Nostalgia: Dream Angels- Heavenly

My boyfriend's parents were so kind to me for Christmas. One of the presents they got me was a Victoria's Secret perfume sampler set. This was such a cool present because it included *the* perfume that I mainly wore in high school- Dream Angels: Heavenly. Just a whiff brings back some awesome memories for me. I probably distributed a scent cloud of Heavenly wherever I walked at that time. I had the shower gel, the body spray, the lotion, and the perfume. I actually have a spritz on my wrist right now, and the nostalgia is overwhelming!

There are two main things Heavenly reminds me of: Lord of the Rings and my best friend, Rachel. I know that sounds obscure, so allow me to elaborate. I had a lot of issues with depression in high school, and Lord of the Rings really helped me in a positive way. The first time I saw The Fellowship of the Ring, I was absolutely hooked. I was visiting my relatives in Missouri at the time, and I actually bought all three books because:  a) I loved the movie so freaking much and b) I could not wait a year at a time for the following movies- I had to know what happened next!

My room was pretty much covered in various Lord of the Rings posters. It looked pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I made word shadows out of regular paper inside my lamp that said, "In Dreams" because those words were lyrics from a song on the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

Lord of the Rings was so important at that time in my life because, even though I hid it well, I was dealing with really severe depression. As silly as it sounds, looking forward to The Two Towers and Return of the King really helped me cope with my depression. It was nice to think about the lands of Middle Earth (my favorites were the Shire, Rivendell, and the Grey Havens) and to get lost in another world for awhile.

As I mentioned, the other thing Heavenly perfume reminds me of is my best friend, Rachel. We met in P.E. when I was a freshman and she was a junior. I was wearing a Glittery Willy Wonka shirt with huge raver pants with a rainbow across my butt in thread, and she had amazingly bright red hair (think Manic Panic red). We were both so nervous, and neither of us knew anyone. Me because I was a freshman, her because she was new in town. We both complimented each other (she complimented my shirt, I complimented her hair), and laughed when we came to the realization that we had the same name that was spelled the same exact way.

I still remember the first day Rachel and I hung out outside of school. I was excited because I got the cheesy Otter Pops watch I ordered in the mail, and I was also thrilled to have a new friend over. I got on my guitar and played "Santeria" by Sublime while we both sang the song. We recorded that song on a cassette tape and laughed our asses off while we let my parents hear it. We had an amazing day, and it felt great to connect with a new friend.

Rachel and I were inseparable after that day. We had countless sleepovers listening to Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, and Sublime while staying up late talking about everything. The obstacles she had overcome in her life really intrigued me. She could talk for hours and I'd never be bored. It was awesome. When my parents took me camping out of town, Rachel came with me. She was a huge part of my life!

Of course, Rachel graduated two years earlier than I did. She got a job and lived with one of our friends for a while. However, she ended up moving to Washington not long after that, and I was absolutely devastated. I don't think either of our parents understood our connection or how sad we were about Rachel moving, but that didn't surprise me.

As I reached the end of my senior year, I was getting ready to graduate. We had to rehearse in another school's gym because I went to high school on a college campus my senior year. When I got in the parking lot and starting walking toward the gym, I saw a girl quickly walking toward me while staring at me strangely. I didn't want to make eye contact and have it be awkward, but I finally realized that I KNEW the weirdo and that she was my best friend, Rachel! My parents flew her out for my graduation and vacation afterward. That was seriously the best present I ever received. We probably jumped and hugged for two minutes straight!

Rachel got me a Dream Angels: Heavenly gift set for my graduation, so that special memory of having my best friend there will always stick with me (particularly when I sniff that perfume).

Above: Victoria's Secret mini size of Dream Angels-Heavenly along with Biblo Baggins

 

 

Above: Gandalf and Victoria's Secret mini size of Dream Angels-Heavenly

Scent Description from Victoria's Secret via: http://mobi.victoriassecret.com/beauty/fragrance/heavenly-eau-de-parfum-dream-angels?ProductID=5697&CatalogueType=OLS&search=true
"Capture the radiance. Live the dream. Love the romance of Dream Angels fragrance. Luminous and sensual, Dream Angels Heavenly glows in luxurious warmth. White musk, sandalwood, vanilla and white peony. Domestic."

