A UFO of Gastronomic Porportions

*I received this product free for reviewing purposes. All opinions are 100% my own*

In addition to being a beauty blogger I'm also a huge foodie. Food and lipstick, two of my favorite things. Now being a lover of food means sometimes I have a err....few more pounds on my hips than I'd like. Cupcakes man, they go straight to my butt. So in an attempt to eat healthier I've been looking at alternative ways to cook my veggies other than sauteed with butter and garlic, and when I was offered  chance to test out Sunsella's vegetable steamer I though this would be a match made in healthy food heaven.

First, can we all agree that this thing looks like a flying saucer when it's closed up? I actually have to hide this from my son because he thinks it's a space ship toy. In case you have no idea what a vegetable steamer is, this is kind of like a metal strainer you put into a pot with like an inch of water in it. The steamer hold the veggies up out of the water so they are cooked by the hot steam. More nutrients are preserved, everybody is happy. It hold enough for my family of three, but if you wanted to do a large batch you'd have to do several rounds.

Once opened up it was really quite large, and fit my large pot just fine. I think you could only halfway open it and put it into a medium sized pot, but I haven't tried that. The little ring makes it easy to lower into my pot and remove it once I'm done cooking. The only thing I didn't like are the metal prongs that keep the steamer above the water. I wish they were coated in silicone, I'm worried the prongs are going to scratch up my coated pots with repeated use. But other than that I liked it a lot. I haven't tried anything but veggies on it, but I imagine I could do dumplings and maybe even some fish fillet if they were on the smaller size like the tilapia I happen to have in my freezer.

With summer here are farmer's markets on every corner now is the time to enjoy some lighter, healthier fare. Or even steam and freeze fresh produce to enjoy later in the winter. For $13.99 with free Prime shipping, I think this is a good deal and really makes it easier to eat healthier. I'm trying to figure out how to cook an entire meal at one with it, which I think would be brilliant and so time saving.


This is actually the third time I wrote this post, so I apologize if it seemed shorter than my usual reviews. Blogger ate the draft as I was trying to publish it, and I scrapped a draft that really sucked, so this is what I ended up with. Add it lighting and camera issues and these are the makings of a frustrated blogger.

Grown Up Temporary Tattoos

*I received this product free for testing purposes. All opinions are 100% my own*

Hi guys, I know I've been pretty MIA lately, sorry about that. There's a lot of stuff going on in my personal life and I really just didn't have the energy to sit down and write. I'm back on track though and ready to review one of the funnest products I've ever been sent. Flash tattoos are metallic tattoos in what I could call adult designs. Many of the more popular designs are meant to mimic jewelry, making them great for summer time or parties where you don't want a heavy necklace bouncing around.

I will be the first to admit that I've turned down several offers to review flash tattoos, I always found them cheesy for some reason. But some of the designs that Veyo Life offered were really great looking so I agreed, figuring worst came to worst my son would enjoy them. I'm so glad I agreed to try these because I love them and wear them all the time now. The Veyo Life set is a pack of ten sheets with different designs on each page ranging from peacock feathers, to jewelry looking pieces, to some really fun beach designs. The whole pack is $21.99, with free Prime shipping, so just over $2 a sheet. Each sheet is about the size of half a sheet of paper, so I believe you get around 120 tattoos total, which is quite a lot of shiny tattoos.

These apply just like the temporary tattoos you get in the 25 cents machines, you cut it to size, peel the plastic part off, stick it to your skin, then wet and apply pressure for about 20 seconds. I never had a problem applying these, and they all came smoothly off the sheet. As far as lasting time it depends on what you are going to do. Things like the pool, sweating, and lotions/sunscreens will greatly reduce the lifespan of them. I think the longest any of the ones I tried lasted while still looking good was 3 days (on my chest), which is pretty decent. Obviously the ones I applied to my hand and fingers were gone by the end of the day thanks to hand washing, but they looked really neat all day.

I've been wearing these out and about since I first got them and I get so many compliments on them, way more than when I just wear jewelry. These really are the perfect summer accessory, and I would buy them again in a heartbeat. I think this particular brand has the widest selection of designs that I've seen so far, so I think there is something in here for everybody. And with pool parties and music festivals right around the corner these would be a great investment.

If you want to see more of how I wear and style these tattoos, make sure you are following me on Instagram. If you've tried flash tattoos, let me know in the comments what you think of them

The Not So Fun Side of Summer Time

There are probably a hundred songs (at least) dedicated to the joys of summer, The warm breeze, picnics and sandy beaches, summer flings. The list goes on and on, but I dare you to name one song about the reality of summer. The sweat spots under your breasts, bug bites, sun burns, lizard skin, and melting makeup. These are the facts of summer that never gets discussed, or even want to be discussed. But I'm going to discuss the, because that's what I do. Consider this a summer refresher course, and maybe you'll learn a new trick or two. For easy reading I have divided each topic up and bolded the title, so you can find the specific topics that concern or interest you

UV Protection
The big thing everybody always talks about during the summer season is sunscreen, for obvious reasons. Skin cancer is a pretty serious topic, did you know melanoma accounts for almost half of the cancer cases in the United States? Most Doctors recommend wearing a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 whenever you go out in the sun. The sun's harmful effects don't go away just because its cold outside. More and more foundations and BB Creams come with built in SPF, so it is becoming easier to protect yourselves. But ears, necks (especially the back of the neck), and any other exposed skin also needs to be covered.

