August Favorites.

Oh.My.Gosh. Is it really that time already? I feel like these "Monthly Favorites" posts really have been sneaking up on me! It is hard to keep up! I am going to be honest with you, this month I have been really trying not to wear make up as much and not heat-style my hair as much. I wanted to give my skin and hair a break. So there aren't going to be a lot of beauty favorites, just to warn you! Here are my favorites for August!

Beauty:

Makeup-
-Rimmel Stay Matte Powder:
So I have oily skin. There I said it! And lets be real, if you have oily skin, the summer is like the worst thing ever. The minute you sweat, that oily skin you already had just gets like ten times grosser and a million times more shiny! So I have been relying heavily on the powder to keep my face from being too shiny. I said before I have not been wearing too much make up this month, but if I am going to be out of the house I will usually at least dust my face with this powder. It just helps me from looking a shiny mess. It keeps my face looking matte and just a little less scary! I have the transparent one, so no color, just anti-shine magic!

-NYX Runway Palette: 
Now, there have been days when I did go out in makeup I didn't want to go too crazy with my eyes. I wanted to keep it simple. That "no makeup" makeup look. So I went looking through my palettes and saw one that was a little neglected. So I picked it up and fell back in love. It is perfect for creating a very natural look. But, it also has some other colors that could easily create a nighttime look very quickly! So it is the perfect palette for the natural to the nighttime look. I have been using it mostly though for super natural looks. And I mean this palette is super super inexpensive. How can you go wrong?!

Hair-
-Macadamia Oil:
I got this little bottle about mid-August for free from Ulta (it was one of the frequent buyers thing) and I wasn't too looking forward to it. I only had a view options, and I recognized the brand so I went for it. I love Macadamia's hair mask so I figured why not. I am so glad I grabbed it. Now, let me be honest, I am not a hair expert by any means. Basically, if it makes my hair soft, not greasy, and look less damaged, then it is a winner in my book. I just use this on my ends and my hair feels so nice. I have pretty dry hair at the ends, but it can get greasy pretty quickly up at the roots. So bottom line, my hair feels extra soft and it looks pretty. A winner!

Non-Beauty:

TV Show-
-Teen Wolf:
Alright, make fun of me all you want, but I am loving this show. I mean seriously!!! I kind of put off watching it because it though it just seemed silly. But I was so wrong. I mean it is a good show in general, I really like supernatural stuff so this is just up my ally. I am not going to lie, the boys on the show are too hard to look at! I mean it is just what you expect, teenage werewolf trying to make it work in school and life. But there is other crazy stuff in there too. It is just an exciting show!

Clothing-
-Disney Sweatshirt:
 Our trip to Disney is coming up quick (not quick enough if you ask me) so I was using it as an excuse to get some cute Disney shirts! I got these from Hot Topic and I couldn't love them more!

Food-
Chocolate Almond Banana Smoothie:
Now I have been doing the smoothie thing on and off for like 6 months. I was kinda not into for awhile because they all started to taste the same and I was getting bored with it. But, I watched a video from Missglamorazzi about a new smoothie recipe. I tweaked it a little, and I am in love with it! I drink it every morning now and it is a sweet little pick me up and it is perfect for this hot month! =]

Random-
Hot Yoga:
Now, it has been mentioned in that I am a bigger girl. And that I am okay with it! But that doesn't mean I don't want to firm up some bits that are a little jiggly or have some cellulite that I would like to smooth out. So, just for fun, I tried out some hot yoga with my mom. And we loved it. Which was weird for me because I hate the heat and sweating. But when you leave you just feel so good! Tired and maybe a little sore, but really great! I haven't lost any weight (but to be fair I am not eating particularly healthy either. I love me some McDonald's fries). But I have noticed a smoothing out of some lumpy areas. But even if none of that was going on, I would still be doing hot yoga. It makes me feel healthier, I feel just overall like a better person. Considering no other form of working out has worked for me (I am a lazy bum), this is an absolute winner!

There you have it! Some of the things I loved this August! Can't wait to get September underway and head to October where my vacation is!
Let me know if you try out any of these things and how they worked for you!

Stay Beautiful!
K

*PS: I apologize for no pictures. I am not even going to lie, I got lazy!*

Back to School Lookbook: College Edition

Now is the time for all you College and University students to be heading back to school! Lucky you! And I mean that with the most sincerity in the world because we miss college desperately! Adulthood is no fun!
But, when it is time to go back to the books, you want to look cute too! So we have come up with a couple outfits for both men and women for the upcoming year ahead of you!

Hope this helps you out and gives you some ideas for your year of school!

D+K

Fall Colognes for 2013!

Summer is coming to a close, and the winds are starting to pick up, you can almost taste the pumpkin pie in the air, so you know what that means; time to pick a new Fall cologne.  I’ve been looking around for some great scents and have come up with these four that should do well for your life, regardless of the size of your pocket book!

