REVIEW: St. Ives Naturally Smooth Body Lotion

 

 

 

 

Hi beauties,

Long time no see!! :) Sorry about that! Life kinda happened, and I neglected my blog for a few weeks. I'm back though! I have a product review for you today on the St. Ives Naturally Smooth Body Lotion. This lotion has a AHA complex, which helps with skin turnover, and helps take care of uneven skin! The good thing about St. Ives, is that it is completely natural! The AHA comes from fruit extract, and not harmful chemicals! It smells fruity, and does a great job at moisturizing, without leaving a greasy residue. It sinks in really quickly! All in all, I'd give this a product an A+. I have noticed that my skin looks smoother, which is great for fall when it starts becoming drier outside, and my skin needs the most help!

 

Have you tried this product? If so, I'd love to know what you think about it!

 

XOXO,

Erin

Crockpot Vegetarian Chili Recipe

 

 

 

 

 

Hi beauties,

 

Today I wanted to share with you my crockpot vegetarian chili recipe. Recently, my Mamaw gave me her old crockpot that she wasn't using, and I was MORE than excited!! I had been pinning to my "Crockpot//slowcooker" board on Pinterest and was excited to give it a go! I used a mix between my mom's recipe and The Pioneer Woman's recipe, which turned out to be a great combination.

 

What I did:

 

1.) Chopped one large onion, (I love onion) but it is totally optional if you don't like it.

2.) I sautéed the onion pieces while I cooked half a bag of Morning Star Grillers Recipe Crumbles. I did so in the same pan.

3.) In my crockpot I put 1 can of light red kidney beans and 1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed).

4.) I next mixed in 2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chilies.

5.) Finally I added, 1 can of tomato sauce, and one of the tiny cans of tomato paste.

6.) For the seasoning, I added 2 teaspoons of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon of oregano.

 

I mixed up the ingredients in the crockpot, and set it to the "low" setting and let it cook for 5-6 hours.

 

That's it -- easy right?

 

It is a hearty vegetarian chili perfect for those cooler fall days!

 

Let me know if you try it out and what your thoughts are on it!

 

XOXOXOX,

E

Origami Owl -- Living Locket

Hi beauties,

I recently went to my first Origami Owl party! For those of you who haven't heard of Origami Owl, it is a company that sells customizable jewelry. They have independent consultants throughout the United States (not sure about international) who can host in-house parties for you and your friends. For mine and my sister's birthday, we each got to pick out a locket as a present from our mom and dad, and I was super excited!

The front of the Catalog! (All rights are property of Origami Owl)
 

I picked out the large silver locket (without crystals) and the silver rolo chain.

The locket came packaged like this - HOW CUTE!:

Now on to the charms that I got to go in my locket. The good thing about the Origami Owl lockets is that they have a magnetic closure and you can keep adding charms, which is perfect to ask for, for Christmas or birthday presents.

I picked:

-The Aunt charm, which I picked since I love my sweet BabyKendall so much!
-The Lipstick charm, because I am a beauty blogger
-The cross charm, because I am a Christian! :)
-The May birthstone heart charm, which I picked because my birthday is May 30th, and I love my birthstone which is an emerald.
-The rose gold infinity symbol which matches my sister who also got an infinity symbol in her locket.

I also picked out an owl charm, which is on its way to me. I think it was backordered.

I would highly suggest that you check out Origami Owl [Link] because each locket that you make is truly unique, and customizable to what you want each charm to represent.

XOXO,
E

OOTD: Job edition

Quick OOTD post while I'm working on a bigger post. 

Xoxox

E

OOTD: Job edition

Dress: vintage (grandmothers)

Vest: French connection

Shoes: not pictured. Eddie Bauer flip flops. 

Bracelet: para cord - made by boy 

Homemade Sweet Potato Chips + black pepper and sea salt

Hi beauties, 

Today I have a recipe post for you on this lovely Saturday! 

