Find Your Nail Polish "Treasures" Here

There are only a  few things in life I really am a hoarder of. One of them is nail polish. I have so many polishes, it's like my own personal mini-salon.
When it comes to purchases, those close to me know I am VERY loyal to where I shop. If I am happy with my sales and service, I will keep coming back and I will shout your name from the roof tops. One lady who definitely deserves a shout out is Lynn from Billy's Treasure Box on ebay.

Lynn sells OPI and China Glaze. I found her several years ago when I did a search for OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark. Nobody had it, and those who did were so overpriced.


Lynn's prices are very reasonable. In fact, right now she has free shipping on all orders.
She even turned me into a China Glaze lover. I was an OPI girl all the way. Lynn kept suggesting and suggesting I try it out. Finally, she "gifted" a color she knew I would like and she was right. I love it and I was hooked!

Lynn is always sneaking little goodies into my order (toe separators, buffers, emery boards)  All at no extra cost. I think she now knows my color preferences better than I do!

Also, every time I order, she is quick to e-mail me a thank you and ask how I am doing and what's new down in Florida. Lynn lives in California and we have never met in person but after all these years, she feels like an old friend.
I can ask her about colors and she will help me find the perfect shade or steer me away from one she knows is not my type.

She will ask how my cats are doing and I ask about hers.(Billy-as in Billy's Treasure Box)

She knows what colors I like best, but will also suggest shades she loves and thinks I will, too. I trust her on this ALL THE TIME.

One such shade is OPI's Charmed By A Snake from the India Collection. I was ordering Black Cherry Chutney and asked what else was new. She suggested this light gold with micro glitter. Well, I gave it a shot and I do love it. It looks great on a summer tan!


Charmed by a Snake:

Here is the link to her ebay store:

  http://stores.ebay.com/Billys-Treasure-Box

I think you will be pleased. Tell her Lisa sent you.

Trust me because "Redheads Know Best"

Lisa

GONE, BABY, GONE. My Review of GONE GIRL by GILLIAN FLYNN

I had the luxury of receiving an advanced reader's copy (ARC)* of the hot new novel GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn to read and review for the AMAZON VINE program.
This review first appeared there.


How do you review a book such as this without giving too much away? Well, let's start with the basics.
It is the morning of Nick and Amy's 5th wedding anniversary. Nick gets up, and heads out to the bar he co-owns with his twin sister, Margo, known to everyone as "GO". Several hours later, Nick gets a call from his neighbor that his front door is open and his indoor cat is outside. Nick goes home to find Amy gone.. He sees what could be considered signs of a struggle and calls the police.
Now, with most stories of this type, the spouse is always the first suspect, so I expected at some point the investigation would turn to Nick. It did seem that everyone around him was fully supportive. Amy's parents, the police, his sister.  I found myself liking Nick in the beginning and hoped there was some other explanation for Amy's disappearance.

I immediately started speculating about how it would all turn out. Did Nick kill Amy? Was she even dead? Would it  turn out that someone else was involved? Would Amy  be found,and if so, how would it affect the relationship between her and Nick. Would I piece it all together and know who the real "villain" was? I thought so. I WAS WRONG. So very, very wrong.

I really should have known better. I have read Gillian Flynn's previous 2 novels and I know how dark they can be. But Gone Girl wasn't just dark. It was REALLY DARK. I mean REALLY, REALLY DARK. Some other words I would use to describe it are twisted, crazy and even scary.
The novel is told partly from Nick's point of view and also through Amy's diary entries, so you are aware of Nick's thoughts as well as get an idea of who Amy is. Nick is an admitted liar,Amy has some issues of her own and that is only the beginning.  It becomes clear this was not a perfect marriage-heck, not even a typical marriage. I am afraid to say  much more without spoiling it for those who have not read it. I don't mind spoilers at times, but I will say that if I knew anymore than I did about this novel before reading it, it would have completely ruined the experience. I don't think I would ever have guessed that half way through I would be throwing the book in the air and saying out loud "NO F-ing WAY".

 I will say Ms Flynn had me from casually reading a few pages a day to staying up all night trying to finish this book. If you are a fan of her work, you need to read this. If you are not, you will be after you do. I just can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the future.



