QuickTrim Hot Stix Review

Last month I ordered my first "diet" product. I ordered a QuickTrim item from QVC. It was a product that was just debuting so there were no reviews to be read, so I was stepping out on a ledge. I don't condone diet pills, and I would never want to try the QuickTrim diet pills or cleanses, but this product wasn't a diet pill or supplement.




Energizing Antioxidant Hot Sticks are berry flavored drink mixes. They contain a whole slew of vitamins and minerals and energizing green tea. Here is the description from QVC:


Get energized with a refreshing treat! These Hot Sticks are delicious berry drink mixes that contain green tea extract with EGCG for added energy, plus nutrients that may help to support healthy hair, skin, and nails. Simply add the powder to your water to receive 100% of your recommended daily allowance of 15 vitamins and minerals. From QuickTrim.



So I was thinking, wow! All of these vitamins and minerals and green tea? Sounds great. I have a major reliance on diet coke for a daily caffeine fix. I don't drink coffee, so I need some sort of caffeine boost almost every day around 2 o'clock. Jason frequently worries about my reliance on diet coke, so I'm trying to stop drinking it so much and have been on the hunt for a caffeine replacement.
Iced tea or tea? Yuck!
Green tea? No thank you
Coffee or iced coffee? Hate it

So I was really super excited to try these. I love berry flavored juices and thought this would just be the answer to my caffeinated prayers!

WRONG

You're supposed to add the entire stick to 16 oz of water, so I followed the directions and did. I took a sip and WOW! Total chemical grossness taste. So I thought ok, let me try half a stick. Still, grossness! I wish I could thoroughly describe the flavor, but all I can really say is that it tastes like a bad cherry cough syrup.

So I packed this up to send back to QVC with a diet coke can in my hand lol.

Disclaimer: Product was purchased by me and I obviously wasn't paid for this opinion lol.

Forever 21 Twist

Forever 21 Twist began debuting collections late last year. This collection features more runway style designs. Most times I look at these collections and think wow- I don't know how I would ever be able to wear that or have the balls to wear that! Until now....

Forever 21 Twist just debuted their Army Brat collection. Finally a collection I feel comfortable purchasing and can actually mix with pieces in my closet. Also, the army/military trend is HUGE this summer as are khakis and neutrals. Here are some of my fave pieces:

Military Woven Dress- $29.80



Call me strange, but I kind of hate thinking of spending $30 for a dress at F21. Don't get me wrong, I think $30 is a great price for a dress, but I just worry about the quality.

In terms of the look however, I adore this dress. I think Jean Paul Gaultier for Target had a similar style dress with the piping. This is so hot and can be paired with so many different shoe options to dress it up or down. Also, made with 62% cotton I would hope the quality is decent.


Pleated Tulip Dress- $29.80


I love the pleating on this dress. The tulip style would be perfect for a girl with no curves or an "athletic" type body as this would help create curves. Curves is not an issue I have, so I don't know how well this dress would suit me lol.

Drawstrings Barrack Tunic- $14.80


Above I stated I had curves. However, the one curve I do not have is in the back. It's flat as a board back there! One of the tricks I've discovered is tunics with side ruching or tunics with a banded bottom. This is a tunic with two sides of ruching! This may give me the appearence of an even bigger bottom lol. It's worth a shot.

This is also seems to be hanging on to the mixing prints trend all in one top. It appears the background is stripes and the main pattern is an animal print.


In terms of store availability, I don't know how readily available this is. The F21 by me is on the tiny side, but usually features the key pieces (dresses, wow pieces) from the Twist collection. If you order anything from this collection, let me know!

Random Tag

Questions!
1. Do you have any pets?

Yes! My adorable doggy Tyson. He's a sheltie. My mom's bf also recently found a white dove with a broken wing. So I adopted her and named her Georgie.



2. Name 3 things that are physically close to you.

My cell, the book I'm currently reading (Still the One) and my glass of diet coke

3. What's the weather like right now?

HOTT and kind of overcast..I think it's supposed to rain today

4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed?