Did you know that UV rays can also damage your hair? The dry, crunchy hair you experience during the summer isn't just from extra time in the pool. The heat will dry it out while the UV rays will fry it. Think of it as a sunburn on your hair. Wearing a hat obviously protects your hair and face from the sun, but sometimes a hat just isn't in the picture. There are plenty of spray treatments for hair that protect against heat and UV damage. My particular spray of choice is the Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle Spray, it is specially formulated to provide the sort of protection your hair needs during the summer.

And to round out the UV/sun damage discussion, let's chat about eyes for a second. Just like how the sun damages your skin and hair, it can also damage the sensitive cells in your eyes. Best case scenario you get dry red eyes and need eye drops one day, worst case is cancer or permanent vision damage. Make sure your sunglasses are both UVA and UBA protected, and if you wear regular glasses like I do inquire about getting a protective filter put on. The place I got my last pair offered this as a free add on.

Moisture Loss
Please excuse the creepy sounding header, I literally could not think of another way to phrase that. And now I'm going to use an equally creepy analogy, because that's how I roll today I guess. If you stick a chicken breast into the oven and you leave it in to long, it gets dried out. Dry chicken is nasty, and nobody likes lit. Think of your body as that hunk of chicken and the heat/sun as the oven. You stay in it to long and you get dried out (or burned, but we'll get to that in a second), but unlike the chicken there is hope for you. I highly doubt any of you need to be told to drink more water and put lotion on dry skin, so I won't waste time writing about that. I just want to talk about some of the interesting products out there to help you moisturize your skin. Slather on lotion is not always appealing and can be time consuming, but spraying some on it not only quick but cool and refreshing. Vaseline makes a body lotion spray that I've heard nothing but good things about, and there are lots of face spritzers on the market. Evian makes one, Avene makes one, my personal favorite is the Complexion Quenching Facial Mist by Air Repair. I've talked about it before but this product is really designed to help sun dried and damaged skin.

Feeling the Burn
Accidents happen, or maybe you just burn really easy like my husband. But at one point or another you are going to deal with a sun burn. There are three categories of burns, 1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree. 1st degree burns are the burns we typically associate with sunburns, a nice red burn that is warm to the touch and varying level of painful. These don't need to be seen by a medical professional typically, unless it is on a sensitive area (hello nude sun bathing) or very large. These can be treated with aloe vera gel (find some with lidocaine in it and keep it in the fridge, you'll thank me later) and some OTC pain pills. 2nd degree burns are when the area is burnt and has begun to blister and possibly swell. These are incredibly painful and may require medical attention. If it is a small area you can typically treat the same as a first degree burn, but if you're talking full back burn and blisters then you should probably seek medical advice instead of listening to a blogger on the Internet. 3rd degree burns are what happen to that chicken if you continued to leave it in the oven. These require medical attention immediately, and are very serious. The burn has gone completely past the skin, this is not something you can treat at home. Those shipwreck victims found after a week at sea who look like someone set fire to them, that's a 3rd degree burn caused by the sun. It happens, so please pay attention and be careful.

I'm going to end this topic here, but I'll pick it back up tomorrow with melting makeup, the great outdoors strikes back, and the products I cannot live without during the summer. If there is a topic or a question you'd like me to cover please let me know down below in the comments and I will do my best to answer it.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Its the first weekend of August, can you believe it? Hopefully you'll find a tip or two to help your weekends (and weekdays) run a little smoother.

• Summer sun leave your skin a little rougher or drier than you'd like? Look no further than your kitchen for a solution. Sugar, olive oil, and a bit of lemon juice is all you need to make a fantastic scrub that will leave your skin looking and feeling amazing.
• August can be an incredibly hot and humid month so keep that in mind when applying your makeup. Cheek stains will last longer than powder blush, and many cream eyeshadows have incredible lasting power. Humid days may be the best time to let your natural beauty to shine through.
• Some skin products, like anti-aging creams and prescription acne medications, can leave you photosensitive and easily burned in the bright sun.  If you are using these products, make sure you always wear sunscreen and probably a hat as well just to be safe.
• Suffer from sweaty underboobs? I do during the summer, so I use my deodorant to help keep me dry and sweat rash free. Cornstarch lightly dusted under there can work as well, just don't use to much or you'll be a mess.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, which means a 3 day weekend for most people. Amide all the BBQ's you'll be attending be sure to pause for a moment and reflect on the men and women who gave their life in the service of this country. I'll be making a trip Monday to visit my father's grave for a little while. Here are some tips and tricks to help your 3 day weekend run a little smoother.