My question for you guys is what your favorite scents are that bring back memories? If you don't have one, what's one of your favorite memories in general of high school?

DISCLAIMER: The product mentioned was purchased for me as a gift. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own and always honest.

My (really detailed) Hair Care Routine

Once upon a time, there was an angsty teenage princess whose hair was free from all things detrimental. Unfortunately, 8 years of extreme color changes made her hair heart-wrenchingly hopeless. After buying countless lotions and potions that promised her the world but ceased to change anything but her bank account status, the princess decided to accept defeat and the fact that her hair was simply beyond repair.

But this fairy tale does have a happy ending. Today, the adult version of our young princess is here to tell you about some things that have helped give her hope for her hair's future!


Before I get into the nitty gritty details of my hair care, I want to add a little disclaimer. I am (obviously) NOT a doctor. If you are concerned about any medical issues you may have, I highly advise seeking a licensed healthcare professional. Also, please note that everyone's hair and body chemistry is quite different, so what worked for me might not work for you (just as what works for you might not work for me). However, I did want to share what has helped me with my hair situation in case it might help someone else out there. :)

The first thing I want to talk about is vitamins and minerals. Both are immensely important for your body to function correctly, and they're even important for the health of your hair. If you are deficient in certain substances your hair needs, it does NOT matter what fancy mask or conditioner you use on it- it will look and feel like crap. And that was one of my main problems. A few years ago, I got my blood tested and found out I had iron deficiency anemia. Without going into too much personal detail, my anemia got a lot worse for me recently- which was really scary. So I simply put myself on iron supplements, and I feel like a new person. I'm not as drained as I used to be (I was always tired no matter how much or little sleep I got) and my hair is amazingly stronger, shinier, and healthier. I also shed a lot of hair before I started taking the iron supplements. My boyfriend would literally pull hair off of my clothes all day from my hair shedding so much. It sucked! Now, barely any of my hair sheds, and it only happens when I brush it. It's pretty interesting how one overlooked mineral has the capacity to make or break your health! If you are curious about iron and the many amazing things it does for your body, I highly recommend reading this article:
http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-iron.html

Above: My iron supplement! Non-constipating.... Woohoo!

Next, I will be discussing the hair care products that have worked the best for me. The products I use on my hair are all from a company called Cocoa Pink, which is an indie bath and body company best known for their foodie type of scents. Since I am not a foodie scent enthusiast, I opt for the more obscure ones. I say this because for the products I am about to mention, you can choose any scent from their current catalogue and have said products scented with it! It's a pretty neat concept.

My boyfriend gets a kick out of this first product, which is called Princess Poo shampoo. The scent of this particular bottle is "The Night Before Christmas."
Actually, to save redundancy, all the products I'm about to mention are in the same scent.

According to the website, http://cocoapink.net/pages.php?pageid=6, The Night Before Christmas is described as follows:

"Delicate Douglas Fir boughs adorned with sparkling festive ornaments warmed by flames of a roaring fireplace while bright candy canes rest next to a plate of vanilla laced sugar cookies set out for Santa's arrival."

Princess Poo shampoo works really well for me, and it's SLS and paraben free. What the heck does that mean, you ask? This is what I got from Cocoa Pink's product description of Princess Poo " 'Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate: These cheap, harsh detergents, used in shampoos for their foam-building properties, are also used in car washes, as garage floor cleaners, and as engine degreasers. They are often derived from petroleum and can cause eye irritation, scalp irritation, and tangled hair.' ~onesta"

I used my good friend Google to discover what parabens were. Simply put, parabens are preservatives used in a wide array of foods and cosmetics that deter mold/bacteria. There are some studies that link parabens to negative side effects, such as breast cancer. I retrieved this information here:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-lifestyle/parabens.htm
So you can click that link if you're interested in leaning more :)

I like that Princess Poo is free from those harmful ingredients, and I also like how well it works on my hair. It makes my hair clean and soft (not to mention smelling quite lovely). This is definitely my HG shampoo. I've been through a few bottles so far. Depending on the size you choose, Princess Poo shampoo is available on Coco Pink's website from $7.50 to $14.00

