Get Sculpted and Bronzed with Mary Kay®

Get Sculpted and Bronzed with Mary Kay®

Aug 31, 2015

I’ve been given the opportunity to try out a pair of looks for Mary Kay®, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I obviously love playing with makeup and being given the chance to try two looks that will be featured on Project Runway this season is thrilling. I’ve never used Mary Kay® products before so everything about their brand was new to me. I didn’t know if their liners were soft, their colors long lasting, or if their shadows were pigmented. Because I have darker skin pigment, makeup is a huge deal for me.

I had two looks to work with as was given everything I needed to create them. I dove into the first look, the Sculpted Look, because that’s just more my style. I love playing up my eyes but have yet to get into the brow craze that’s been happening for the last few months, so it was great to be able to give that a shot. I’ve always been one to keep my brows full because it always worked for me, but I didn’t realize how much I could benefit from giving them a bit of attention as part of my makeup routine. 

Using the brow liner and brow gel really worked wonders and now I can’t believe I never tried this look. In terms of my lips, using the lip liner in dark chocolate and then the semi shimmery true dimension lipstick gave my lips a luscious look. 

When it came to the Bronze Glow, I was blown away by the colors. They were subtle when I put them on my hand just to test them out but put together gave a natural yet made up look that I can wear every day. 

Overall, I was really impressed with these products by Mary Kay® because they have all the qualities that I look for in my makeup which are: lasting colors, highly pigmented and pretty to look at in their packaging!

For more beauty looks and information on Mary Kay® products, you can visit their website, visit the Mary Kay® Project Runway page, follow them on Facebook, and watch their videos on YouTube!

Which look do you want to try for yourself? Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a Mary Kay® prize pack! Each comment will automatically be entered to win. 

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 8/31/2015 – 9/27/2015

Be sure to visit Mary Kay’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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20 Things That Make Me Happy

20 Things That Make Me Happy

Aug 30, 2015

I love making lists. They help me stay organized, they give me something fun to write about and they’re a cheat sheet into the life of Diane. I originally wanted to list 10 things because it’s short and sweet but I’ve never been one to make a long story short so here are 20 things that make me happy in no particular order.

1. Waking up naturally
2. The pop of a champagne cork
   
3. Achieving goals
4. Quoting Seinfeld 
5. Knowing my worth
6. Feeling a cool breeze while I’m napping
7. The final pre-boarding drink 
   
8. Doing absolutely nothing with my family
9. Having my friends never say ‘I told you so’
10. Fitting into an old dress
11. Mini picnics on the Champ de Mars while the sun sets behind the Eiffel Tower 
    
12. Rose macarons
13. Making French press coffee 
    
14. Singing in the shower
15. My perfectly crafted Tears For Fears Pandora station
16. Writing
17. Waterproof eyeliner 
18. Amazon Prime
19. Personal snail mail
20. Making lists. Did you think I was going to leave that out? I don’t think so.

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Getting Myself Fall Ready From Head to Toe

Getting Myself Fall Ready From Head to Toe

Thank you CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™ for sponsoring this post. To learn more about CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™visit them online, and to purchase, head to Walgreens.com or Target.com.

Just like my previous post where I mentioned transitioning into the fall with my face I am also making sure that the damage from the sun on my hair can be slightly reversed.  In the last week alone I’ve been in pools, hung out at the beach, and spent tons of time  outdoors under the hot sun. This means that my hair and scalp have been getting fried.

I don’t spend much time at the hair salon or blow drying my hair during the summer months because my hair is just going to curl or frizz up immediately but during the fall I always keep my hair super straight which means that my scalp gets tugged, burned and my strands feel nothing but heat from a blow dryer and straightener. This is why I have to make sure that I use products that can help keep my hair super healthy and protected. 

The Dream Team

So far I’ve been using CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™ Intense Hydration Nourishing Shampoo and Nourishing Daily Conditioner and I like the results so far. When I started using this product I wasn’t quite deep into the straightening so I would use them and let my hair air dry. I really liked how my hair was still super soft when it dried and I could tell that it was still highly moisturized which is going to come in handy when I head back to the cold and the drying wind gets a hold of me.

