Short Hair, Don't Care

It's officially summer..

..I chopped off my hair!

My cut is an A-Line Bob (I have a random line on my neck that's sole purpose is a haircut reference point--I always have it cut to there).

I'm not a hair person whatsoever.

I can't use a curling iron, I don't own a curling iron, I can't do an up do (besides my sweet signature side ponytail), etc.

With that being said, I always opt for the easy, blow dry and go styles.

This happens twice a year; once in January and once in the summer.

Last year, I made it to late August.

This year, June.

Anyway, I'm loving my new do and am enjoying the fact that it's too short to really style.

Short hair.. really don't care!

Violet Voxbox (Invites, Anyone?)

Disclaimer: I am a member of Influenster and received free products in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. 

Yay, Voxbox! 

I have only been apart of the Influenster family for about a year now and have really enjoyed all the opportunities I've received to test and review products and to make new blogging friends! I highly encourage my blogger (and non-blogger!) friends to join! If you're interested, please email me at annieonecancook@gmail.com or comment on this post with your email so I can get you an invite ASAP! :D 

So, wanna know what was in my Violet Voxbox?

For the most part, I was pretty pleased with my Voxbox--it can sometimes be a hit or miss but I'd consider this to be more of the first (a hit!). Here's what I thought..

Goody® Athletique Adjustable Yoga Wicking Headband ($6; available at Target) 
Goody Athletique items provide you hold and comfort so you can be physically active and strong in body and mind.  Customize your headband's fit through its velcro adjustable strap.

I had a bunch of errands to run last Saturday and decided to throw my hair up in a ponytail and to pull my bangs back with my new headband--honestly, it was just okay. I noticed that it doesn't stay in place very well (it slipped back A LOT--maybe I should have used bobby pins to keep it from moving?) but it was comfortable. My hair is really fine and limp so I can't see myself doing any of the cute hairstyles many girls on Instagram (#shareurhair) were sharing, but I will try using it again sometime in the near future.. with bobby pins.

Would I recommend this product to a friend? Yes (on account of the fact that they could probably make it stay in place/create cuter dos than I ever would).

Goody Quikstyle Brush ($8.37; available on Amazon)
 Go from wet to beautifully styled hair faster than ever!  Super absorbent microfiber bristles remove 30% of water as you style*. It's like a towel and a brush in one.

I actually really, really like this brush! It combs through tangles very easily and does a pretty good job of drying your sopping wet, just out of the shower hair! It's like a brush with a built-in shag carpet and I love it! I'm definitely interested in purchasing the round brush for styling and blow drying my hair. 

Would I recommend this product to a friend? Yes. 

SoyJoy® Nutrition Bars - Cranberry ($9.99 for a box of 12; available at Target)

Real cranberries add tang to this cookie-like bar for a healthy, tasty snack. Convenient individually-wrapped bars don’t melt or freeze. Tastes even better microwaved (unwrap first) for 8-10 seconds.

My breakfast a few weeks ago.

Okay, how should I put this..? Umm, I don't know what kind of nasty cookies the description writer of this product grew up eating but they must have been made of candle wax because that's what this bar tasted like (or what I'd imagine candle wax tasting like). Not good. Not good at all. I don't know if it was just the cranberry flavor or if all SoyJoy bars taste the same but this left a really awful aftertaste in my mouth. I'd be willing to try a different flavor to see if there is any difference but I kinda have a feeling that all of these bars are basically the same.. 

Would I recommend this product to a friend? No. 

Sally Hansen® Triple Shine™ in Reef-Raf ($4.99; available at Walgreens)

Get ready for the shiniest nails ever! Water to workout, day in and day out, nothing will dull these nails.  With the Ultimate Shield Complex your nails outshine 'em all.

I gave myself a little "pre-push pedicure" a couple weeks ago--not the best, I know, but it's an amazing feat when you can reach your feet (feat and feat, ha!) at 36 weeks.

I really like this polish! I wasn't too crazy about the color at first (I thought it'd be a little too bright--I tend to stick with darker reds on my toes) but I love the way it came out! I also really liked the brush--it seemed a little bigger/wider than most which made painting a cinch!

Would I recommend this product to a friend? Yes.   

 

A Ladies Fair, A Lotta Beer, & A Cat Named Bitsy.

Happy Monday!

I hope your weekend was absolutely fabulous--mine was and I am going to share it with you now (you lucky ducks, you)!

As I mentioned on Friday, I got two free tickets to our local ladies fair--so you know what that means.. Girls night out for Abby & Annie!

I don't know what I like best about this picture of Abby: that she looks so stinkin' gorgeous, the fact that she keeps a KU koozie in her purse at all times, or the fact that there is a photo bombing man hanging out at a ladies fair.

We loaded up on free swag and coupons, entered raffles (I actually ended up winning a beautiful outdoor water fountain for our back porch--boom!), and sampled different beauty products. But the fun didn't stop there..

..because then we went out for a dinner of chips and amber queso, chicken wings and amazing beer at a local microbrewery. We sat and sipped, gabbed and munched for almost two hours before we met our friend Renee at a bar across the street for a few games of pool. Very fun!!

I was at home and in pajamas by 9:30 (keep in mind that I'm 23 going on 70) but that was just fine with me; I had to be to work at 8 the morning. Which bring me to Saturday..

I covered a 5K early Saturday morning and then a regional high school art show in the afternoon. I am in awe of how talented so many of our local youth are--I don't have an artistic bone in my body so I always enjoy attending these events that showcase others talents.

Saturday night was a relaxing one at home with the B's (Brandon and Bitsy). We made a pizza, watched the Shockers/Louisville game, played with Bitsy's favorite toy (pictured below) and watched Saturday Night Live in bed.

