Favorites Friday

I am supposed to be working on a homework assignment right now. So obviously that means it's time to blog! I know I didn't have a list last week but I wasn't really into anything last week. Thinking about how I might change up this weekly post as well. Stay tuned for that! Anyway, onto favorites!

1. Hot Cocoa lip balm from Wild Rose Herbs. I almost didn't order this flavor but I am so glad I did! It is super chocolatey and smells exactly like hot cocoa! I love me a good chocolate lip balm and this is one of the bests I have found. I can't stop using it! 
2. Sharkbender solid perfume from Darling Clandestine. This was one of Evonne's limited edition releases - I don't know if it'll make another appearance. It is a blend of her Love & Sharks and Hellbender fragrances. And I love the blend! It is a good balance of sweet and spicy that makes it quite intoxicating. I got a compliment on this one the other day!
3. Valiant Heart perfume oil from Sarawen. I am completely in looooove with this one! It might possibly earn a spot on my list of very favorite perfumes. The main notes are lavender, plumeria, citrus, English apples, and almond cake. And it is HEAVENLY! It is sweetly floral and spicy and sultry. Sexy! I want to wear this all the time. Oh, and it's currently on sale!
4. Suave Kids Naturals Head to Toe body wash in lavender. I don't usually use a lot of commercially produced items. I was desperate when I first tried this - I was traveling and needed shampoo and my only place to get some was at a department store. I am really sensitive to most commercial shampoos. The fragrances are too much for me and give me headaches all day. This was the least offensive one I found. And I found out it performs really well on my very picky hair. And the scent is gentle when in use, and leaves no lingering scents. My hair is always soft and silky when I use this shampoo! I was very sad when I ran out and had a hard time finding it in stores up here in Alaska. I gave in and ordered some online. While I do love shampoo bars, and still use them, shampoo bars are not good for washing your hair everyday. And now that I am working out, I have to wash my hair everyday or else I'll go around smelling like sweat all day. This is perfect for every day washing! Maybe I'll do a full review on this later on instead of writing a book here...
5. Small Saga solid perfume from Darling Clandestine. I am not a big fan of this when I first apply, but after a few minutes it is a beautiful fragrance! I am not even sure how to really describe it. It is sweet with a bit of zing in there. And a bit of creaminess and lightly fruity background. It definitely makes me happy!
6. Sra. Rosemary soap from Epically Epic. Of course I had to try the new EE soaps! And I have been into rosemary lately and this bar is perfect! It is a bit medicinal in smell but I really like that about rosemary - it's soothing and relaxing. And it is very strongly scented - I was surprised and impressed! It completely fills the shower when I use it and the rest of the bar I'm not using is making my room smell really good. Can't wait to try more EE soaps!

Pretty decent list this week! I recently placed another order with Darling Clandestine as well. I just can't stop myself! Looking forward to playing with new goodies soon. Also, in other news, I will be traveling again next week so I am not sure if I'll be able to post much next Friday. We'll see though.

Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful weekend! It is finally starting to get cold here. I pulled out my winter socks! Stay warm everybody!

<3 Alyssa

Favorites Friday

You know, after I went through that perfume phase and bought all those perfumes, I haven't been using them too much lately. Maybe it's because in a small town I don't really go out and do anything so I never get around to feeling like I should put on perfume. I should wear it anyway even if it's just for me! Er, and to review! I've been noticing that I haven't been having any perfume favorites every week. I'll try to change that next week!

Anyway, enough rambling and onto my favorites for this week!

