I LOVE Sunglasses!!!!! Anyone that knows me, knows that you can find me in sunglasses the minute the sun rises until the sun sets. I am a huge fan and lover of Maui Jims because I grew up with the brand (my dad had a pair that was over 40 years old before he passed) and the customer service is awesome. But, when I’m looking for something else in a different range of brands and styles, I love checking out other brands available. I was recently introduced to Ottica, a sunglasses, and glasses website that offers a variety of brands to suit all styles and fashion statements. Let’s learn a little about the site and what it can offer us fashionistas, shall we?
As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of Coach so I was immediately smitten when I saw that Ottica offered Coach Sunglasses and prescription lenses. Ottica is an online retailer that offers a 365 Day warranty and 100% Money Back Guarantee. With brands like Versace, Coach, Ray-Ban, Carolina Lemke, Tory Burch, Burberry and Michael Korrs, there is bound to be a sunglasses or prescription lens that you will enjoy from a brand you love. You can select from a variety of brands at different price points and the website is very easy to maneuver.
Ottica offers men and women’s classes in different shapes, lens colors, etc. and you can choose if you want to have an Rx (prescription) put into your frames or a selection of different lenses they have on hand. You can also opt for a polarized option if you would like those.
What’s so awesome about Ottica is that they really embody a simplistic approach to things – Less is More. They hand pick their frames and present a carefully curated selection. While the variety is wide, each pair available is selected to keep their choice small, but varied. They are constantly updating their collection and featuring new and exciting products from the world’s most beloved brands. Each frame is checked for materials, finishing, and functionality to ensure that they will not only be durable and pliable when wearing them. Every screw and bolt and the quality of the product is verified prior to listing on the site. They literally take each aspect of your glasses seriously to ensure you are getting the quality product you deserve and paid for.
Since my Maui Jims need to be repaired, I’ve been sporting my Coach sunglasses for Ottica for the last 2 months. Let me just say that while I expected great quality since Coach is a brand I love, I’m enjoying the durability of these glasses. The lenses are scratch resistant (now they will scratch if care is not taken) and they come with a little microfiber cloth and a gorgeous case. I have been using this pair everywhere, even on our little staycation this past weekend and in the pool. They are comfortable and fit perfectly for me.
Ottica offers wonderful service and commitment. I was able to experience the same buying process as any of their customers and loved that if I had a question, they could answer it quickly and without issue. Even if you’re buying sunglasses or glasses online often, it can be an issue dealing with the right size and shape, so I love that Ottica offers that money back guarantee and free shipping and returns. You can also select their extended coverage if that works better for you. Ottica operates a 24/7 in-house customer service department (which is wonderful for people like me who don’t live in the usual East Coast time zone) and the staff is knowledgeable and so nice. You also get a live chat option if it’s available at that time.
Overall, my experience with Ottica has been great and I know that it will be a site that I’ll turn to for future purchases as well.
You can check out Ottica yourself here and see if there is anything that you may like.
https://www.ottica.com/
Have you heard of Ottica before or tried anything from this site? Is this a site you’d be interested in checking out for yourself?
Disclaimer: The products featured in this post were provided to me by the brand for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links may be posted through out.
As a family, our lives tend to be a bit hectic and busy. I just consider us busy because we are out in the world, making memories and enjoying life. This year all three boys started school the same week they started Football practice for Pop Warner. Let’s just say it has been a busy month so far and keeping the littles on task for school while still getting them to and from practice and games can be a challenge but overall rewarding and we make it work to the best to our ability. With a schedule that starts from 6am and ends at 8:30pm for the boys, they have a long day and their little bodies keep truckin from rise to bed. To keep t hem on top of their game and play, I try to incorporate great tasting snacks like CLIF Kid Zbar® that have important nutrients for active kids.
It seems like I have a household full of guys that literally eat like crazy, but with three growing boys that’s exactly what is going on. To keep them on their toes, I give them CLIF Kid Zbars, which are nutritious snacks that are made from organic ingredients, all of which are specially-crafted for kids’ developing taste buds and active lives. My sons absolutely love how the CLIF Kid Zbars tastes and they have asked me to purchase them many times.
