All Tangled Up!

My 9 year old daughter has the most sensitive head. And to add to that, she has fine, thin, wavy hair. I use multiple detangling sprays and I comb as soft as I possibly can, but I still hurt her. It's really a very frustrating task for both of us. My 2 year daughter watches this and thinks its so funny to imitate her. So all I hear is all morning is Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

I saw this brush at Sally Beauty Supply yesterday. It was $8.99. It was suppose to untangle hair dry or wet. It also claimed to prevent hair breakage. I'm trying to grow my hair out so keeping breakage to a minimum is important to me. I thought for 9 bucks we could give it a try!

I have to say, WOW! It really works. It combed so smoothly through my daughter's hair. It didn't hurt her at all. It really gets down in the hair to get all of the tangles out. Her old brush would just brush the top layer and I would have to comb her hair in sections. This brush saves so much time and so many tears!

It's a great brush! I think it would work great for everyone. Not just for tangle prone hair.

February Birchbox

Today I received my February Birchbox . This is another beauty product monthly subscription that I have signed up for.  It costs $10 a month and that includes shipping.  It comes in a cute little brown box. The contents this month's Red Carpet Ready theme were...


1. Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle Leave in Conditioner (retail price $21.95)
I thought that this leave in conditioner worked well and smelled great. It offers a lot of functions in one product. It was lightweight and didn't weigh my hair down. I read lots of great review from people that swear by it! I think it would be worth buying, but I probably won't. I'll just stick to my argan oil.

2. Dermablend Professional Smooth Indulgence Concealer (retail price $22)
I have to say this is now a must have in my makeup bag. I will never be without this concealer. I loved it! It covered my blemishes so well and stayed on all day. It didn't irritate my skin like some concealers do. It was more liquidy than I expected, but I think that's the trick to helping it go on so smoothly and not look cakey at all. A little goes a long way. So $22 may seem like a lot for concealer but I'm sure it would last forever. I'm expecting this little sample to last a few months.
www.dermablend.com

3. Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips  (retail price $14.50)
Nipple Balm? Say What? Is that like Udder Balm? This is actually a multipurpose balm and lip gloss. The claim is that it was formulated for nursing moms but is now a must have among makeup artists. And I have to say, it worked really well on my lips and the little dry patch on my elbow is gone after one application. It even looks pretty on your lips. Its clear, but somehow looks beautiful. I think this is something everyone should have!
www.drlipp.com

4.  Juicy Couture Couture La La (retail price $19-$90)
This perfume smells really good.  It reminded me of a mix between Clinque's Happy and Ralph Lauren's Romance. It was clean, crisp, and floraly. (Is that a word?) I already have two other juicy perfumes that I love. So I made need to add this one to my collection.

5. Votivo Pink Mimosa Candle (retail price $26)
This little candle tin was so cute and smelled so good. It reminded me of pink grapefruit. This company also offers bath products, reed diffusers, sprays and incense sticks.
www.votivo.com

Bonus treat!
A Ghirardelli chocolate and caramel square. Yum Yum!

I'm really happy with my Birchbox this month. I'm thrilled I found such a great concealer! I think that the Birchbox team really puts thought into what they send out each month. I believe that they truly want everyone to be happy with the products that they choose.

http://www.birchbox.com/

February Glam Bag (IPSY)

Today I received my IPSY February Glam Bag.  This is a beauty product monthly subscription that I receive. It costs $10 a month and that includes shipping. Each month I receive a cute little makeup bag filled with surprises. This month the bag was a black shiny patent leather. It was really cute and very classic. The lining was a deep red...

Find out what came inside...


1. Pop Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara (retail price $18.50)
I really liked this mascara. It added length and volume to my eyelashes without being clumpy. I liked the shape af the brush a lot. It wasn't bulky and had  a pointed end. I felt like I had a lot of control with it. I could even get the tiny lashes.
popbeauty.co.uk

2.Mica Beauty Gel Eyeliner (retail price $30)
This eyeliner was truly amazing! Seriosuly! I loved the way it went on my eyes.  It was very pigmented and smooth. My eyes looked so beautiful after I applied this eyeliner!
www.micabeauty.com

3. Pixi Flawless and Poreless Primer (retail price $29)
I applied this primer to half of my face before putting my foundation on. It was considerably noticeable that the side with the primer took the foundation much better. I used less makeup and didn't need concealer on the side with primer. So I have to say its a great primer.
www.pixibeauty.com

4.Coastal Scents In the Spotlight Eye Shadow Palette (retail price $4.95)
When I saw these colors, I figured I would just use the brown and grey. I'm not a yellow eye shadow user. But for the sake of the blog, I tried it on for the whole look.  I WAS SHOCKED! It was the most beautiful eye makeup I had ever put on. It was gorgeous. It was so glamorous looking. I liked the quality too. They have a ton of huge shadow palettes on their website for really cheap. I think I will have to get a ton more colors.
www.coastalbeauty.com