I have a 5 lb bag of sweet potatoes, and I wasn't quite sure what to do with them.. My solution? Pull up Pinterest! Sweet potato chips sounded really good to me, so I searched for a recipe. [HERE] is the recipe that I found (which I tweaked quite a bit!)

Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes (more or less depending on how many people you are feeding!)
Sea Salt
Olive Oil (or veggie oil, or coconut oil.)
Black pepper

1.) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2.) Wash and peel your sweet potatoes
3.) Slice thinly.. (Mine weren't quite as thin as they should have been..total learning experience)
4.) Put sweet potatoes on a cookie sheet and add oil ( I eyeballed it until every piece of sweet potato had a good coating of oil.)
5.) Add salt & pepper to taste
6.) Mix your potatoes to make sure the flavor is evenly coated

Place in the oven and cook for 25 minutes. Stir every five minutes or so, making sure they aren't burning! 

There you have it, yummy and easy to make sweet potato chips. I hope you enjoy!

XOX,
E

Coffee Table Love

Hi beauties,

I wanted to share a "what is on my coffee table", which I have seen going around the blogosphere. I posted about my project with my dad where we refinished this coffee table for my apartment, which you can see [here]. Now that I am officially moved in, I can show what I have on my coffee table!

Lets start from L-R! I have some of my home décor magazines that I am subscribed to! Elle Décor, HGTV, and Traditional Home. Next up I have a heart shaped basket that I found for free! In the basket I have a coconut hand sanitizer (I have random hand sanitizer stashed all around the house, because you never know when you might need some.) I also have my two remotes, one for the TV, and one for the ROKU (which I will be reviewing soon.) The only other thing that I have on my coffee table is a purple candle, which is more for looks and less for burning. (I have my scentsy for that!)

I'd love to know what you have on your coffee table! Let me know if you have any questions or blog post requests!

XOXO,
E

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Hi beauties,

Today I want to share with you the recipe that my momma used to make this amazing homemade laundry detergent! She got the recipe from my Aunt Kymber (babykendall's mom) which you can see on her blog [HERE] !

Her Recipe is as follows:

 3 bars laundry soap (Zote- available cheap at Walmart!)
1 box Borax (76 oz.)
1 box Washing Soda (55 oz)
1 box Baking Soda (16 oz.)
2 containers of Oxygen Cleanser (2 lbs. - use more or less)
1 container of Epson Salt (about 2 lbs)

Extra: 1/2 bottle of Purex Crystals (these will add a nice scent to your detergent. My favorite is the lavender crystals which come in the purple bottle!) I suppose you could also add gain fireworks, or Downy Unstoppables..your choice! 

You are going to need a large 5 gallon bucket to mix and store your homemade laundry detergent. Mom got ours at "Firehouse Subs", they sell their pickle buckets for $3.00. You want to make sure you wash it out really well, because you don't want pickle scented laundry! :) You can also buy 5 gallon buckets at Walmart or any other big box store! 

What you want to do next is take the three bars of laundry soap and grate them up with a large cheese grater! They are fairly soft, so you'll be done in no time! Then, you mix all of your ingredients in the five gallon bucket!  (Make sure to really mix everything very well!)

There you have it! A HUGE container of homemade laundry detergent! To hoard (cough cough ME) or to share with your friends! 

I only use 1 tablespoon per load of laundry and LET ME TELL YOU, it works significantly better than any store bought laundry detergent that I have ever used. It gets out food, grass, and even blood stains! 

Hope you have a great week, and have fun making your homemade laundry detergent!! :)

XOXO,
E

Manicure Monday

 

Hi beauties,

I did my nails today! Just in time for a Manicure Monday post!! One each nail, I have Sinful Colors' "Southern Belle". On my accent nail I have Sinful Colors' "I miss you". I really like the color combination and I'm still loving doing an accent nail. "Southern belle" is a purple, while still being on the pink side, and "I miss you" is a gorgeous glitter polish that has purple and silver glitter in a clear base!

What are you wearing on your nails? I'd love to know!