1. Bifrost Coconut Peppermint lip balm (currently unavailable) by Darling Clandestine. I reviewed this (here) earlier this week and am still very much in love with it! It's sort of a neutral flavor that I can use at anytime. Sometimes I'm not in the mood for all the other flavors I have that are foodie or fruity or sometimes floral. This is one I never tire of! I seriously need to try more of her balms.
2. Citrus Zest Beer shampoo bar by Elegant Rose Boutique. I am tentatively putting this on my favorites list. I really loved it the first few times I tried it - it left my hair feeling soft while adding some body to it. I also didn't need an ACV rinse which is awesome! But my hair also got greasy quickly and it needed to be washed more than I like doing. But there were other factors in that too, like hot water running out and maybe not rinsing as well as I should have. And I also have to test out how it works with an ACV rinse. The smell is bright and citrusy though!
3. Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil by Nutivia on Amazon. I'm sure you've been hearing a lot about coconut oil! I just started using some myself. I put it on the ends of my hair to keep my hair healthy and hopefully avoid split ends. I am also planning on deep conditioning my hair with it. I've also recently started using it on my hands. Despite being an oil, it is surprisingly non-greasy. And it is so silky! And I love the coconut scent, it's so yummy! I've tried a little bit as a facial moisturizer and I think I'll continue testing that out for awhile. Overall, I've been loving the many uses for coconut oil!

Yeah, short list this week! What's up with that? Guess I haven't been straying too much lately. Hm, I have plans on trying a few new things this next week though! Maybe I'll have a list of newer things next week. We'll see!

But onto the other favorites of the week...

• Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism workout video. I've been getting into working out again lately and with no gym, I've been using workout videos. This one is great! Jillian Michaels is intense and she gets me sweating! There's also a lot of jumping in the workout which I appreciate because it makes the workout more fun. I really like jumping! 
• Plain, non-fat Greek yogurt by Fage. I love the thick, creamy texture of Greek yogurt! And it can be eaten in so many ways, I've been having some every day all week in some form. Sometimes I'll mix in raw honey with it and eat it like that. I've been mixing it with stone ground mustard for a quick, easy dip for crackers. I've used it to marinate some chicken, making the chicken juicy. It's just a great thing and I've been loving it!

I am going to have a super busy weekend. Which I should have started hours ago, but oh well! So, onto that! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :)

<3 Alyssa

Favorites Friday

I know, I was supposed to post some reviews this week. I will get a few up soon, I promise! And now that I am back home, I have more variety in the products I've been using. Still, it might be a short list of favorites this week. But yes, onto those...

1. Mocha Marshmallow lip balm from For Goodness Grape. I'm not a fan of coffee, I never drink it. But I like the way it smells and the light coffee scent mixed with the sweetness of the marshmallow is delicious! Plus, I am really enjoying the creaminess that For Goodness Grape balms have.  
2. Splash in the Sun soap from Elegant Rose Boutique. I recently ordered some soap samples from this shop and this is the first one I've been trying out. I'm usually not one to go for citrus-y scents. Well, they don't usually appeal when I'm thinking about them but once I get them under my nose, I always like them. Weird, I know. But anyway, the scent of this is completely delightful. It is bright and refreshing from the citrus and mint. I might have to get a full-size bar. And the lather is heavenly!
3. Neem Tea Tree & Rosemary shampoo bar from Fresh as a Daisy Soaps. It's been awhile since I've used shampoo bars. With all the traveling, it's difficult to use them because I can't carry around apple cider vinegar for rinses afterwards. But now that I am home, it is back to testing out different shampoo bars. And I have really been enjoying this one. The light tea tree & rosemary scent is lovely and there is a surprising amount of lather, which is always nice for shampoo bars! And my hair has been clean, soft, and shiny. So much better than the roughness it had when traveling!
4. Lavender essential oil from NOW Foods on Amazon. I am still very much in love with the scent of lavender! I have been putting this in the ACV rinses and mixing with coconut oil that I use on the ends of my hair. I probably use more than I need to, but it makes my hair smell like lavender all day! 

And let's see, what non-product favorites do I have this week...

•  Blood of the Fold by Terry Goodkind. I am enjoying having time to read for pleasure before school starts up again next week! This is the third book in the Sword of Truth series. If you are a fan of epic fantasy series, this is an awesome one. There is even a show based off of the first two books, called Legend of the Seeker. Great show! 
• My bed! I've been traveling so much it is always good to come home to my own bed in my own room with my millions of pillows! After sleeping on a couch for over two weeks, my bed feels completely amazing and I have been sleeping way too much lately!

That's it for my favorites this week! What have yours been? Or maybe you shouldn't tell me, because I have an ever-growing list of things I want to try! ;)

Hope you have a magical weekend!