CLIF Kid Zbars are the perfect portion size for kids. I especially love that they come in flavors that they love and they fit perfectly in their lunch box or backpack to take with them to school. All three boys snack on their CLIF Kid Zbars during break for that mid day snack so that they are not starving when they come home from school. I enjoy that they are made with organic ingredients, are Non-GMO (something we try to steer clear of in our household) and have no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or synthetic preservatives.
CLIF Kid has been an essential part of our back to school routine and the boys have been loving the taste and flavors of the snacks they have tried. But, what I love is that they don’t need to be used for just school. CLIF Kid is dedicated to reclaiming play! With balance and active play laying the foundation for skilled, healthy, resilient and successful society, we are keeping our kids active and still providing them fun. This is one of the reasons why my sons are engaged with Play time, no matter what it is. Our play time is football and the boys enjoy CLIF Kid Zbars as a part of their snack after practice.
When my sons are on the filed, they not only get a little active time, but they have a lot of fun and CLIF Kid helps to encourage that. Let’s face it, play is disappearing at home, in school and in communities now a days, especially since technology, television and video games have a little part in that. I remember as a kid, I played outside all the time and it’s sad to see that 70% of moms like me played outside while only 31% of our kids play outside today. I encourage outside play whole heartily and enjoy that my sons love to play and keep active.
Whether it’s back to school or on the field, foraging through the woods or riding a bike – no matter the play time your family enjoys, get out and enjoy it all. Remember, like I said before… make memories while having some fun.
What about you? Do you remember being out exploring and playing till the lights came on? What are your favorite memories of your play time? Encourage play time with your kids if you don’t already, have some fun and create memories.
Multi-Award-Winning Singer and Songwriter Signed as Ambassador of Cargo’s Hawaiian Spring / Summer 2017 Collection. I was absolutely ecstatic to read and hear that Maui girl, singer and songwriter,…
“This post was sponsored by Hello Happy. Hello Hershey’s, as part of an Ambassador Activation for Influence Central.”Summer has officially begun in our household and as a family we can pretty much all agree that some of our most happy moments are shared during the summer months. Since time together can be far and few in between because of a very busy schedule – when it comes to summer break, we love to spend time together as a family, whether it be enjoying dinner or an easy summer treat that we can make together. Who doesn’t love chocolate anyway? My family and I love a simple dessert that’s easy to make and features some of our favorite chocolate delectables from HERSEY’S. Today my family and I would love to share with you our easy Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies and Chocolate Dipped Wonton Chips – a great summer treat.
We love to make most of our yummies from scratch, but having some fresh baked shortbread cookies on hand just called for a quick dip in HERSHEY’S chocolate. We also had some wonton chips on hand which are a fun and popular snack here in Hawaii, so tossing them with some of our favorite chocolate make for a great summer snack.
We used 2 HERSHEY’S products to create our chocolate dipped shortbread cookies and chocolate dipped wonton chips: HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates and HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bars.
Here are the easy steps to create your Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies:
Melt your HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bars in the microwave for about 30 seconds and stir until smooth.
Dip your shortbread cookies into the chocolate and place onto wax paper to set.
Put cookies into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes so that chocolate will set and slightly harden.
Serve
I baked shortbread cookies the day before – but you can easily get store bought or make your own. That’s what makes this recipe so fun and easy – because it literally takes minutes to make a quick treat.
Here are the easy steps to create your Chocolate Dipped Wonton Chips:
This recipe is easy and while the wonton chips are drizzled in chocolate, I like to mix in a few chocolate pieces to give it a little texture.
Unwrap your HERSHEY’S KISSES and chop or crush into small pieces. I like to use my Ninja Chopper and pulse until the chocolate is into tiny parts (as pictured above).
Melt your HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bars in the microwave for about 30 seconds until melted and stir until smooth.
On a wax paper – spread the melted chocolate evenly in a thin layer. Make sure to reserve half of the melted chocolate to drizzle on the chips.
Sprinkle the wonton chips onto the melted chocolated and then top with the crushed HERSHEY’S Kisses pieces.
Drizzle the remainder of the melted chocolate onto the wonton chips.
With a spoon or fork, toss the wonton chips until they are coated with the chocolate.
Refrigerate for about 10 minutes until chocolate sets and hardens.
