random beauty samples, and even though it's not high-end products like you would get with Birchbox, there are more products included. 

If you're interested in trying the next Target beauty box, you can check here to see when it's available. They typically are available the last day of the month or the first day of the month, so check here tomorrow and Friday! 

NoGii High-Protein Bars

Caleb has a really high metabolism, and as such he snacks between meals. When we go on trips I always pack a few snacks for the car, and at the office he has a "snack drawer" that I stock for him, typically filled with granola bars, mini Snickers, and protein bars. He prefers having protein bars on hand, since they fill him up and are easy to eat on the go when he has a busy day at work. Lately he's been enjoying NoGii protein bars and paleo bars.

NoGii's protein bars are certified gluten-free and non-GMO protein bars. These bars do not contain any trans fat, hydrogenated oils, or high fructose corn syrup. They are also made with sustainably sourced ingredients. Caleb really likes that the bars are not overly sweet, like so many other protein bars are. His favorite flavors are the Chocolate Coconut, Rocky Road, and Cookies and Cream. The super protein bars are packed with even more protein, and Caleb can definitely tell a difference between the super bars and the high protein bars. We even packed a couple of these bars for Caleb to snack on while I was in labor! He needed to keep his energy up while I was in labor all day, and he didn't have time to sit down and grab a meal.

These bars are perfect if you're looking for a protein-filled snack made with high quality ingredients. You can buy NoGii bars and protein powders online here or locate a store near you here.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Chex Mix

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We were so thankful to have a few days off of work to be able to travel to see both of our families. It was a really relaxing holiday, just spending time together and of course eating way too much. On Thanksgiving day, my niece and nephew helped me make this party Chex mix, and everyone was munching on it before Thanksgiving dinner. It takes only 15 minutes to throw together, and you can tell it's going to be delicious just by looking at the ingredients! This would be the perfect treat to make for a holiday party or to package up and give to friends or neighbors. The recipe we made is below, and you can find other recipes for party mixes here!

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-op. All opinions are 100% my own.

Do you cook together?

Do you cook with your significant other? I typically do all of the cooking (Caleb graciously does the dishes), but earlier this week we cooked dinner together. I love the idea of us both relaxing in the kitchen after work, talking and preparing dinner together. But of course it didn't exactly go down like that. We were both starving so the talking was kept to a minimum, and I was a hot mess having just finished working out. Caleb hates reading recipes so every time he needed a new job I had to stop what I was doing to look at where we were in the recipe to give him a new task. I put too much pasta in too small of a pot and the water kept bubbling over and burning on the stove top, so eventually we had to turn on the oven fan because of the smoke. And then you know there was no talking because that thing is so DANG LOUD. 

Anyway, despite all of the above, we had dinner on the table in just 30 minutes, which I absolutely love. We made the below Italian dish, a recipe from Publix's Flavor Excursion sale. Lots of the ingredients are on sale now through September 24 at Publix, if you're interested. You can find more recipes and coupons here.

Disclosure: I received the prize pack and information from General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own. As you know, I love Publix :)

Chili Recipe Roundup

One of my favorite things to cook in the fall is chili. There's something so cozy about having a big pot of chili simmering on the stove for dinner on a cool fall day. The other thing I love is that there are SO many different varieties of chili! These are some of my favorites:

Black Bean Chili

White Chicken Chili

Traditional Chili

I also have my eye on these chili recipes that I want to try out this fall:

Spicy Touchdown Chili

White Chicken Chili

Chicken & Three Bean Chili Verde

If you're not into cooking or if you want a bowl of chili without taking the time to throw it all together, you can check out the two new varieties of chili from Progresso. They are tasty and just take a few minutes to heat up on the stove.

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-op. All opinions are 100% my own.