<3 Alyssa

Favorites Friday

I haven't been posting these every Friday like I should be. Mostly because I'm still spending my time in my second-home, away from most of my lovely products to play with. Not many new favorites from the stuff I have with me! So, this post will include my favorites from the last couple of weeks.

Onto a few of my favorite things:

1. Bifrost Coconut Peppermint lip balm from Darling Clandestine. I am loving the cool and yummy flavor and the glossiness of this balm! And despite the huge tin it comes it, I have already used a surprisingly large amount! 
2. Peppermint Hot Cocoa lip balm from Long Winter Farm (flavor review here). I have recently rediscovered the fabulousness of this balm! It was forgotten at the bottom of my purse for awhile and I just found it again the other day. Yay! It is perfectly minty and cocoa-y and always creamy. 
3. Lavender shampoo bar from Homesteaders Cache. I actually ran out of the soap I brought with me so I picked this up in a local store. It was the only lavender bar as the regular were sold out. And in my need for soap, I forgot to photograph this before I started using it. Sigh. But the lavender is delightful! It makes showers delightful and my purse is smelling pretty awesome since most of the bar is still hanging out in there! 
4. Ginger Souffle whipped body cream from Origins. I do not have this but I know someone who does. I tried it a few times and smelled it a few times more. It is freakin' amazing! Silky lotion and the scent is incredible! Ginger and citrus goodness. I need to get some for myself!

That's it for my favorites. A bit low for combining weeks, but nothing else has really wowed me lately. It'll help when I have more variety! And not forgetting my non-B&B favorites. Of which there is only one (that I can think of right now!):

• My new winter coat! And yes, it's a men's coat. I happen to prefer the sleeve length and length in general in men's coats over women's. I don't understand why they make women's coat sleeves so short! I don't want my wrists exposed every time I stretch my arms slightly! You know what I mean? Also, this coat will be good for snowboarding! AND, there's a ton of pockets including a little one on the sleeve the perfect size for a few lip balms! 

Hope you all have a good weekend! I will be doing some more traveling this weekend! Home this time. Hopefully back to being productive with things now! And maybe then these posts will have pictures. But anyway, cheers!

<3 Alyssa

Favorites Friday

Sorry for another late in the day post! It's been a crazy day around here. Full of appointments and waiting and dragging kids around busy holiday events. Finally at home relaxing! Although there won't be a photo for this post. Relaxing feels too nice! But anyway, here are my favorites for the week:

1. Vintage Lavender perfume stick from Dollface Perfumes (scent currently not in stock - I believe the owner is working on restocking her shop). I have been loving this scent this week! There's something fizzy about it that blends so well with the lavender. And it was such a great deal!
2. Yuletide at Baker St. perfume oil from Sarawen. I have only used this once this week but fell completely in love with it! I think I even fell asleep huffing it on my wrists. It has so many great scent notes that all take their time to shine. But, to be fully reviewed later (before Christmas!).
3. Whipped Squalane Face & Eye Mousse from Chagrin Valley. The texture of this mousse is amazing! I have only been using this for about a week so I'm still testing it out to see how it's working for my skin, but so far I have been loving it. It feels super moisturizing and I have a feeling this will be great for wintertime! 
4. Ginger Ale lip balm from Epically Epic. This really does smell like bubbly gingerale! And I love gingerale! And EE balms! Win win here, really.
5. Lavender Marshmallow solid lotion from Epically Epic. I'm not the biggest fan of solid lotions but I love the EE ones! And I believe I still need to review these. I will at some point because I have a lot! They are great for keeping my hands soft in this harsh, cold winter weather. Super moisturizing - they take a while to sink in (as can be expected), but totally worth the wait! And the Lavender Marshmallow scent is lovely! I can't get enough of it!

Let's see... what non-B&B favorites of the week do I have...

• Hot cocoa! And of course it has to be extra chocolatey! With whipped cream! It's that time of year when a mug of hot cocoa is one of the best things in the world.
• Prejudice by Tim Minchin. This never fails to amuse me! And it's so catchy. Tim Minchin is kind of a genius! 