-Holiday weekends mean BBQ's and long days outdoors so pick an outfit that can be easily layered for when the temperature finally drops in the evening. A light cardigan or jacket makes the perfect accessory to take you from warm days to cool nights.

-Sunscreen is a must for an all day outdoor event. Layer your sunscreen under your makeup, but make sure you give it time to soak in before you apply anything else. I like to put my sunscreen on then do my hair while I wait for it to dry and soak in. That way I get the maximum benefit in both sun protection AND time saving.

-Over do the sun? Invest in an aloe vera gel with some sort of numbing agent in it, like lidocain. I buy the big jugs of it at Rite Aid every other year and I store it in my fridge on days that I know we'll be outside all day. My husband is super pale and burns easily so I know I'll be needing it when we get home. Take an anti-inflammatory as well to help with the pain and swelling typically associated with a nasty sun burn.

-There is skin on the top of your head too, so either spray sunscreen there or invest in a nice sun hat. There is nothing more painful than a burned scalp, and peeling skin can make any dandruff you have ten times worst.

Product Review: ELF Studio Tinted Lip Balm

My technical problem has been fixed so back to our regularly scheduled (but late) programming, but keep your eye out for an extra post over the next few days to make up for the lateness.

Now that it's finally sunny here is rainy Oregon my beauty routine is switching up a bit. Gone are my dark plum lip glosses, say hello to some tinted lip balm with SPF already built in. During the giant haul of E.L.F. (EyesLipsFace Cosmetics) makeup I purchased back in March, I picked up 3 of their Studio line's Tinted Lip Balm in Clear, Rose, and Peach for $3 each. They have quickly become my favorite lip product from E.L.F. and I think you guys will like them too. Plus with the SPF 15 added in, you can look lovely AND avoid getting sun damaged lips.

First up is the clear, this is my day to day plain lip balm when I want a little bit of moisture. It doesn't really add any shine, which is fine, and as I said there is no color on this one. All of them have a slight mint flavor/scent and give my lips a slight tingling sensation (not to strong though, no burning here!). I like to use this when I'm putting around the house or doing a no makeup or basic makeup day.

Next is the rose one, which is my favorite out of the three. The color is gorgeous and works so well with almost any look I'm doing, though I like it best for when I'm doing soft eyes or a neutral face. I think the color is neutral enough that it would work on everybody.

Lastly is the peach one. This is a tricky color to really pull off, and I'm just finally starting to rock it now that the sunny weather is upon us. Since it's such a warm color, pale complexions might have trouble wearing it without it looking a bit clownish. But if you're darker and warm skinned then this is the summer color for you. Word of advise, make sure you exfoliate your lips before hand, this color will highlight every single crack and chunk of dry skin on your lips. This one comes across much more orange on my lips than it does in the swatch, which is a little weird I think. On my lips it is very close to how it looks in the tube.

All 3 of these are great, though the rose is probably my favorite out of them. Next time I place an order with ELF I'll pick up the other colors for sure. If you use these what is your favorite color?

Seasonal Makeup

I don't know where you live, but right now it is sunny and gorgeous in my neck of the woods (though to be fair this is Oregon so that could change by time I hit publish) and my head is full of summer plans. Warm weather means more than just shorts though, it means you need to adapt your beauty routine from winter time to summer time. The deep plums and rich blushes of winter will look out of place in the balmy summer months, and heavy moisturizers may not be needed now that the cold air isn't sucking all of the moisture from my skin. So here's a quick guide to help you shift your beauty routine like the shifting seasons.

Skin Care: Winter time calls for heavier moisturizers to counteract the drying air and dull skin requires more exfoliating to keep it looking smooth. Ditch the heavy lotion for a lighter one (with SPF!) to keep your skin soft without being overly greasy. Extra time outside enjoying the sun means more exposure to harmful ray which can not only prematurely age your skin but will increase your risk for skin cancers. Make sure all of your products contain some level of SPF, especially those areas you typically forget like your lips, and pick up a tube of sunscreen to use when you plan on spending any amount of time outside.

Colors: While winter called for darker, deeper colors, like my favorite deep plum lipstick, summer colors should be brighter to reflect the changing season. A coral lipstick looks great this time of year, or that bold pink you've been coveting for months now. Now is a perfect time to play with the pantone color of the year, orchid eyeshadow screams spring time to me.

Face: As the temperatures soar keep in mind that a heavy face of makeup will be more prone to melting and slipping all over the place, nobody wants to wipe their eyeliner off their cheek. Invest in a tinted moisturizer (with SPF!) and some cheek stains to help keep everything light and less likely to melt on you. Heavy eye makeup can pose the same problem, so either use a makeup setting spray or use a lighter hand when applying.

Tanning: I can't say this enough, exposure to the harmful rays of the sun can have very nasty effects of you. The days of oiling yourself up and sitting in the sun all day should be tossed aside like hammer pants, never to be thought of again. If you crave a golden tan, invest in a good bronzer for your face and maybe give some fake tan a try. Word of warning, self tanners will stain your hands so either use a tanner mitt or have a professional do it for you.