Fysiko eyelash growth serum

So, I'm a complete sucker for beauty products.  I try to be as low maintenance as possible, but there's always a new product that sucks me in and takes up more time in my morning routine.  #girlygirlproblems.

I mentioned in this post that I was chosen by Influenster to test out fysiko eyelash growth serum.  From the Fysiko website:

"FYSIKO eyelash growth serum is not an eye makeup or mascara. FYSIKO eyelash growth serum is a powerful eyelash growth serum that is safe to use.  FYSIKO eyelash growth serum has been clinically proven to safely and effectively lengthen eyelashes and eyebrows. FYSIKO eyelash growth serum also contains a proprietary blend of ingredients, which has also been clinically proven to improve the appearance of damaged eyelashes and eyebrows."

I've never really thought of my eyelashes as being short.  I always say, however, that I couldn't live without mascara, and some testimonials have said that they no longer needed mascara after using Fysiko, so that definitely had me intrigued!  

Once I received the product, Influenster suggested taking a before pic of my lashes.  Here is that lovely photo for you guys:

 Ugh.  sans makeup.  Sorry you had to see that, readers.  See what I mean though?  My lashes were by no means short....they were by no means long, either, I guess I just never really thought about their length much, haha.  

I'm in my third week of using Fysiko now, and I am definitely noticing a difference!  My lashes are definitely much fuller!  Here's a pic:

Now, I know you can't really see a difference at all, (they may actually look shorter here in this one?) but I promise you guys I can see results!  The program lasts 16 weeks, so stay tuned for more updates on my progress! 

xoxo

Favorite things

I'm back! Sorry for the mini hiatus! 

I'm constantly on the lookout for new (or even just new to me) things to obsess over.  These things can be anything from a tv show that I can't stop watching to a new store that's draining my bank account.  Also, I love reading/learning about others' obsessions!  Here are a few things that I've been loving recently.

1. Lush

 Oh man.  I've always been a fan of lush.  I've never had one super close to me, so it's always been a spot that I've stopped at during my travels.  However, one just opened up in my mall and I've probably been there every day since.  I've not been able to experience the greatness that is lush until now!  I don't have to ration my products to last until I get to visit another lush/have time to order online, and it's glorious.  Stay tuned for a future post on all of my favorite Lush products :-).

2. Online Freebies

 Who doesn't love free stuff?  I've been known to scour the internet for fun freebies for hours at a time.  One of my favorite freebie blogs is Sara Saves.  She posts coupons/freebies that are actually things that she would use herself, instead of posting every single freebie and/or coupon that she comes across like other blogs.  

Another great way to get online freebies is Influenster.  If you are a social media junkie, influesnter is the spot for you.  It is basically a community of people who rate the latest and greatest products so that you can read up on things before you decide to buy.  Also, they have regular campaigns where they select a group of people to test new products and write reviews about them.  Recently, I was selected to review Fysiko eyelash growth serum!  I'm so excited to try it out!  Stay tuned for my reviews! 

3. The Mindy Project

 It's official.  I want to be Mindy Kaling's best friend.  I've loved her since Kelly Kapoor in the office, but her new show, The Mindy Project, brings my obsession to another level.  If you've never watched this show, do yourself a favor and start watching.  I promise you will probably finish the season within a day or so.  It's that funny.  

What are some of your favorite things?  Let me know so I can go check them out! :-)

xoxo

New Addition!

Two posts in one day.  Woah.  I feel like it's needed though, because today, something amazing happened...

The bunny shaped hole in my heart has finally been filled by this little peanut.

If you couldn't already tell, I'm in love.  We're not sure if we have a girl or boy yet, because he or she is too young to tell.  Anyone have any amazing name ideas?  Also, anyone have any tips and/or tricks for bunny owners?

xoxo

Reflection

I'm about to get deep here.  Bear with me.

On Tuesday, I celebrated my 25th birthday.  Instead of being excited for birthdays, like I normally am, I was in a huge funk over this one.  Being 25 means I'm no longer in my early twenties.  Also, when I thought about where I wanted my life to be once I turned 25, I was nowhere close.  I'm not doing my dream job, I'm not married, and until recently, I was still living at home.  

These little reasons snowballed into a big thing that really just brought me down.  I was truly dreading the arrival of March 12.  

But then, something happened.  My birthday came, and I had a really great day. 

Nothing spectacular happened, but a bunch of great little things did occur: the girls at work got me cupcakes and the sweetest card.  My fiance made me birthday dinner and got me a nook gift card.  I got a free birthday drink at Starbucks.  My mom and dad brought me lunch at work and ate with me.  I won $19 on lottery scratch off tickets.  