Before we get into the list I wanted to take a moment to talk about what makes a great cologne, and better yet, what makes a great fall/winter cologne.  The purpose of cologne isn’t to smell loud, its purpose is to smell quite.  What does this mean?  Using too much cologne can make you smell bad or even give the people around you, that you’re trying to impress, a headache.  Colognes are supposed to be quite, in other words: subtle.  Colognes are supposed to draw the people nearest you in closer not push them away with how overtly pungent you smell.  That being said good fall colognes are comprised of woody, musky, and other warm scents that make the people closest to you want to grab you and get in close whether to hear what you have to say, or to get fire side.  That all being said here are my top four favorite fall colognes for 2013!

Burberry London: $60.00

Burberry has a long history of being one of the top suppliers of gentlemen’s style for many years, and theirs no shortage when it comes to this delicious scent.  A warm fresh scent that is completely enticing to the senses will have every one leaning in to take a listen to what you have to say.  Hints of Bergamot, Port whine, and oak moss make this scent perfect for an October night out to dinner or a mid day pumpkin patch.

Kiehls Musk: $45.00

Like Burberry, Kiehls has been around for a very long time and in that time they have perfected scents like no other! This sturdy Musk with its creamy citrus and bergamot nectar make for an excellent addition to any hay ride, Oktoberfest, or even the dreaded corn maze!

Corduroy:  $30.00

This is a new find f  With a decent length to its cinnamon, nutmeg, and woodsy vanillas, Corduroy makes for a great first date scent, or coffee shop outing with friends.

or me, but all together a great scent for fall outings!

Twilight Woods: $30.00

What would a cologne post be without BBW?  Twilight woods is honestly one of my favorites scents of all time; with its great length and splendid notes of: spice, white peppers and musk it makes it easy to understand why I love it so much.  Simple and smooth.  I recommend this to any one just starting out in the cologne world!

There you have it guys! Hope this helped solidify your cologne quarrels for the fall!

Stay Fresh, Stay Awesome!

-Dillon

Book Review: The Mortal Instruments

So, I am going to put this out there: I suck at New Years Resolutions. I have hardly ever made one, let alone kept it. I just usually find them hard to do, or something I don't want to do, so I stop after like the first month. But this past January, I made one to read at least one book a month. I love reading, and I think it is a beautiful thing when girls have a huge bookshelf and love to read. Dillon says it is one of the best qualities in a woman. But find I put it on the back burner or forget to read all my books on my shelf because of work and our home businesses. So this was my way of reading all my books that I have wanted to read! I have been doing really well, usually reading about 2 a month. A bunch of those have been The Mortal Instruments series.

Alright, get your eye rolls out! I know I have mentioned the series like 10 times. But, I am finally going to review it so you guys can know what the heck I am talking about! Dillon and I have read it together, but I figured I would do the review since it is a little more of a girly book.

I am going to keep it short and sweet so I don't blab on and on about how good it is.

-It is teen novel: It is written for teens. Keeping that in mind makes a huge difference. It is in the realm of Twilight, Hunger Games, Beautiful Creatures, etc. It is meant to be read by young adults. So the writing is no Shakespeare. It is not bad writing, just not the highest caliber. I love young adult novels. Dillon likes to make fun of me and say I need to read more grown-up books. But I can't help my love for the sweet love stories, and fantasy elements. I am not a 50 Shades of Gray girl AT ALL. Give me a stories of wizards, crazy worlds, and creatures any day! So if that is not your cup of tea, then I would skip it! It has everything from Angels, demons, and all things supernatural.
-It is extremely entertaining and action packed: It is about battle and fighting for the human world. There is constant fighting or action taking place. There is seldom a dull moment. You know how some books get to that point where your like "Come on! Pick up the pace and get back to the good stuff!"? I did not feel that way during this book. There are twists, and surprises all through the book, so your always at the edge trying to figure it all out!
-Unconventional love interest that does not steal the whole plot: Like most young adult fantasy novels, then love interests are unconventional. So there is that wonderful element. But I also liked how that love interest is not the main focal point of the novels. There is more to it. Not JUST a love story. I mean it is a pretty important part of the book don't get me wrong, but it does not make the whole storyline, there is just so much more to it.
-The girl is not helpless: Thank you!!! Finally! A book where the girl isn't this hunk of meat there to distract the boy from the greater good. The main females are warriors, and (for a lack of a better word) Kick Ass! They can save themselves and don't scream for help. So refreshing! And so positive for the younger readers. That is why I can honestly say it is great for all ages, and genders. I loved it, I know a lot of younger readers love it, and Dillon loved it. So I mean that is a pretty good deal.
-Funny: Few books make me laugh out loud. I found myself on multiple occasions loudly laughing. I was almost afraid to read it in public for fear that I would look like a crazy person.

