February Birchbox Lovin'

Hello beautiful women following the Bee's Knees! Are you ready for 'the scoop' on what's trending this month in the infamous 'Birchbox'?

It's funny because there was a slight 'mishap' of sorts at the Birchbox headquarters this month and for one reason or another I didn't receive my box of happiness until a few days ago. Nothing like cutting it close to the end of the month. ;) Nevertheless, it is here and we are going to review the contents as promised (and everyone erupts with cheers of joy)!

February Birchbox 
This month's box is especially fun and loaded with goodies to pamper away! Check it out:

Eye Rock - Designer Liner - 2 packs of 4 $13

This fun already-shaped-for-your-eye liner looks amazing! I can't wait to try it and blog about it later. Dramatic lines are totally IN.

Colorescience Pro - Glow & Go Travel Puff - Full Size Compact- $50

I can't WAIT to try these puffs. These are brilliant! Perfect way to dab off excess grease from the face and leave you shining and spectacular all at the same time! 

Kiehl's - Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution - $49.50 full size 

Juice Beauty - Green Apple Peel Sensitive - Full Size $39

The card on the inside of my box claims that this is a celebrity-secret miracle worker. Also claims to smooth fine lines & wrinkles and even out skin tone. 

*BONUS* Chuao Chocolatier - Spicy Maya ChocoPod - Full Size $6 

I love Birchbox because they think of everything! This month my bonus treat (in lieu of Valentines) was a small bar of enticing chocolate. And yes, I'll be munching on it tomorrow at work. :) 

Well, that about wraps it up for me tonight. I hope you've enjoyed getting acquainted with this month's Birchbox. If you are interested you can always sign up for yourself for only $10 a month! Simply swing over to birchbox.com and get hooked up. A few of my friends were on a brief waiting list to get the box but they were accepted in a matter of a few weeks. So if this happens to you, just sign up for the waiting list. They are usually very good at accommodating everyone.

THIS FRIDAY I am releasing the details of the second Bee's Knees giveaway!! That is something to be excited about, trust me. So make SURE you check back here on Friday for that. Love you all oodles and oodles..... Thank you so much for reading. *Tell a friend about the Bee's Knees! :)

Save your Benjamins, visit Washington!

Hello friends!!

It's been a while and I apologize for that, but Ben and I have been enjoying some much needed vacation time together and we've had a blast! I have been so 'inspired' by Washington DC that I chose to write about it since it's so fresh on my mind. You will love this blog. If you have never been to DC then read on (even if you have - read on) and learn about all of the cool things you can do & explore for FREE! It's a beautiful thing, really.

Ok, let's talk DC... How about we do a short picture tour? Those are fun. Let's begin!



Save Your Benjamins, Visit DC


DC is literally full of amazing places to visit for F-R-E-E! It is a great thing to finally see all of your tax dollars hard at work creating some very beautiful monuments, museums, and galleries! I would encourage anyone who hasn't been to make it a point to visit DC sometime. It is totally worth the trip down to see all of the memorable landmarks and experience the hub of our country's freedom and liberty. It all comes together in DC. You will get a taste of what drove our founding fathers to fight so hard for this nation and why we should do the same as American Citizens.

ART

The Smithsonian Museums (there are a TON of them) captured most of our time this trip as there is so much to see & do within. One of the highlights for me was the art museum as I am a lover & connoisseur of most art. Unlike Europe where you have to pay for admission and can't take any pictures when inside, the Smithsonian allows you the opportunity to snap as many photos as you'd like and admission of course, is free! Take advantage of this.

Van Gogh, timeless 

Doubles w/ slightly different colors by Monet 

Renoir with a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l painting of Paris

Rembrandt

Last and probably my favorite!- da Vinci

Pretty excited to be checking out such beautiful art!

Museums & Such

Like I mentioned, there are several museums within the reach of the Capitol Mall (Smithsonian area) and they are all free as well! There is a Native American History Museum, US Bontanical Gardens Center, Natural History Museum, and much more. Here are a few of my 'favorite things'.  :) 

Orchid @ Botanical Gardens 

Orchid again

Botanical Gardens 

Capitol - Also a FREE tour!

Visiting Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington, was the only 'tour' so to speak that we actually paid for at $15 per person and let me tell you- it was WELL worth the money. Such a cool experience to personally tour the home of our first president. 

@ Mount Vernon w/the hubs

Well, I certainly hope you've enjoyed this. I am very tired from travelling all day and it is now past 11 at night but I just had to get something up for all of you to view by the morning. :) I really do love you. 

This is such a short recap of our extended weekend but hopefully you have been inspired to visit DC! I should also mention that I found our hotel (the Sheraton National) on Hotwire for $62 a night!! Isn't that crazy? One more reason to go & stay a bit. 

Exciting things.....

I will be back here tomorrow to bring you a particularly exciting 'Birchbox Review' blog that I know you'll love AND- Friday I will be announcing the launch and details of the Bee's Knees SECOND giveaway! Three cheers for that. Fun things are happening here folks. ;) Stay tuned for all the details. Thank you so much for reading (it's always appreciated)- I love you all and I'll see you tomorrow. Good night.