These might not have been major things, but they made me come to the realization that even know I'm not living the perfect vision that I had for myself at 25, I'm still doing all right.  I have a guy who loves me.  I have an amazing group of friends.  My family is as supportive and amazing as ever.  I may not be working at my dream job, but I have a job.  I've finally moved out of my parents house.  

Most importantly, I've grown so much in the past couple of years.  I have to say, I'm kind of proud of the woman I've become.

So bring it on, 25.  Can't wait to see what you have in store for me.

xoxo

style icon

By no means do I consider myself a fashionista.  I have to wear suits for work, so I don't have much room for creativity there.  When I'm not working, I go for comfort.  Jeans and a cotton tee, with maybe a cardigan over top of it is pretty much my uniform.  

However, when I'm feeling like I need to give my look a boost, I look to none other than everyone's favorite TV guidance counselor, Emma Pillsbury from Glee.  This girl can rock a cardigan like no other.  Also, her statement necklace collection (another staple of mine) is amazing.  

Who are your style icons?

 

My honorable mentions include: Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, and Reese Witherspoon

xoxo

Warm and Fuzzy

It's time to get a bit mushy on the great dane.  Today is the seventh anniversary for my wonderful fiance and I.

 

This has been an amazing seven years, babe, and I can't wait to see what the future will bring us.  I love you so much, and I cannot wait to marry you!

xoxo

2013 Oscars

I love award shows, but the Oscars are my favorite.  Those who know me know that I am a huge movie fanatic.  I make it a personal goal to see all of the major films nominated for Academy Awards every year.  This year's round up has been nothing short of amazing!  This Sunday, when she show is on, you can bet that I will be parked on the couch for the entirety of it.

I have yet to see all of the films, unfortunately, but based on what I've seen so far, here are my predictions for who will win, and my thoughts on who should win the major categories of the evening.  

Best Picture:

Who will probably win: Argo

Who should win: Zero Dark Thirty

Ok, I'll admit, I haven't seen Argo yet, so my mind may change, but I really think Zero Dark Thirty should take home the gold.  Sitting in the movie theater seeing this movie....I was actually nervous for the characters, even though I knew how it ended!  That, my friends, is what makes a good movie.  

Best Actor:

Who will probably win: Daniel Day-Lewis

Who should win:  Daniel Day-Lewis, although Bradley Cooper gets an honorable mention

Daniel Day-Lewis played such an amazing Lincoln.  He definitely deserves recognition for this role.  However, Bradley Cooper's character in Silver Lining's playbook was fantastic as well.  His character really brought the stigma that surrounds mental illness in society today to light.  A job well done to both, this one will be a tough call.

Best Actress:

Who will probably win: Jessica Chastain

Who should win: Quvenzhané Wallis

Words cannot express how much I love the movie Zero Dark Thirty, and if Jessica wins this category it will be well deserved.  However, I think it's amazing that Quvenzhane Wallis is nominated at such a young age.  Beasts of the Southern Wild is not the typical movie that tends to dominate the Oscars.  Just think how great it would be for this little peanut to get the recognition that she (and the movie) deserves!

Best Supporting Actor:

Who will probably win: Robert DeNiro or Tommy Lee Jones

Who should win: Christoph Waltz

To be honest, I really would love for any of these guys to win.  However, Christoph Waltz is such an amazing actor, and he rarely gets the recognition he deserves.  Tarantino found a good one with him!  His character in Django was perfect, so I really hope he wins.

Best Supporting Actress:

Who will probably win: Anne Hathaway

Who should win:  Jackie Weaver

I'm not super pumped about any of the actresses in this category.  I do, however, think Jackie Weaver played an outstanding, overbearing mother in Silver Lining's playbook.  

Who do you think will win/should win these awards on Sunday?  

xoxo

 

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, real or fictional, who would it be, and why?

I'm not sure about anyone else, but this is one of my favorite questions to get asked!  However, I also think it's one of the hardest questions to answer!  Seriously though, the options are endless, and how could anyone pick just one person?

I narrowed it down to my top five:

 1. Mr. Feeny: Growing up in the 90's, I never missed an episode of Boy Meets World.  In fact, finding out that it is on ABC Family every weekday morning makes getting up early for work a little bit easier.  I remember always wishing that I had a Mr. Feeny character in my life.  Seriously, this man gave the best advice to Corey and the gang, even when they didn't ask for it.  I would love to pick his brain about, well, everything.  

