Ipsy Glam Bag June 2014

It's that time of month again where I share with you what's in my Ipsy glam bag! If you don't know, Ipsy is a subscription service.  Each month you pay $10 and receive a make up bag full of goodies.  You usually get 4-5 samples or some full size as well.  The make up bags are always cute and great for travel or in your purse.  HERE is a link if you want to sign up to receive your very own Ipsy bag!

This month's make up bag is a gorgeous dark navy bag with a floral pattern and a gorgeous coral zipper.  It also has a tag labeled "Rebecca Minkoff" so I'm guessing she designed this pattern for their bag. I really like it!  Almost a Hawaiian type theme! 

First up in the bag is a dream waves beach spray by Marc Anthony. It says "Create sexy, tousled beach waves all year long". I have been wearing my hair curly lately so I sprayed it in my already messy hair immediately!  Right off the bat the smell is AMAZING!  It smells like coconut and sweet and sunscreen.  It smells like the beach to me.  It gives a generous spray and didn't do too bad in my hair.  I will be interested to use it alone in just damp hair and see how it does.  But I do like it!

Next up is a butter gloss by NYX!  I already have one of these and LOVE IT!!  This one is in the color Apple Strudel. I have to say it wouldn't be a color I would choose for myself as it's a kind of light pink. But it seems like a nice change up for the summer so I will definitely be throwing this in my purse.  It's a slightly sticky lip gloss but the pigmentation is nice and the smell is like a cupcake!  The price on these is around $5 so not bad! I would definitely recommend them! 

A mascara from Be a Bombshell is up next.  This is the Lash Out style.  It is in the color black and seems to have a pretty thin fiber type wand. I have had other Be a Bombshell products before and they were ok. I expect this mascara to be a so so one.  I will do a full review if it happens to knock my socks off, but I'm guessing it will go into my drawer and only be used while on vacation or just to use it up. 

 Next up is a liquid eyeliner by  NICKAK New York.  I got the color green on the website they have 14 different colors listed. The website also lists the price at $4.99 each!   This is a water, smudge, and fad resistant liner.  I did a swatch and it really does give a good shimmer and holds.  I let it dry a few seconds and then tried to rub it and it didn't budge! I can see this being a fun pop of color this summer! It comes with a foam tip applicator that is very very thin so you can get a nice thin line or build it up to make a thicker line.  I will definitely be wearing this!

Last but not least is a cleanser by Skinn. It says it's a "Olive & Enzyme Cleanser.  Rich balm make-up remover and deep cleansing mask".  The instructions say to rub it on your face in a circular motion and then rinse with warm water or a warm wet wash cloth.  Or for a deep clean to put it on like a mask, leave it for 5-10 minutes and then wash off.  I used this to get the eye liner off my hand and it seemed to work well.  The smell is really nice!  It smells like a tropical drink.  That may sound odd but you know what I mean! The smell is nice the texture is smooth like a lotion.  I am excited to try this out to get off my make up! 

Well that was my Ipsy bag!  Do you get Ipsy yet?!  What did you get? What are you loving this month? 

Love, Lacey

Motivation Monday 06-09-14

I wanted to share a little bit of motivation with you guys today! I have a very busy week with training and my kids are now out of school for the summer so we are literally running like crazy! But part of my training is gearing up for a race on Saturday.  This is a cross country race so it's run on grass and is a little harder but I have a goal time and my coach has told me to push for a PR (person record). I have never been a fast runner and my biggest problem is my mental game.  I have heard it said running is 90% mental and 10% physical.  I would definitely agree with that. I struggle with my running mentally far more than physically.  My mind can tell me I'm not going to finish or I'm going to slow or any of a number of things to get me to quit or walk. 