Road Trip Love...

Harrisburg :)

Hello friends!!

Greetings from Pennsylvania- Harrisburg to be specific. Ben and I are on a trip for his work and we're having a blast! We are going to be working a youth convention all weekend so we have literally been surrounded by teenagers all day. :) This is nothing unusual for us.

And a special HELLO to all of my new girl friends from PCTC who will be reading this- you know who you are. Welcome to the Bee's Knees!!

I just wanted to pop in to leave you with a few pictures from the day and give a quick synapsis of our trip thus far. I am hoping to have a beauty blog ready at some point this weekend- maybe Monday.

So I know I shared my AWESOME Chick-fil-a story on my personal Facebook wall, but some of you may not have been able to read it so I am repeating it here because well, it bears repeating. It's awesome. Here you go:
So, we 'naturally' stopped at chick-fil-a for dinner in Pennsylvania because there is nothing better in the world. SO- I go on and on to the lady at the register telling her how excited we are to be there because there are NONE in Michigan (that I know of). And so what does she do??... Gives us our entire meal on the house!!! Isn't that amazing? We love Chick-fil-a. Talk about starting the trip off right!

A pretty sweet view of a tunnel we passed through in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Loved it. 

Good Morning Harrisburg! View from our hotel window.

Last but not least, I had to share my outstanding 'steal of the day' with all of my girls out there.
I swiped this adorable little Cynthia Rowley spring coat from Marshalls for only $29.99 today! It's actually a beautiful shade of pink but it's very hard to tell in this lighting.
The best part? There is NO tax on clothing purchased in Pennsylvania! Maybe it's a good thing I don't live here. That could be dangerous for me. ;) 

Love you all! Thanks so much for stopping by to read. Hopefully I'll be posting some more this weekend but it just depends on how busy our schedule is. SPOILER ALERT::: I have another giveaway in the making. Stay tuned for all of the details on that. Good night from Harrisburg. 

Product Reviews: Maybelline Color Tattoo + Lots of Lashes

Maybelline's new Color Tattoo Eye Shadow Cream has been plastered all over the pages of most new magazines lately. There has been so much fuss about the new product that I thought I should give it a whirl and give my readers the scoop on whether or not it is worth the purchase.

Since I was already in the 'Maybelline' section, I figured I would pick up a new Great Lash - Lots of Lashes Mascara as well and just run with it! I found the odd shaped tip on the brush to be intriguing so I threw it in my cart along with the eye shadow and hurried home to try a new look to blog about for all of you!

After trying both products here is the honest scoop: 

• Great Lash - Lots of Lashes: I really liked the way the mascara went on and it definitely thickened up with two coats. The heart-shaped brush was perfect for reaching all of the little lashes that seem to get left behind with bigger brushes. The down side to this mascara: it flakes. Not horribly, but it does flake. Mascara tends to flake more in the winter anyway due to the dry weather but I definitely noticed quite a few black specs under my eye by the end of the day. 
• Color Tattoo Eye Shadow Cream: This cream is unusually difficult to apply. I tried with a brush- fail. I tried using my finger (which I rarely EVER do) and it was a little better but still was not creating the look I desired. My suggestion- use a sponge. That was the only thing I didn't try and I think that a small sponge would work much better. The positive: it really does stay on for a long time and the colors are very beautiful and highly pigmented. One thing that DID work wonderfully- I used an eyeliner brush and went underneath my eye with the color and it looked great! 

Without further delay, here is the look I created for you using Buxom's Shih tzu green eye shadow, Sephora's jumbo waterproof eyeliner in turquoise, Great Lash - Lots of Lashes in blackest black, and Maybelline's Color Tattoo eye shadow cream:

First-begin with eye primer and then add a light colored purple base all over the eye. Then apply the dark purple tattoo color to the crease and wing it out to the outer edges of the eye. 

Next add the blue liner to the top of the eye and the bright green color to the interior of the eye. Use a blending brush to give it a beautiful and flawless appearance.

Line under your eye with the tattoo eye color and smudge it around. 

Add two coats of the mascara to the top & bottom and you're finished! 

Pretty! 

Tomorrow Ben and I leave for a business trip to Pennsylvania and then we will be taking a little mini-vacation to Washington DC! :) You all are coming with me so get ready for a fun weekend. I may even throw up an extra post or two, you never know! Thank you so much for reading. I'll be back here on Friday with more juicy fashion and beauty 'scoop' so stay tuned. Love you all!

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Just 'Pleat' It!

They're not just for your Grandma... Pleats are back with a vengeance and the Bee's Knees has got the '411' on how to wear them!

This months issue of Allure Magazine (see below) inspired me to create a pleated look of my own and I'm sure you'll agree- it's just darling. Vintage and desirable, pleats embody the meaning of fun & frivolity! Let's journey together through the world of pleats. Ready?

And she wore red shoes & pleats...

