My child loves to watch Grav3YardGirl‘s Does This Thing Really Work? videos on YouTube. When he’s feeling sleepy or in need of a cuddle, he’ll climb into my lap and ask, “Mommy, can we watch a Bunny video?”
It was one of these videos that introduced us to the idea of Candylicious edible bubbles
It took me a while to find them, but I tracked the bubble machine down on Amazon and even found some refill kits.
I was skeptical, even after watching Bunny’s review…But this thing is actually pretty great! We spent an hour or so blowing cherry bubbles all over the back yard, and I managed to catch a few…they actually DO taste just like cherry! O’s strategy was to stick his face right in front of the machine, and he caught a lot of bubbles, but he didn’t like getting the bubble solution all over his face.
You get two packets of bubble solution with the machine (cherry and grape), and refills are available in packs of three flavors. The packet of cherry lasted a lot longer than I thought it would, and we even got a little more mileage out of it by pouring a little water in at the end.
I’m not sure if you’re supposed to do that. Maybe don’t be like me.
The machine takes 4 AA batteries and you’ll need a little screwdriver to get the back panel off. I picked up an eyeglass repair kit that’s super handy for these things.
I love this thing. As long as it holds up, I can see it providing hours of summer fun for my boy. In fact, I may not have to make a dessert for the rest of the summer. Dinner’s over? Go outside and play with your bubble machine!
Just don’t drink the bubble solution…I’m pretty sure it says specifically not to on the box.
You can order one of your own by clicking here.
**Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. I purchased this machine and refill pack with my own money. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.**
Hey guys!
Things have been a little crazy around here, but I finally managed to do my April Ipsy unboxing (unbagging?).
What did you get in your Ipsy bag? Let me know in the comments!
If you would like to start getting your own Ipsy bag, click here.
**I pay for my own Ipsy subscription, this is NOT a sponsored post. I do get referral points if you sign up using my specific link. **
So I decided to do something different for this month’s Ipsy bag. Let me know what you think, and if you’d like to see more videos.
Also, please excuse the stuffy sounding voice…My sinuses aren’t happy about this weather.
Enjoy!
If the video isn’t working for you, click here to view it on YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe!
The whole month of December happened and I didn’t write one single thing.
Sure, I was busy. I started a part time job at the end of November and I really like it. Also, this thing called Christmas (maybe you’ve heard of it). We went to FIVE Christmas celebrations this year. I’m not complaining, but that’s a lot of super family together fun time.
All excuses aside, though, I kind of just didn’t feel like writing. Not even my Glam bag post…though, really, December’s bag wasn’t really that great. What was even in it? I don’t remember.
I’m not sure I’m totally out of my funk yet, but I’m slowly trying to baby step my way out of it.
Baby steps out of the elevator… Name that movie!
I was actually thinking of doing a YouTube video for this month’s bag, since I never really use my channel… and I also thought about broadcasting it on Periscope (do you have Periscope? We should be pals! Look up @Ashlee_Mae)…but I was feeling way too lazy to put makeup on. SO here we are.
Anyway, this month’s Glam bag was all eye products…which is nice, because I love, love eye stuff.
Except, I guess, for the wipes…
OFRA Universal Eyebrow Pencil
This is a pretty standard eyebrow pencil. It’s fine. I don’t know what else to say?
The Balm MR. WRITE (NOW) Eyeliner Pencil in Jac
I expected to hate this after trying that awful liquid matte lip gunk from The Balm. SURPRISINGLY, I really like this eyeliner. The color actually looks nice on lazy makeup days (just liner and mascara) and with eyeshadow. Plus, it isn’t black eyeliner. Because Ipsy LOVES TO SEND ME BLACK EYELINER. I don’t know why.
jelly pong pong Fairy Lashes Curl mascara
That name, tho.
Anyway, I think I like this. It can be a little messy…
…but overall I like how it looks. Does it curl my lashes? I have no idea. But it does have some kind of crazy staying power, because it lasted through an evening face wash, a night of sleep, and a morning shower.
J. Cat Beauty blinkle shimmer eyeshadow in Tangerine Light
Dammit, this one was a little disappointing. I’ve been wanting a really good shimmery shadow for a while, and I actually squealed a little when I found this in my bag…but upon application I really didn’t see any shimmer (you can see it in the poorly lit photo above and in the swatch below, btw).