Over the last few weeks I have been trying some mental workouts.  Sounds funny right?! It's nothing crazy just some positive self talk and some visualization.  Now I know what you are saying "Visualization?! Isn't that weird?!". And I would have agreed 100% until a few weeks ago.  I thought visualization was a hippy/yogi type thing.  But I decided that I'm going to give it a try. So Friday I tried it for my long run Saturday.  I was going for 10 miles and I  needed to keep myself going. What I did was envision myself out on my run. I knew where my turn around for my out and back was, so I saw myself there at mile 5 looking and feeling strong. I kept telling myself at mile 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9 I WILL feel strong and look strong. And you know the crazy thing? When I got to mile 5 I said to myself "I LOOK and FEEL strong!"  and that pushed me harder.  I started to struggle at mile 8. I told myself again " I LOOK and FEEL strong!" and I prayed that God would give me the strength to make it back home.  I can't say I completely felt strong through to the end but I didn't give up! I did have to stop and walk for a second as to not lose anything in my stomach on the road but not because I was feeling weak or tired.  I was hot and tired when I finished but while running I just kept saying "You CAN do this!" I also reminded myself that I'm NOT the fat kid in gym class no one wants to pick. I told myself I am STRONG and I AM worth knowing and loving. I talk a lot to God while I run and He helped me to remember I am HIS child and He loves me! Positive affirmations sound like a bunch of crazy when you are talking about them but when you actually use them they work!!  Try it out! Next time you are doing something hard whether it's running, walking, a big presentation at work, talking to someone you don't know, try it out! Envision yourself doing the task and how you want to look and feel doing it. Then GO DO IT!!  And if you need to tell yourself "I'm doing GREAT! I feel *insert the way you want to feel*!" during the task, do it!  

I may not be the best but I'm trying to be MY best!  I want each of you to be YOUR best too! We are all on different paths with different goals but we can all help each other to get there!

Question of the day!

Have you ever used visualization? Or positive self talk? What is your BIG dream goal?!

Love, Lacey

Running Recap 6/2-6/7

As promised last week, I will be doing a week in review for my running.  I'm not fast, I'm not great, I'm never going to win BUT I do love it, I feel like God has called me to it, and I give it my all!

My first run of the week was Tuesday.  It was just a short 4 miler. Thankfully Mr. J came home so I could go outside as our treadmill was broken.  And this felt like a great run!  I had to slow myself down several times and didn't even get close to the pace I was shooting for but it just felt so good outside and good to stretch my legs.

Apparently I took NO pictures on my run on Monday?!  So I'll give you a picture of the salad that helped fuel that run.  It was a delicious sesame crusted tuna salad with wasabi peas and candied ginger.  The dressing was ginger/soy something and it was AMAZING!!  I ate all of it and I wanted more!  I will definitely be getting this salad many many times this summer!

Thursday was a progressive run.  That means you start out at a lower speed and keep increasing the speed with each mile. I like to do these on the treadmill to help make sure I stay on the pace I'm supposed to.  When I run outside I tend to be all over the place with my pace but the treadmill forces me to keep going.  Thankfully our treadmill got fixed just the day before! So I did 5 progressive miles. I worked my way up from 12:45 min miles to 11:45 min miles.  So not super fast but it was definitely a challenge towards the end.  And anything over about 3 miles on the treadmill is a challenge for me.  Although the view of the backyard helps! I can see out garden grow and just to the right there is the swing set so I can keep an eye on the kids while they play!

Last but NOT least was a long slow run! On the schedule said 9-10 miles so I thought what they hey! And went for 10.  OUCH!  I should have went for 9 and picked up the extra mile closer to home but I didn't.  I was up at 6 am on a Sat. and as you can see by that first picture of the collage I was NOT excited!  If you don't already know, I am NOT a morning person!  I will get up when I need to but please don't speak to me before at least 8 or 9 am and especially if I haven't had coffee! But I got up and got on the road.  I'm not sure why but this run was a struggle from the get go.  My goal pace to stay right around 12:30 and usually the first mile or two I really struggle to slow myself down.  I love to run and just get out there and stretch my legs.  But NOT today!  I was slow and felt sluggish.  I ate before I went and had plenty of water this week and even took some water with a NUUN tablet in it (review on that coming up!) and some running beans.  But I just struggled.  The run seemed to go quickly like it normally does as I just let my mind wander and I pray a lot. The very last mile really didn't feel good and I ended up walking for a few steps right towards the end because I got so nauseous! I thought I was going to get sick but thankfully the quick walk helped and I was able to get home! PHEW! 

