From My Vanity

Beauty, Skincare, and a bit of Lifestyle

Majestical earrings to add to your jewelry collection! (Review)

7 Comments

I’ve been doing a lot of planning this week — I can’t wait to share with y’all what I have scheduled for LoaW this year! But for now, I have one more review to share with y’all this week. If you like statement piece and big jewelry, then you’re going to be really interested in this website! 🙂

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. 
 

These Teardrop Dazzle Earrings will look fabulous on you!

Four dangling gold colored drops hang approximately 3 inches.

My Review…

I was thrilled to get these gold dangle earrings in the mail the other day! 🙂 On first impression, they seemed a big larger than what I am used to, but I was up to trying it out!

They wear really well in your ears. With them being about 3 inches long and looking heavy, you would think it would stretch and/or hurt your ear lobe. But they are actually quiet light! There are four teardrop-shaped pieces on each earring and, for me, it dangled down to hit above my shoulder. They wear very comfortably in my ears and weren’t loud or distracting at all. They do clank together when you move, but not very loud.

I, personally, do not tend to wear large earrings or statement necklaces, but I’m not opposed to trying the style out! Which is why I was very happy to get the opportunity to review a product from Majestical Jewelry. I feel that these earrings would be better if you had a matching gold chain necklace to go along with it. Pairing that with a solid top would look very pretty, I think. Unfortunately, I don’t have a gold necklace, but it’s now on my ‘to look for’ list and I look forward to wearing it with these earrings on some occasion.

So, my final thoughts on this product. At first appearance they seem a little clunky, but I think they grew on me. I like them and look forward to finding a necklace to go with them. And for the price — under $10 — these earring are pretty nicely made. They would be a great addition to your jewelry collection.

Majestical Jewelry has very affordable prices for their jewelry. I would definitely check out their website if you are in need of some statement pieces to go along with your outfits.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Grace Unplugged is said to be the most entertaining movie of the year! (Giveaway)

3 Comments

While this particular movie has been featured multiple times on my blog, I didn’t think y’all would mind me featuring it once again, especially as this time I will be giving away a DVD of the movie, Grace Unplugged
! If you missed my previous posts, make sure you check them out before before diving into this post…

For those of you who haven’t read much about this movie, here’s a little synopsis on what it’s all about.

Grace Trey has just turned 18 and aspires to do more than sing in her church’s worship band, which is led by her father, Johnny Trey, a one-time pop star who gave up his life in secular music when he became a Christian. Grace longs to escape his shadow and make a name for herself singing songs about something other than God, but Johnny warns her that fame is not as glamorous as it looks and reminds her that serving and worshipping God with the talent she’s been given is a far more worthwhile goal.

When Johnny’s former manager, Frank “Mossy” Mostin shows up 20 years after the two parted ways to offer him another shot at the big time, Johnny declines the opportunity. But Grace takes it – without telling her parents. She records a cover version of her father’s old Top 10 hit, runs away to Los Angeles and, under Mossy’s guidance, begins to taste the kind of success she’s always dreamed of, landing on the charts herself, attracting the attention of the entertainment press, even dating a popular TV star.  But with each rung of the ladder she climbs, Grace feels pressure to compromise her Christian values, and her relationship with her parents gets further strained. Even as plans move forward for her to record a follow-up album, Grace learns not everyone who says they’re on her side really is. The one exception is Quentin, an intern at her record company and a fellow Christian who urges Grace to reassess her choices and put God first again in her life. Will everything she experiences lead her to reject her faith … or rediscover it?

Starring AJ Michalka, James Denton, Kevin Pollack, Shawnee Smith, Michael Welch, and Jamie Grace, GRACE UNPLUGGED arrives in theaters October 4 from Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. Inspired by a true story, GRACE UNPLUGGED is directed by Brad J. Silverman and produced by Russ Rice, the team behind NO GREATER LOVE.
More Information on the Movie…

“Tremendous! One of the most entertaining Christian movies ever made.” – Movieguide

Check out Grace Unplugged at…

Website  /  IMBD  /  Amazon

Grace Unplugged
 was the #1 fan-rated rated movie for two
weeks straight on Fandango during its theatrical run. Critics raved about it,
as well, with Focus on the Family calling it a “moving and meaningful film
parents and teens should see together” and Ave Maria Radio calling it “an
authentic and moving story of relationship and redemption.”

From the Studio of – Lionsgate
Director – Brad J. Silverman
Release Date – February 11th, 2014
Running Time – 118 Minutes

Watch the Trailer HERE!

The movie, which debuts on Digital HD and Video on Demand
today (Tuesday, January 28), from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, made the
Christian Film Database’s Top Ten Christian Films of the Year list and is one
of Movieguide’s Top Ten best movies of the year. The Christian Film Database,
the most extensive database of Christian movies, honored the film for its popularity
with fans who visited its website; while Movieguide, for more than 25 years a
leader in identifying family-friendly films for people of faith, has named the
movie one of its 10 best of the year.

