July 2014 Favorites

Wow this post is more than a bit belated so I'll just dive right in!

1. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek-a-Boo Cuckoo- Sometime this summer Zoe became obsessed with clocks (and watches which you will see below). She would point out every single clock and say "cuckoo clock!" Since we weren't going to spend hundreds (or is it thousands?) of dollars on a real cuckoo clock Nick ordered a kid version from Amazon. The clock is really cute! It plays music and there are buttons to push, levers to pull, things to twist, etc. Of course, there is a little bird that says, "cuckoo!"
2. Creatology Kinetic Sand- I randomly picked this up for Zoe at Michael's one day. She's a big fan of sand so I got this and a little plastic box to keep it contained in. It comes in all colors (we obviously picked up pink) and the texture is just really cool. It's almost like liquid. I even find it fun and relaxing to play with. Zoe loves making little shapes with the sand then smashing them. I also found some molds around the house for her to play with. I picked up the purple sand when I saw it go on sale.
3. Disney Kids' Minnie Mouse White Rubber Strap Watch- For our anniversary in June Nick and I got matching watches and Zoe kept wanting to wear them (that was a big no). So when he got the cuckoo clock he also got her this watch. She loves wearing it and we are hoping it will get her interested in learning how to tell time on an analog watch.
4. Veggie Straws- After I had the ranch flavor of these at our 4th of July block party I was on the hunt for more. After looking at Target, Kroger, and Sprouts I could only find the plain ones. I picked them up and they are officially Zoe's new favorite snack. She seriously went though most of a bag today. Really any brand is great. I also found mini bags at Kroger which are great to carry around in my diaper bag. (I did manage to find the ranch flavor when I was out of town at HEB.)
5. Alba Very Emollient Sunscreen Kids Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 40- Last kid related favorite! I am very picky about my sunscreen and even more picky with the sunscreen I put on Zoe. So when I found a non-aerosol spray, broad spectrum, no nasty chemicals, etc I snapped it up. It was on the pricey side but it has been worth every penny. It's not greasy, has a typical sunscreen smell, and they spray is awesome because it doesn't get everywhere. How can I tell it's working? Zoe hasn't had a sunburn or even the slightest bit of pink. I think she also got some of my good tanning genes so it's possibly a combination of the two!
6. Kinky-Curly Perfectly Polished Nourishing Hair Oil- Ok this one is another pool related favorite. I have had this oil for a while and occasionally use it but I have found an even better use this summer. Since Zoe and I go to the pool more often than not sometimes that means going right after I wash my hair. Instead of blow drying it I will leave it wet and coat my hair with this concentrating on the ends. The sun warms the oil up so it's like a hot oil treatment! After my hair air dries (which can sometimes take until the next morning) it is so soft and silky. It's also great for using as a shine serum on dry hair.
7. Pink Sugar Rollerball- I have been wanting to try this perfume for a while so on a lone trip to Ulta I sampled it and found the rollerball size. Since I have so many fragrances I have started buying the travel or rollerball size. This way they don't get old and stale. Like the name implies, this is a sugary sweet scent. The scent doesn't last as long as I would like and isn't the strongest but that is perfect for the summer months.
8. Pacifica Enlightened Lip Gloss in Beach Kiss- A few weeks ago Sprouts was having a great beauty sale so I picked this up. The color is very light and sheer with a bit of shimmer in it. The scent is sweet but not overpowering. The consistency is not too thick or tacky. I have found that it wears off pretty quickly but the tube is oversized so I don't mind reapplying.
9. Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava Solid Perfume- This was another Sprouts sale find. I really love all of Pacifica's scents and I didn't have this one so I picked it up. Their solid scents are GREAT for traveling so I keep mine in the diaper bag at all times. After applying this to all my pulse points I run what's left through my hair. None of their products have alcohol in them so they won't dry out your hair. This scent is sweet with a little hint of citrus. Again, it doesn't last long alone but it can be layered with lotion and the spray perfume.
10. Kendra Scott Ellie Stud Earrings in Blue and Iridescent Drusy- Another Kendra Scott favorite- how original! Haha! I know I post about this every month but these earrings are the most versatile pieces I have. I had been wanting more studs and when I saw the drusy I knew they were mine. And so you don't think I'm crazy for buying two pairs at a time- my mom got me the blue pair. :)

Review: Pacifica Enlighten Eye Brightening Shadow Palette

This is my final review of Pacifica beauty products at Target. I'm not a spokesperson for Pacifica- I just love their products!