I love the out and back route that I have laid out because I get to run in the country.  I LOVE running out in the middle of nowhere. Not a lot of cars or people (other than the houses) and I can just relax and looking around.  LOVE IT!

So that comes to a grand total of 19 miles for me this week!  That seems unreal to me but I earned each and every mile (and I have the blisters to prove it!).  Hope you had a great week too!

Love, Lacey

My New Running Shoes

In the last few weeks it has become apparent that one pair of my running shoes is nearing the end of its life.  In case you don't know, running shoes are good for around 300 miles and then they start to break down and can start to cause you pain and injuries.  I have never been good about writing down my mileage so I usually just go on how my legs are feeling.  And while I haven't had any injuries yet (knock on wood!) my knee has been giving me fits when I wear a certain pair of shoes so I'm guessing they are just about at the end of their life. I knew I would have to pick up a new pair of shoes sooner or later but I wasn't expecting to get ones last week!  I went into our local running shop to look around and say hi to everyone.  I happened to look at the shoes and then someone mentioned that I got a discount and that was all the excuse I needed! I tried on my normal shoes and bought them!

I introduce you to the Asics GT-1000. I absolutely LOVE the color combo!  I'm a sucker for pink but I think the orange really makes them look nice! I always run these shoes. I have tried other brands from time to time but just always seem to end up with the Asics GT1000 or 2000.

But it's not about the looks it's about the running.  And about the laces!  I ALWAYS use Bungee laces! These aren't the exact same but pretty similar.  There are a few different brands out there depending on what you want.  I had one race where my shoes came untied 3 different times and I vowed I would NEVER use laces again.  I know, I'm a bit dramatic!  My local running store sells these so I grabbed a pair while I was there.

What do you think? I love them! They are REALLY comfy and just from the quick 4 miler I did the other night I can tell how worn out my old shoes are.  These felt like a dream to run in! 

So my best tips when buying new running shoes? 

1. Go to your local running store.  I'm not talking about your big box do it all sports store.  I'm talking your local running store.  A store that specializes in running and triathlons. They know their stuff and will help you find the right shoe for you.  I'm convinced many people get injured or have unnecessary aches and pains because they try to run in the wrong shoes.  I can't tell you the pain I had with shin splints because I tried to run in cheap "running" shoes when I first started. I bawked at paying $100+ for shoes just to run in, but I GUARANTEE they are worth every penny!  Go to a store that will watch you run!  Our local store has treadmills they will watch you run and can point you to the best shoes for you.  Then you can try them on, take a quick run, and see what you think.  My running store even has a great return policy because some times you don't know how a shoe will run, until you run it! So go to those who know running and running shoes! 

2. Get a pair that feels good not looks good! This has been the hardest for me to understand.  I still try to go with a shoe I like the looks of but I will go for comfort over looks.  I even bought a pair of plain white ones once.  Not my style but they got the job done and are now retired! 

3. Go in with an open mind! If you are a runner and like a certain brand of shoes then by all means stick with them, but don't just pick a brand based on a friends pick or someone you know runs a certain brand.  Every runner is different and likes a different shoe.  Even if you think you don't like a certain brand, try them!  They might be your new favorite!

Question of the day

How many pair of running shoes do you own?

I actually own 6 but 3 are currently retired! So I still have 3 in normal rotation!

Love, Lacey 

May Empties 2014

It's that time of month again, NO! Not THAT time of month.  The time of month where I show you my trash! I mean, empties!  Each month I throw in a bag all of the products I have used up and then show them to you.  It's a good way for me to tell you what I like and don't like.  If you have used a product all the way up you probably have a good idea if it works or not.  So here we go!