 In my opinion, this is the MUST READ of the Summer.
 You can buy it on amazon.com here:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030758836X/ref=cm_cr_thx_view

DR. SCHOLL'S FOR HER, BALL OF FOOT CUSHIONS REVIEW

Love wearing sexy high heels? Hate the pain in the ball of your feet? Well, now there's help, so you can dance the night away without worrying about ball of foot pain! DR Scholl's has introduced a new product that I was given to try test and try compliments of the INFLUENSTER SRING VOXBOX program. If you read my blog, you know I was sent a box of wonderful products to test and try and then EVERYONE about my experiences with them. Dr Scholl's has created something EVERY woman that loves her high heel will love and benefit from. These are the ONLY product to have FabuSTEP gel that massages your feet to help prevent ball of foot pain, so you can have confidence to wear your sexiest high heels and not worry about any pain later on. They stay in place and do not have to be trimmed because they are one size fits all and discreetly fit ANY pair of shoes! All you do it place on top of your current insole and you are ready to go. They will not damage your shoes, so whether you wear Manolos or PayLess, your shoes will stay good as new. Just replace every 6 months or when your start to see wear and tear. I personally, love a great pair of heels, the higher, the better. Perhaps this is because of height (or lack there of) but I used them with my wedge heels and I was very pleased with how comfy they are. My feet are happy! So make YOUR feet happy, too! For more information and a money saving coupon, visit Dr Scholl's Product page here: http://www.drscholls.com/drscholls/products/ForHerBallofFootCushions.jspa#tab-link1 Trust me because REDHEADS KNOW BEST! Lisa

SALLY HANSEN SALON EFFECTS

Recently, I had blogged about receiving the INFLUENSTER SPRING VOX BOX and listed all the products I received complimentary to test out and review. Today I am blogging about another of those products. SALLY HANSEN SALON EFFECTS REAL NAIL POLISH STRIPS.

Now I know some people have seen similar products like these, but believe me, these are so much different! First, they are made with real nail polish. This makes a huge difference because unlike a sticker, they do NOT peel off. In fact, they can last up to 10 days! They don't peel off like a sticker, you remove them with nail polish remover. Now I wasn't sure what to expect. They did appear like a sticker. I thought I would try them out for a week or so and then just peel them off. Well, no. Here is my experience. I chose the correct sizes for my nails and set them out. I followed all the instructions. You want to start with clean , dry nails. I pushed back my cuticles. I have tiny nail beds, so I wasn't even sure how these would look, but I liked the glitter shade they sent, so I wanted to see for myself. Applying was very easy. after pressing them onto the nail, you file off the excess and you are done! NO DRY TIME! Fast and easy. THAT I love! Here is what my finished nails looked like:

Now I was very happy with them, and even though I have shorter nails, I still liked it. I hate waiting for my nails to dry and this eliminates that entirely. They really do last long,too. Now, as for removal, I was sure I could just peel them off but again-NO. I had to use nail polish remover. That is how good these strips are! They will not peel or tear off. They come in 40 awesome styles. Some plain, some really cool glitter or designs. I am going to buy some for the Kiss and Motley Crue concert in July. There is a really cool "tattoo" style. These come at a suggested retail of $9.99 (less than a manicure in a salon) and are available at chain drug stores, food stores and mass market retailers. I urge you to check them out. For more information visit www.sallyhansen.com Trust me because REDHEADS KNOW BEST!

SHEER COVER REVIEW

Previously, I had posted a blog about INFLUENSTER and their "VOX BOX" program. I had posted pictures and descriptions of the products I received in my complimentary Spring Vox Box. Today I am posting about one of the items I received. SHEER COVER CONCEALER

This concealer duo is perfect for all skin types and tones. It comes in a compact with two shades that can be used separately or combined together to get your perfect match. It is great for dark undereye circles, blemishes, dark spots, hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone. This can be used either alone or under/over your makeup. I carry it in my bag everywhere for touch-ups throughout the day. I find it very light and creamy. It's not too heavy at all. I use it under my eyes, over blemishes and on and around my nose where it gets red from allergies. Sheer Cover instantly covers your imperfections for a flawless look without feeling heavy and looking caked on. You can vary your coverage, using it lightly on the delicate undereye area, or layered for coverage of blemishes and dark spots. This product is also so easy to apply. You can use your fingertips, but I recommend using a concealer brush or sponge to dab a small amount on the area you want to cover. After blending, you can layer more as needed. Because it is so sheer, you can make use as little or as much as you need. Sheer Cover has natural moisturizers. Jojoba nourishes and restores your skin's natural moisture balance. Allantoin , an antioxidant, calms and soothes sensitive, irritated skin, protecting it from free radicals. Sheer Cover is dermatologist tested. For more information on this great product visit their website at http://www.sheercover.com