Tweet me sweet peas! @MissStyleMonstr

XOXOXO,

E 

The one that got AWAY.. Love & War Clothing Edition

Click the photo to go to Love & War Clothing's website!

Hi beauties,

Here is another edition of "The one that got away.."  this time, the one that got away is the gorgeous sweatshirt shown above. Love & War Clothing is run by a military wife, and all the apparel on the site is wishlist worthy.

I saw on Love & War clothing's facebook page, that they were having a last chance ready to ship sale, before the owner drove from Alaska to North Carolina (What a drive!). I was prepared. I set my alarm, and was ready at my computer at 1:00 pm Alaska time (6:00 pm Kentucky time). By the time my computer would log in, they were already sold out. I was so bummed! As some of you might know, Boy is in the Army and currently deployed, and I'm all into anything like this hoodie! 

I've heard they will restock in a few weeks, so keep your fingers crossed for me!! 

Hope you all have had a great week! 

XOXO,
E 

The Power of a Bubble Bath

Hi beauties,

What is it about a bubble bath that makes things 108596x better? Recently I had a battle with a stomach bug, which is never fun. Some of my first nights in my new apartment were waking up sick every 2 hours. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty icky. The cure to my stomach bug blues was a nice hot bubble bath. I've never been one to buy the traditional bubble bath, opting for either a bath made with shower gel, or a salt bath soak. I find traditional bubble baths really stripping of moisture, so I love making bubble baths with a moisturizing body wash. A nice soak in the tub is great to relax after a tough day! A half hour of soaking in the tub and I was feeling better, and was relaxed enough to fall into a peaceful nights sleep!

I'd love to know your favorite bubble bath "recipes"! 

XOXO,
Erin

UNBOXING // Dasani Drops Vox Box - Influenster

Hi beauties,
Today I wanted to share with you my [[UNBOXING]] of my Influenster Dasani Drops VoxBox! If you aren't familiar with Influenster, it is a website that is free to join, and you complete badges in order to qualify for VoxBoxes which are filled with free products for you to review! You can view the website HERE

The Dasani Drops VoxBox included one Dasani water bottle, and two flavors of the Dasani Drops! The flavors that I got were Pink Lemonade and Cherry Pomegranate. You pour the drops into the water and it instantly FLAVORFY's your water! You can mix different flavors if you wanted to make your ultimate combination. 

Look out for my final review after I test these out further! 

Have you tried the Dasani Drops? What is your favorite way to Flavorfy your water? Let me know! 


XOOXO,
E

Ps: I was sent the voxbox for free, compliments of Influenster and Dasani, BUT influenster is free to join! 

DIY Project: Coffee & End tables

Hi beauties, 

My dad and I took on the project of refinishing two end tables and a coffee table for my new apartment. The tables were my grandparents and had been in our attic for many years. 

Here is what the tables looked like after they were sanded. I forgot to get a picture of them before they were sanded, but they basically had many water stains from people who didn't use coasters. The tables are solid maple.

Here are pictures of after they were stained:

As you can see, it was VERY messy! But tons of fun!

 

I decided to go with the "Red Oak" color, even though the tables are maple. I really like the color, and think they turned out nicely! Be aware that staining is really really messy! There are many videos and tutorials on how to stain, but my dad has done it many times, and taught me how! 

When its time to Polyurethane (which is what makes the tables glossy), make sure you do that with a very well ventilated area, as the odor is STRONG! (I don't want y'all getting a little loopy on me! hehe)

Here is the finished product!!

 

I am in LOVE with these tables (is that weird?) and think they will look great in my living room! I'm also going to make sure that myself, and any guests that I have use coasters! (I've seen the hard work it takes to get those stains out of the wood!) 

I hope you like them!!

XOXO,
E

Pineapple Chair UPDATE!

Hi beauties,

I wanted to share with you one of the finished pieces for my new apartment. My aunt Kymber gave me two chairs that she wasn't using. They needed to be recovered and a little TLC. My dad and his friend worked hard to fix and recover the chairs and they look amazing! Really the only part I had in the process was picking out the fabric. The pineapple upholstery fabric was found at a thrift store for 75 cents per yard, and the navy blue was purchased at Walmart. I love the turnout and can't wait to show you how they look in my apartment. 