I still like the color, but I do wish it were more sparkly.
skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths
These are pretty great, actually. As you can see in the (again, horribly lit) photo above, they definitely removed makeup from my face. I’m not sure if it ALL came off, but I was being super lazy about it and possibly missed a spot or two.
Overall, this was a pretty good bag!
Do you Ipsy? What did you get? If you don’t yet and you want to, follow this link to take the quiz and sign up. Ten bucks a month for a bag of goodies in your mail, and you get to discover lots of fun new brands!
OH, AND. If I did some videos or broadcasts, would y’all be into that? What would you want to hear about? Tell me in the comments!
Did you miss me? I missed you!
Have y’all recovered from your food comas yet? I know I probably ate enough to feed a small village yesterday. At least I managed to look good doing it, largely thanks to this month’s Ipsy Glam Bag.
My goodies arrived in a super cute bag this month. As usual, 4 items were great and one was kind of a klunker.
Figs&Rouge HA+ HYALURONIC ACID 3 IN 1 HYDRA ACTIV HERO CREAM
This stuff smells great! It’s a pretty well-rounded, light moisturizer…But I’m not sure if it’s quite enough for my dry winter skin.
Smashbox FULL EXPOSURE Mascara
I’m super picky about mascara…my eyelashes are pretty long, and tend to look clumpy if I’m not careful. I really lke this formula, but Im not sure about the brush. It might just be that I’m used to the more comb-like brushes.
Jesse’s Girl Eye Shadow Primer
I didn’t have super high hopes for this one, but it ended up being tied for my favorite thing this month. It feels a little greasy when you first apply it, but once it’s dry you can’t feel it at all. It has kept my eyeshadow streak-free all day, every day that I use it. I tried it with the Mica cream shadow and that stuff didn’t totally come off for a couple of days.
trèStique Mini Matte Lip Crayon in Chile Red
This was my other favorite… Which surprised me a bit because I’m not a RED person. This is a fun, bright, definitely RED red, but the matte formula makes it quite wearable. I had to get used to the look of the cap, but before I did I probably had a few minor heart attacks thinking the cap had come off in my bag.
be a bombshell Eye Liner in Wild Child
It’s a black eyeliner. Fine, I suppose, but it seemed a little dry…probably why it skipped a little when I applied it. There really isn’t anything spectacular about it.
I’m wearing allof my glam bag goodies in this photo…I had also just left the salon, so hooray freshly cut hair!
If you’re interested in trying Ipsy for yourself, click here to sign up. It’s only 10.00 a month and you get to try lots of fun beauty products!
Already get a Glam Bag? What did you love this month?
Another fun glam bag arrived at my house this month! As usual, I was pretty happy with my goodies except for one product that I just didn’t like.
Beauty Without Cruelty premium botanical lotion
This stuff is a dry skin lifesaver! I’m already getting dry, itchy skin on my hands. This stuff has no smell at all and sinks right into my skin without feeling greasy. I’ve been using it after I wash dishes to keep my hands from getting so dry that they crack.
LA Vanilla rollerball perfume
Ten years ago, I would’ve turned my nose up at this scent. I’m not sure how to describe it, but it’s like a warm, spicy vanilla…maybe with some amber or musk hanging around in there? I could Google it, but where’s the fun in that? Anyway, I’ve been wearing it a lot sinch I got it, and I think it makes for a great fall scent. It also layers well with my usual perfume. Bonus!
MICA Beauty cosmetics cream eyeshadow in Bronze
This stuff is SO GOOD, you guys. Dab it over your eyelid primer with your finger and you’re done! It really works with my hazel eyes and boy does it ever stay put. I fell asleep in it and it was still perfect when I woke up the next morning.
Royal & Langnickel medium eye shader
Well…it’s a brush. I honestly haven’t done much with it. The bristles are a bit stiffer than my RealTechniques brush, but I don’t necessary think that’s a bad thing.
the BALM Meet Matt(e) Hughes long lasting liquid lipstick (COMMITTED)
Everyone’s all apeshit over the BALM products and here I am like, nope. I pretty much hated this the second I saw it… First, that color is super wrong on me. Second, I can’t do long wear liquid lipsticks. I feel like they suck the life out of my lips. I will say, however, that the minty, chocolaty smell is pleasant. Other than that, this was not a winner for me. Also, am I missing something? Who is Matt Hughes?
Do you get a glam bag? What was awesome this month? Did anything totally miss the mark?