First off we have my favorite powder! This is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder and I got the color translucent. This powder is great!  I apply mine with a brush and it's not cakey or thick.  It's light but yet sets everything to a nice matte (but not too matte) finish.  And at around $5 you can't beat the price! I have already repurchased this product!

Don't adjust your screen, this is a mini bottle of hairspray!  This is the big sexy hair weather proof hairspray.  I got this sample in my ipsy bag and I used it all.  I will say, I wasn't impressed with it really.  I think it's supposed to give you a light, moveable hold but I felt like it was nothing.  I didn't feel like it held my hair at all. I was NOT a fan of this hairspray and with a price of around $20, not worth it in my opinion.

Next up is the NYX HD photogenic concealer in the color light.  The bottle says "Good for all skin types and softens lines. Its light diffusing effect is perfect for photos in the studio or for taking fun pix with your pals!" This was a nice liquid concealer. It went on smoothly and was easy to blend out.  It didn't give me the coverage I was looking for to cover up my dark circles (still searching for that) but on blemishes and extra red spots it was good.  I bought mine for around $5 at Ulta! I am currently trying out a few different concealers in my pursuit of dark circle coverage but I would repurchase this!

I have been trying to wear my hair more natural lately (insert me being lazy). So I have been getting out of the shower, towel drying my hair, and then putting in some mousse.  This one is by Aussie and it's called Catch the wave!  It's supposed to be a mousse and leave-in conditioner in one. The bottle says it's flexible hold and I would for the most part agree.  I usually use a big handful so a few spots in my hair get a little crunchy (which I don't mind) but for the most part it just helps my hair's wave get a little more defined. I am currently trying out a different mousse but would repurchase this!

Here is a super exciting one! Multipurpose solution for my contacts.  I buy the cheap up & up brand.  I think it does just as good of a job as any and it's about half the price!  I usually buy these in a two pack for around $9.  I purchased a different store brand this month but I will use up & up again!

This product I am having trouble finding in stores! I may have to just order on line because I really do like it!  This is the St. Ives Timeless skin, collagen elastin moisturizer. It says it "visbly reduces appearance of fine lines & wrinkles".  It says it's dermatologist tested and non-comedogenic.  I found this moisturizer through a friend (Hey JODIE!) and have LOVED it!  I bought mine at Walgreens for around $6 for a 10oz bottle, which is a lot of moisturizer! The only thing I don't love is it doesn't have any spf in it. Other than that, I found this to go on smooth and sink in quickly without a residue.  I really liked this for my night time moisturizer where I could really slather it on and let it soak in overnight. I will definitely be repurchasing this product to use mostly at night. Now that the weather is turning warm I don't tend to wear foundation (so no extra spf). I am currently trying a new moisturizer with spf in it for the summer so I will let you know how that goes!

I hope this was helpful for you and maybe you found a new product you want to try!

Question of the day

What product have you used up this month that you MUST repurchase ASAP?

Love, Lacey

Mother/Daughter Weekend May 2014 - Part 3

If you missed part 1 or 2  of my Mother/Daughter weekend you can go read them here! and here

The whole reason for my mom and I staying the night in South Haven was an amazing B&B called Martha's Vineyard .  This place is a gorgeous old house made up into a B&B. The owners, Lou & Ginger, are very kind and thoughtful people.  Mr. J and I actually stayed here last year for our 10 year anniversary! We loved it then and I loved it even more this time!  My mom and I picked a different room to stay in than Mr. J & I did so that we could see more of the rooms.

And the best part about going in the middle of May was that it was still chilly enough that they had the fireplaces on!  We turned it on and left it on the entire time we were there.  I loved hearing the fire crackle and feel a little warmth!

The bed was so pretty! The whole room was done in shades of purple and I loved it.  The bed had a very heavy down filled duvet cover on it which would have been perfect the snuggle under in the winter.  It was pretty luxurious! And the bright light that looks like a window there in the right of the picture is actually a door to a gorgeous patio area. I went out there at night to call Mr. J and I could hear a symphony of frogs singing to me!

