Lately, time just seems to be flying by! Summer is coming to an end, and school has started once again. Even the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks! Is it just me or did this summer go by way too fast?

I fell behind on my Glam Bag reviews, so here you have a double header. For those of you who do not know what that means, it is a sports term where teams will play two games in one day. So let's get started with the July Glam Bag!

Well lucky for us, the July Glam Bag from ipsy was designed with summer in mind. Hence why the theme of the Glam Bag was called Hot Summer Nights. Inside this Glam Bag were the following products:

• Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in No Filter
• Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
• Palmetto Derma Rejuvenating Antioxidant Mask
• VASANTI COSMETICS Professional Eyeshadow Brush
• skyn ICELAND The ANTIDOTE Cooling Daily Lotion

The Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in No Filter is a very light pink/purple shade. The color is gorgeous, but it was too light and bland for my taste. Once I wore the color for a little bit, I got used to the shade. There is nothing special about the applicator or formula. In all honesty, it would get clumpy and hard to paint with sometimes. But at least the polish lasted on my nails for a decent amount of time.

Primer is always a must needed product, especially in the summer. You wouldn't want your hard work to melt off your face right? The Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer helps your makeup stay fresh and stay on longer. However, it will feel rough and almost like it is drying out your skin. But that is not the case at all, your skin will feel a lot softer after the little bit of discomfort.

Whenever I need to destress and relax, I like to take a bubble bath and put on a face mask. I was excited to try the Palmetto Derma Rejuvenating Antioxidant Mask. In all honesty, the packaging for this mask is terrible. It is a pain to open and you have to cut off a big portion of the tip in order to use the product. But besides that, this mask is amazing. It has a nice smell and it absorbs into your skin so there is less to wash off when you're all done. What I really love about this mask is there is no major time limit! You can wear it for five minutes for a quick exfoliation, or you can wear it for thirty minutes for a deep detox! Also make sure you wear sunscreen after wearing this mask because the ingredients in the mask will make your skin more sensitive.

The VASANTI COSMETICS Professional Eyeshadow Brush is a super soft brush. It does apply your eyeshadow very nicely, it's not too dark and not too light. This brush is super thick and also very stiff. This brush is also versatile. It can be used while it is wet and it will intensify your eyeshadow. It can also be used as a concealer brush! Multipurpose brushes are always the best.

One thing you always need is a good face moisturizer. The skyn ICELAND The ANTIDOTE Cooling Daily Lotion will soften your face but there is real strong odor that comes with it. This lotion is also supposed to cool your face, but for those of you with sensitive skin like myself, it will burn. But it was not a bad burn, it burned in a good way. I know it does not really make sense, but the burning sensation did not hurt too bad, it just caused a little discomfort. After the discomfort your face will feel a little bit softer.

Overall I'd give the July Glam Bag 3.5 stars out of 5, just another average batch of beauty products. Nothing amazing, but nothing terrible. Well unless you count the makeup bag itself, it was pretty ugly. Other than that there's nothing really to complain about. Now let's check out the August Glam Bag!

The August Glam Bag was all about indulgence, whether it be with sweets, snacks, or even makeup. The theme of this bag was called "Sugar Highness" which in all honestly came off pretty juvenile and geared towards a younger demographic. Even the print on the bag itself screams junior.

There could have been a lot done with this theme to make it more mature. Like maybe a Treat Yo' Self bag. But instead we got this knock off Alice in Wonderland theme. If they really wanted it to make it a tea party theme it could have been done in a much more regal and elegant way. Honestly sometimes you have to question the creative directors' taste when it comes down to it. But let's look past all that and get to the good stuff: the products!! Inside the August Glam Bag were the following products:

• IT Hair Care 12-In-One Amazing Leave-In Treatment
• Beaute Basics 3 Tone Bronzer
• Benefit Cosmetics New Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
• Beau Gachis Paris Pro Series Applicator Sponge
• Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Neapolitan Palette

The first item that you could not miss, since it was the biggest product, was the IT Hair Care 12-In-One Amazing Leave-In Treatment. This hair treatment can treat your hair in twelve different ways. It can control frizz, tangles and brittle ends. It can add body and shine, and even make your hair healthier. It also repairs dry and damaged hair. It will protect color-treated hair and serve as a heat protector. It will also treat split ends and go against breakage. All you have to do is add a little bit to your wet hair and voila. This cream smells really good and it definitely makes your hair super soft and shiny.

Finding a good bronzer can always be tricky. Some shades are too dark, some are too orange, the list goes on and on. But the Beaute Basics 3 Tone Bronzer gets the job done perfectly, especially if you have a medium skin tone. The bronzer contains three shades: a dark brown, a light brown, and a pink. The trick to using this three tone bronzer is to mix all the colors so you get the perfect shade. What I really love about this bronzer is that it is a powder, I tend to prefer powder over liquids when it comes to makeup. I feel like powder products give a better coverage and look a lot less cakey. This bronzer has great coverage and the shades are gorgeous!

One product I was not excited to see in the August Glam Bag was the Benefit Cosmetics New Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel. I don't use brow products, I'm lucky enough not to have any problems with my eyebrows. But from what I've heard about this product is that it will darken your brows, it won't smudge and it will last a long amount of time.