If you haven’t subscribed yet, click here to subscribe and take the quiz It’s all kinds of fun to get a bag of surprises in the mail each month!
Also, don’t forget to enter the breast cancer research giveaway! I’m adding the liquid lipstick from my Ipsy bag to the prize. I unscrewed the lid enough to see the color and take a tiny sniff, but that’s it!
Where did September go? I swear just yesterday it was my birthday and now tomorrow is October first. Then again, it’s been a busy month… I’ve had at least one meeting or interview or deadline scheduled for every week day this month (except Monday’s interview, which had to be cancelled and I’m still miffed, but that’s life) and weekends have been just as full. I was completely taken by surprise when I looked at my calendar and realized that today was the last day of September. And then I remembered that I hadn’t even done my Ipsy post.
For shame.
September’s bag was pretty great! Once again, only one product was a little disappointing, if only because I’ve actually used it before.
IPSY♡NYX 3 color shadow palette
I love this palette! It make for a quick smokey eye that is appropriate for daytime but could be done up for night. It’s been my go-to eyeshadow since I got it.
I’ve even used the sponge applicator and it isn’t terrible (but I do still prefer my RealTechniques brush).
Pixi by petra mini brow trio
I get lots of compliments on my brows, which is weird to me… but they must stand out? Anyway, I’ve never actually used a brow powder before this one. I think I really like it, but I feel like it makes them all, HELLO EYEBROWS.
City Color City Chic lipstick in One Night Stand
I wasn’t super sure about this color, truth be told… It’s almost, magenta? It reminded me a bit of a shade worn my my grandma’s friend, actually. I tried it on, though, and thought…not bad. Now I think I actually like it. Also, this:
I have been applying it very carefully so I don’t mess up that cute little heart.
ACURE brightening facial scrub
This one I’ve actually used before. It’s okay, but not really my cup of tea. It smells very herby and looks kind of like poop…
But whatevs. Y’all know I loves me some exfoliation, so I’m using it.
NAOBAY Oxygenating Cream Moisturizing
I wish this one was bigger. It smells just like an Estee Lauder lotion I used in high school (it was given to me, I wasn’t intentionally using old lady stuff). Every time I put it on I get a lovely whiff of show choir memories. That’s really the only reason I love it so much… I mean, it is a nice lotion, but I don’t really notice anything remarkable.
I am wearing everything from this month’s bag in the photo above (well, not the scrub, obviously), but can you tell? Not really, thanks to the horrendous lighting situation in the bathroom. It doesn’t help that I only remembered to take a photo just as I was about to wash my face… So this makeup went through two meetings, a Starbucks run, and a trip to the gtocery store. Plus typical life with a toddler.
I also got more of my hair cut off last weekend, and I have discovered that I can aim a air dryer at it until it’s mostly dry, run some styling balm stuff through it, and it’s actually presentable.
Hashtag, team short hair
Hey! If you want to sign up for Ipsy, click here. Ten bucks a month gets you a nifty bag and five fun beauty samples to play with!
Ok, I finally jumped on the Ipsy bandwagon. What’s not to love about getting a cute bag filled with beauty products every month, right?
I got my first bag this month, a couple of weeks ago and I think I’m in love with this service. Want to see what I got?
Well, duh. That was a stupid question.
The houndstooth bag isn’t really my style, but it’s cute and might come in handy one day. The stuff inside, however… I was really happy with everything!
Hikari lip gloss in Merlot
This formula is a little stickier than I like, but the color is awesome and it has some real staying power.
Briogeo Blossom & Bloom volumizing spray
I tried this for the first time yesterday, and I liked it. Did it make my hair poofier? Hard to say, but it smells nice and my hair was super soft.
Oh, and I got my hair cut! I’m wearing the lip gloss in this pic, too.
Trust Fund Beauty polish in Elegantly Wasted
I don’t know what sort of wizardy this is, but this stuff dries so fast! The color is really nice, and they don’t use a ton of nasty stuff in their polish. I like it.
Starlooks Pro Luxe Longwear eye liner pen
My preferred method of lining my eyes involves plain ol’ eyeshadow and an eyeliner brush. A lot of pens I’ve tried end up smearing everywhere the second I finish applying the liner…Not this one! It stayed put all day, no smudges. I’m pretty impressed, and I think I’ll see if they offer other colors.