Mocha Brownie Milkshakes

I confess that I am an ice cream addict. I would have no problem eating a bowl of ice cream every night (and some weeks, I do). I blame it on my parents and the ubiquitous half-gallon of Breyer's we had in the freezer growing up. And while I do love a good milkshake (looking at you, Cook-Out), rarely do I make them at home. So this weekend I threw together this mocha brownie milkshake to switch things up a bit. The brownies that I used were from an Immaculate Baking mix. Have you tried their products? Their new dry baking mixes have no trans fat and do not contain any artificial preservatives or high fructose corn syrup! Two thumbs up. You can find their new baking mixes in the baking aisle at Target.

Mocha Brownie Milkshake

1 pint vanilla ice cream

2 brownies, cut into small pieces (I used Immaculate Baking)

1/4 cup milk

3 Tbsp cold coffee

1-2 Tbsp chocolate syrup

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth with tiny brownie pieces visible. Drizzle chocolate syrup on inside of a glass. Pour in milkshake and serve with whipped cream and crumbled brownie pieces. Makes 2 large or 3 small milkshakes.

source: recipe from bakerella

Disclosure: I received the information and prize pack from General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.

REESE'S Dessert Bars

Continuing my recent obsession with all things chocolate + peanut butter, I made these REESE'S bars a couple of weekends ago. We had friends over for dinner at the last minute since bad weather canceled our beach trip plans, and I didn't have time to make a time-consuming dessert. Enter these bars, and a confession: they are from a box . Yes, I prefer to make many things from scratch, but I am not above a Betty Crocker box mix. These bars were so good our friends asked me for the recipe.... and then I had to admit I served them dessert from a box. Thankfully they are good friends and totally didn't care :) These bars are really quite delicious and all it takes is mixing up each of the three layers with butter, egg, and milk (only the bottom layer has to be baked!). Next time I need a quick and easy dessert, I'm going to try the HERSHEY'S S'mores bars. 

Disclosure: I received the information and prize pack from General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.

How to add fiber to your diet (that tastes good!)

A couple of weeks ago, I had such terrible stomach pains. Caleb was out of town (of course) and I was on the couch crying, absolutely convinced I was going to die (or have an appendectomy or some other horrifying medical procedure). Thankfully, the intense pain subsided after a while and I was able to get in to my doctor's office the next day. My doctor did an exam and had x-rays done and concluded I had had a strong reaction to something I had eaten... resulting in violent spasms of my colon (hence the pain) and... other intestinal difficulties (I'm really not trying to get all TMI here, so sorry!). The funniest part was that I came home from work to a big package filled with the new Fiber One cookies to taste and review. The timing just made me laugh! I was pleasantly surprised to find the cookies actually tasted good! They are soft and chewy, and the double chocolate and chocolate chunk ones are my favorite. Thankfully, I am feeling MUCH better these days. We'll just never know if it was the medication, the spinach salads I was eating twice a day, or all of the Fiber One cookies. But if you're looking to add some more fiber to your diet, I suggest these cookies... they go down much easier than the alternative :) You can find them at Publix and here is a coupon.

Disclosure: The information and prize pack were provided to me by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.

Slowing Down in the Morning

I know I've shared this before, but mornings are a whirlwind of crazy for me. Flipping through my clothes in the closet, throwing all of the outfits that didn't make the cut on the bed, ironing the outfit that did make it, making lunch (and sometimes dinner too!), doing the hair + makeup, getting out of house on time - I mean, you all get it because we're all doing the same mad getting-ready-before-work dash, right? What I rarely do is sit down and eat breakfast, because I'd rather stuff something in my face while I'm doing something else to save on time. Yesterday morning, though, I sat down with a bowl of Cheerios Protein Cinnamon Almond and my Jesus Calling and let myself eat slowly while I filled my mind with some truth before starting my day. I hate how rushed I feel in the mornings, so taking the time to actually sit and eat was a nice treat. Do you take time in the mornings to sit down and eat breakfast?

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided to me by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.