INFLUENSTER SPRING VOXBOX

A few months back, I signed up for a program called INFLUENSTER (www.influenster.com ). Here is how it works: You fill out small surveys to earn "badges" which represent areas that you have high influence on others (blogging, pets, social networking, etc.) Based upon your badges and activity on the site, they select a few individuals to receive what they call voxboxes. A Voxbox contains several products that have been selected for you to test, evaluate and recommend to others. There is no charge for this program and you get to keep the products you test. All you have to do is spread the word about them via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, your own blog and word of mouth. After, they will ask you to review and also take a post evaluation survey. Your activity in these tasks will help you be selected for future programs. Sounds easy, right? Today I received my very first voxbox. It is the SPRING VOXBOX. here is what I received inside:

SHEER COVER DUO CONCEALER This item is sold in a one-month supplie of 6 products and 3 bonus products for $29.95 I received one duo with 2 shades. It is for hiding blemishes,age spots, redness, scars and other imperfections.(undereye bags,anyone?)

AVEENO DAILY MOISTURIZING BODY WASH This retails for $6.99-$8.99 for a full size bottle. I received one 24 oz. sample It's a lightly fragranced, soap-free, dye-free and hypo-allergenic body wash that is safe for all skin types.

CHAPSTICK LIP SHIELD 365 Retails for $1.89-$2.39 I received one regular size stick. This is a new product from ChapStick. It offers year-round protection for your lips with an SPF of 50 and blocks against UVA/UVB rays.

SALLY HANSEN SALON EFFECTS Retails for $9.99 I received one package of 16 nail strips in a very pretty multi-color glitter. these are used in place of nail polish(just peel,apply and file-no drying time)and are supposed to last 10 days. I will try them this weekend.

BATH & BODY WORKS FINE FRAGRANCE MIST Retails for $14.99 and I received a full size bottle of SWEET PEA> This is supposed to be a better, more delicate version of their body splash. Unfortunately, I cannot use flowery scents because of my allergies, so even though this was an exciting item for me because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Bath and Body Works, I am going to have to skip this one and let someone else try it out for me.:-(

SOYJOY BAR Retails for $0.99- $1.29 I received blueberry. This is an all-natural fruit bar made with whole soy. And they added a last minute bonus item:

DR SCHOLL'S FOR HER BALL OF FOOT CUSHIONS (unknown retail value) I received one package of these and I think mt feet will love them. They are used to help prevent ball of foot pain an as a lover of high heels, I know I will be trying these very soon! So now, I will be trying out all of these in the coming week or so and hopefully, I will have great reviews of all of them. Remember, when in doubt-ask a redhead because REDHEADS KNOW BEST!

Put Your Best Face Forward

I hope everyone who reads this blog (if anyone does) is enjoying the holiday season.
My Christmas was typical of my family. We don't have any little kids running around, so it's always just my mom, grandparents and younger brother and sister. It's small and quiet but it's prefect for us because we center on being together as a family, and that is what it's all about.
I got everything I asked Santa for this year and one of the items I really am happy I receiced was something I have wanted for quite a while. It's the
Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System
When it comes to facial brushes, you can spend up to $100 and over, or you can spend under $30-either way, as an esthetician, I can tell you-aside from price, they are really all the same. Sure there are a few things you will get with a more expensive brand, but if you are looking for an inexpensive facial cleansing brush that does a great job-look no further. The Olay Professional Pro-X is just as good-if not better-than the high priced and highly recommended Clarisonic.
Now, The Clarisonic will have a few extras, such as more speeds and additional attachments for the body, but if all you need is a high-quality brush for the face, why spend all the extra cash?
The Olay Pro-X is a really lightweight, small brush, making it easy to handle. It also makes it easy to take with you when you travel. It has a super-soft brush head, that works very well at either of the two speeds and replacement heads are sold separately and under $10 for 2. It only requires 2 AA batteries, which are included with it. No charger needed. It is water resistant, so it can be used in the shower. It also comes with a sample size of the Olay Pro-X exfoliating Cleanser, which is nice, but I have own my favorite products, and you can use it with any. And really-nothing against Olay products, but when you are in the business of skin care, as I am, you know what products are best for your skin and you don't start messing with your skin care regime and switch your daily cleanser just because you get a free sample. I just love the way my face feels after using this. You know how your teeth feel after using a electric toothbrush? That really,really clean feeling? Well, that is similar to how my face feels. Very "polished". It leaves my skin very clean and unlike with my last facial brush, I don't have to clean the whole countertop after I use it-no messy "spraying" of cleanser everywhere. The only downside I find to this brush is that it would be nice to have a cover or case to keep the brush head protected, but since it is so small, I can use a makeup case. Overall, a great brush for the money. But in the end, a brush is a brush and it's really all about what products you use. You can have a $200 brush, but if you use crap products, you will not see results. THAT is a FACT. Trust me-I am a professional. LOL

Happy New Year!!!
Lisa