Here they were before & after!

Let me know what you think! 

Xoxo

E

SUMMER Lovin' Waterproof Mascara

Hi beauties,

I wanted to share with you two of my favorite waterproof mascaras! (Please excuse my chipped fingernails!) 

The first mascara is the tried and true Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara. The applicator is nice and large, which really adds amazing volume to your lashes. It is a bit difficult to get off, so you probably will need to use an oil based makeup remover.

The second mascara is the Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara, which is my favorite of the two. I think the applicator helps to both lengthen and add volume to your lashes, and because of the shape of the applicator you are able to get even the tiniest lash.

What waterproof mascaras are you loving?

XOXO,
Erin

BLOGLOVIN' <---- INFO

Hi Beauties,

I'm hearing more and more that Google Friend Connect is going away next week. I wanted to share with you a link so that you can follow my blog on bloglovin'! 

xoxo,

E

Link to Bloglovin' [HERE]

MAY 2013 Empties (A little late..)

Hi beauties,

I'm obviously a little late to the May empties party, but I thought it was worth posting, because I had quite a bit of empties last month. Let's get started!

Poise Daily Freshness Feminine Wash: I'm not sure if this is a TMI, but oh well, I'm including it anyways! I like having a separate wash for the nether region, because I think it needs something other than what a regular body wash can provide. I got a sample of this Poise wash, and it was purple, and scented, so there were dyes and fragrance. It wasn't gentle enough for that area..I'll leave it at that!

 Bikini Zone Anti Bumps Shave Gel: I really liked this product. It did its job, and fulfilled all promises, as I never got any bumps while using the product. The blue gel doesn't foam up, so you can see the area that you are shaving. It is kind of pricey for what it is, but I'll continue to repurchase it anyway.

Centrum Flavor Burst Vitamins: I love these, and am currently on my third month of consistently taking them everyday! (Which is BIG for me!) These taste like a chewy sweet-tart, and have every vitamin you can think of! (It also contains biotin!) 

Walgreens Brand Raspberry scented moisturizing shave gel: This is comparable to Skintimate Raspberry Shave gel, which I love! This is an EXACT dupe, and I found it for $1.00! I will definitely purchase the Walgreen brand from now on! 

Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship Conditioner: Last month you saw the shampoo part of this duo, and I finally finished up the conditioner. It was an okay conditioner but I felt like I had to use a HUGE amount to see any difference in my hair. It smelled nice, and I love Herbal Essences products, so I will more than likely try a conditioner from another Herbal Essence Line.

Summers Eve Green Tea & Cucumber Wash: Yes, another feminine hygiene product. HAHA. It smells nice, and is clear. I love Summers Eve, and I have already purchased another wash! I am currently using the wash in the orange bottle, called Morning Blossom. I will continue to repurchase! 

It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Treatment: I know that I said I couldn't wait to get rid of this, but now I kind of miss it! Mainly for the fact that it made my hair a lot easier to comb through when wet, and partly for how soft my hair felt once it dried. I'm going to try and find a "dupe" at the drugstore.

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter: The smell of this makes me sick. I used it up on my feet so I wouldn't have to smell it, but the scent lingered (which was not a good thing in this situation!) It is really moisturizing, but boy that scent is strong.

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara: This was a fantastic mascara! It is really expensive, but it made my lashes look like I had lash extensions on! They looked gorgeous, and this  mascara is top notch. I only had the sample size, but I'd recommend trying it out.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extra Thirsty Skin Relief: This was a very interesting moisturizer (in a good way!) it was an extremely hydrating moisturizer, but it was in gel form. The gel like consistency made it soak into my skin very very quickly, so I could apply my makeup straight away! I'm not sure if this is discontinued, but I found mine at a PX (a store on Army bases where you can buy practically anything!) I'd definitely repurchase this as well! 