And so there are my favorites for the week! And back to the relaxing thing for a bit. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I have one more weekend of homework then I'll be on break! Wish me luck on getting everything done! :)

<3 Alyssa

Favorites Friday

I had a couple reviews planned for this week but this week has been super busy for me! So sorry about that! I am moving back to Alaska this week, and besides all the packing, there is a ton of traveling to be done. I am actually posting this from my phone while waiting around at the airport! This moving business is crazier than I thought it would be. I have accumulated way too much stuff. I haven't even been able to get much studying done this week! AH!

And since I've been packing up preparing for my move, I haven't had many products out to play with this week. And because of that, I only have two favorites this week...

1. Unscented goats milk cream from Retro Creams & Perfume. I got mine when the company had a different name, so the label is not the same as the ones they use now. I have ordered a bunch of lotions from this shop - there are a ton of fun fragrances! I have been using this sample size cream for my face lately, which has been getting a bit dry. The cream is very thick so a little goes a long way. It takes a little while to sink in but when it does it is super moisturizing! I'm glad I found this in my stash - it has been making my face soft and smooth!
2. Chocolate Candy lip butter (flavor now called Shea Cocoa) from Anita's La La Land. This is one of my all-time favorite lip balms. Sometimes I forget that and then rediscover the amazingness of the balm, like what happened this week! It has the perfect creaminess without being too heavy or greasy. I also love that there's no artificial flavors in this. It's just pure chocolate goodness! Perfect for giving sweet chocolate kisses! ;)

Sorry for the short list this week! I'll probably have a long one next week with all the new goodies I've been ordering that are waiting for me in Alaska. Can't wait! And one more week until Black Friday! What shops are you keeping your eye on?

<3 Alyssa

Favorites Friday

Happy Friday! I thought maybe I'd start doing these weekly favorites posts. I'm really trying to get back into the whole blogging thing and keeping it that way! I've got some plans brewing and reviews in the works and I will be able to spend a lot more time working on my blog next month! Woo! :)

But anyway, onto my favorites for the week!

1. Falter perfume oil from Darling Clandestine. I can't get enough of this scent! It's sweet and mellow and utterly fantastic! I won't say too much here since I am working on a review for more DC perfumes. But I will say that this perfume works perfectly with my body chemistry and I have been swooning over it!
2. Baker's Boy perfume oil from Sarawen (reviewed here). This has been getting some use from me this week on those breaks from Falter! I have been really into leather scents lately and I love the blend in this, with the sweet cake and fruits complementing the warm scent of the worn leather. Wearing this right now and I can't stop sniffing my wrists!
3. Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream body butter from Mad City Soap. I only have a little sample of this, which I received in my last order. I'm not a huge fan of the scent, as blueberry fragrances aren't one of my favorites. But it is sweet and delicious smelling. And the lotion goes on beautifully! I've been enjoying using this on my hands at night. I am definitely going to order some body butter from MCS! Winter scents were just released today too! They sound so yummy!
4. Forest Berry Jam Root Beer lip conditioner from Ella Dean (reviewed here). I have been loving the bright and refreshing flavor of this lip balm. Plus, I've been trying not to drink soda lately. It has so much sugar! I've been getting my root beer fix from this balm. And the silky texture is heavenly, as always!
5. Double Mint soap from Noirliliana (although it looks like the shop is currently closed). I had this soap for a long time before I tried it. By then the minty scent wasn't as apparent so I was a bit sad about that. But I have moved it to my soap dish for washing my hands and it has been keeping my hands super soft! The lather is really creamy and great for this colder weather.

Here's a couple other things that are non-B&B related that have been my favorites this week:

• Spangler mini candy canes. I am so happy that it is candy cane season now! I love candy canes and these are perfect! There's 40 in a box for $2 and a serving size is 4 candy canes for a total of 70 calories and 13g of sugar. I've been stashing them everywhere! Must. Start. Stockpile.
•  Horse Outside by The Rubberbandits (video). I have been loving this song! It has been playing a lot around here lately. I don't know what it is about it - it's amusing and fun and has a slight dancy mood to it. If you take a listen, there is some cursing.

That's it for my favorites this week - hope you enjoyed my first favorites post! I'll do my best to keep it up! Have a great weekend!

<3 Alyssa