Connect with Grace Unplugged’s Social Media!

Twitter  /  Facebook

The Giveaway…
Yep, I’ve got a DVD to give away to one of y’all, kindly sponsored by Grace Hill Media. A big shout-out thank you to them for offering a DVD for my followers! As usual, please just follow the rules below. 🙂

Announcement: Please make sure that you are a follower of my blog…and any other social media networks that you say you follow when you enter the Rafflecopter form below. I’ve recently been getting a few entries that are not, in fact, followers of my blog. Just double check that GFC button to make sure you’re in, so there’s no chance of you missing out on this giveaway! 😉

Rules: This giveaway is only open to GFC follower of Legacy of a Writer, so be sure you are a follower! There are many chances to earn extra entries, so feel free to come back every day to take advantage of them. 🙂 This giveaway will end at midnight on Monday, February 24th.

Turn your special moments into a puzzle and make even more memories! (Giveaway)

19 Comments

I’ve got another business to feature on here today. And this one is an extra neat shop to keep in mind for gift giving — especially if the person you have in mind like puzzles!

https://www.ubackdrop.com

They’re called The Missing Piece Puzzle Company and along with their website, they also have an Etsy shop where you can browse their items and make purchases. In their own words, they are…

“…a Personalized Jigsaw Puzzle Company specializing in turning your most cherished photo memories into personalized photo jigsaw puzzles, We go to extremes to make our puzzles the best and we make each and every puzzle to order. Utilizing only the finest quality machinery and printers, our puzzles are designed to last for decades. What sets us apart is the fact that we an industrial press and materials designed to produce among the best jigsaw puzzles available anywhere in the world, with the thickest board used by the giants in the puzzle business.   (We cringe when we see other products made with inferior materials that give our industry a bad name.)

 

Our puzzles are professional grade, and are built on thick eco-friendly board from the leading manufacturer in the World, creating a  puzzle that is both durable and designed to last a lifetime.  The puzzles are die cut from high quality molds, never hand pressed.  Ours are designed to last!

 

You will immediately notice the vivid colors of our puzzles because we utilize a 9 ink system that photographers use, as well as professional photography printers and the best machinery and materials available.  Your custom picture puzzle will have bright colors and deep contrast and will always be Professional grade.
Our board is thick and is made by the best board maker in the WORLD, which makes our puzzles sturdy, durable and exceptional.  Our puzzles are THICK, and are heavy and are made of 100% recycled board.  We pride ourselves in producing puzzles that last while producing smiles and lasting memories.

 

 

Each puzzle will arrive in a box with a laminated picture of the puzzle on the lid, unless otherwise noted or requested.  YES, BOX!  We produce a museum quality puzzle made by trained professionals.
We spared no expense to perfect our Personalized Photo Puzzle business and we look forward to serving you with pride.  So gather your favorite photo memories and let us make them into fun activities.  We love what we do, and we do it well!”
chirstmas backdrop

While I haven’t had the opportunity to try out any of their products, on Esty they boast of over 200 5-star reviews — each one of them with happy clients singing their praises on the high-quality and fast delivery of this company.

I personally love puzzles, so finding a company that will turn your favorite pictures into a puzzle is really neat. Or, as they suggest, turn your engagement picture into a puzzle and use that as your guest books — let each of your guests sign a piece of the puzzle. Then, throughout the years, you’ll always be able to relive that special day and read what your guests wrote on the back of each puzzle piece. How sweet and special!

As promised, The Missing Puzzle Piece has very kindly offered to host a giveaway on here today. 🙂

In order to ensure the winner get’s what they want, they’re giving away a $25 gift certificate to use on The Missing Puzzle Piece’s Etsy shop. With this certificate, you can go shopping on their store and get whichever style puzzle you want! 🙂

Before you dive into the giveaway, make sure you show The Missing Puzzle Piece some love and check them out on all their social media platforms!

 

Rules: This giveaway is only open to GFC follower of Legacy of a Writer, so be sure you are a follower! There are many chances to earn extra entries, so come back every day to take advantage of them. 🙂 This giveaway will run for three weeks, ending at midnight on Monday, March 3rd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You don’t have to be a Pro to enjoy LORAC’s Pro to Go Palette! (Beauty Review)

7 Comments

Today’s time for another LORAC review. 🙂 If you missed my original post or the review’s I’ve done so far, click on links below to catch up. If you’ve already read them, then just dive right into today’s review.

About LORAC Pro to Go Eye/Cheek Palette…

Go PRO with LORAC! Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, this PRO artistry palette is packed with 3 Shimmer & 3 Matte Eye Shadows, 2 Blushes, a Bronzer and 2 Brushes, everything you need to look glamorous on the go. 

LORAC’S velvety-smooth, shadows and blushes are ultra-pigmented and packed with long-lasting PRO power so you can easily shade, shadow, line and define your eyes and color and contour your cheeks, just like a PRO!