Move over foundation brushes, these little egg shaped sponges are the newest sensation. We all know how amazing the Beautyblender but is the Beau Gachis Paris Pro Series Applicator Sponge a better alternative? Well compared to the Beautybleander, the Beau Gachis sponge is not as soft and a lot more stiff. It also takes a little bit longer to dry after cleaning it. But when it comes down to the application, this sponge is just as great, and that is what matters the most.

There was one product that actually went well with this Sugar Highness theme, the Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Neapolitan Palette. The color combination of the color palette and the name itself is very clever. It is called neapolitan because it looks like the ice cream! One shade looks like vanilla, another looks like strawberry and the last one looks like chocolate. It was really clever and these colors actually blend together well.

Overall, the August Glam Bag was okay. This would probably be up there for the top five worst Glam Bag themes, especially for this year. Based on the products alone, I'd give this Glam Bag 4 stars out of 5! Sometimes you just have to look past the negative and focus on the positive, yes the Glam Bag theme was terrible and immature but there were some pretty good products in there! I can't wait to see what the September Glam Bag will bring.

Until next time.

It's crazy when you stop and think how fast time really flies. Two years ago, I graduated from St. John's University and I entered the real "adult" world. This "adult world" has its ups and downs, and it can be tricky. Sure you have your independence but it also comes with great responsibility.

Hence why the term adulting was created. To make it simple enough adulting is being a responsible and functioning adult. I've had my fair share of struggles when it comes to adulting, but you live and you learn.

The first goal anyone has after graduating college is to get a job in their dream field. However, it does not really work like that anymore, unless you're super lucky. So a lot of times, you'll get a job that has nothing to do with your field and feel stuck. But the most important thing is to never give up on your dreams. Take some time to constantly search and apply for a job in your field or something that you're interested in. It may take some time, but things always work out as long as you persevere.

After all those years in school, it is nice to take a little time off, but don't let laziness take over. It is important to be productive. If you want to continue on with your education and get a higher degree, then do it. It is always harder to go back to school after you've stopped for a long period of time. If you're done with your degrees and you just want to relax, take some time off, travel if you can, or even pick up a hobby. It'll keep you from going stir crazy.

One of the things that kept me sane during the early stages of adulting was getting organized. Organizing your living space, or where ever you'll spend most of your time will help make your life a little easier. An organized space leads to an organized mind. Also, get a planner to help keep track of everything you do and everything that you need to get done. A planner or even a journal is great to have to collect your thoughts and organize your mind.

It's important to take care of your mind, but also your body. Establish healthy eating and lifestyle habits now! Sure it may be easier to go out and grab some take out, but that is costly and not the healthiest option. Cut the junk food, I know it's hard, but try to cook or at least get some of those microwaveable meals if you're not the best chef. Learning to cook is a great skill and a much needed skill to have. Also do not forget to add some time for exercise. I know after a long day of work the last thing you want to do is go to the gym, but try to take a daily walk. It will be a great way to get some fresh air and burn some calories. If you're not a big fan of walking in your neighborhood, whenever you run an errand or go somewhere, park far away and get some cardio in. As long as you're eating healthy and moving around you should be fine!

One of the major worries an adult has usually comes from the financial area. Are you making/saving money? Can you pay your bills? Do you have money for food? Should you get a credit card? The questions go on and on, but what we do know is that managing your finances can be a bit stressful. Of course you should set budgets for your spending and have a savings account. I always liked to deposit one paycheck into my checking account and then my next paycheck would go in my savings. That way I was saving at least some of my money. When it comes to credit cards, I do not know much, but luckily there are resources like the Credit Card Insider. Here you can learn all about credit and all kinds of credit cards out there! It is a super handy website to check out.

The sad thing is once you start interviewing and working at a grown up job, you can't wear jeans and your favorite v-neck. You have to dress like a real professional adult. So why not start building your professional wardrobe? You do not have to go out and buy everything at once. Get a few key pieces like collared shirts, work pants, skirts, dresses, cardigans, flats, and maybe a blazer, to start off with and mix and match. Look when these items are on sale or whenever your favorite store is having a sale. Personally, I love LOFT for professional clothes, but they can be expensive. Check out if there are any outlets near you. Or even try stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx or even Ross for some great quality discounted items.

The most important advice I could give you about adulting, is to just focus on you! Don't worry about what anyone else is doing, worry about you. Also do not compare yourself to others. Of course we all know someone who seems like they're doing everything right and we can't help but feel like we're doing everything wrong. But it is important to remember that success is not always what you see and things take time. You'll get to where you want to be eventually.

On my graduation cap, I took inspiration from one of my favorite Disney movies, Tangled. It said, "Go Find Your New Dream" and if you've seen the movie, you know that Rapunzel had one dream to see the lanterns in the sky. And once she did that she went on to find a new dream. As life goes on, we grow up and become adults. Becoming an adult can be stressful, but we should never lose track of following our dreams. And once we accomplish our dreams, we should be like Rapunzel and go on and find a new dream.

Until Next Time.