I do drive..however oddly enough, I haven't been driving for long. THANK GOD I have not crashed (knock on wood)

5. What time did you wake up this morning?

I have 2 weeks off until I start teaching summer school..so I slept in until 10 today

6. When was the last time you showered?

Last night at like 9

7. What was the last movie you saw?

I watched This Is It on Sunday..ADORED it


image from google images

8. What does your last text message say?

"I'm so sorry-forgot to text u-we're here today and at the park tomorrow for the picnic" It's from a teacher I worked with to come visit one of my old classes

9. What's your ringtone?

It's a T-Mobile ringtone..my cell is currently posessed and I'm waiting for them to send me my replacement

10. Have you ever been to a different country?

Only Canada and Bermuda ( i know Bermuda isn't technically a country)..how saaaad

11. Do you like sushi?

I do, but only what my friends and I call "white girl sushi" as in i only like veggie rolls and California rolls

12. Where do you buy your groceries?

Trader Joe's or A&P

13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster?

My boyfriend bought my melatonin a while ago..i use it if i'm going on a flight or something the next day..Random Melissa fact: I have a condition where normal sleep aids (chemicals in stuff like Nyquil) have a reverse effect on me..literally, it's like speed for me

14. How many siblings do you have?

0! I'm an only child

15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?

Laptop..Macbook

16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?

26..UGHH I hate just saying it

17. Do you wear contacts or glasses?

Both, but I only wear contacts on special occasions

18. Do you color your hair?

Yes, I use demi-permenant dyes to dye my hair a tad bit darker than it's natural color

19. Tell me something you are planning to do today.

I'm baking brownies to bring to my classes tomorrow..they are having a moving up ceremony for graduating 2nd and 3rd grades :)



20. When was the last time you cried?

Last night..I watched the season finale of Glee...i think it was the teacher in me that cried lol




21. What is your perfect pizza topping?

I have recently become obsessed with white pizza topped with broccoli and spinach..YUM

22. Which do you prefer-hamburgers or cheeseburgers?

Weird..hamburgers..I ADORE cheese and burgers, but hate them together

23. Have you ever had an all-nighter?

In terms of studying, only once..senior year in college for a science final..it was the first time i drank coffee and i was off the wall...i was a dork in college and never had to worry about cramming lol

24. What is your eye color?

Greenish..blue-ish..it changes with what I'm wearing

25. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?

Yes, I can..but I like both so it doesn't matter

I tag EVERYONE..i want to know more about you! If you do this, please comment with a link!

Decor on a Budget

One of my favorite "dreamer" moments is looking through a Pottery Barn Catalog or Better Homes and Gardens Magazine and dream of the day where I can one day have a house to decorate as beautifully as the "catalog" houses are decorated. We all know that Pottery Barn is expensive and if you look at the prices at some of the items featured in Better Homes and Gardens your jaws would drop. There are so many times I look at these rooms and I know there's a way to pull them off on a budget. Well, someone has gone along and done just that!

Copy Cat Chic reads the best home decor magazines, picks her fave rooms and items from catalogs and then basically does the leg work and hunts down affordable dupes of the items ! How Brilliant!

Here are some of my fave rooms she's made attainable for me:

The Jefferson Bed


Expensive: $1,3999
Dupe: $449

DWR's Rubik Round Coffee Table


Expensive: $900
Dupe: $299

So if you're in the mood to redecorate or just drool over some interior design porn..Copy Cat Chic is the way to do it!

Savin' on Food

So this isn't the most glamorous of topics, but in this economy the usage of coupons is becoming more and more popular. I know some people are under the impression that clipping coupons is for soccer moms and old ladies. But in reality, are soccer moms and old ladies the only people who want to save money? Umm...I think not! Just think about it, save money on groceries and you have more to spend on fun stuff!

My mom and I are magazine junkies. We subscribe to way too many magazines. My mom recently subscribed to a magazine called All You. It's a magazine published by Wal-Mart. It's like a Family Circle or Woman's Day Magazine. If you haven't read any of those, the mags cover all aspects of a woman's typical life. From fashion, to beauty, to recipes, to sex and everything in between.

I enjoyed All You, but what I really noticed was the abundance of coupons in the magazine. I added it up and there was literally $62 worth of coupons in it. Some stuff I'll never use (beef jerkey?), but some coupons were great like $4 off Shick Razor cartridges. The magazine is like $3 so the magazine already paid for itself with that one coupon alone!

Allyou.com is also a great resource for coupons. The site also has a lot of great recipes and budgeting tips. Right now on the site you can get $.75 off a Kashi meal and $1.00 off the new L'Oreal 360 Cleanser.

The magazine right now costs $14.90 for a year if you're interested in a quick and easy read and some fab coupons. Remember, saving money is always fabulous!

Disney Recap

So last week I went to Disney with my mom, my aunt and my little cousin. My mom had a conference so she got her room and flight paid for. So It was a win, win for us. My aunt and cousin left Tuesday and Jason came on Wednesday night. We stayed at The Port Orleans French Quarter Hotel.

