Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Azure Naturals Ultimate Vitamin C Skin Repair Serum Review



I don't know about you all but I am always in the market to try new things for my skin. I have dry sensitive skin and eczema on my "T" zone, and with the cooler months approaching quickly my skin needed some TLC. I recently tried the Azure Naturals Ultimate Vitamin C Skin Repair Serum. After looking some stuff about it I found that it has 20% Vitamin C, Vegan Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, and Amino Complex in it and is an Organic skin repair serum. The Azure Naturals Ultimate Vitamin C Skin Repair Serum contains No Alcohol, No Parabens, Gluten Free, Plant Based, No GMO's, Cruelty Free and Never Tested On Animals!!! *YAY* So this made me VERY intrigued and I had to try it! I ordered it from Amazon and it arrived within a few days. 

So let's get down to it, what did I think? I loved it!! It did not irritate my skin, no redness! It does not leave my skin feeling oily or wet. It goes on very easily and dries quickly. I am not one to wear a bunch of makeup unless it is a special occasion, but this is something I can definitely use everyday before my moisturizer in my daily skin care routine.

 If you are interested please click here to find out more information or purchase. You will be glad you did! :)




 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Fun and Function Weighted Sash Review

As you may or may not know I have a 5 year old daughter who has Autism as well as Sensory Processing Disorder or SPD. If you do not know what SPD is please click here to find out more. I was very pleased with the Fun and Function Sash. It came with 1 & 1/2 lbs of weight to add to the sash in 1/2lb bags. I got it for my daughter to try because I have heard great things about weighted products with children on the spectrum. It is made very well and can be used to carry lots of things with all of the pockets! If anyone knows my daughter they know she always has at LEAST a handful of small toys with her at all times, so the zippered pouches are very handy!! The fact that the sash has the reflector strips around the edges and at the hips is an added bonus! It is easy to wear and my daughter really liked it. I would defiantly recommend the Fun and Function Weighted Sash to everyone! I think it is a wonderful and multifunctional product. #FunAndFunction Go check out their website! www.FunAndFunction.com They have SO many neat tools to help!!
Product Description: Fun and Function has created this comfortable weighted sash known for its calming sensory input, + cool compartments for stashing favorite objects + safety features. The Ergo Weighted Sash positions weight from shoulder to hip as well as across and down through the trunk, providing just-right deep pressure to help you calm and organize. Provides the benefits of a weighted vest with the flexible styling and comfort of a sash. Made of mesh material with 6 zippered compartments that can hold pens, fidgets, money, keys or the weights. Sleek reflector strips around the edges and at the hips completes the multi-tasking abilities of this incredible wearable wonder! Improve attention and reduce fidgeting with one sash or wear two sashes (criss-crossed) if recommended by child's therapist. One size fits all. Crafted by Fun and Function. Patented. Ages 8- Adult. http://funandfunction.com/1-1-2lb-ergo-weighted-sash.html I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Ghoulish Manicure

Hello Ghouls! I decided to try another simple Halloween inspired manicure anyone can do! It's bright and colorful without being too busy. There are ghosts, jack-o-lanterns, glitter, and stitched tips. I call it the Ghoulish Manicure.

 Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions! 




As always the step-by-step instructions are down below. Enjoy!


Difficulty: Easy

TOOLS:
1. White nail polish-i used Petites in French White 2.Dark purple nail polish-I used Sinful Colors in Amethyst 3.Lime Green polish-I used Pure Ice in Wild Thing 4.Orange nail polish- I used Sinful Colors in Cloud 9
5.Black striper polish- I used Salon Perfect in Black Ink 6.Black Glitter polish- I used Salon Perfect in Black Diamond
7.Dotting Tool/toothpick 
8.Clear Top Coat--I used NYC Long Wearing Extra Shiny

STEPS:


1. Begin by painting your: thumbs-purple, ring fingers-orange, pinky-black glitter.
Next paint the tips of your other fingers the following colors: index-lime green and middle finger-purple. Allow to dry. 

2. Grab your black striper polish and draw the face for the jack-o-lantern on your ring fingers-i drew 2 triangles for eyes, an upside down triangle for the nose and a crooked smile. After you have finished with your ring fingers let's draw some stitches on your index and middle fingers!
Index and Middle fingers-using the black striper polish-draw a straight line on the top of the colored tip you painted in step 1 across your finger. Now add 4-5 smaller lines going through the long line. They do not have to be straight-have fun with it!

3. On to the thumb! Using your white polish drag the brush from the side of your finger to the center of your thumb, to make the ghost. Take your time and if you need to you can go over it again to get a more rounded shape for the head. Allow to dry completely!!!!

4. Grab your dotting tool and black polish and give that ghost a face! I added to eyes and a larger got for the mouth.  After all of your nails are dry add your top coat and you are done! :)

 If you try this manicure or any of my other tutorials I would love to see it!  You can upload it to my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/inkandcupcakes
 
or tag me on instagram with hashtag #inkandcupcakes. 
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @inkandcupcakes
 
Thank You!!
xoxo Sarah

 

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Halloween Nail Art Tutorial

BOO!

 I decided to do another Halloween Tutorial for you guys since the last one was such a hit! I mean who doesn't love Halloween right?? I have always said Halloween isn't just one day a year for me personally, it's everyday! It may have something to do with my birthday being the day before Halloween (October 30th), so I grew up having costume parties as birthday parties. How cool is that?! :) 

 I decided to throw in some new simple designs for you to try out! We have some Jack-O-Lanterns, Ghosts, Spiderwebs, Frankenstein, and some stitches to complete this fun tutorial. Hope you guys enjoy! Leave me a comment if you have some suggestions.




 As always the step-by-step instructions are down below!

 

 




 Difficulty: Easy-Medium

TOOLS:   

 1. White nail polish-i used Petites in French White
 2.Dark purple nail polish-I used Sinful Colors in Amethyst
 3.Lime Green polish-I used Pure Ice in Wild Thing
4.Orange nail polish- I used Sinful Colors in Cloud 9
 5.Brown nail polish- I used Sinful Colors in Nirvana
 6.Black striper polish- I used Salon Perfect in Black Ink
 7.Black Glitter polish- I used Salon Perfect in Black Diamond
8.Silver nail polish- I used L.A. Colors striper in Silver
9.Dotting Tool/toothpick
10.Clear Top Coat--I used NYC Long Wearing Extra Shiny

STEPS:

1.Paint your THUMBS and your PINKY fingers WHITE, INDEX fingers purple, MIDDLE and RING fingers lime green. Allow to dry completely.

2. Let's start with the spiderwebs on your thumbs. Grab the black striping polish - begin by drawing a line down the center of your thumb and across it to make a t shape. Now draw 2 more in the shape of an X. 

3. Slowly begin connecting the lines. If it isn't perfect take your time and go over the line again. After the web design was dry I decided to take the black glitter polish and put a spider in the center. You can use a striper or a dotting tool to draw the legs.

4. On your index finger use your white nail polish to paint halfway up your nail starting at the bottom, make sure you round it off at the top (the center of your nail) to be a pumpkin shape. After the white is dry add a coat or 2 of the orange nail polish OVER the white to make your pumpkin!
 Now on your middle finger using your black striper draw a slanted line across your finger and add 2 more lines coming off of the 1st line. (see my picture above)

5. On your middle finger it is time to add the finishing touches on your stitches! Draw 2-3 small lines going across the longer lines you drew in step 4. 

6. Let's go ahead and get the pinky-ghost out of the way! Grab your black nail striper (or dotting tool) and draw 2 dots for eyes and a larger dot in the middle for the mouth! At the tip of your pinky nail paint a thin black line across your nail. Next make the tip uneven with some brush strokes to give your ghost some movement!

7. On to the ring finger Frankenstein!! Begin by painting his hair at the base of your nail. I did 3 small points and slowly connected them together and filled it in.

8. Grab your dotting tool and give Frankie some white eyes! Allow to dry!

9. Now using your black striper put some black pupils on Frankie's eyes, draw a line for his mouth, and add a few small stitches to his mouth for detail. I decided to use the silver nail polish for the bolts on the side of his head.