Saffron colored skirt- Forever 21 ($19.80), red shoes, and blue accessory accents. 

Blue beads, and a sweet vanity necklace- Forever 21 ($2.80).

Don't forget about the pearl earrings! 

Strike a pose! 

  

Go ahead and twirl in it...

Pleats are SUPER fun and look wonderful worn all sorts of different ways! I hope this has inspired you to try something new today. This Spring is full of beautiful fashion looks. Coming off the heels of fashion week, I just couldn't resist posting this pretty skirt outfit. Thank you so much for reading! Love you all and I'll be back here on Wednesday.

Ps... Ben took the pictures and he is quite proud of himself. ;) I have to give credit where credit is due!!

DIY 'At Home' Tropical Spa Day! *Treat Yourself.

Ok girls... It's time to draw the water for a bath, put on some good music, and treat your skin to a tropical spa day at home! Sound good? We all need some 'us' time every now and then, and today's blog consists of several great ideas to bring the spa right into your home- and at a very small expense too!

Today we'll be making some delicious tropical fruit drinks as well as a homemade luxurious (& all natural) moisturizing face mask! I hope you are ready to get pampered. Let's Begin!

DIY Moisturizing Face Mask

What you'll need:

• 1 ring of Sliced Pineapple
• 1 Banana
• 1 tablespoon of Honey

Place all of the above ingredients into the blender and blend until puréed. Cover your entire face and neck area with the mask and let it sit on your face for about 5 minutes then remove completely with warm water. Your face will feel luxuriously smooth and moisturized. Make sure your face is completely washed clean and then follow with a rich moisturizer all over the face & neck area. So simple, yet so wonderful. Thank you God for giving us all the ingredients we need to experience a lovely face mask- natures way! :) Forget the expensive store bought masks- I think you will LOVE this if you give it a try.

Tropical Fruit Drink:

This wonderful fruit drink will bring the taste of summer into your home any time of year! Enjoy it while you're soaking in the tub or letting your face mask develop. These are great to serve for company and are especially appropriate for a girls night!

What you'll need:

• 7-up or Sprite
• Lemonade
• Orange Juice
• Strawberries & Pineapple for garnish

Fill glasses with ice about 3/4 of the way full. Add equal parts Sprite and Lemonade then top off glass with a splash of orange juice. Garnish with slices of strawberry and pineapple. Done!

Before we say goodbye for today I wanted to leave you with this cool icy-blue eye look as inspiration for the weekend. Just pick out some silver & blue colors and have fun playing! I love you all. Thank you so much for reading and if you're enjoying, tell a friend about the Bee's Knees today! :)

Maybe the Best Carrot Cupcakes You Will Ever Try! + Old Shoes with a New Purpose

Yes I know it's a lofty claim, but these just might be the best carrot cupcakes you have ever had! They are absolutely delicious. So delicious in fact, that I debated whether or not I should even share the secret recipe. Then I thought "Oh Melissa, don't be ridiculous. Everyone deserves the right to amazing carrot cupcakes".

I even have a nice little shoe refashion to share with you today as well. I was 'miss productive' today if you will. ;) I think you are going to enjoy this. Ready? Let's get busy!

Carrot Cupcakes 


Ingredients for Batter:

• 2 cups Sugar 
• 3 cups Flour 
• 2 tsp. Baking Soda 
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder 
• 2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Salt 
• 1 1/3 cups Oil 
• 4 Eggs 
• 2 cups finely grated Carrots 
• 1 cup Crushed Pineapple w/juice 
• 2 tsp. Vanilla 

Method: Mix all dry ingredients together well. Next, add the rest of the ingredients and mix until all is blended and moistened. Go on beating an additional two minutes after that. Last, fill baking cups 3/4 of the way full with batter and bake at 350 degrees for roughly 20 minutes or until golden to dark brown. 

Ingredients for Frosting:

• (1) 8 ounce package of Cream Cheese 
• 1 stick of Butter 
• 1 pound of Powdered Sugar 
• 1 tsp. Vanilla 
• A 'splash' of milk 
• 1/2 cup chopped Walnuts (optional) 

Method: Melt butter and cream cheese and blend (cream) the two together well. Then add the powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and walnuts and finish blending. Done! 

Make sure you let the cupcakes finish cooling completely before frosting them. ENJOY. They are an absolute 'splurge'. Feel free to make noises while you're eating them, I feel like it enhances the experience. 

Shoe Refashion! 

Today's bonus! Even MORE creativity in the way of grosgrain bows- put them on shoes! Super cute. I saw this exact look in a magazine about a year ago (on some designer shoes) and tucked it away in the back of my mind....until now. 

The shoes before. In need of some 'help'

And after! You'll be stepping pretty in these.

If you are wondering how to create a grosgrain bow, please click here to visit a previous blog that explains this in detail. I hope you have fun breathing new life into some of your old shoes. It's fun! The possibilities are endless. Enjoy the rest of your work week and I will see you back here on Friday for more fun & adventure. Love you all. Thank you so much for reading.  :)