Those are all my MAY 2013 empties! I'd love to know what products you used up! 

XOXO,
Erin

SUMMER LOVIN' // VS Pink Sunkissed Body wash & scrub

Hi beauties,

Long time no see-- SORRY about that! (I'm in the process of moving! :) ) Anyways, I wanted to share a yummy product that I'm loving for summer. It is the VS Pink Sunkissed Bodywash & Scrub. It smells like a tropical beachy getaway, which I appreciate since I'm currently landlocked, and not going on vacation in the foreseeable future! What I like most about it, is the fact that is that it has exfoliating beads which scrubs off all the dead skin, while still being a moisturizing cleanser. It foams up really nicely, and your skin feels moisturized long after you get it out of the shower. The scent also lingers nicely throughout the day.

Hope you forgive me for being gone so long! 

XOXO,
Erin

TRESemme Nourishing Rituals Rejuvenating Mud Masque

Hi beauties,

I LOVE the TRESemme Nourishing Rituals Rejuvenating Mud Masque! It smells INCREDIBLE, makes my hair soft and manageable, AND is affordable. Ding ding ding- heaven in a jar. 

 XOXO,
E

Fragrance Friday: Victoria's Secret Noir Love Me

Hi beauties,

I apologize for the lack of posts this week, I should be back to my everyday posting from now on! (This week was a little crazy to say the least!)

Fragrance Friday for this week is from Victoria's Secret "Sexy Little Things" line and is called Noir Love Me. I was instantly attracted to this perfume because of the bottle. The white bottle with the pink atomizer gives it a vintage feel, which is right up my alley! 

The notes of this perfume are: Wild Berries, Madagascar Orchid, and Musk.

Although the atomizer adds to the visual presentation of the bottle, I find that it just isn't practical. I find that the perfume doesn't spray as much product as I'd like, and it really doesn't last all day. (Which is pretty consistent with other VS perfumes!) I really do enjoy this perfume, because the berries and orchid make a very gorgeous combination. It's the perfect blend of fruity and floral.


What fragrances are you loving this week? I love hearing from you!

XOXO,
Erin 

 

MAY 2013 Favorites

Hi beauties,

May FLEW by! It was my birthday month, and I spent my 23rd birthday poolside! :)

I wanted to share my monthly favorites with you. I don't have a ton of products, because I didn't wear very much makeup this month. It has been in the upper 80's with crazy humidity! Needless to say, my makeup didn't last long.

 

My first favorite are these beautiful flowers that boy sent me for my birthday! If you saw my "I heart spring" tag, then you know that daisies are one of my favorite flowers. I just LOVE these so much, and they make me smile every time I see them!

NYX Cream Blushes: I have a blog post dedicated to these, and I can't get enough! I love how they apply, and how they look on my dry skin! The colors are gorgeous too! I have them in the shades Glow, and Boho Chic.

L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream: This is great for summer and hotter climates, because it is so light weight. It covers any imperfections while still letting your skin show through. I'd definitely suggest this for anyone who likes the "no makeup" makeup look.

Johnson's Baby Creamy Oil: I also have a blog post dedicated to this amazing lotion. It has both cocoa and shea butter and even though it has a thicker consistency, it soaks in quickly. I will definitely repurchase this product, and recommend it to anyone with sensitive skin.

Those are my favorites for the month of May! I hope that you had an amazing month, and that your June is getting off to a great start! 

I'd love to know what your favorite products are! Let me know!

XOXO,
Erin

 

Weekly Recap: This week on Miss Style Monster

Weekly Recap: This week on Miss Style Monster

Hi beauties,

I hope that you all had an amazing week! This week was a little special for me, as I turned 23 on May 30th! :) I wanted to write up my weekly recap, in case you missed any posts this week!