Lather Ultra Mild Face Wash
This was really the only thing I was only eh…about. I used it with my face brush (best purchase ever, by the way) and it did make my face feel clean, but I don’t know that this would be helpful for acne or oily skin. Still, it’s the perfect size for travel, and it didn’t make my skin worse, so…I’ll keep it around.
So is it worth the ten bucks? Well this is only my first bag, but I’d definitely say yes! It was like my birthday or Christmas when the bright pink envelope arrived…And I had a ton of fun trying out the new goodies.
If you’re into trying new things and you love beauty products, click here to check Ipsy out. Sign up is pretty easy, and you’ll take a little quiz so they can customize your bags. Don’t worry too much about the quiz, because you can retake it anytime to make sure you get products you love.
I’m already excited about next month’s bag!
Sometimes (not right now, hello hormonal breakouts!) I get asked what my skincare routine is like. I hear from ladies that are around my age that are struggling with their skin and I want so badly to help them…I know what it’s like to get hit in the face with turning 30 and then having a baby and suddenly your skin refuses to behave. Boy, do I ever.
In high school, my face behaved really well considering how lazy I was about washing it. Like, wetting a washcloth and rubbing my face with it was my whole routine. The only time I paid any real attention to washing my face was after a show choir performance, because that was usually the only time I wore makeup. And boy oh boy, did we ever cake it on. I can remember thinking I looked like a clown, only to be told I needed MORE BLUSH! MORE RED LIPSTICK! Can you put some glitter somewhere?
It was the only time in my life that I was able to go through an entire tube of red lipstick. Boy, those were the days.
Now, I even think about putting foundation on and I get a bump on my chin. Pluck my eyebrows? Suddenly tiny pimples pop up in place of the hairs. I have blackheads for days, and I swear no pore strip or scrub on this planet will ever get rid of them for good.
I got really sick of feeling a little like Quasimodo every time I groom my eyebrows. I was tired of the “Guess what, it’s PMS time!” pimple pop up on my chin like clockwork. I needed to do something, clearly (get it?), but what?
I read a ton of beauty blogs, including XOVain (the comments on the articles are usually as good or better than the actual post), and I found that a lot of ladies were really into African Black Soap.
It seemed weird at first…To be honest, some of the stuff looks a lot like you’d be washing your face with a turd. I found Shea Moisture African Black Soap on Amazon, and since it looked a lot less like poop than some of the others I ordered it.
This stuff smells like bubble gum and turns your shower black (e-cloth to the rescue!), but it does really seem to do something great to your skin. I use it on my body and face in the shower, with a pair of exfoliating gloves like these from The Body Shop.
About once a week, I use St Ives Apricot Scrub instead of the African black soap on my face. I know some people aren’t fans, but until I find something that actually exfoliates the way this does, I’m sticking with it. Don’t scold me.
Every day after washing my face, I use Valentia Even Glow Serum to even out my skin tone and plump things up. I actually got my bottle for free to test and review. After using it for about a month I have noticed quite an improvement in my skin… I feel like my color is more even and my face looks more…plump? Juicy? In a good way, though. Like, younger. You have to go easy with this stuff at first or you will probably break out or notice some peeling. I had both for a hot minute, so I backed it down from morning and night use to only once a day and saw a big difference. There’s a nice citrusy smell that reminds me of those chewable vitamin C tablets… Do those even exist anymore?
It’s important to use a good moisturizer with your serum. At night, or if I’m not putting makeup on, I use SheaMoisture African Black Soap Problem Skin Moisturizer. Just a heads up…It doesn’t smell very nice. Still, it’s good stuff!
If I’m putting makeup on, I use Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer, which smells really nice and isn’t thick or greasy at all. It works perfectly under my It Cosmetics Your Skin But BetterTM CC Cream with SPF 50+ (which is seriously my favorite thing on the planet).
So that’s the skincare routine that seems to work for me… For now. What are your favorite face products? Am I the last Apricot scrub diehard on the planet?
***Valentia sent me their serum free of charge for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.***
***Post contains affiliate links***
I’m going to be honest, here. I hate cleaning. It’s not that I don’t do it, I just don’t enjoy it. I’m constantly looking for shortcuts and “hacks” (I really hate that word…) to make cleaning easier so I can go on to more fun things like playing outside with my boy.
One of my least favorite chores is cleaning the shower. I don’t know why, but I’d rather have someone dump a bucket of fire ants** over my head than stand in the shower and scrub that stupid thing. I don’t even know how it gets so dirty…
Ok, that’s not true.