10. Now to finish the Jack-o-lantern on your index fingers. Use either a toothpick or your black striper and draw 2 small triangles for eyes, an upside down triangle for the nose, and a mouth. Get Creative! Using your brown nail polish add a square to the top of the jack-o-lantern for the stem and you are done!

*After your nails are dry add your clear top coat and wait until they are completely dry.*

Enjoy my Ghouls!! And show everyone your love of Halloween! :)



If you try this manicure or any of my other tutorials I would love to see it!  You can upload it to my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/inkandcupcakes
 

or tag me on instagram with hashtag #inkandcupcakes. 

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @inkandcupcakes
 

Thank You!!
xoxo Sarah

 
 

 


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Bloody Nail Art Design

Hello October!!!! You know what this means? Halloween will be here before we know it! YAY!!

So let's learn some spooky nail art! I have seen this design many times but had never tried it! Today's tutorial is a bloody design you are sure to enjoy! 


 This design is very simple! You only need a few things and a little bit of free time :)

Step by step instructions are down below.

 






Difficulty: Easy   
Tools you will need:   1. Dark red nail polish-i used Sinful Colors in GoGo Girl
                                         2. Nude nail polish-I used Sinful Colors in Easy Going
                                         3. Matte Top Coat- i used NYC Matte Me Crazy
                                         4. a dotting tool or a bobby pin/toothpick etc..

Steps:

1. Paint all of your nails with the nude nail polish. Mine needed 2 coats. Allow to try and add the clear Matte top coat over the nude polish and wait until it is dry. *this will give a cool effect because the nude background will be matte and the red will be shiny*

2.Using your dark red nail polish paint a straight light across the tips of your nails. It doesn't have to be perfect-just make sure it is dark enough, mine needed to coats.

3. Using your dotting tool and the dark red nail polish place a few dots above the red line you painted and drag the dotting tool to connect the "drip" to your line. I found that dipping the dotting tool twice in my red nail polish and then dotting my nail with it made a good "drip". Continue this on all of your nails--unless you want fang marks..

4.I decided to add some fang marks to one of the ring fingers to add something a little different. Using the dotting tool I placed 2 dots side by side to resemble fang marks and used the dotting tool to add some drips of blood going away from them. 

Done! Now that wasn't hard was it?! 


If you try this manicure or any of my other tutorials I would love to see it!  You can upload it to my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/inkandcupcakes
 

or tag me on instagram with hashtag #inkandcupcakes. 

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @inkandcupcakes
 

Thank You!!
xoxo
Sarah

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Looking for fun in Texas?

Look no further. I have always heard wonderful things about the Natural Bridge Caverns but have never been myself. I am excited to take my family to explore the natural beauties on the Discovery Tour and pan for gems with my daughter! There is just so much fun for the entire family! I am sure my husband will want to try the Canopy Challenge!!


Naturally Amazing. Experience one of the world's premier caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns. Take the Discovery Tour and see what millions of others have seen - an incredible underground world of natural beauty. This 75-minute tour explores a half-mile of the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas. The Hidden Passages Tour gives guests an up-close view of rare and delicate cave formations illuminated by a state-of-the-art lighting system and includes a total darkness experience. Pan for gems, minerals and fossils like miners panned for gold at the Natural Bridge Mining Company. Take on the Canopy Challenge--a 4-level, 60 foot high challenge course and zip lines! Climb, navigate and hang while secured from a safety harness before you "zip" over the Hill Country on one of 4 zip lines. Recently opened, Discovery Village has new food, beverage and retail spaces along with a beautiful courtyard and 5,000 square foot outdoor maze. Picnic grounds also available. Open year-round starting at 9am, with special hours in spring and summer. My Readers Save $2 off an Adult and $1 off a Child's Discovery Tour ticket. Valid only on the Discovery Tour, cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit 6 per coupon.
 http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=8857&dealid=222
 For More information on Natural Bridge Caverns please visit http://www.naturalbridgecaverns.com



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