Launched in 2012, CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™ doesn’t just focus on the strands but also the scalp and before I heard of this line I honestly never cared about my scalp. As long as my hair looked great and my ends were cut, I was happy. But I like knowing that I can use just two products to take care of my both my scalp and my hair thanks to all the things it’s formulated with to keep it all moisturized, like vitamins B5, C & E, sunflower, coconut, soybean and almond oils and aloe vera. 

I love when my hair is nice and straight thanks to a great shampoo & conditioner

I’m excited to see the continued progress that this line does to my hair and now I am truly taking care of myself from head to toe!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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PERK Air Fresheners are What Your Car's Been Waiting For!

PERK Air Fresheners are What Your Car's Been Waiting For!

Aug 27, 2015

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PERK for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have to admit it. Or maybe I don’t have to, but I’m not a car person. Driving isn’t my forte. Blame the New York City girl in me. But being that work has me constantly getting in and out of new luxury cars I’ve come to appreciate their design, the detail that’s put into them and of course the smell!

A new car smells like heaven to me. It just makes me think of something that’s new (duh), clean, untouched and ready to get some use and thanks to PERK Vent Wrap I get to smell that whenever I want! 

PERK Vent Wrap has a line of air fresheners that aren’t overpowering and have great scents. They’re long lasting and you can notice them right away. And unlike other types that are obvious, eyesores or you have to be careful not to spill, these are Vent Wraps that slide in discreetly into the vent of your car so it’s totally out of the way. Plus putting it on your vent blade is easy and it doesn’t disrupt the flow of air so you don’t have to sacrifice your coolness (or warmth) for a nice smelling car.

Each PERK package comes as a 4-pack and with each lasting 15 days you have 60 days of the fragrance per pack and can be found at Walmart, Target. AutoZone, CVS....tons of places! And if you want your car to have something other than a new car they come in a bunch of other fragrances like Golden Vanilla, Caribbean Colada and Summer Berry so there’s a scent for everyone.

So if you want to try PERK for yourself here if your chance. I’m hosting a giveaway where the winner will receive:

6 month supply of PERK products/fragrance

1 PERK travel mug

2 pairs of PERK sunglasses (1 green and 1 black)

So tell me what you think! Check out their site and let me know which scent you’d like to try and why that’s your favorite. And while you wait to see if you're the lucky winner here's a $1 off PERK coupon for a dollar off your favorite PERK fragrance!

PERK’s Facebook

Don't forget to check out this video to learn all about how it works!

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Adding AmaZING Sweetness to my Coffee

Adding AmaZING Sweetness to my Coffee

Aug 12, 2015

Thank you Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener for sponsoring this post. Try NEW Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener to sweeten up your life!

Saturday mornings are great. I get to sleep in, take my time getting out of bed, and I don’t have
to leave my apartment until I want to. Plus, I get to enjoy my coffee at my own pace without
having to stop to answer the phone or put out fires at work.


I’ve had this amazing coffee grinder for a few months now and nothing makes me happier than
making french press coffee on super chill day. Grinding the beans, steeping the hot water and
finally pouring out the smoothest, richest coffee ever gives me a bit of a thrill. I normally like to
drink it black or with a tiny bit of creamer and not have it too sweet but lately I've been itching for
some sweetness and Born Sweet® Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener was the answer to
that. Sometimes I can't handle the bitter taste of black coffee and creamer or milk doesn't
always agree with my stomach or taste buds so I'm glad I found a great way to sweeten the
deal.

I really like that Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener gives me that sweet taste that I'm missing
without having a funny aftertaste that kills the coffee mood—plus it’s made with only real ingredients, nothing artificial. Also, it's got zero calories so it lets me adhere to my desire to eat clean and save on that. I plan on making a nice big brunch for my friends in a couple of weeks and they'll be really happy to know that I'll be making some sweet desserts that won't make them regret coming over the next day.

With Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener, I’ve found a way to keep something sweet at home
for my coffees, teas, and juices that I won’t regret and think you’ll feel the same way. Plus, one packet of Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener has the sweetness of 2 teaspoons of sugar and is best when sprinkled over fruits, or into coffee or tea.

Want to know exactly what I’m talking about? Why not add some ZING™ TO YOUR LIFE and
give your taste buds something new and amaZING to be excited about -- try new Zing™
Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener for yourself! Get a Free Sample of Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia
Sweetener.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Treat Yourself with a Crispy Snack

Treat Yourself with a Crispy Snack

Aug 9, 2015

Being a fan of sweets it's been so hard for me to keep my sweet tooth in check these days while trying to be super healthy. I’ve been eating salads, making my green juices everything morning and going to the gym almost every day. Staying away from the things I love the most like chocolate, chips and carbs has been a struggle. But then I realized that I don’t have cut all of those things off. I just needed to enjoy them all in moderation along with my diet and exercise routine. Thankfully I’m able to have one of the things that I love without adding too many extra calories to my day. 