 2. Abby Lee Miller: I won't lie, this woman completely intimidates me.  However, that's one of the reasons I really respect her.  She has made such an impact in the show business world.  Even before Dance Moms was on tv, she was a well known name.  She pushes her students hard and may come off a bit harsh, but she does it because she wants to see them dancing professionally someday.  I love that as long as her students show her they are willing to work hard, she will do anything and everything that she possibly can to turn them into stars.  

 3. Vincent Van Gogh: I can remember Van Gogh being my first "favorite artist."  The painting Starry Night has always been one of my favorite paintings.  The rest of Van Gogh's work is just as painfully beautiful.  He saw the world in the most stunning way, and I would love to take a look at things through his eyes.  

 4. Tina Fey: I love Tina Fey, and I want to be best friends with her.  I love that she is gorgeous and successful, and yet she doesn't take herself seriously like the rest of Hollywood seems to.  Her confidence is contagious, and I can really get behind her message of female empowerment to young women.  

5. Quentin Tarantino: Tarantino is probably one of the most brilliant directors in Hollywood today.  I love that although we live in such a politically correct world, he's not afraid to push the limits and turn his movies into anything but politically correct.  He doesn't care who he offends with his movies.  I have no doubt that this man will continue to do great things in the future.  

There are, of course, many others I could add to this list, but for now, these are what I have it narrowed down to.  

So, readers, if you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, real or fictional, who would it be, and why?

xoxo

my favorite handmade jewelry

It's no secret that I love jewelry.  The more sparkle, the better.  Also, I can't help but love any pieces that are handmade!  You can just see the extra love that goes in to a handmade piece of jewelry, and who wouldn't love supporting a small business? 

Here are three sites where I get my favorite handmade jewelry from: 

1. Spike the Punch : Oh man.  Words cannot even begin to express how much I love Spike the Punch.  I can remember when I first fell in love with Spike the Punch back on etsy.  The hand-painted crystal Rainey necklaces were absolutely love at first sight!  It's obvious that I wasn't the only one swooning from the beginning though, because these necklaces sell out within minutes of them being listed!  The rest of the jewelry is to die for as well.  Also, Elizabeth, the owner of Spike the punch, is an absolute sweetheart!  She offers some of the best customer service around!  Check out her site, and I promise you won't be sorry!  Ps-I'm currently lusting after the Fiore Beauty necklace.  How gorgeous is that purple?  

2. Glitter and Gloss : Much like the lovely Elizabeth of Spike the Punch, Heather over at Glitter and Gloss is a doll!  She won my heart with the absolute cutest arm candy, and has since moved on to other jewelery and accessories.  Her new spring 2013 line is nothing short of amazing.  I pretty much want everything, not gonna lie, but my favorite has to be the Stephanie bracelet, this cute little arrow cuff I've posted above.  How cute is that?  I can see myself channeling my inner Katniss Everdeen while wearing it! 

 

 

3. Derng:Derng may be one of my more recent finds, but it has become a quick obsession!  This site has some of the most unique jewelry I've seen in awhile!  The most recent pretty additions to the site are a collection of gorgeous, rhinestone bib necklaces.  The princess necklace, the one pictured above, is the newest member of my derng collection, and I am in love!  

What are your favorite sites to buy jewelry? 

xoxo 

Introduction

Every year, I make a New Year's resolution to start (and then keep up with!) a blog.  To be honest, it never ends up happening.  I get busy, and I ultimately completely forget about it.  However, I decided 2013 will be the year I do it!  I started over at tumblr, but I feel like it's just not enough space for the great dane.  So here I am! 

So let me tell you a little bit about the great dane....

-My name is Dana

-I'm 24 years old

-I'm from Pittsburgh PA

-I'm engaged to the most amazing guy

-I went to school for art history.  I'd love to work in a museum, but I have a (not so) secret childhood dream of becoming a CIA agent

-I'm a fourth degree black belt in Taekwondo

-I love reading.  Every year, I set a reading goal for myself.  Follow my progress for 2013 on goodreads!

-I'm a huge movie buff

-I watch entirely too much tv.  My DVR gets filled up very quickly every week

-I am a shopaholic.  Seriously.  This blog may just end up being filled with things I bought/want to buy

-I love to travel.  My favorite city in the world is Paris.  I've only been once, but I absolutely swoon over anything and everything that has an Eiffel Tower on it. 

That's the basics on me!  I hope to write about a little bit of everything on this blog, but if you have anything you'd like to see here, please let me know!

Thanks for reading!  I hope you'll stick around!

xoxo