Above: Cocoa Pink Princess Poo Shampoo

The next product I use on my hair is Cocoa Pink's Argan Therapy Creme conditioner. I received it as a sample with one of my previous orders, and it made my hair so soft and nice that I immediately purchased a full size. I use it as a daily conditioner, combing it through my hair after shampooing in order to distribute the conditioner evenly. I know Argan oil has been incredibly popular for hair care lines lately, and I am pretty sure it's great for your hair. All I know is that it makes my hair feel great and that it works. This conditioner contains Argan oil and coconut oils. :) The price is either $8.50 or $15.00. Again, it depends on the size you select.

Above: Cocoa Pink Argan Therapy Creme' Conditioner

Moving right along, this product is my absolute favorite hair care product ever. It's called Soulmate Hair Rescue Treatment. A few months ago, I read the product description and decided to give it a shot. I couldn't be more happy that I did. This stuff is seriously like magic. It replenished my dry, tangled hair and literally brought it back from the dead. I use this about once a week to deep condition. Sometimes I use it on my dry hair overnight as an extra deep conditioner, which always leaves my hair even more healthy and soft than it usually is. I always get compliments on my hair when I use this little trick! I'm really sad that I don't have much left, as the website is not processing orders until January 14th. I did order more, but I don't want to run out before then! Unlike the other products I mentioned, this treatment is only available in one size at $14.99. For me at least, it was worth every cent!

Above: Cocoa Pink Soulmate Hair Rescue Treatment

Finally, we've reached the last product I use for my hair health, which is the Anti Frizz Styling Serum. I use a nickel-sized drop on my towel-dried hair and comb it through evenly. I have pretty long hair, so most people probably shouldn't need that much. It really gives my hair a bit of an extra "oomf" when it comes to softness, and it also acts as a heat protectant. I don't blow dry my hair unless I am running late for work, but I do straighten my hair once it's dry; so the heat protectant comes in handy. I've accidentally forgotten to use this product in the past, and I noticed my hair wasn't as soft and shiny. This product is either $6.00 for 2 oz. or $14.99 for 4.5 oz.

Above: Cocoa Pink Anti-Frizz Styling Serum

Everything I mentioned (sans the iron, which I purchased from Whole Foods) can be purchased from Cocoa Pink's website: http://cocoapink.net/home.php
Please keep in mind that you can order stuff right now, but it will not be processed until January 14th. At that time, the TAT is 7-10 business days. I think it's important to mention stuff like that just in case anyone decides to try one of the products I write about.

That was A LOT of stuff to write about, but I certainly hope it helped someone in some way. Even if it didn't, I had fun putting this together!

Please let me know what your Holy Grail hair care products are and/or your hair care routine. As always, thanks for reading!



Disclaimer: All products mentioned were purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own and always honest!

My NYE Nails

Ermahgerd, two posts in one day?! Perhaps the Mayans intended for the world to end on the 31st instead of the 21st! Ah, I kid, I kid. I just finished my nails for the day, so I wanted to share because I liked how they turned out :)

I started off with China Glaze It's a Trap-eze! from their recent Cirque du Soleil collection. I painted them a couple days ago with Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat, and they've held up quite well. To add some bang for this evening, I put Wet n Wild's Hollywood Walk of Fame from the Fergie collection on top. And then, I took pictures!

DISCLAIMER: All products mentioned were purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own and always honest!

Enter Cliche Happy New Year Title HERE ;D

Another year has passed, which never ceases to baffle my mind. I truly don't know where the time goes, but it certainly goes by way too fast.

2012 was a great year overall. I am very blessed and extremely thankful for everything in my life. I have two jobs that I find fulfilling and challenging, and both are always rewarding. I have such a loving boyfriend that I celebrated my 5 year anniversary with this year. I also have a great family and pets, both of which I love dearly. I am truly blessed, and incredibly thankful.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve and that 2013 brings you wonderful things to come!

Thanks for being here to read my little blog :)

December Favorites 2012

Even though we are only halfway through December, I thought it would be fun to share some of the products I can't put down for the most wonderful time (or, shall we say, 'month') of the year!