5.Lash Card (retail price $6.99)
I have used these lash cards before and I have to say I'm not a huge fan. I know a lot of girls love them. I guess I'm just not as coordinated as them. I find it easier to just put my mascara on and be done. For me to try and hold something with one hand and then try to apply mascara with the other, just doesn't work for me. Sorry : (
www.lashcard.com

I'm very happy with my glam bag this month. I love getting products that I would never think to try and then I fall in love with. I highly recommend this beauty subscription. For those of you that get this bag each month, I would love to see if you got different colored samples. Tweeet them to me at triesstuffgirl or tag me on instagram at ashleypettit23.
www.ipsy.com

DIY: Valentine's Day Heart Garland

I have been seeing a ton of cute heart garland around, but most of the tutorials are for felt garland using your sewing machine. Well I have a sewing machine, but only my husband knows how to use it : ) So when I saw garland that could be made using a stapler, I knew it was right down my alley. Here's how to do it...

Supplies

Paper  (I used 2 hot pink poster boards) 

Scissors

Stapler and Staples

Ruler

Fishing line, yarn, or baker's string

heart beads

Pen or Pencil

Hole Puncher

Directions

We will need to get lots of strips of paper. Use your ruler and draw straight lines across your paper. Mine were 1.5 inch by 12 inches. I just used the width of the ruler as my guide. Make as many as you want. it will depend on how long you want your garland.

Then cut out all of the strips of paper using your scissors.

Fold your strip of paper in half.

Bend the two end pieces in making a heart shape.

Staple where the two pieces come together. 

One staple will hold your heart.

Now using your hole puncher. Punch one hole just above the staple so that the hole goes through both pieces.

 Then punch a hole on each outside part of the heart. Try to make them all as level as possible. It will hang on the string straighter.

Now string your beads and paper hearts onto your string. 

Continue alternating between beads and heart until you get your desired length of garland.

I loved this project because it was so easy. I am no Martha Stewart! There are also so many different ways that you could do this project. You could use patterned paper, old pages from a book, or sheets of music. I also thought it would be fun to dip the edges of the hearts into glue and then sprinkle with glitter.

 I made one garland using the fishing line and one garland using the baker's string. I thought that the baker's string looked better than the fishing line. 

My kitchen table was covered with hearts! My 2 year old daughter loved it. She kept saying, " dats lots of heartbeats"!

You could also put your hearts in a jar or vase. Just make sure not to punch holes in them. 

I would love to see the garland that you make. Tweet me your pictures to triesstuffgirl or instagram them at ashleypettit23.

Cupid's Arrow Bracelet

A few months ago, I got an email from this place called HauteLook -A Nordstrom Company, telling me about this new free app for my iphone. Its a website that sells designer brands for 50%-75% off. So I decided to give it a try! It's better than the cupcake making app that my daughter installed on my phone. HauteLook is a fun app to have. It has new deals each day and lots of really cute things at great prices.  After I had the  app for a few weeks, I got an email offering me $15 off my first purchase. So what did I do...The cheapskate deal savvy shopper that I am? I went and found a bracelet for $16. All I had to pay was $1 plus $5.95 shipping. I got a Gorjana 18k gold plated arrow bracelet. I love it! It's the perfect bracelet to have for Valentine's Day. But what really attracted me to the arrow bracelet was a quote I read recently and feel in love with!  An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward.  So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it is going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming. 

 I definitely recommend you get the app or at least check out the website. They have great finds!

Here's what I found in my mailbox that made me jump up down with excitement! My neighbors think I'm strange : )

Getting closer...

I thought it was perfect!

Wear it alone or...

with a cute cuff!

I would love to see what finds any of you have gotten from HauteLook. You can comment below or instagram me at ashleypettit23.

DIY Valentine's Day Workout Shirt

I thought it would be fun to make a Valentine's Day Workout Shirt. It's fun, easy and really cute! All you need is an old t-shirt and a pair of scissors.

Cut the neckline, sleeves, and bottom of your t-shirt. Make sure to save the bottom part of your t-shirt for later.

  Turn your t-shirt over and cut a deep V in the neck on the back of your shirt.

Get the bottom part of your shirt that I told you to save for later and cut it in half, preferably on the seam.

With the back part of your t-shirt still face up, gather the straps together and tie the strip of t-shirt around the top of the two straps. Tie it in a knot . Pull it extra hard so that it makes the knot smaller and not so bulky.

Now wrap the strip of your t-shirt tightly around the straps and work your way down the straps. 

Once you have wrapped the straps, tie the strip of your t-shirt in a tight knot, with the knot being on the inside of the shirt. Again, pull it really hard so that it is a small knot. Then make it a double knot and pull it really hard again.

Cut the remaining strip off, leaving just a small tail.

Tuck the knot to the inside of your shirt so that it will be toughing your back when you wear the shirt. The tighter you pull the knot the less bothersome it will be when wearing the shirt.

Fold your shirt in half and cut from front to back in a sloped direction. 

And Voila! You have a super cute workout shirt to wear to the gym on Valentine's Day!