This Glam Bag review is on the late side, and I apologize. June and July were crazy busy months for me, there were a lot of events going on but now it is time to get back on track. So here you have it, the review of my ipsy June Glam Bag!
This past June, ipsy wanted you to channel your inner rebel with the Rebel Rebel Glam Bag. ipsy hosted several contests on social media dedicated to breaking some infamous makeup faux pas.
The general idea of the Rebel Rebel Glam Bag was a very cute idea. Makeup is not just something we use to make ourselves look pretty. To some is is an art form and a way to express their creativity. The bag itself oozes with creativity, all of the bright colors and the distinguished fonts makes it stand out. Ideally, this Glam Bag would the perfect bag to really experiment. But for me, that was not the case.
Inside my Glam Bag I received the following products:

• Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Cheeks Blush in Peach Pink
• theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow in Matt Moskowitz
• Delectable by Cake Beauty Everything Balm
• Jouer Highlighter in Tiare
• Royal & Langnickel MODA™ Crease/Smudge Brush
• tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine (Point Reward)

The Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Cheeks Blush in Peach Pink is a light and shimmery blush. Honestly, it is more shimmer than an actual blush. The blush barely applied to my medium skin tone, you could not tell I was wearing any. It almost matched my skin tone exactly. But when you look at the color itself, it is gorgeous. It is shame that it goes on so light and the shimmer was way too much. Seeing the theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow in Matt Moskowitz in my Glam Bag made me really excited because I love theBalm. I have never had a bad experience with any of their products and that is still true to this day. This eyeshadow is a bold plum shade, and it really makes your eyes pop. It applies great on your eyelids and it is easy to blend. It has a very soft and smooth texture, and it is a comfortable matte eyeshadow to wear. The best part about this eyeshadow is that a little will go a long way, you do not need to use a lot to get a long lasting dark color.
The Delectable by Cake Beauty Everything Balm can supposedly be used for any beauty problem. It apparently can moisturize skin, repair cuticles, seal split ends, brightens dark circles and more. However, I've only used this as a lip balm. It is really soft when it is applied to your lips, however it ended up drying out my lips even more. I was constantly reapplying because the softness would not last. But I do love the scent of this balm, it has a fruity scent that smells very good. Overall I was not impressed with it as a lip balm but since it has other purposes, I am intrigued.
The Jouer Highlighter in Tiare is a pearly cream highlighter that leaves a natural shine. However, sometimes this product can feel and look a little greasy on your face. But after it sets in it leaves a natural shine. The cream itself is not very creamy, the sample I received was on the dry side. The good thing about this highlighter is that it is a light shade and leaves a nice shine. This shade is perfect if you have a light or medium skin tone.
One can never have too many makeup brushes so the Royal & Langnickel MODA™ Crease/Smudge Brush is a great addition to anyone's brush collection. This eyeshadow brush is super handy because it is double ended. The dense end of the brush is perfect for applying shadow and the other side is perfect for blending. The brush itself applies and blends very well. Fun fact, this brush can also be used to apply concealer. The brush is 100% vegan and it is super soft.
All Glam Bags contain five items, and if you're wondering why I have six instead this month that is because I used my ipsy points to redeem another product. My points were about to expire so it was time to redeem a reward. I used 500 points to redeem the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine. I received the a tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in a previous Glam Bag, and I really liked it so I thought I would get another shade. I really love dark green shades, so that is why I chose the Aspen Pine shade. It is a bold dark forest green color that makes your eyes pop. What I really love about the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon is that it glides on your eyes so smoothly yet so bold at the same time. And it is also very easy to blend.
This was just another average Glam Bag, so I would give it 3.5/5 stars. The stars of this Glam Bag were the theBalm matte eyeshadow and the Royal & Langnickel brush. While the Elizabeth Mott blush did not make the cut. The Rebel Rebel Glam Bag was a pretty basic bag and not at all very rebellious, so it was hard to channel my inner rebel. Oh well. But at least the ipsy point reward was everything I hoped and dreamed it would be. I'd give the tre'StiQue eyeshadow crayon 5/5 stars! Since it is the end of July, I better get cracking on the review for July's Hot Summer Nights Glam Bag.
Until next time.

Trying to live a healthy/eco friendly lifestyle can be challenging and extremely expensive. But thanks to Influenster, a website where you can try out products for free and review them, I got a little taste of this lifestyle. If you would like to join me on Influenster, click HERE for my referral link.

This healthy and eco friendly box of goodies from Influenster was called the Sprout Voxbox. I am not too sure why I qualified for this box, but I sure am happy I did! When I first saw that I was receiving this box, I was a little perplexed. What did different brands of shampoo/conditioner, chips, protein powder, snack bar, and laundry detergent, have in common? Then it clicked, they were all eco-friendly and healthy products!