This hotel was gorgeous. It's in a theme of New Orleans and is in the mid-price range for Disney hotels. Some images courtesy of Google images:




At night they had jazz musicians and horse drawn carriages going around the hotel. Tres cute!


My cousin Mia is 10. This was her second time going to Disney. Honestly, I think she has more fun staying in a hotel and swimming in the pool then she does at the park. However, the girl can eat!



Before anyone asks, yes she is 100% biologically related to me. She has my attitude and appetite lol.

Family pic (minus my mom, she NEVER takes pics!)


At MGM (now called Disney's Hollywood Studios):


They had the hand and foot prints of all the Golden Girls except Bea Arthur. I had to take a pic with all of them. Here's Rue McLanahan who provided me with my favorite Golden Girls quote ever: "Although I am petite, I can carry off a large stone." (she's talking about a ring here). Don't even ask Jason how many times he's heard that quote lol.


And now my love. You know it's true love when he's willing to put popcorn and melted ice cream hats on his head. lol

Tis the season for giveaways!

I really love blog giveaways. Not just for the chance to win some fab goodies, but because it's a great way to get introduced to new blogs. I've started reading a lot of new blogs after entering a giveaway. So don't just visit a blog to enter the giveaway. Give it a good read and you may just be pleasantly surprised!!

Will Work For Make Up Giveaway



Cherub Cheeks (how friggin cute is that name??!!) Giveaway



Bang Bang She Shoots (also just opened an online Asian cosmetic retailer woohoo!)



LittoMokka's Colorful Life Giveaway



Story of My Life Squared Giveaway!



Thank you so much to Juli for posting about all of these blogs and giveaways!!

I'm leaving for Disney World tomorrow!! Will resume to regular posting on Monday June 14!

Tis the season for giveaways!

Review: Shiny Pearl Water Drop BB Cream

You don't always get what you pay for. Well, this time I did. I wanted to try a BB cream for the longest time, but I didn't want to get an expensive one in case I didn't like it. So I bought a cheap-o one off ebay. It was like $5 with shipping. Well, it sucks lol. But I won't let this stop me from trying a highly rated, more expensive BB cream.

Product photos:





Now these photos kind of suck...I'm still playing around with my camera and trying to find the right flash settings. There's a massive thunder storm outside so I can't take photos outside.



The color is fairly light. It's good for super pale people or those with reddish undertones in their skin.

Here's the part I hated..glitter!!



There's literally like chunks of glitter in it. I know BB cream is supposed to give a dewy finish, but I don't think this can be accomplished by putting chunks of glitter in it. When I rub this on my face there are random specks of glitter everywhere.

Coverage:
(crapppppy photo!)



The coverage is somewhat decent as you can tell on my veins. However, it gives me a pasty like appearance. It doesn't spread too easily either. This product is going right in the garbage!

Review: The Body Shop Body & Leg Shine

I posted that one of my summer faves is The Body Shop Body & Leg shine. Available at The Body Shop or online. It's currently on sale for $8 from $18.50. I personally don't feel it's worth the $18.50, but I had no problem paying $8 for it. Currently, The Body Shop's website is having a buy 2 get 1 free sale.

Web site description:

Best if you want to: Show off your legs and body by enhancing your summer tan or transforming untanned skin with an instant bronzer that glides over skin for a smooth finish with minimal blending. Easily washes off.

Best for: all skin types and tones, with a shade for fair to medium skin tones and another for medium to dark skin tones

What it is designed to do:
Community Trade aloe vera is renowned for its excellent natural soothing and calming products, making it a common ingredient in after-sun products
No mess, no fuss twist-up pack with lid is convenient and portable.
Simply washes off at the end of the day.


The product is available in two shades. Shade 01 I feel is only for the super, super pale people..like me! It's still even a little light for my taste, but I feel like once I have a tan it will deepen it and add a glow.

Product photo:



Before pic:
Pasty, untoned leg



After pics:
Still untoned, but not quite as pasty lol





My camera and lighting aren't the most conducive to showing the difference. However, hopefully you can note the slight bronzed color and shimmer. Again, I really feel this product will be most beneficial to people who already have a subtle tan and this can help deepen it.

I really like this product though for it's ease of use. I apply it to my legs and barely have to rub it in. In fact if you're in a rush, you don't have to rub it in if applied evenly. It has a greasy like consistency and a very, very subtle scent.

I am going away to Florida next week and will post pics of this product over an actual tan.