The BF works outside and occasionally comes home covered in mystery stuff that I guess has to go somewhere… like, all over the walls and floor of the shower. And I shouldn’t act like he’s the only one to blame… I don’t generally get super dirty (just sweaty), but my favorite soap stains the shower walls.
In case you wondered, it’s Shea Moisture African Black Soap. I love it, and it’s been great for my skin, but somehow I manage to get it everywhere.
Needless to say, our shower needs frequent attention if it’s not going to look gross. I tried a handful of cleaning solutions I found on Pinterest, including the Dawn dish soap and vinegar one, and I wasn’t impressed at all. The store-bought cleaning solutions worked (sometimes) but they gave me an awful headache from the smell and I was always worried that O would come up behind me and grab the bottle when I wasn’t looking. Sure, I could wait until nap time, but I’ve already got a hundred and one other things crammed into that ever-shortening time slot.
When I found e-cloth, I was seriously skeptical. I was supposed to believe that this cloth was going to clean my shower (like, really clean it) with nothing but water? Uh, yeah. Next you’re going to tell me that a tomato is a fruit.***
What exactly is e-cloth? How about I let them tell you:
e-cloth’s superior microscopic texturing easily penetrates hard to remove soap scum, built up grime and water marks. Remarkably, the only cleaning companions are water, and you, so there are neither harmful chemical fumes nor any chemical residue left behind. The Shower Cloth is for thick grease and dirt. It comes with a handy grommet and power suction hook for hanging on any hard surface. The Glass & Polishing Cloth is for light cleaning and final polishing. (Not for use on electronic screens and delicate lenses.) e-cloths really are different and give a fantastic chemical free clean with just water. If you take care of them they will last for years. e-cloths work so well that you will get a lint-free, smear-free clean with just water.
e-cloth microfiber cloths are made of millions of tiny fibers that pick up dirt which normal cloths just leave behind. When we say tiny, we mean each fiber is about 1/200th the width of a human hair. These tiny fibers attract moisture and oil, lifts and traps dirt, grease, grime and bacteria. Leaving your surface clean and polished with no chemical residue left behind. This process is healthier with no chemicals used. There is no chance for potentially harmful fumes and residue. This is important to children, as well as allergy and asthma sufferers.
Save money by reducing the use of paper towels and chemicals. E-cloths come with a 300 machine wash guarantee giving you years of cleaning performance and savings
The super nice folks at e-cloth sent me a shower pack to try… And even though I was still pretty skeptical, I was excited to try it out. Included in the shower pack is a shower cleaning microfiber cloth, a suction cup hook, and a glass and polishing cloth.
I barely got the stuff out of the package before I dashed into the bathroom to try the glass cloth. Since our shower doesn’t have a glass door, I tried it on the medicine cabinet mirror…Which was covered in toothpaste splatters and toddler fingerprints. Without even getting it wet, I had the mirror completely clean and streak free in less than a minute. Say what?
The next morning, I tried the shower cloth out after my shower. Before I turned the water off, I soaked the cloth and wrung it out a bit. I then turned the water off and used the cloth to wipe down the shower walls. When I stepped out of the shower, I was pretty happy with how nice the walls looked after very little effort on my part.
I’ve been using the e-cloth for almost a month now, wiping everything down after I shower, and I’m super impressed with how great it looks. The best part? I no longer have that, “Ugh, I have to clean the shower today…” feeling.
Now if they would only come out with a set of cloths for every room of my house.
Silly me, they totally have that already! I’ve already got a wish list a mile long now that basically includes everything on their site. I mean, they even have a line of stuff to clean your body.
Because they’re so awesome, e-cloth has offered to send one lucky reader a shower pack of their very own! Entry is pretty easy…
1. Like Willfully Disobedient on Facebook
3. Come back here and leave me a comment about your least favorite chore.
Contest will close at 12:00am EST on June 22nd. Winner will be chosen at random and be notified by email.
[Due to some major technical difficulties, I’m extending the entry period until Tuesday, June 30th]
The entry period for this giveaway has closed. Check back tomorrow to find out who won. Thanks to all that entered!
Also check them out on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube for more info.
This contest is open to residents of the USA only. I received my e-cloth free of charge in exchange for my honest review. Post contains affiliate links.
**Please don’t really do this.
***Tomatoes totally are a fruit. Just making sure you’re awake.
Willfully Disobedient 