Inside my Sprout Voxbox I received the following products:

• Clairol Hair Food Honey Apricot Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
• Eatsmart Three Bean Spicy Black Bean Tortilla Chips
• Ecos Hypoallergenic Magnolia and Lily Laundry Detergent
• Orgain Organic Vanilla Bean Protein Powder
• Curate Dark and Tempting Balsamic Fig and Hazelnut Bar

When I saw the Clairol Hair Food Honey Apricot Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner in the Sprout Voxbox, I was extremely excited. I had heard a lot of good things about Hair Food products, and it was on my list of hair products to try. Now that I've tried it, I now see and understand all the hype. First off, the shampoo smells amazing! I really loved the honey apricot scent, however the conditioner did not have as rich as a smell as the shampoo did. With the shampoo, a little amount goes a long way. It will get all sudsy and feel amazing in your hair, but sadly the conditioner did not have the same effect. With my hair type, I always end up needing to use more conditioner than shampoo in order to get soft brilliant hair. Both the shampoo and conditioner will feel amazing and give you softer and shinier hair.

My absolute favorite item in the Sprout Voxbox was the Eatsmart Three Bean Spicy Black Bean Tortilla Chips. Not only are these chips a delicious snack they are also a guilt free tortilla chip. One serving contains 14g of whole grains and 2g of fiber, plus they are gluten-free and made with non-GMO ingredients. These chips are great to snack on alone, especially if you want something crunchy with a spicy kick. Or if you want to indulge, pair these chips with salsa, guacamole or even a queso dip. Honestly I want to buy another bag of these chips so I can make some guilt free nachos. These chips are great for all the health conscious eaters out there who want or need something spicy in their life.

You know you are officially becoming a real adult when you get excited about getting a new kind of laundry detergent... Because I was so excited to see the Ecos Hypoallergenic Magnolia and Lily Laundry Detergent in my Sprout Voxbox. The magnolia and lily scent smells really good, and it makes your clothes smell very fresh and clean. The sample was enough for one of my giant loads and what I really loved about this detergent is that a little goes a long way. Once the entire sample was poured into the washing machine the water got all sudsy. Most of the liquid detergents I generally use do not get as sudsy and tend to be watered down. This one did not! It cleaned my clothes a lot better than my normal detergent. Plus I love how the Ecos detergent came with built in fabric softener, my clothes were super soft when they came out of the wash.

Every once and a while, I like to make a shake or smoothie for a quick and filling breakfast. So getting to try the Orgain Organic Vanilla Bean Protein Powder was a great opportunity, especially since I have never tried protein powder before. Since I have never had a protein shake, I was not quite sure what to expect. I used the vanilla bean flavored powder to make a shake, and I paired it some whole milk and ice and blended it. Overall, it tasted okay. It was not a strong vanilla taste but it was not bad at all. I would get little chunks of powder in every occasional sip, but that was probably my fault for not blending it very well. What I really loved about this protein powder is that it is made from organic plant protein, so it is vegetarian and vegan friendly. It is also dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and non-GMO. If I try this powder again, I think I would want to try the chocolate flavor next.

And the last item in the Sprout Voxbox was the Curate Dark and Tempting Balsamic Fig and Hazelnut Bar. Honestly, I was not a huge fan of this snack/granola bar. This flavor has too much going on. The combination of the balsamic vinegar, mission figs, hazelnuts, sunflower kernels, quinoa, almond butter, whole oats, brown sugar and orange is overwhelming. The taste is odd and it is very dry. This flavor is the perfect bar to eat while you're on a diet because it will suppress your appetite. However, I really love the idea behind the Curate brand, they're made with real food ingredients to create a filling and healthy snack. This flavor was not a big success for me, but maybe one of their other flavors will be a lot tamer for my tastebuds.

There you have it, those were all the products in my Sprout Voxbox. Thank you Influenster for the opportunity to try out some of these goodies! Influnester sent me these items free of charge to test and provide feedback, and all of these opinions are my own honest feedback. I was somewhat heathy and more eco savvy for one day. Who knows maybe this is the start of a lifestyle change?!

Until next time.

If you're anything like me, you're most likely daydreaming about traveling around the world or mentally preparing your next vacation. Well, for all the makeup lovers out there with a case of wanderlust, ipsy's May Glam Bag was made especially with you in mind.

In honor of the "Destination Chic" theme for the month of May, I decided to take my Glam Bag on my latest trip to New York City! And yes I did test every product while I was on vacation!

Out of all the Glam Bags I have received from ipsy this one was the most cohesive. The Glam Bag itself was made perfectly for traveling. The print was bright and had famous landmarks from all over the world, like the Statue of Liberty and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Plus the bag was on the bigger side, so you could fit all, or almost all, of you beauty products. And for the first time in forever the products inside the bag went with the theme! Well for the most part... But even the promo card that comes along with Glam Bag fit perfectly with the theme, it was an actual postcard! You could even mail back the postcard to ipsy and tell them where you were from and what products you liked inside your Glam Bag.