Bitsy is really starting to warm up to us. We've discovered that her previous owners would feed her from their plate and then let her lick the food off their lips.. if you know Brandon and me, you know we're not really "let's eat off the same plate as the cat and then let her lick our faces" kind of people (actually, as I type this, Brandon is giving her tiny pieces of pulled pork.. oy vey, maybe we are). We're working on breaking her of that habit and getting her more used to eating her food. She is such a sweetheart though and we couldn't have asked for a better cat!

Sunday consisted of eating Chinese, moving a heavy grill and deep freeze, breaking my back (I have a metal rod on my spine and I tend to push myself too hard and then I can't move for days), taking a nap and doing homework.

How was your weekend? I'd love to hear about it!

I'm Sick.. Let's Talk About My Eyebrows.

You guys, I'm sick.

Yes, again. I'm super congested, have an irritated throat and am running a fever. Blah.

I keep sitting here trying to write up a Friday post but my brain is too mushy to think.

Sooooo....

Here is a guest post I wrote for my friend Stephanie's adorable blog, Never the Same Spice Twice (go over to her blog sometime--she has some GREAT recipes!!). I'm basically just rambling on about my eyebrows so I hope you enjoy it!

I have been told that I am blessed to have such full and dark eyebrows (I have never looked at it this way--if I don't tweeze my unibrow everyday, I'm mistaken for Anthony Davis--sooo blessed!)--my brother has the same dark/bushy eyebrows that I do so I guess it's just one of those fun, genetic things we were so lucky to inherit (thanks, dad..). Anyway, I have never really known how to groom my brows. I had bangs once (for 21 years) so I didn't have to worry about grooming them quite as often.

The 'brow sibs (Christmas 2007).

It's 2010--full bangs are still cool..

And then my boyfriend (now husband) came back from Afghanistan and I decided to lose the bangs.. and the brows..

They don't look too bad here, but standby for the next pic.

Alright Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup.

Kudos to whoever get the reference.

I have a heart shaped face with varying features (wide nose, oval eyes, wide smile/full lips) and I quickly learned that thin eyebrows DO NOT mesh with my face; I needed to let those bad boys grow. I did some research to determine what my 'perfect' shape is and I'd like to share those resources with you!

Beauty How-To: Eyebrow Shaping (Elle)

The Best Eyebrow Shapes for Your Face (Glamour)

3 Ways to Groom Your Eyebrows (Every Day with Rachael Ray)

And now, without further ado, I'd like to show you how I'm sporting the brows today.

Oh, I have a new trick to hiding them--I wear glasses now!

As I was writing this post, I started thinking about how random eyebrows even are--it's just some weird hair that chills on your face. Crazy stuff.. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this post and that I can help you or somebody you love from making the same mistakes I have (ha).

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Holy Eyebrows!

Today, I'm over at my friend Stephanie's adorable and fun blog, Never The Same Spice Twice!

The topic is eyebrows.. come visit!

http://www.neverthesamespicetwice.com/2013/03/holy-eyebrows-guest-post.html

Shop My Closet and a Betty Crocker Successful Fail

Happy Wednesday!!

First off, B and I are getting ready to move and I have A BUNCH of clothes I need to get rid of pronto--so I'm having a shop my closet sale! All clothes are in excellent condition and shipping on all items is only $2. If you see something you like, comment with your email address.

Here's a few items up for grabs..

Click here for more!

Also, I have some cool news...

Today I'm guest posting over at Arrow in the Eye! I will be telling you all about my successfully semi-failed attempt at making Betty Crocker cupcakes for a humane society benefit (it'll all make sense after you read it!). Head on over!!

A Few of My Favorite Things (January Edition)

Whenever I log into my Blogger Dashboard, I start going down the list of blogs I follow and begin my stalking reading. Posts that always stop me dead in my tracks are ones about beauty products. I LOVE getting tips and learning about new products from all of my lovely fellow bloggers.

I decided to start doing the same at the beginning of each month in hopes of helping my friends/fabulous readers find new products/styles/accessories/etc. to try.

1.) Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation. Oh my goodness, I LOVE this foundation. It seems like Rimmel gets a bad rap because it is an inexpensive drug store brand but honestly, it has worked better for me than behind the counter department store brands. This foundation goes on so smoothly and never leaves a visible makeup line (like I experienced with Cover Girl True Match). Add a little peachy blush for a flawless au natural look. And the best part? You can get it at Target/Wal-Mart/Walgreens/Wherever you buy your makeup for less than $5!

2.) Avon Advance Techniques Dry Ends Serum. I have never been a huge fan of Avon. A lady that used to work for my dad sold it so I'd buy makeup and lotions from her (this was back when I was in junior high). The makeup was never anything special and didn't seem to highlight or benefit my skin in anyway so I stopped using it. Fast forward to last Christmas when I found this serum in my stocking. I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical at first but my mamma-in-law swore by it so I figured I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did. I get terrible split ends and this has helped sooooo much. Another added benefit? My hair is really shiny! Oh, and it's $8. Yeah, you're going to want to try it.

3.) Kenra Platinum Blow Dry Spray. I blow dry AND use a flat iron on my hair every single day. Yes, ouch. This spray has been a life saver. My hair looks much healthier now (not to mention it's silky soft and smells amazing). This ingenious product only costs $17--having healthy hair doesn't have to break the bank!

4.) Bubble Necklace. I'm sure everyone has one of these by now (I'm a little behind on the times..) but I finally got one and have been saving it for a special occasion and finally have one--my mammas birthday celebration this weekend (and you can bet that I'll be posting pictures)!! Bubble necklaces vary in price, but you can typically get one for around $10.

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