That is a short and super condense version of my review. I didn't want to give a synopsis because I don't want to spoil anything. But I figured a positive review would give you a reason to pick it up next time your out! I loved it! And I cannot wait for the last book to come out, and the movie in August!

Stay Beautiful!
K

Disney Humming Challenge.

Now, we have been seeing the humming challenge everywhere! And we figured we would give it a try, but with our own little spin!

So, we bring you: THE DISNEY HUMMING CHALLENGE!

Thanks for giving it a watch!
D+K

Summer Check List Wrap Up!

At the beginning of summer we posted a summer bucket list, well now that summer is in its final weeks and we only have about four weekends left, here are a few things to make sure you do before its all over and the winter chill sets in!

1: Have a barbeque!
Get some friends together, grill out some burgers, play a game of Corn Hole, and drink beer late into the night.  If you havn't done this at least once, do it, nothing beets these memories!

2: Enjoy the last batches of the summer Seasonal Beers!

Here are three beers you have to have before they're gone!
Lagunitas- Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale
          -This beer is brewed with three different hops and has a very hoppy taste!  Delicious for  a summer on the river!

Samual Adams- Summer Ale
           -A national favorite! A golden color and a beautiful white head this beer has a light lemon scent which compliments summer days with friends sitting outside restaurants and enjoying a burger. 

Sierra Nevada- Kellerweis
            - A perfectly refreshing classic hefeweizen (a low hop beer with high carbonation) that is probably the best way to end a long day at work or while watching the final season of Breaking Bad!

3:  One day road trip!
This is probably one of the most simple summer experiences you can have!  Grab your girl, guy, or friends, and pick the nearest city, and then just drive!  Things to find in each city you pick: A good mom and pop restaurant, thrift shops, museums, national monuments, theme parks, out door activities, etc! 

4: Enjoy an outside event!
There are a lot of different out door activities that happen during the last bits of summer, wine tastings, out door movie showings, and traveling fairs; just to name a few. 

Hopefully your summers end is full of amazing adventures with good friends and good food, because at the end of the day its the memories that last long after the summer heat fades!

Thanks!


That One Couple!

Product Review: theBalm En Root Keep My Color Shampoo and Conditioner

I have mentioned this Shampoo and Conditioner combo in my June Favorites a little bit ago. And, here we are in August and I am still using it regularly. So, for someone who is not loyal to shampoo and conditioner, this is a big thing! So I figured that is a pretty good reason to post a review!!

Pros:
-Smells amazing!!!!!- If you could sum up summer with a smell, it is this. The most deliciously tropical smell. Almost like the smell of tanning oil with a mixture of a yummy cocktail.
-It keeps your hair color- Now I wasn't sure that was true for awhile. But the other day when traveling, I used another shampoo and conditioner combo that didn't claim to "keep my color". My deep red ombre turned pink. So, if that doesn't show that the stuff is true to its name, I don't know what does.
-Paraben and Sulfate free- This is what helps to keep your color. Also, just all around these things are bad for your hair. I don't get crazy reading labels to make sure my shampoos and conditioners are paraben free, but when I find out some of my favorites are, its just an added bonus.
-It leaves your hair soft and hydrated- Again, my hair is color treated...A LOT. By all means my hair should be dry and broken and just all around a mess of nasty. But, after using this combo it just feels amazing! It claims that the reason for that is bamboo and rice protein. Now, I am not a scientist who makes shampoos and conditioners, so I cannot say if this this is the exact reason. But I will say that none of my other shampoos (and I have a lot) have rice protein or bamboo and they don't make my hair nearly as soft.

Cons:
-Price: They are $15 each. Which compared to some haircare stuff isn't like the most expensive. But compared to the $3 stuff that I used to go for, it is on the expensive side. Luckily when I went to Ulta they were buy one get one free....so super bargain!
-Doesn't lather up: Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something to be aware of and get used to. The reason being the lack of sulfate. So the reason it doesn't lather is a good one, but its just off putting the first time you use it. So no need to used more thinking that's the reason it didn't lather and get all bubbly!
-The smell is super summery: Now this is a personal preference. If you don't care too much about summer smells and winter smells then you should not really care. Like I said the smell is so so so tropical. Which is amazing for the summer time! But, during the winter, you might not want to go around smelling like a fruity cocktail. But, like I said, that is totally up to you!
-Cannot purchase at a normal drugstore: Don't know if you guys have some super awesome drugstore near you, but the only place I can get it is either online, or at Ulta. Luckily the new Ulta is like 10 minutes from my house. But, you cannot go to your Walmart and pick it up.

There you have it! I have basically been using this combo all summer and my hair feels great. I have been using other stuff after the shower too, which I will do reviews on in the future. Us girls with dry hair need to stick together!!! But I really do think this shampoo and conditioner has made a huge difference! So, next time your at your Ulta, you should for sure pick it up!

Stay Beautiful
K