Inside my Glam Bag were the following products:

• Mellow Cosmetics Creamy Matte Lipstick in Nude
• Eva NYC Hungry Hair Oil Treatment
• Jersey Shore Cosmetics Lavender Moisture Rich Balm
• AURORA Gel Effect Nail Polish in Safety Orange
• Smashbox Cosmetics X-Rated Mascara

I was happy to find the Mellow Cosmetics Creamy Matte Lipstick in Nude because I always love to pack a lipstick or two when I go on vacation. Normally, I am not a huge fan of nude shades, but this one surprised me. This nude has pink undertones, perfect for my complexion, and it is a flattering color. It's not too dark and not too light. This matte lipstick is long lasting, has an amazing texture, and is also very hydrating. It is the perfect lipstick to take on vacation because of its every day color and hydrating quality. Bringing a lipstick that dries out your lips when you're traveling is no fun at all. Plus, a nude shade that compliments your complexion or even a hydrating matte lipstick can be tricky to find, I lucked out with the Mellow Matte Lipstick.

Whenever I'm traveling, I always like to bring extra hair products just in case. Why you ask? Well who knows how some hotels' shampoo or conditioner will work on my hair. You'll always find shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, hair cream, or hairsprays in my travel bag. And now I have a new hair oil to add to my collection, the Eva NYC Hungry Hair Oil Treatment. This hair oil has a great formula loaded with with Argan Oil, which has the vitamins A & E and omegas 3, 6, and 9 that your hair needs to be healthy and strong. It also has Keravis Protein, which will strengthen your hair and protect your hair from heat damage. The only downside to this particular hair oil is that if you put too much on your hair, it will get greasy. But on the upside, a little oil will go a long ways plus it smells really good!

Wherever you go, lip balm is essential to carry around, you never know when or where your lips will get chapped. So the Jersey Shore Cosmetics Lavender Moisture Rich Balm ideally was a great addition to the Destination Chic Glam Bag! One can never have enough lip balm! However, I was not a huge fan of this lip balm. The scent and taste of the lavender is really strong. But, it does keep your lips soft and moisturized. And it does feel very good on the lips. Another thing I really do not like about this lip balm is the price. On the Jersey Shores Cosmetics website, this lip balm costs $10. That price for a lip balm is kind of outrageous. I can't imagine paying $10 for a little lip balm, especially when you can purchase an Eos or Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm for a significantly cheaper price.

The day has come, I finally got a repeat offender in one of my Glam Bags. Last October I received the AURORA Gel Effect Nail Polish in Inky Dinky, and what did I receive this month? The AURORA Gel Effect Nail Polish in Safety Orange of course. If you want to read my previous review on the nail polish, check out that blog post here. Personally when I travel, I do not pack nail polish, in fact I like to get a pedicure before a vacation. And if I have time, maybe I will paint my nails before hand. So before my trip to New York City, I used the AURORA nail polish to paint my nails. This time, I buffed and filled my nails before painting them and that helped the nail polish stay on maybe a day longer than last time. The bright orange is a gorgeous color but the formula does not last for long and will chip easily.

Whenever I'm traveling or on the go, I like to stick a mini/travel size mascara in my purse. I can't tell you how many times I have forgotten to pack mascara in my suitcase and then rejoice when I remember I keep a spare in my purse. I received a mini version of the Smashbox Cosmetics X-Rated Mascara in my Destination Chic Glam Bag. Finding a mini version product from a high end brand like Smashbox in one of the Glam Bags always makes me excited and happy, because these are the products I want to try and I will most likely buy. What I love most about this mascara is the brush itself. Let's be honest, the mascara itself is very creamy and can smudge very easily. But with the brush the mascara becomes flawless and gives you gorgeous long lashes.

Overall, I would give this Glam Bag 3.5 stars out of 5. Not too shabby, but also not that great. The big win in this Glam Bag was the cohesiveness with the theme and the products. Sure one or two did not fit well, but for the most part this was the most cohesive theme ipsy has ever done within the past two years I have been a member. The big standouts in this bag were the lipstick, the hair oil and the mascara. Can't wait to see what is in store for the June Rebel Rebel Glam Bag!

Until next time.

The temperature is heating up and that can only mean one thing, summer is just around the corner. But there are a few places in the world where summer is the season year round. One place that comes to mind is Miami, especially Miami Beach.

If you are from or familiar with Miami you would know that Miami and Miami Beach are two separate cities. Miami is the main land while Miami Beach is one long island. Most of the main attractions that tourists want to see are in Miami Beach (aka South Beach), but Downtown Miami is growing thanks to the hipster and fashionista movements in the Wynwood and Design districts, as well as all the success of the sports teams like the Heat and Marlins.

But if you plan on visiting Miami and staying for only a short amount of time, don't worry about missing out. Start with the basics and most importantly you must see South Beach. If you go to Miami and do not step foot in South Beach, did you really go to Miami? Here are some of the attractions you have to see and do, especially if it is your first time there.

Go To The Beach! Miami Beach has some of the best beaches in the United States. The sand is white, and so soft, it feels like your feet are walking on powder. The water is a bright blue, that kind of bright blue you fantasize about in the middle of winter. To make it even better the water is also the perfect temperature, not too warm and not too cold. The temperature in Miami is always hot and it can get very muggy, so the best place to spend your time is on the beach. Air conditioning may feel nice, but a dip in the Atlantic Ocean is much more refreshing. Everyone goes to South Beach for their beach time in Miami, especially if their hotel is inland. So if the beach is your main priority check out Mid Beach. It's not as crowded as South Beach and just as nice, plus some hotels are significantly cheaper. You can find a great deal for a hotel on the ocean in Mid Beach.