That's why I really love that M&M’S® Crispy’s are back. What I love about then is that with only 180 calories a pack I can eat half or a whole bag without feeling like I'm doing something awful and breaking my diet. I love the milk chocolate taste along with the crunch that the puff center adds to it. My favorite way of eating these is to put them in the fridge so that they get super cool and then just snack on them while I’m sitting on my balcony writing or catching up on some shows. I feel like this gives the puff center a bit of an extra bite and the smooth milk chocolate just tastes a bit better that way. 

Add caption

M&M’S® Crispy’s have really been my go-to chocolate fix ever since I was introduced to them. I never had them when they were first on the market, or maybe I just don’t remember, but now that I’m becoming a bit of a choco-holic it’s great to know that I can always grab a bag of these and eat them throughout the day when the mood strikes.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Izze Sparking Water-A Great Organic Beverage Alternative

Izze Sparking Water-A Great Organic Beverage Alternative

Aug 4, 2015

Cutting boards make the best serving trays

These days, now that my balcony area is getting really decked out and pretty I've been spending more and more time out there. I recently had my friend Jess over for some girl talk and catching up after my trips to Mexico and NYC and decided to have our hangout outdoors once the sun went down.

It was already after dinner so I didn't need to make a big meal or anything heavy so I just put out some crackers, hummus and a cheese spread to munch on while we chatted. She's not a drinker of alcohol and is very into eating organic and clean as much as possible so I knew I soda was out of the question. Plus, I had to get over my habit of drinking that all the time myself. I still wanted something that was more than just water so I was so glad that Izze Sparking Water came into my life.

Enjoying some snacks as the sunsets in SoCal

I've been a sparking water drinker for some time but I've found that it could be a little too carbonated. This meant that if I didn't finish it all in one shot it would go flat and lose it's appeal. Izze Sparking Water is a really nice take on this. Not only are the new flavors that I got organic (which made Jess very happy!) but they aren't super carbonated. This meant that I was able to finish a sentence without feeling overwhelmed by the bubbles.

Of the three new flavors we enjoyed the Raspberry Watermelon and Mandarin Lime the best. The flavors in these sparkling waters were very tasty and didn't feel artificial all and that's because they aren't. I kicked the Raspberry Watermelon one up a notch by freezing some raspberries and putting them in the glass to keep our drinks cold while we savored them.

Iced Raspberries helped keep our drinks cool

Izze Sparking Waters come in 12-oz singles or 4-packs, which I recommend, because on is just not enough. For $.129 and $3.99 each they're a great alternative to water when you want to be hydrated in a healthy way but want some really good flavor. These are going to be a staple in my fridge for get-togethers and are a great way to get me off of drinking soda! Plus, being that the fruits added are organic, along with the cane sugar, this goes along with my desire to each clean for the month of August. It's a win. I totally recommend these over other carbonated beverages as a healthier alternative to any gatherings on what's left of this summer and beyond.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Earning Cash Back with Splender, Yes, Please!

Earning Cash Back with Splender, Yes, Please!

Aug 2, 2015

I started using Spender a few weeks ago when I was asked to try it out and so far I love it. I do a lo of online shopping so the chance to get a rebate on what I purchase is a win-win. I've used other online rebate stores before but non have compared to Splender. This site is incredibly smooth and doesn’t bombard you with tons of ads or crazy colors. 

To start, the cash back deals are more than double at the places I shop. I buy thing from Sephora on a monthly basis and with Splender, I not only got 10% cash back, but I won't have to wait almost 90 days to receive the money. I'll have it cleared within 45 days of my purchase and not have to deal with quarterly periods. That's a total win. I normally don’t buy items on Sephora’s sale section so saving a few bucks thanks to the 10% back in the end worked out really well because I was able to buy a bit more. 