Underdog Product: Johnson's Baby Creamy Oil: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G for my dry sensitive skin! Read More [HERE]

Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash: Natural, and doesn't irritate my skin. Post [HERE]

Disappointing Product: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads broke me out, BADLY! See more [HERE]

Summer Lovin' NYX Cream Blushes + Swatches: Hint--I'm obsessed! Post [HERE]

Fragrance Friday: Surprise, Surprise, another Celebrity Fragrance. I've never met anyone who didn't like Jessica Simpson's Fancy Love! Blog Post [HERE]

I hope you all had an amazing week! I cannot believe that it is already June!

XOXO,

Erin

Fragrance Friday: Fancy Love

Hi beauties,

I know, I know! I have a weird fascination with celebrity fragrances, but this one is in a category all it's own. 

Fancy Love by Jessica Simpson is something that I not only wear, but my mom and sister wear it as well. It is a beautiful fragrance, and I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like the smell. It is something that is constantly getting compliments from both men and women! 

The notes in Fancy Love: (according to Macy's)

Top Notes: Peach Blossom, Bergamot, Goij Leaf, Pink Champagne
Heart Notes: Lotus, Peony, Plumeria, Jasmine, Turkish Rose
Base Notes: Amber, Blonde Woods, Musk, Patchouli 

Although it has a lot of floral notes, it isn't overpowering at all. I'm sensitive to florals, and they usually give me a headache, but this fragrance doesn't! It really lingers throughout the day, which is something that I look for in fragrances. If is very soft, so when you walk by someone, they get a hint of the fragrance. It is GORGEOUS!

I know that many people are skeptical of celebrity fragrances, but this is one that is a rare gem. I think everyone should get a sample, or have a smell in stores, because it is something that I think that EVERYONE would enjoy!

Have you tried Jessica Simpson's Fancy Love Perfume? I love hearing from you!

XOXO,
Erin

Summer Lovin': NYX CREAM BLUSHES + Swatches

Hi Beauties,

I'm starting a new series on my blog called Summer Lovin', which will be all about products that I'm loving for summer. Yes, I know that it is still technically spring, but where I live, it is basically summer because it has been in the mid to upper 80's for weeks now. It is also crazy humid, which makes everything feel swampy! 

I have heard mixed reviews on the NYX cream blushes. Some people thought they were wonderful, and some people thought they were too oily. I personally LOVE them, and wanted to share my thoughts with you along with the colors that I have! 

Every once in a while, Cherry Culture will have a 40% off NYX sale, which is when I always try out some NYX products. Last summer, they had a sale, and I purchased two NYX cream blushes. Lets just say I was NOT disappointed. 

As you can see, the colors I picked were Glow, and Boho Chic. On NYX's website, they describe Glow as a "plummy pink" and Boho Chic as a "light blue toned pink". 

I think these blushes are gorgeous, and perfect for summer when you don't want to look or feel too powdery. They are perfect year round for girls like me who have dull dry skin, because they make you look dewy and glowing. I have to disagree with those who say that these are too oily, because I don't find them oily at all (which could be due to the fact that I have dry skin). You could even use these and then set them with a powder blush to make your blush last all day if you have oily skin. 

I love to apply these with my Sonia Kashuk duo fiber stippling brush, because they blend them out so nicely, and apply them evenly. The only downside to the Sonia Kashuk brush is that it sheds like no other! So I do have to pick out some brush hair from the cream blush, which is a bit of a bummer. I've also used my fingers to apply these when I'm in a hurry, and that works great too! I'd imagine that the Real Techniques buffing brush would be great as well! These blushes are really pigmented, so a little goes a long way! 

 Another great thing about these blushes is that you get 3.5 grams, and even when full priced, they are only $6 USD. Like I mentioned, you only need the tiniest amount, so I feel like you are really getting your moneys worth with these!

See how these catch the light? They really make you look like you are glowing from within. Which is BIG for me, since I have dry skin and usually look dull! 

I would HIGHLY recommend that you check out the NYX cream blushes! I already have my eye on some other shades!

Have you tried any NYX cream blushes? If so, what did you think about them? Any shade recommendations? What is your go-to brand for cream cheek products? I love hearing from you! 

XOXO,
Erin

PS: IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I'm 23! AHHH :)