It's certainly no secret how I adore indie products, and I'm like a broken record swooning over seasonal indie collections. So it's no surprise that the majority of my favorites are from winter collections from indie e-tailors! So let's get the ball rolling, because I have a lot of stuff to say, haha!

Bath & Body Favorites

Winter can really take its toll on our skin, making it dry and lifeless. (Wait, why does that sound like a commercial? LOL, I promise it's not!) I have been loving Haus of Gloi's soft bubbling scrub to rejuvenate my dull, dry skin. I've been using one of the Halloween scents (Spider Silk), but I just ordered and received Hearth bubbling scrub from the Yule collection. I have been using Hearth in place of Spider Silk ever since because it's so close to Christmas, and I wanted to use a festive scent :D I absolutely adore HoG's bubbling scrubs- they are scrubby enough to combat dry skin patches, but they don't leave your skin feeling weird or greasy. It leaves my skin so soft, and of course, smelling nice! I love how the water from my shower really brings this product to life.

I also like to use HoG's whipped soap as a body wash and shaving cream. I'm currently using the Hearth scent, but I have a backup of Three Treasures for when I run out since I go through whipped soap like there's no freaking tomorrow.

Above: Hearth Bubbling Scrub on top of Hearth Whipped Soap.

Perfume Favorite

There are a lot of beautiful scents with winter collections this year, so this was a hard choice. However, I cannot deny that I have been reaching for Smell Bent's Ice Station Zebra the most. I did a review on it here: http://brighteststarofall.blogspot.com/2012/12/smell-bent-ice-station-zebra.html . It really just smells like Christmas to me and makes me happy!

 Above: Smell Bent Ice Station Zebra

Above: Smell Bent Ice Station Zebra. I've used a lot so far!!

Eyeshadow Favorite

I never knew about the wonders of Aromaleigh before they went under new management. Therefore, I was never able to purchase a color I've been drooling over for over a year- Twinkling Lights. I've spent an embarrassing amount of time sighing over swatches and stalking eBay and Amazon to no avail. I didn't think any colors from the past would reappear on the Aromaleigh 2.0 website, but I almost had a heart attack when I saw Twinkling Lights back on there for this season. It was sold out last year, so I nabbed 2 full size jars immediately! And I am so glad I did! I've been wearing Twinkling Lights almost every day since I got it in the mail. It's such a perfect Christmasy green color with pink sheen and absolutely packed with pink sparkles. I adore it!

Above: Aromaleigh Twinkling Lights swatched on clean skin over DGC Glitter Glue

Nail Polish Favorites

There are usually pretty good options for holiday nail polish collections. However, I have absolutely never seen anything like China Glaze's Party Hearty. I did a post on it where you can see it on my nails right here: http://brighteststarofall.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-elusive-china-glaze-party-hearty.html . It is so beautiful, really Christmasy, and sparkly! I love how there are a lot of different festive colored sparkles in different sizes. Now that indie polish is gaining a following, I bet there are some other good options for awesome colors like this- which is totally awesome!

I also like China Glaze's Twinkling Lights. It is also very beautiful and festive. Twinkling Lights only has small sparkles in it as opposed to different sizes like in Party Hearty. It really is pretty though. I am wearing it now over China Glaze's Mistletoe Kisses. Party Hearty is from the 2010 Christmas collection, and Twinkling Lights is from the 2011 Christmas collection.

Above from L to R: China Glaze Twinkling Lights, China Glaze Party Hearty.

If you've made it through this entire post, you deserve a gold medal! Thanks for stopping by, and have a very wonderful day!

DISCLAIMER: All products mentioned were purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own and 100% honest!

Solstice Scents Snowshoe Pass Review

Hey hey! So, today I have another perfume review. Solstice Scents released their winter collection on Saturday, 12/1/12. I ordered a full size perfume in Snowshoe Pass, and a whipped soap in the same fragrance (though I'm just reviewing the perfume for the sake of time).