So this is the Pacifica Enlighten Eye Brightening Shadow Palette.

Here is the back of the box with a list of ingredients.

Here is what the outside of the palette looks like.

And here is the inside! The colors do not have names so I will give a description. From left to right: 1) a taupe light shimmer- great for a highlight, brow bone, or inner eye. 2) a peachy shimmer with a bit of pink- great for the lid. 3) a golden shimmer- also great for the lid, a more dramatic highlight, or a lower lash liner. 4) a smokey light matte plum- great for the crease, upper eyelid, or the lower eyelid for a more dramatic look.

Lastly, here are the four swatches. The lighting doesn't do them justice! Although this palette gives a more natural look you can definitely build the color for a bolder look. The consistency on all 4 shades is great. The plum is probably the least easy to blend. I do not wear eyeshadow primer and these had great staying power with no creasing. The only thing I would have liked to see is a few different looks included with the palette. But, I love this palette overall! It is perfect for travel and I know it is safe to wear on my eyes.

Review: Pacifica Radiant Shimmer Coconut Multiples

Here is yet another new Pacifica product I picked up at Target. Side note, I was there again today and resisted the urge to buy a sample set.

Here is the back of the box with a list of ingredients.

And here is what the palette looks like.

This is what the inside of the palette says. It's so cute I had to share!

Review: Pacifica Color Quench Lip Tint Vanilla Hibiscus

Remember when I said I bought a few Pacifica items from Target? Well, here is another one of them! I already owned four of the Color Quench Jumbo Lip Tints (or Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint is actually what mine say on the package) but I found I needed to try a new one.

This is Pacifica Color Quench Lip Tint in Vanilla Hibiscus.

Here is a shot of the back of the box. It lists all the ingredients and, more importantly, what's NOT in it. I prefer to wear natural products on my lips because, hello, they are my lips and I'm bound to ingest some. And I tend to smother my daughter with kisses so I don't want chemicals all over her face.

Here is what it looks like outside of the box. It's about the size of a Chapstick but skinnier.

Here is a shot of the actual product. It's a light pink, pearly color.

Lastly, a swatch on my hand. It is hard to see on my hand with indoor lighting.

This lip tint has an amazing scent, just like every Pacifica product I own. It's like a sugary vanilla but not too strong. It goes on very smoothly and there is no gritty texture or stickiness (the old Color Quenches I have are a bit gritty). On my lips the shade is very true to what it looks like in the tube. Light pink and pearly. The color is sheer but build able. This product would be perfect if it had SPF in it but other than that I love it. I keep it in my purse and I always reach for it when I need something on my lips! 

Review: Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

When I found out Target was going to start carrying Pacifica products I made a beeline to my local store. I love Pacifica because it's an all natural brand and their products are high quality. The only downside, they are a little pricey and hard to find. I could only find them at Whole Foods and sometimes at Sephora. 

The Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes (say that ten times fast) was one of several things I picked up to try. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful packaging. The wipes are normal wipe size. Think an envelope sized wipe. They are not soapy or wet looking; in fact, they are very dry. The coconut smell is amazing! Unfortunately that is all they have going for them- pretty packaging and great smell. The wipes did an awful job of taking my makeup off but they did leave that nice coconut scent on my skin. Perhaps they would be better for refreshing your face during the day or after a workout.

I wish I could have given these a better review because I expected more from Pacifica. They aren't a total wash (pun intended) though. I will keep these for hot summer days at the pool or just a refresh during the day.