Expensive Brand Makeup vs Store Brands (Grocery Store/Walgreens/CVS)

I don't know about many of you but I for one hate makeup! Yes I know odd especially considering that I'm a female, but allow me to explain. You see I only wear lip color and mascara on a daily basis (if the day calls for it) and on VERY special occasions, I'll wear the eye shadow and blush color; I haven't nor do I plan on wearing foundation of any kind or whatever powder first base layer women use. As you can tell I don’t even know all the terms for the makeup world, so bear with me. I've never understood why woman wear the additional make up to begin with! NEWSFLASH women in society: when you put on the foundation or powder to try and cover up blemishes all it does is make the blemish stand out even more! You don’t look better it just announces more “here, I’m trying to cover up the pimples I have all over my face.”  to begin with. Anyway, moving on to what I'm writing about. 

So for the past few years I've been an avid and loyal user of MAC products such as their mascara and lip colors; specifically their Zoom Lash Mascara (that’s now been discontinued and I can’t buy anymore) and their long lasting lip wear color Rose (which has also been discontinued, however may be brought into the market this fall). Well about a month before I had my second baby girl in June, I had bought their second best mascara and was using it. By the time I realized that I was needing new mascara we were already tightening our purse strings because of the delivery of our new baby and I couldn’t afford to mess up my contacts as well as my eyes with wearing old mascara. Which reminds me, rule of thumb ladies, you should never wear makeup that’s been used or even if used only once and then you’ve had for a month. Bringing me to the now new mascara I’ve bought and am using currently. It was purchased at my nearest CVS (at the time but I now purchase it at Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, and CVS) and I’m happily content with it. Considering how much I loved the MAC mascara and used to pay! I'm even more satisfied with my pocket expense and the fact that it's always in stock, instead of dreading that MAC will tell me "its seasonal" or "currently not carrying that line of product." The worst words for women let me tell ya!

Whether you believe me or not it's the truth-I’ve never once used an eye lash curler and even with my getting older, I don't intend to change that at anytime. I did all of the same steps/technique that I would when I would use the MAC mascara; used my index finger to curl the eye lashes by hand, then put a two stroke one coat on one eye and then the next eye, to only follow up with a second layer coat but this time a one stroke on each eye. I truly appreciate products that naturally enhance the already pretty characteristics of a female. So not to pump my own ego but the image doesn't give me eyelashes justice, but in person I have long lashes, so the fact that this simple product was able to fully enhance the curl and lengthen my lashes-I was very pleased. Ironically, my mother has bought and provided me these two step or two bottle mascara brands-you know which ones I'm talking about? The ones that say they lengthen your lashes and even have a white bottle that you're supposed to apply on first, then you go apply the second container which is the black mascara coat...yes those I've tried those and all those or any other brands did, was to make my lashes clumpy and too heavy that I couldn't just curl my lashes easy enough with my finger, like I've always done...

Needless to say, I’m happy with the new purchase and totally recommend the "Temptation" mascara for the next woman, especially a mom! Better yet, I highly suggest women to stop resorting to the dumb commercials or pictures of women using the mascaras since-newsflash! In case you haven't noticed, those aren't their real eyelashes when they apply mascara...just saying...Please ladies, do you homework and why not just try a new mascara, the $6.99 to $10.45 purchase beats the $32 or $25 known brand makeup.

By the way these ARE my lashes and NOT fake lashes of any kind. I started putting on the mascara on one eye before the final picture were taken...

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

Step Aside La Madeleine - Health/General

I'll admit that I'm nowhere near just a salad only type person however life circumstances have had me changing some eating habits and life styles affected by food. So, tell me what type of salad person are you?

Are you the type of salad person that has seafood mix or the poultry/meat protein based? Fruits or no fruits? Tart, citrus, or sweet flavors mixed in? Most importantly are you a lettuce, wedge, spring mix, spinach, arugula, or a mixture of them all? I know so many choices and it’s just for a simple salad!! Well the price of living isn’t getting any cheaper so thought to write about a healthy saver for not only your pockets but for your health. 

Obviously the more green veggies you intake the better for you, not only for your weight but your overall lifestyle! So I thought to use La Madeleine because they have locations nationwide and they do have some good healthy as well as satisfying options. The only problem is that if I ate there for lunch for five days a week, I would be eating into my sushi dinner for the weekend or my cruising gas money. So I'm choosing their "Strawberry Bacon Spinach Salad with Chicken" which is $10.88 (then you add the tax of course); with that being for lunch for five days out of the week you're looking at what about anywhere between $70 - $80 for that week. As opposed to exactly what you see in my picture!

All fresh ingredients that will range you from $30 - $42 (give or take) whether you're shopping at Wal-Mart or Kroger. The things is that price gives you large containers of strawberry, blueberry, 16oz Spinach container, a whole chicken (that you'll obviously have to fix and portion out for each of your salad servings), and either a lemon or balsamic salad dressing container. See the thing is though, that with this price and those large containers, you have the delicious berry spinach salad with chicken for not only five days worth of lunches but also dinners if you'd like and other fruit and chicken creations! So nothing against La Madeleine but I'm good with making my Spinach Salads at home...

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

Art and Crafts Outside - Family Life

This post is meant to correlate to a previous post I wrote, regarding gardening ideas. I mean what better way to spend quality time with your kids while it’s also an educational piece, if not when gardening. 

I don’t think I’ve met a child under the age of 10 who doesn’t like playing with dirt - oh who are we kidding I don’t believe any of us ever get tired of playing with dirt! With that being said why not spend some time with your kids outdoors by having them help you garden. Teach them about the plants that you’re planting, have them help you in fixing the planters and placing the plants in each planter, to fill them with water after putting the necessary plant feed, then fixing their location where they are to grow. Kids are hungry for attention but they’re hungrier for the compliments/satisfactory praise from their parents especially knowing that they’ve accomplished something and have it to show for. You can even make it into a multiple part activity, like I did for my daughters.

Part one was to literally have a shopping trip with my daughters to gather all of the supplies with some brainstorming creative ideas for the planters and future gardening expansion. Part two involved picking an afternoon with nice weather to be able to spend the afternoon with the tasks. Made sure my daughters were in comfy and athletic clothes without concern of getting dirty or messed up (while still looking cute of course :p ). I was happy that I managed to pick the perfect day to plant and be outside with them and the entire time it was smiles, laughing, and playing with dirt! Although I’ll admit that I didn’t think the entire arts and crafts portion, this part make sure you do before the planting of your plants :) Our part three entailed the official arts and crafts time and it was on a separate day. Even if they weren’t as actively participating in this part as they were in part two, they still did some painting, drawing,  and spent more time outdoors with mommy. 

So always remember that even the smallest of moments with your kiddos making them laugh and smile will be their memories for a lifetime… 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman