Beauty Review: Limited Edition Art of Nature Collection by Mary Kay

I L-O-V-E Mary Kay cosmetics and that’s ALL I wear, so I love it when they ask me to review new products!   Recently I got to review the limited edition The Art of Nature Collection.   This makeup is lightweight and high-gloss, inspired by all of nature’s gorgeous colors!  My favorite product from the collection is the Fluid Eye Color.  It glides on so smoothly and it shimmers and shines and really STAYS on. I love, love,  love it.  I tried it in the Pearl color.  It’s a fabulous highlighter color for your browbone & eyelid.

Here’s how it looked on my eyes:

shiny eyes

I had a tough time getting a good picture of myself, you know with my eyes closed and all!  But I think you can see in this photo how the shadow shimmers.

I also loved the Dual Lip Glaze from this collection.  It’s super-shiny gloss on the outside, and pretty color on the inside.  It looks great over liner or on it’s own.  It’s a winner!

Speaking of gloss, Mary Kay has also re-vamped it’s NouriShine lip gloss into the all-new NouriShine Plus.  I couldn’t imagine that it could get any better but it DID!  I love it even more!  It’s super-moisturizing and high-shine and uses Vitamin E and a Vitamin C derivative to keep lips healthy.  And I loooooooove all the colors!  There are some new ones that are awesome, I especially love Cafe au Lait, it is the PERFECT neutral gloss.  Give it a try if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thanks Mary Kay for letting me review these products.  You can get them from your Mary Kay lady, and if you don’t have one, you can order from mine, she’s the best!

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Caring for your skin in winter

Though most of January has been surprisingly mild up to this point, it is now officially “butt-freezing cold” here in my part of the country. And as soon as that dry, cold air hits, my skin really feels it!  So I need to take extra-special care of my skin during the winter, and my bet is you do too!  Here’s how I use some of my favorite products to do just that.  I’m a die-hard Mary Kay user, and they have some great products to keep your skin protected and moisturized during those harsh winter months.  Here are my tips:

  • Stick to your cleansing routine.  Now more than ever, your skin needs routine care!  I use Mary Kay’s TimeWise cleanser, moisturizer, Day Solution (you still need SPF during the winter!), and Night Solution to keep my skin care consistent.  
  • Get rid of dry skin more often. I am a HUGE fan of Mary Kay’s TimeWise Microdermabrasion set to get rid of dry skin and fine lines.  I use it during all seasons but I add an extra time per week during the winter.  I love the way the Refine step uses advanced exfoliators to smooth & freshen my skin and the Replenish step nourishes my skin.  Seriously, it feels SO GOOD on your face!
  • Add some extra moisture.  I use MK’s Intense Moisturizing Cream to give my face that extra “drink” it needs during winter weather.  It hydrates your skin for up to 10 hours and makes it feel awesome. I LOVE this stuff – it’s addicting!

So, those are my favorite Mary Kay products that I use consistently all winter long to keep my skin smooth and hydrated!  How do you give your skin TLC in the winter?

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Mary Kay sent me a selection of the above products to facilitate my review. However, I’ve been using these products for years and I can’t live without them!  All opinions about the products are my own.

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Review: Holiday Entertaining with Giada De Laurentiis for Target

Chef Giada De Laurentiis, star of the Food Network’s Everyday Italian, has a new line of professional-quality cookware that’s designed specifically for Target, and thanks to Mom Central, I had the chance to try some of it out.

My set contained two pieces of baking stoneware – the 2-Quart Ceramic Oval Baker and 9” Ceramic Pie Pan;

A 3-Piece Plastic Bowl Set with Pour;

A Silicone Spoonula with Stainless Steel Handle, a Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk, and Stainless Steel Measuring Cups;

I also received a variety of Giada’s food products, including Black Olive Tapenade, Giada Blend Coffee, Marinated Sun Dried Tomatoes, Marinated Roasted Red Peppers, Marinated Mushrooms, Genovese Basil Pesto, and Eggplant & Pepper Pesto.

I know it’s hard to believe, but I actually enjoy cooking and baking now, and I was SO excited to see this package waiting on my porch one day. The first thing that I noticed when I unpacked the pieces is that they were solid and sturdy construction. They felt like they were quality products, that they weren’t cheap (although with prices ranging from $2.99 to $19.99, they certainly are inexpensive).

Kate and I decided to put them to the test and make chocolate chip cookies.

I love the bowl set – prior to this, I didn’t have mixing bowls other than that came with various hand mixers I’d had over the years. I love that these are light and that they have rubber on the bottom to prevent slipping. Kate’s also holding the Spoonula in that picture, and it is just what it sounds like – a spoon mixed with a spatula. I love the stainless steel construction of this, the whisk and the measuring cups – they are all sturdy and just feel nice.

I was really impressed with the stoneware, as well. It is heavy and high-quality, but is much, much less expensive than the stoneware I’ve bought before. The 2-quart cooker will come in very handy for casseroles and side dishes.

Finally, the grocery products are perfect to keep around the house during the holiday season. Here’s what Giada says about them:
For guests who pop-in unexpectedly, keep ready-to-serve delights in the pantry such as Giada De Laurentiis for Target Marinated Sun Dried Tomatoes, Marinated Roasted Red Peppers and Marinated Mushrooms for quick entertaining options. The Giada De Laurentiis for Target Genovese Basil Pesto and Eggplant & Pepper Pesto are also easy and delicious treats. Serve with toasted bread or crackers and display on a festive serving platter.

Serve a few of those things with prosecco, or try Giada’s recipe for Spiced Coffee.

Spiced Coffee with Cinnamon Whipped Cream
Recipe Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp of ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup brewed Giada De Laurentiis for Target Giada Blend Coffee
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp confectioners’ sugar

1. In a small sauce pan combine the granulated sugar and ½ cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and reduce heat to low.
2. Add allspice, cinnamon and ginger. Simmer for 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.
3. Take the pan off the heat and set aside.
4. In a heat proof pitcher or measuring cup add the boiling water to the coffee /espresso. Divide it among four 6 to 8 oz cups.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of the spiced syrup to each cup and stir to combine.
6. Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add confectioners’ sugar and continue to beat until stiff.
7. Top each with a dollop of whipped cream – dust with cinnamon and add cinnamon stick.
Yield: 4 servings/ 4 (6-8 oz) cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes

I loved Giada De Laurentiis for Target’s cookware and I’m sure you will too. It would make a great last-minute gift for someone you love… or for yourself!

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I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Giada De Laurentiis for Target and received product samples to facilitate my review.

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