The process was simple: I logged into my Slender account, searched Sephora, and when it redirected me to the site I made the purchase like I normally would have. Splender gets a kick back from Sephora for sending me there and then they share a portion of that with me. It’s an extra discount

Their site is really easy to navigate and I liked that they have my staple store: Sephora, Famous Footwear and Frederick's of Hollywood. I was able to purchase some of my favorite items from Sephora and not get a rebate but also got a great deal on a fragrance sample pack. It was great to have everything in one site instead of going back and forth between sites to find great coupons. 

So nice to earn some cash back when I purchase my staples

The goods in their new home

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Going Back to the Gym: One Step at a Time

Going Back to the Gym: One Step at a Time

Aug 1, 2015

Oh the gym. My ultimate enemy! I'm part of that group of people that can gain a pound just by looking at food but can't lose one if even if I cut off a limb. Not unless I'm super serious about it. About five years ago I was at my prime thanks to spending 1.5 hours on the elliptical 7 days a weeks (yes, it was a bit excessive) and relying on a diet of vodka and baby fist fulls of food. It was extremely unhealthy but it worked, as does any diet when you're in your 20's.

Now, my body is singing a different tune. I got so used to eating heavy meals that I'm actually hungry for breakfast because I started to cut back on how much I eat for dinner and I get so tired doing laundry in my apt. I live in a 3 story condo with the washer/dryer on the bottom level and my bedroom on the 3rd so I do a lot of walking up and down stairs. But I shouldn't get tired doing that. A all! So I'm getting back to the gym and really trying to push myself into creating and sticking to a routine that I can handle.

I recently re-joined 24 Hour Fitness because it's walking distance from my apartment and already started going last week. I'm trying to work my way up to a few spin classes a week, pending my work schedule, and doing 60 minutes on the elliptical in on shot at least 5 times a week. I've gotta say, these first few days have been tough. Just using the elliptical for 30 minutes make the walk up to my bedroom dreadful. But I can't stop and I won't. I also know not to push myself.

I do plan on doing some form of exercise everyday even if it just means taking the long way to get coffee on a weekend day or attempting to do yoga--which would be good for my mind as well as my body. I've been lucky enough to finally have a steady schedule so I'm going to keep going to the gym before work on the days that I can't spin, and then force myself to work a bit late and then head on over there on the days that I can take a 7 or 8pm spin class.  I can already predict my reaction to it all: pure dread. But it's gotta be done. It all starts with one day that will turn into a week, month, and so on.

So let's see how it goes. I'm feel like I'm going to have every minute accounted for between working out regularly and spending time in the kitchen prepping my meals but it'll be all worth it and will totally make my 100 days of finding happiness so much easier when I can do laundry without wanting to collapse on my bed and fitting into my super cute clothes again.

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31 Days of Clean Eating

31 Days of Clean Eating

Here I go again! After months of constantly eating out and cooking delicious (yet not so healthy meals) for my boyfriend I hopped on the scale last week and realized that it was time to cut back! I just had another birthday yesterday and it reminded me that the older I'm getting, the harder it is to bounce back after vacation or dating related weight gain.

Ever since I moved to LA I've dabbled in the art of clean eating and the more I did it the more I really liked it. Cooking is one of my favorite things to do so being able to create delicious and super healthy meals really excites me. Making meals totally from scratch is a bit more time consuming but it's all worth it and it gives me time to read or write while I'm waiting for things to get done.

I haven't done groceries in ages so it was nice to get a fresh start and not feel like I had tons of food that was going to go bad out of neglect. Before I really dove in to buying tons of food I started off with a 3 day cleanse that I've done with my cousin a few times. I always think that it's a great way to get my body prepared for what's to come and it gives me more time to properly plan my meals. Since I'm working full time and also planning on writing a ton starting this month I have to make sure that my meals are properly planned and prepped every day.

I'm really excited to get things going with this and I will of course document every step of the way. I'm going to try to not only make everything super tasty but also affordable. It's so easy to eat unhealthy because of how cheap it all is but luckily, here in SoCal, fruits and veggies won't break the bank. I'm also going to make use of my organic cilantro and basil that I've been growing as much as possible.

 My friend Jennifer (not to get confused with my cousin/co-writer Jenniffer) is doing 100 days of crafting starting today and suggested I join in on the fun. I've been a bit down lately so I'm taking her up on her offer to have 100 days of finding happiness. Creative cooking makes me happy, as does slimming down, so this is going to a be an interesting month and a nice fresh start to a new year on this planet.

Let the games begin!

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