Serve
We used store bought Wonton chips that are from a local Hawaii brand that is popular here in Hawaii. But, you can make your own if you would like as well.
In between snacking and mixing up some treats, my family and I were able to get in some fun and spend time with one another. Whether it be some play time at the park, sunbathing at the beach or pool or just sharing some sweet treats with one another, it really is hard to beat summertime with my family here in Hawaii – especially when your home town is a playground all on its own. It’s easy to get wrapped up and taken with every day life that keeps us busy and on our toes, but having good ol’ fashion family time is priceless.
On the first official day of summer, June 20, HERSHEY’S will set out to remind people that happiness is a choice and sweeten their day by celebrating “Hello Happy Moments” – the intimate, individual and personal moments of happy that we choose each and every day, which build connections and create memories that last a lifetime. Creating memories with fun, unexpected, happy moments with our children are what we look forward to.
Time with one another to enjoy happy moments in our lives is priceless and stepping away from your computer and phone or work with just a few moments of fun is worth every second. It always amazes me at how fast time flies and happy moments with my sons and husband are so important to me. It is so important for our family to choose happiness each and every single day and make each moment count! Whether you are sharing a sweet delectable treat with your favorite littles or a chocolate HERSHEY’S KISS this summer, CHOOSE HAPPINESS!
Share a “Kiss” with a loved one!
From my family to yours, we wish you the best, most wonderful summer. May every moment you experience leave lasting memories of happiness. Happy Summer!
Now, it’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Jordana Cosmetics. While I haven’t tried every single thing sold by the brand, I love and enjoy many of the products that they offer like their Easyliner for eyes and lips, their Modern Matte Lipsticks, 12 Hour Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencils (absolute favorite) and Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara (hands down holy grail product), to name a few. Jordana’s products are not only affordable, but they really are well made. If you’ve been following me a while, you may have seen the 12 Hour Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencils and Best Lash Extreme in various looks and tutorials over the last several years.
Recently, I walked into my local Walgreens and much to my amazement I seen a Jordana display in the “new products section” with goodies I needed to get my hands on. I was a bit bummed as I really didn’t see these talked about much yet (where have I been lately, huh? lol) and the display was a bit picked through already, leaving me with three colors of the new Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Color and two colors of the Made to Last Liquid Eyeshadow. Today I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on each of these, swatches and more – so read on if you’re interested in the details. Not into reading today? Don’t worry – I also have a video you can watch that details all of the same stuff so you can watch that video here.
The first product set I’m going to talk about is the Jordana Made to Last Liquid Eyeshadows (Net. wt. 0.23 oz / 6.5g). These liquid eye shadows come in at least six different neutral type shades (by neutral I mean shades in brown hues, golds, champagnes and bronze). They retail on Jordana’s website for $4.99 but I did buy mine for $3.99 at my local Walgreens. These interesting eye shadows have a smooth liquid feel that really melts onto the lid and are saturated with vibrant, show stopping color. Each shade that I have seen so far has a metallic / shimmery look to them which Jordana states that each shadow is decorated with light-reflecting pearls. Jordana says that these are stay-all-day shadow that is crease-proof and water resistant.
These liquid eye shadows have an interesting applicator. The shape reminds me of that of an arrow head but I was amazed at how nicely it applied, with it’s pointed tip I was able to get product into my inner corner of my eye with ease. The formula of the eyeshadow is very liquid like but blendable. It’s creamy but still has more of a liquid like texture over cream and I really like that it has a built in applicator. Honestly, I love the color range and love how easy it is to not only apply but perfect for applying your eyeshadow on the go. Jordana states that this is crease-proof and water-resistant, but I honestly didn’t experience such. I must apply a light layer to keep from the product creasing (even over eye shadow primer) and it didn’t seem water resistant to me because when my eyes teared, glitter got everywhere. This does offer quite a bit of glitter left behind on the eye and while it didn’t hurt or bother my sensitive eyes as all (it is a nice cosmetic grade type of glitter – small and doesn’t hurt the eye) I figured I would let you know.