One of the best things about Martha's Vineyard is the amazing breakfast!  When the weather is warm they serve breakfast outside on the big wrap around porch.  But being the middle of May in Michigan it was a bit chilly for that so they served us in the dining room.  Nothing like a chandelier at the breakfast table!

Beautiful gold chargers mixed with delicate real silverware and of course cut crystal, made for a very elegant way to start the day.  The other thing you should know about this amazing breakfast is that it is 4 courses.  Yes I said 4 courses!  The breakfast is different each day too, so if you stay multiple nights you won't get the same breakfast two days in a row.  Also I must mention that when I booked the room I asked if it was possible to have a gluten free breakfast and Ginger was kind enough to make that happen.  I was very very excited! 

The first course is a fruit plate.  I took a bite of the pineapple before the picture but before that it looked like a beautiful butterfly! 

The next course was a delicious yogurt parfait.  Ginger used gf granola for mine but for everyone else she used their homemade granola.  They have bees on the property and use the honey to make their own granola.  I had it last year before I was gf and it is delicious!  Gf granola isn't too bad either so I gladly gobbled this up! Notice the OJ in the wine glass! FANCY!

Next is the main course.  A gorgeous crepe with warm apple filling topped with whipped cream and nuts.  Also a side of sausage!  This is actually a picture of my mom's plate because the non-gf crepe looked prettier than mine but mine tasted AMAZING!!  It was like eating apple pie for breakfast!

And remember when I said that breakfast was 4 courses? The 4th course is always dessert!  According to Lou every meal should have dessert, including breakfast.  Today's dessert was a delicious lemon tart! A great way to get our morning started!

Mom and I spent the whole day shopping and enjoying South Haven before we had to head home.  Spending time with my mom never gets old.  I love that we got to have this special weekend just the two of us.  Because while I love sharing her with my kids, I also love being her kid! I'm so thankful for the fun time and great memories that we have of this trip.  And I know neither of use will soon forget South Haven or Saugatuck. 

I love you mom! And I hope we can take another trip together soon!

Love, Lacey

Running Recap 05/26-05/31

I want to start writing a recap on Saturdays of my running through the week. So here is how my week went!

My Monday run was a nice easy 4 miles.  Mr. J was out of town so I took the kids to my parents and let them run free while I went for a run.  My parents live in the country so it was fun to run in the wide open space and kind of see my old stomping grounds.

It is so pretty out there.  And the tractor just made it even better!  I grew up watching tractors, driving around them on the road, and even helping to drive a few.  This definitely was a great run!

My next run didn't come until Wednesday.  The boys were at school so Miss V went to visit her grandpa while I went to get a steady 5 miles.  Miss V & her grandpa had quite the adventure while I was running so I'm thankful to him for making their time together special.  I absolutely LOVE this path that I found.  It kind of wraps around and behind a housing addition but you would never know!  I loved this run!  Besides being attacked by a bird!  And I'm not kidding!  There was a red winged black bird that is nesting in a tree right off our local path and she is not happy with anyone walking or running near her so she swoops in and attacks.  Stupid bird!  I thought I only had to be worried about being attacked by a dog?!

Last but not least was my LONG run today! I'll be honest I was NOT wanting to get up this morning.  I laid in bed a good 10 min after my alarm went off trying to talk myself out of running. I could go later tonight. I could do it tomorrow? Maybe after lunch?  But I finally told myself to go and get it over with! And I'm SO glad I did!  I went out and did 8 miles and came home to a wonderful ice bath and a HUGE breakfast made by Mr. J.  I'm so thankful to have him!  He supports my running, cheers me on, and makes me awesome breakfasts! That's the best part of going early on a Saturday morning!  I come home and haven't really missed anything!

This is Brady (as in Tom) helping with my ice bath.  He thinks I add ice for him to play with.

Tomorrow is a rest day!  It will feel good to just rest!  Hope you got some miles in this week!

Love, Lacey