Shop or Eat at Lincoln Road. Some locals will call this Lincoln Road Mall, but it is nothing like your standard American mall. It is an outdoor road filled with all your favorite stores and a variety of restaurants to try! There are several fruit stands and venders to check out and see as well. If you want to do a little souvenir shopping, Lincoln Road is your best bet. It is also a great place to spend the day, walk around and do some people watching. There's always something interesting going on at Lincoln Road.

Take a Stroll Through the Art Deco Historic District. If you love to admire bright and brilliant architecture from the 1920s-1940s, then the Art Deco Historic District should be on the top of your list. There are over 800 historic buildings with a variety of architectural styles. The pastel colored buildings shine bright at night with all their neon signs. Admire all the historic and one of a kind architecture, snap a couple pictures, and maybe grab a drink at one of the famous hotels in this ever popular district!

South Beach is the perfect destination for a little rest and relaxation with some excitement on the side. It has a little bit of everything, an fun urban city with tropical beaches. The weather is gorgeous, the people are friendly, and the city is colorful. It's easy to fall in love with this city. Then again, what's not to love?

Until next time.

During the spring time, all the months seem to roll together. Was it not just March? Now we're at the end of April, and it's gonna be May. Who else loves those Justin Timberlake memes?! If you have no idea what reference I'm making just click here. Gosh where does all the time go? Well at least with every new month, there is a new glam bag to try out!

The theme for the April Glam Bag was titled "The Dreamers." And shocker once again, ipsy has come up with another theme that is not cohesive with the products.

It really makes you think that ipsy's themes are only meant for their "stylists" so they can promote themselves and gain more followers. The effort does not go into the bags themselves, instead all of ipsy's efforts and hard work goes into more and more Youtube views and subscribers. I'm just one of those people who does not really care about what the Youtubers say or use, I like to try new products and form my own opinions. Hey that's just me, but I digress.

This month's Glam Bag itself was super adorable. It was yellow and orange with a blue zipper and it is similar to the colors and shades of a sunset, which indeed are very dreamy.

Inside the Glam Bag were the following products:

• tarte cosmetics LipSurgence™ lip crème in wonder
• Adesse New York Organic Infused Gel Effect Nail Lacquer in Irina
• Harvey Prince Organics Keravegan Hair Mask
• Starlooks Cream Eye Shadow in Rose Gold
• Crown Brush C427 Duo Fiber Blush Brush

The tarte cosmetics LipSurgence™ lip crème in wonder is a beautiful red/pink shade lipstick. The color was gorgeous and looks good on anyone who wears it. The only downside to this lipstick is that it does tingle the lips when you first put it on, which would make one think it is a lip plumper. But it is not a plumper, and I have no explanation for the tingling. But other than that it is a pretty color and a long lasting lipstick.

One of the most disappointing products in the April Glam Bag was the Adesse New York Organic Infused Gel Effect Nail Lacquer in Irina. The gray/lavender shade of this nail polish is gorgeous, but the formula of this nail polish is awful. The nail polish goes on light so you'll need to reapply a couple coats. The worst thing about this polish is that it starts chipping hours after you just painted your nails. This nail polish might be good for you if you love to constantly paint your nails.

The Harvey Prince Organics Keravegan Hair Mask is a non-toxic and all-natural formula to help treat your damaged hair, or to help keep it healthy! The effects of this hair mask do not happen right away. Once I washed and blew dry my hair there was no immediate affect, it felt about the same after I wash my with hair with my normal conditioner. But the next day, I somehow woke up with softer and healthier hair. I do not know how or why that happened, but it did.

When it comes to the Starlooks Cream Eye Shadow in Rose Gold, my feelings are mixed. The metallic rose gold shade is a gorgeous color but the formula of the cream eye shadow is not the best. The cream is sticky and goes on super light. But once you smooth out the cream it has a good texture. It is difficult to wear that shade alone since it goes on so light and it almost matches the shade of a skin tone. Since this color is so light, it works best as an eyeshadow base.

Last but certainly not least, there is the Crown Brush C427 Duo Fiber Blush Brush. I'm always excited whenever I find a brush in my glam bags. They're such a necessity and the more you have the better! I do not own very many blush brushes so it was nice to try out something new. This brush is super soft and feels wonderful on the skin. The shape of this blush brush is very unique as well, I love that you can use two sides of the brush rather than just the bottom portion. So one side can be used for blush, and the other can be used for anything else, like a highlighter or foundation! When it comes to applying blush (or foundation or highlighter) it goes on nice and smooth, and it is also not too dark and not too light. The versatility of this brush is a big win, and it is always great to have brushes that can be used for one or more thing. Makeup brushes can be very expensive, especially the great quality ones. So this brush is a perfect addition to the glam bag.

Overall this Glam Bag had a lot of ups and a lot of downs. The two hits in this bag were the tarte lip crème and the Crown Brush blush brush, and the obvious miss was the Adesse nail polish. I would give Glam Bag 3.5 stars out of 5. Not too shabby! Can't wait to see what's in store for the May Glam Bag.