New Suddenly Grain Salad

Our dinners in the summer are pretty predictable: we marinate some meat to put on the grill and add some sort of side pasta or salad. This has been my favorite marinade lately, and for the sides I love Greek orzo salad, bulgur, or couscous. General Mills recently sent me a sampling of their new Suddenly Grain Salad mixes, so I last week I whipped together the Southwest Grains salad. I boiled a little mesh bag filled with a mixture of brown rice, quinoa, black beans, and corn, let it cool, and tossed it with the provided chipotle vinaigrette. I also added some tomatoes for an extra fresh taste. I was pleasantly surprised with how tasty it was, and it is a great option for a quick way to get some grains into your meal on nights when you might be pressed for time.

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided to me by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.

In My Pool Bag

My favorite place to be in the summer is the beach, but if I'm not at the beach you can find me at the pool on the weekends. I absolutely love relaxing after a week of work in the sunshine by the pool. Here's a look at what's in my pool bag:

1. A towel. I don't need anything too fancy, but I do need something to dry off/wipe the sweat that's dripping down my face. I'm pretty dedicated to staying in the sun for several hours, so that means quite a few dips in the pool to cool off and a lot of sweating. Sometimes I take two towels just to be safe.

2. Sunglasses. I actually prefer not to wear glasses for the majority of the time I'm in the sun (I don't want a sunglasses tan), but I like to have them as an option if need be.

3. A good book. Last Saturday I read Divergent (yes, I just jumped on that bandwagon - and it was so good!), and I just recently bought All the Light We Cannot See. I like to have a long book to last me the whole afternoon.

4. Lip balm with SPF. This yes to carrots pomegranate kind is my absolute favorite for the summer. It goes on smooth, it isn't too quick to melt in the heat, and it smells so good. The only thing worse than chapped lips is burned lips, so I frequently apply this stuff and love it.

5. Sunscreen. I haven't always worn sunscreen (hello 17 year-old self), but in the past couple of years I have changed that. I love being tan but I do not want skin cancer, so I always have sunscreen with me now. I've been using Coppertone Clearly Sheer this summer and really love the lightweight formula. It isn't sticky or smelly (it actually smells good!), which is key since I have to reapply frequently. I tend to have sensitive skin but haven't had any irritations or issues with this formula.

6. Drinks. I usually bring a couple of drinks to try to stay hydrated. Summers in South Carolina are brutal y'all, so the more beverages the better.

So there you have it, my pool bag. What do you take to the pool or the beach?

Disclosure: I received the Coppertone Clearly Sheer sunscreen for free from BzzAgent, a word-of-mouth program. All opinions are honest and 100% my own.

Cinco de Mayo Savings

Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow - do you have any plans? We love Mexican food so I will take any excuse I can get to eat it :) If you're looking for some new Mexican recipes, I saw one for guava margaritas and also an updated Mexican seven layer dip that looked so good! I always stick to variations of tacos and fajitas because it's just so easy! We had friends over for a little Mexican get-together and tried Old El Paso's stand 'n stuff tacos, and I have to say they might be my new favorite kind of flour tortillas. They didn't fall apart after one bite and they held the perfect amount of taco fillings. You can find them and other Old El Paso ingredients on sale this week at Publix.

P.S. More Cinco de Mayo recipes.

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. Publix and Old El Paso are brands that I've supported for years and all opinions are 100% my own.

Saturday Mornings

I've been a little MIA lately, and I apologize! I'm hoping to get back into regular posting next week with a hello + catch up post to start, but first: Saturday mornings. Aren't they the best?! Work has been a little more stressful the last couple of weeks, so I've been savoring my weekends and soaking them up. Today I poured myself a bowl of cereal and couldn't help but smile at the vintage cover of the cereal box. Honey Nut Cheerios (and Cocoa Puffs!) were my go-to cereals as a kid. My favorite part was drinking the milk when the cereal was gone. Something about the way the cereal left that honey taste in the milk made it so. good. For a limited time you can find the below Retro cereal boxes at Target to give you your own moment of breakfast nostalgia :)

Disclosure: The information and free cereal have been provided to me by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick

Do you wear lipstick? I have always been more of a lip balm + lip gloss girl, so receiving this Rimmel London Moisture Renew lipstick to try out was a bit of a stretch for me. I don't like wearing lipstick because I hate that caked-on, sticky feeling, and I always feel like a bit of a clown with lipstick on. I tried this lipstick and it solved one of my two problems: there was no caked-on, sticky feeling whatsoever! This lipstick is incredibly moisturizing. Apparently they updated their formula to make this new version even more moisturizing than before, and I really loved that aspect of it. I still felt like a clown (see below), but that was more of a function of 1) not being used to wearing lipstick and 2) the color did not suit my skin coloring. This shade is not going to be making a regular appearance on my face, but I am interested in checking out the other 17 shades they have available to find something a little more tame :) 

Disclosure: I received the Rimmel London Moisture Renew lipstick in "As You Want Victoria" complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Greek Yogurt Coffee Cake

I've never been a huge fan of Greek yogurt, but the new Yoplait Greek blended yogurts are something I can get behind! I used their Greek vanilla blended yogurt in this coffee cake, and it was so delicious! The coffee cake was super moist, and I loved the extra vanilla-y flavor. The other blended flavors would be delicious in smoothies, especially the pineapple or coconut! Happy Monday :)

Greek Yogurt Coffee Cake

1 cup flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 small container Yoplait Greek blended vanilla yogurt

for the topping:

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened

pinch of salt

In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, beating until combined. Add in the flour mixture. Add the greek yogurt and mix until just combined.

To make the topping, stir together all the ingredients until well combined.

In a lightly buttered loaf pan, pour in the batter. Spoon the topping mixture over the top of the batter. Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. You'll notice that a lot of the topping will end up at the bottom of the coffee cake. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

source: recipe from a beautiful mess, originally from here

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided to me by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

Fiber One Fruit Snacks

Since I've never been one to eat many vegetables (a goal I'm still working at!), I'm always trying to find ways to get more fiber into my body. I recently started eating these fruit snacks, and they are really good! Of course it's not a replacement for real fruit or veggies, but it's a nice snack for me to grab mid-afternoon that's tasty but also gives me a few grams of fiber. 

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided to me by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.

Slow Mornings

Aren't slow mornings just the best? My typical weekday morning is a flurry of open drawers, my makeup bag spilling everywhere, rejected outfit options strew across the bed, and, if I'm lucky, a smoothie to sip on in the car on the way to work. Weekend mornings are my favorite: getting the luxury of slowly waking up + getting out of bed, slipping on my slippers, making my way downstairs for breakfast. Some mornings it's pancakes, some mornings I make muffins or scones. Some mornings it's simply yogurt + granola or a bowl of cereal. Most recently I was introduced to Multigrain Cheerios Dark Chocolate Crunch: a blend of dark chocolate + five whole grains.  A perfect way to start a weekend.

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided to me by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

Dipped Apple Slices

Breakfast can quickly turn into the most monotonous meal of the day, especially if you have a rushed morning trying to get out the door to work and dropping the kids off at school. As part of Target's Busy Family Event, I was sent a package of ingredients to transform into simple breakfast treats to switch up your family's breakfast routine. I sliced apples and dipped them into various toppings for a quick breakfast or snack that kids will love. I liked the combinations of vanilla yogurt + crushed Trix cereal, Jif Peanut Butter + Nature Valley Protein Granola, and Nutella + crushed almonds and flax seed. You can see more great breakfast ideas from Target's Busy Family Event below.




Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

Cascadian Farm

Have you tried Cascadian Farm products? I've always seen them in the grocery store but had not tried them until recently when I was sent some to try and review here on the blog. The fruit & nut granola and the granola bars have been my go-to snacks lately. I've been throwing the granola bars in my purse for snacks while I'm at work or running errands around town, and I've been topping yogurt with the granola for breakfast or snacks while I'm at home. I'm pretty picky about my granola (I normally make it from scratch), but this Cascadian Farm granola is the best store-bought granola I've tried. Now through January 30th you can save on Cascadian Farm products in Publix, with extra savings with a coupon here.

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.