Okie dokie, let's get into the fun stuff, shall we? I'll begin with Solstice Scents' description of Snowshoe Pass, because it will surely surpass my words! This description is from http://www.solsticescents.com/SNOWSHOE-PASS-PERFUME_p_351.html

SNOWSHOE PASS
White Amber, White Musk, Vanilla Accord, Peppermint Cream, Cold Winds

A chilly white blend of an ethereal snow blanket and cold winter winds, Snowshoe Pass combines pale white amber, delicate and smooth white musk, a sweet touch of vanilla and a faint whisper of creamy cold peppermint. The result is a unique take on a winter scent inspired by heavy snows and desolate rural regions. On cold sniff and initial application a creamy peppermint note is detectable as a top note, though it is a careful addition that takes a backseat to the other notes as it wears on the skin, ultimately receding entirely. There is just enough peppermint to enhance the coolness of this plushly white blend. The other notes swirl together to evoke not only a snow covered landscape that may only be traversed with snowshoes and a pioneer spirit, but the calm and intense silence after a snow deep in the wild.

Can we pause for a moment and appreciate that delightful scent description?

Geez, I don't even want to try now. Haha. Okay, let's have a picture-infused intermission. :)

Photo Credit: Solstice Scents

http://www.solsticescents.com/SNOWSHOE-PASS-PERFUME_p_351.html

 

 

 

 

Above: My bottle of Snowshoe Pass. The packaging was amazing. It came with festive colors of crinkley paper, these two vintage bells, and a clipping of an evergreen tree. So festive and adorable!

My take on Snowshoe Pass:

 

Snowshoe Pass, above all, brings the color white to my mind whenever I sniff it. It is so beautiful, unique, and really sexy- a very awesome take on a winter scent. The scent description on the website is spot on about the peppermint being prominent immediately upon cold sniff/initial application; but it quickly runs away to the back to let the white musk and white amber notes become the stars of the show. The vanilla accord is a wonderful addition to this scent, and it really balances everything out.

Snowshoe Pass makes me think of a classy winter tea party in a breathtaking vintage house in the middle of nowhere. While the guests have their tea, snow falls outside, creating a fresh blanket over the already white-with-snow landscape.

Snowshoe Pass is extra awesome, because the 'white' I get when smelling it really reminds me of snow; and it's the only snow I'll get this year :( At least I don't have to shovel it!

Also, the silage is absolutely fantastic, like with all my Solstice Scents perfumes. It's really nice to smell great for hours without having to reapply the product!

I think it's worthwhile to mention that the TAT is absolutely phenomenal with this company. Even though I ordered my products the night of a huge winter release and live all the way across the country from the Solstice Scents wonderland, I got my products 4 days later (and one of those days was a weekend day). Angela is seriously a magical princess.. She makes the greatest perfumes ever, and ships them right away. She's also super sweet and always replies to my messages when I have any comments or questions.

If you so desire, you can also be the proud owner of Snowshoe Pass! Head over to http://www.solsticescents.com to get a whopping 10mL roller ball bottle for just $14 USD. It's a steal, I tell you!


Thanks so much for stopping by and reading! Stay warm, happy, and smell pretty!

DISCLAIMER- All products mentioned were purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are always my own, and always 100% honest.

 

Smell Bent- Ice Station Zebra

Lately, I've been looking for a Christmasy perfume to wear. I heard about a fairly new indie perfumery called Smell Bent through hottiemcnaughty. Smell Bent recently released a holiday collection called Holiday Happening. I decided to order a rollerball of Ice Station Zebra.

Perfume description from Smell Bent:

"howling arctic winds, cracking ice, frozen earth, and crisp evergreen buried under a drift of snowy
musk"


My Perception:

Ice Station Zebra is a perfect wintery scent. It is so crisp, like a snowflake melting by your nose. The evergreen adds a special Christmasy kick that is ever so lovely. Once the perfume is dry, the notes that stand out to me are the evergreen, musk, and a very slight sweetness that balances everything out. It is a delightful blend that I really enjoy. It's definitely not for everyone, but it's a lovely, icy blend perfect for what my heart has yearned for this holiday season!

Scroll down if you'd like to see the pictures of Ice Station Zebra!


Stay Warm and Happy!

Rachel


DISCLAIMER: All products mentioned were purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. My opinions are my own and always 100% honest!