The colors I got were Dusk Till Bronze (05) and Immortal Metal (03). Each of these shades is gorgeous and really make for a stunning combination on the eye. While I did get creasing when using this product, I found that the lighter the application (maybe using a synthetic eye shadow brush) will help with that issue. But using directly out of the tube with the included applicator is a bit hard to work with the product since so much comes out on the applicator at first. I still really enjoy these products and plan to make much more use out of them… since they are perfect for days when I want to put on makeup and a little sparkle, but need to be quick. These are convenient and very very pigmented in one swipe. At the price point, I think they are surely worth checking them out and I plan to pick up a few more shades.
Do you consider yourself more of a lippy lover than an eyeshadow addict? Well then, let’s talk about the Jordana Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Color (Net. Wt. 0.11oz / 3g) which retails for $4.99 on Jordana’s website and I purchased mine at Walgreens for the same price. The website shows that there are 12 colors available and I picked up three (very bold) shades to try out. These liquid lip colors are pretty interesting in that they not only have a sweet scent to them, but the ones I have literally smell like their respective names. I don’t think they have much of a flavor to them on the lips though. These lip colors start off as a liquid when applied to your pout and melt and dry down into a matte finish. It feels really nice on the lips, not drying as I would have expected from a liquid lipstick that is under $5.00. It feels mousse and cream like when applied to the lips and I love that they are infused with a drop of Vitamin A to keep them comfortable while wearing. They do dry down matte but I still find that they don’t settle into the lines of my lips as much as other liquid lipsticks do.
The applicator that comes with the liquid lip color has an interesting curve to it – which oddly makes application a lot easier than I thought it would. It hugs the lips nicely and spreads the color fairly evenly in one swipe. You get kapow and bam color in one swipe and what I love about this liquid lipstick is that you can easily layer the color without funky bunching or odd looking pigmentation like other liquid lipsticks can do. It can take about a minute for the lipstick to dry down to a matte finish depending on the thickness of the coats you applied to your lips but I don’t find that it bothers me much.
The only colors that were available in the display at my local Walgreens were Mango Sorbet (05), Raspberry Tart (03) and Mixed Berry Souffle (04) which were the shades I picked up. They are quite bold as you can see from the swatches above. Each swatch is one swipe of the wand onto my hand and as you can see they are very pigmented and have high saturated color. These are said to be a waterproof formula and I do notice that they will last on my lips for hours. If I don’t really eat or drink anything, I could easily get 8 hours of wear time… if I do drink or eat (especially if oily) the color may fade slightly or may start to come off a bit on the insides of my lips, but ultimately – the wear still looks fairly even and not funky like other lip colors can do. Oh – did I mention reapplying? That is one thing I love about this lip color… reapplying is great. You can easily go back, reapply color in the parts it wore off and it looks like a fresh new coat… no funky bleeding, blending or anything of the sort like you can expect from a traditional liquid lip color. There is no balling up or cracking and definitely not weird discoloration so I’m really loving this.
I’m using Mixed Berry topped with Raspberry Tart on my lips
I’m definitely looking to pick up more shades and I hope Jordana has a plethora available at local stores soon. These liquid lip colors are really comfortable on the lips once they dry down and I love the feel of them. They offer great coverage on the lips, bright pigmentation and I can’t wait to get my hands on more colors soon.
Overall – I’m quite impressed with both the Jordana Made to Last Liquid Eyeshadows and the Jordana Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Colors. Considering the price point, you could easily collect all of the shades and have yourself a grand time with each. If you had to choose between the shadow and the lipsticks, I say go for the lipsticks – both work well but the lipsticks… Jordana really hit it out of the ball park with this one… they are phenomenal. I have a liquid lipstick collection of probably over 40 from different brands both affordable and highend and I’m loving loving these from Jordana. For an affordable product, I like that they still offer quality. Each product is Made in the USA which is awesome and Jordana is a cruelty-free brand. I hope Jordana comes out with many more shades of both and that they are permanent items in their line because I’ll be sure to collect them all.
Check out my video for a look at LIVE swatches and my rundown on each of these products. You can watch directly on YouTube here, or watch the embedded video below.
What about you? Have you tried any of these products yet? If so, do you like them and if not, well – are you planning to try them out? Comment below and let me know.
Disclaimer: The products featured and discussed in this post were purchased by me with my own money. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to feature these products. Affiliate links are posted through out.