Until next time.

If you have booked a room on the Crown Princess and are expecting to be treated like royalty, you're dead wrong. I have been on my fair share of Princess Cruises and have been a loyal customer, hence the Ruby status, but after my latest experience on the Crown Princess, I have decided to take my business else where. Why you ask? Let me indulge you.

This past January I was on board the Crown Princess for the 2016 Angels Fan Cruise. Since I have been on this ship before (for the previous Angels Fan Cruise), I had high expectations and was very excited for this trip, but from the moment I stepped on that dreaded ship, everything seemed to go downhill.

The Crown Princess just isn't known for all the amazing destinations that it travels to, it is actually an infamous ship. This ship is known to constantly make passengers sick due to the norovirus. The norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans. In simple terms it is a stomach bug that can give you abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. The norovirus can be spread through contaminated food or water and it can also be spread by food handlers, people who touch contaminated surfaces and from person to person transmission. Princess Cruises has experienced the most (over 20) gastrointestinal outbreaks in the last decade, according to Cruise Law News.

Right before my cruise date, the Crown Princess was infected with the norovirus yet again. Our departure time was delayed a couple hours due to this outbreak. The ship itself needed to be cleaned and cleansed of its sins, which is totally understandable, because I did not want to catch this stomach bug. When I was on the ship, it was the cleanest it has ever been. But that still did not help a lot of its problems. My bathroom and some of the public restrooms on the ship had some plumbing issues. Also due to the norovirus outbreak, you were required to sanitize before every meal and you were not allowed to serve yourselves. You could not even go get a pack of sugar for your coffee without someone doing it for you, and when you tried to do it yourself, you would get scolded by the crew.

What that tells me is that the problem is coming from somewhere or someone on the ship. The ship clearly is not being taken care of, in fact, it only gets a good cleaning when the passengers get sick. Since this is a common occurrence, I don't think it can be blamed on the passengers or the itinerary, which some of the Crown Princess crew members tried to do. Because several other cruise lines travel to same destinations and they have not had as many problems as Princess.

Speaking of the Crown Princess crew members, the ones I had encountered this past January were some of the rudest people I have ever met. Some crew members went out of their way to insult me and embarrass me because of my appearance. Never in my life had I ever been treated so horribly, especially while I was on vacation. Several crew members made me cry in public which led to some of my fellow passengers feeling sorry for me.

The crew on the Crown Princess is one of the worst crews I had ever seen in my entire life. Besides their disrespectful behavior, their complete lack of knowledge was astounding. It seemed like not one person knew what was happening on the ship. On our first day, assigned seating for dinner was cancelled and not one person knew. Everyone in the Botticelli dining room had to wait in front of the restaurant and along the stairs for almost an hour until someone told us that our dinner was cancelled, and if we wanted to eat there we would have to wait another hour or so. This is not the first time the dining staff had no idea what was going on, on my first trip on the Crown Princess, my family of five was seated at a table for four. The staff on this ship are not the brightest crayons in the Crayola box.

Disorganized is the best way to describe this ship and its staff. If you're looking to book a cruise, go with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian, instead of Princess. Princess has lost their prestigious and regal reputation because now they cut corners when it comes to quality. They do not care about your needs, all you are is another dollar sign to them.

Until next time.

When March rolls around, spring fever is in the air. We want to forget all about the cold winter and focus only on the beautiful weather that's upon us. Goodbye dark and gloomy winter! Hello sunshine and hello to all the flowers in bloom.

Once February ended, it was time to say goodbye to all the dark colors in the makeup drawer and be reunited with all the bright and colorful makeup products that were hibernating this past winter.

The March glam bag from ipsy was themed Hello Spring. Pretty basic and general but a very appropriate and timely theme for the season. The glam bag itself had a rose pattern and also came in three different color combinations. There was a blue background and red rose, a mint green background and red rose, and a red background and mint green rose. I received the blue and red one which honestly is the prettiest and most unique in my opinion.

Inside my glam bag I received the following products:

• Beau Gâchis® Paris Eyeshadow Brush
• Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Dry Cream
• OFRA Cosmetics Green Go Eyeliner
• NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick
• TEMPTU Warm Glow Bronzer

The Beau Gâchis® Paris Eyeshadow Brush is an okay eyeshadow brush. This brush can be used to apply powder, liquid and cream products. The Beau Gâchis® brush does use animal hair, which is not the best. Lately, I've been a fan of vegan makeup brushes and less of a fan of those that use animal hair. But the brush does apply eyeshadow well and it is super soft.

My excitement could not be contained when I saw the Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Dry Cream in my glam bag. I love Marc Anthony hair care products so I was happy to receive another! Recently, my hair has become quite frizzy after I shower so blow dry cream has been a recent addition into my hair product drawer. With this hair cream, you only need to add a little to your hair to smooth it down, and it gets the job done. The only con with this cream is that it can get your hands a little sticky but most hair creams do that anyways.