With Spring in full swing and Summer right around the bend, I’ve already started making easy and quick recipes for my family that are refreshing and delicious.…
I love being in love and I am lucky in that I have a great relationship with my husband… so Valentine’s Day usually consists of some time spent with one another. But, I also whole-heartily agree that Valentine’s Day should be every day – not just once a year. Flowers, sweet whispers and stolen kisses should be done more than just one day a year and I’m fortunate that my husband does that for me. But, let’s face it, not everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. While I love the notion of being in love, I really wanted to focus on Falling in Love With Yourself this time around. As a busy wife and mother, my days are bunched up into a whirlwind of trips to the store, to the schools, date nights with the dishes and pots and pans and sometimes I forget to take the time out and pamper myself. So today we celebrate ourselves! Today we are the Unicorns… objects of desire and mythical creatures to be honored – today, tonight… we take the time to fall in love with ourselves.
I think the number one thing to do when trying to Love oneself is to take the time for a great pampering. Now in some cases pampering could be a long warm bubble bath and if that’s the case, nothing says “You are a Unicorn” than a beautiful, glittery, sparkly Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar from LUSH. One of my ultimate wind down and feel good bath essentials, the Unicorn Horn fills your tub with luxurious essential oils, colorful candy stars and sparkle with a soft Lavender scent to calm your being. After a soak in this greatness, you’ll definitely feel inspired to take on the World. Sparkle not your thing? Well, don’t you worry because LUSH has you covered with their Floating Flower Bath Bomb. Relax and take in the scent of jasmine and cypress oil and watch as the gorgeous colors dissolve into your water creating a colorful escape.
If baths are not your thing, then how about a beautiful manicure to help give your hands some pampering and relief. Here’s a quick recipe of what I use to give myself a personal manicure in the comforts of my own home.
Fill a bowl, big enough to fit all your fingers in at one time (I suggest two bowls) with warm water. If you use two bowls, you’ll have one for each hand, but either way – one will work.
Add two to three drops of your favorite essential or moisturizing oil. I like to use Coconut Oil or jojoba oil.
place your fingers into the bowl and soak them for about 3-5 minutes. This will not only moisturize your fingers but it will also soften your cuticles so you can use a cuticle push to gently push your cuticles back.
After 5 minutes of soaking, remove your fingers and lightly dry your hands.
Go ahead and softly / gently push your cuticles back so they are out of the way.
Apply your favorite hand cream or polish and then hand cream.
Sometimes the oils can leave your nail bed too slippery to apply polish, so if you are planning to add polish to your nails, wash your hands to remove the oils. You can add your favorite hand cream after applying the polish of your choice. A favorite nail combo for me to add a little sparkle would be a soft nude cream polish and a textured polish that looks like diamonds.
Of course, what Unicorn doesn’t want to be showered with gifts, flowers or even a glass of bubbly. All of these things can easily be accomplished all on your own. Pick flowers from your garden, or head out to your local florist or farmer’s market and grab a bunch of the most colorful flora you can get your hands on and put them in a vase and on display. Don’t forget to stop by your favorite store and pick up a bottle of the best champagne and pour yourself a glass, sit on the porch, by a window or near a fire place and just take five minutes to yourself. If hanging around is not your thing? Well, grab your purse and do some shopping… this is about pampering yourself and loving yourself – so do what makes you feel wonderful.
At the end of the day, each and every woman, whether married, single, with children – whatever the case may be, deserves to pamper themselves. That extra five minutes you take in the tub soaking in a bath filled with LUSH goodies is that time for you to unwind and relax, tape a deep breath and celebrate who you are as a woman. No matter what the occasion be… Valentine’s Day, Birthday, Mother’s Day or just because – you are a Unicorn and deserve to fall in love with yourself. Now you know that Unicorns DO EXIST!
Wishing you a fabulous Valentine’s Day whether you are celebrating with the one you love or just taking time out for you.
Avec Amour – With Love!
One last thing loves… if you are looking for some feel good music while you are relaxing – check out my playlist here. Keep in mind that this is music that gets me inspired and motivated so it is not necessarily going to calm everyone down – but it may get you in a good mood.
Be sure to stop on by the links below and see what other ideas the lovely ladies of The Beauty Council have got for you for Valentine’s Day.