The next product is the OFRA Cosmetics Green Go Eyeliner, and it is a dark, almost olive, green shade. This eyeliner can also be used as eyeshadow or lip liner, but you won't see any green lips on me, who do I look like? The Wicked Witch of the West? The color pairs well with my eyes, but that's basically all the good when it comes to this eyeliner. The eyeliner goes on super light and it is not very noticeable on the eye. When you are applying the eyeliner, it crumbles very easily. It is not a long lasting product or good quality product.

Another product I was very excited to try in the March glam bag was the NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick. I received the shade Pink Lust, which I was very happy with. It seems like ipsy was only giving me nude shades of lipstick or gloss, and it was nice to see a shade I would actually be happy to wear. The color was a gorgeous and vibrant pink. Even though I am not a big fan of liquid lipsticks, this lipstick was great. Most liquid lipsticks that I have tried are not very long lasting and have a strange formula but that was not the case with this lipstick. There was no weird aftertaste or a weird feeling on my lips, instead if felt like I was wearing a normal matte lipstick. The liquid lipstick dries quickly and has a matte finish. It is also long lasting so there is no need to reapply constantly.

Now lastly there is the TEMPTU Warm Glow Bronzer, which I have mixed feelings about. It is a great product but it is packaged poorly which makes it hard to use. There is no seal on the product so once you open it and use it for the first time, the liquid will go down to the cap. I contacted the ipsycare twitter about this, and they told me that you have to be careful when opening it because it will collect in the cap. So I think TEMPTU needs to find better packaging for this product because who would want to pay for a bronzer that constantly leaks? But other than the faults with the packaging the product is a great liquid bronzer. It is a nice light brown shade that gives anyone's skin tone a sun kissed glow. The bronzer blends well and it gives a nice finished glow.

Overall, I would say this glam bag was a success! I was genuinely impressed with most of the products, even though some of them did not meet my expectations. The clear hits in this bag were the liquid lipstick and blow dry cream while the miss was the green eyeliner. I'd give this bag 4/5 stars!

Until next time.

Arizona and Florida are popular destinations especially during the spring time. And it is easy to see why, warm weather and most importantly Spring Training! Spring Training is every baseball lover's paradise. You get to see the players up close and personal, see the future prospects, get some autographs, and get to enjoy some baseball games.

While it's always fun to hop on a plane and travel to a new or familiar destination, it can have its ups and downs. The worst part of traveling for most people is packing. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I dread it. It all depends on the amount of time away and the size of the suitcase.

Last week, I spent some time in Tempe, Arizona to check out the Angels' spring training camp and even watch a game. I was gone for three days and somehow managed to fit everything (I thought) I needed in my little carry on suitcase. Learn from my mistakes and follow these tips and tricks when it comes to packing for Spring Training.

When it comes to clothing, pack clothes that are light and breezy. Think about how you would dress for a warm summer day. Think of light skirts and shorts, or maybe even jeans. But jeans and leggings are better when it's cooler. Light short sleeved shirts or t-shirts or even tank tops are the best bet for a hot day.

But the first thing you should do before you pack is check the weather before you go! Checking to see what the average temperature will be will make your packing a lot easier and will make it easier to eliminate items you really do not need, like maybe a jacket. Also, don't forget your necessities like underwear and comfortable clothes to sleep in or relax in. Also bring a bathing suit, odds are the place where you are staying will have a pool. Plus nothing is better than taking a dip in the pool on a hot day.

When deciding on what shoes to bring, pack for comfort. Whatever your feet are comfortable in that will be the best bet. Whether they are your favorite pair of sneakers, sandals, or even flats, think about how your feet will feel at the end of the day. Plus remember with the heat, you'll want shoes that will keep your feet nice and cool. You won't need any dress shoes, heels, or wedges unless you're going somewhere fancy or downtown. Everything around the ballparks is pretty casual.

For all your toiletries you'll need the basics: shampoo, conditioner, soap, makeup, lotion, razor, deodorant, perfume/cologne, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, and anything else you need for daily use. Also a very important note, bring sunblock. Don't be like me and make that rookie mistake the first time you go, I came back as red as a tomato. Also don't stress out if you forget any toiletries, hotels normally offer some complimentary toiletries. And if you're not staying at hotel have no fear, you're not traveling to Mars and you can buy what you need at any nearby pharmacy or store.

A hat, a bag/purse, and a pair of sunglasses is all you'll need for your accessories. A hat will help you stay cool and help shield the sun from your face. The same thing goes with sunglasses, your eyes will be protected from the sun and it will help you see the game better. A purse or bag is nice to have so you can bring snacks, sunblock, your wallet, a camera, a baseball glove, or anything you want signed into the stadium. Also most stadiums allow you to bring one sealed water bottle inside.

Since Spring Training is the best place to get autographs from your favorite players, bring whatever you want to get signed along with some markers or pens! Most players will sign anything like hats, balls, bats, posters, baseball cards, and etc. Others are particular and won't sign some items such as jerseys (cough Michael Nelson Trout cough). Players will sign autographs before they start playing and after they finish playing. A spot by the team's dugout is the best place for autographs.

There you have it! Follow this little guide and it should make packing for Spring Training a little bit easier. What are you waiting for? Get packing already! Happy traveling and happy Spring Training!

Until next time.