My Review…

First Impression…
I really liked the idea behind this palette — there’s everything you need to create a look on the go, besides the foundation, liner, and mascara. It makes packing your makeup for a trip very easy, especially if you like nude and brown colors on your eyes.

It’s got great, basic colors, but you can still get looks from every day to sultry. I was able to put this palette to the test when I went out of town New Years week and brought this palette along. I really liked it! I used this palette for the days I just stayed around the house and I also used it when I went to an evening wedding. I’m one who always likes to pack light, so this was a huge plus for me.

The Packaging…
LORAC PRO To Go
is packaged very well. It’s kind of like they stuck two palettes back to back — one side is for the eyes and the other side is for the cheeks. On both sides there’s a magnet that is really strong. I’ve never had a problem with the cover opening unexpectedly. There’s a clear plastic insert on both sides that serves a few different purposes, I found out. Mainly, it ensures that the eye and face products don’t dirty the cover and it also comes in handy when I want to do a really sharp winged look with my eyeshadow — because it’s both bendable and see-through, it works perfectly! Even better than using tape. 🙂

The Product & Application…
The quality of the eyeshadows are really pigmented and buttery-soft — as you can tell from the picture on the right. Which, by the way, all of the swatches are done without primer underneath — which proves just how intense and pigmented they are. This really impressed me! I like that I don’t have to work hard to get the colors to show up on my lid.

These colors are so pigmented, you really just need to barely tap your brush into the shadow in order to get enough color for both eyes, oftentimes. The black is awesome — I do not own a black that’s this intense, and I find myself always picking up this palette to use the black when I want to darken the outer V, no matter what other eyeshadows I’m using. I like how they include a variety of shimmery and matte colors in this palette, as I don’t always like to have shimmer on my lids. The cream color is the perfect brow highlighter for me, and I love using it in the inner corner of my eye, too, when I want to brighten things up.

The bronzer and two blushes, on the other side of the palette, are really great, too. In fact, they’re the only blushes I’ve been using since I got this palette! At first, I’ll admit that I didn’t use the middle, pink blush, just because I thought it was too pinky for my skintone. But actually it gives a very natural blush for me, when used with a light handy. The coral plus (al the way on the right) has little flecks of sparkle in it, which I am not too big a fan of. But it doesn’t show up too much when applied to the cheeks. The bronzer is great! It gives me a really natural warmth to my face, and I’ve really enjoyed working it into my every day makeup routine.

Major Dislikes…
Because they are so pigmented and soft, it can be easy to cause fall out on your cheeks when you do your eyes. But tapping your brush off before applying to your lid helps keep the fall out to a minimal. The LORAC PRO To Go
palette also comes with two brushes, and while I like the angled liner brush to put shadow right against my lash line, I really don’t care for the other brush. It’s too small to really get good use out of. I suppose it would work well if you just wanted to apply color in the outer V, but for my eye shape it’s too small to do that.


Major Likes…
Obviously, because they are so crazy pigmented! I love it! It makes doing my eye makeup so much more enjoyable and easy, as the colors just glide right on. And they blend out really well, too. You don’t have to spend a lot of time building up the colors or trying to blend them out softly. LORAC knows how to make their eyeshadows!

The way the palette is put together is really nice, too. It’s not super thin, but it’s small and compact, making it easy to fit into my purse or makeup bag. The mirror on the eyeshadow side is great, too — the perfect size for if you are applying your eyeshadow on the go.

Final Thoughts…
I think LORAC’s PRO To Go
palette is a real winner! It would also be a really good gift for a girl who is just getting into makeup, in my opinion — the colors are easy to work with and the blush and bronzer that it comes with will save newbies from stressing over the multitude of blush and bronzer choices at the drugstore. It’s compact and easy to grab and throw in your purse for the day, and the brushes that it comes with (while I’m not crazy for one) would suffice very well if you had to use it for touch up. If you’ve never given any of LORAC’s products a try before, I highly encourage you to purchase this Pro to Go palette. It’ll give you a good taste of the quality of their products and you won’t regret it!

I received this product from LORAC for free in order to review. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this product, which I have done. I only recommend products and/or services that I have personally used or experienced and like..

1 Girl Nation Gives One Direction Some Competition! (Review)

Leave a Comment

I know I’m late posting this, but we actually lost internet last night. It was very weird to not be able to get on the internet, let me tell you! But this morning the internet has been restored and I’ve been working to make up for lost time. Enjoy today’s post. 🙂

Btw, if you don’t follow me on my social networks (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook), I encourage you to check them out. I’m becoming pretty active on them and would LOVE to connect with you. Give me a shout-out! 🙂

About 1 Girl Nation…

Landing in the space where One Direction meets TobyMac, 1 Girl Nation is an exciting blend of upbeat pop music, with lyrics that are totally focused on living life for God, even while you’re young. 1GN, as they’ve already been dubbed, stars Carmen, Kayli, Kelsey, Lauryn Taylor and Lindsey, five girls with a passion for telling their fans about Christ through their music. Their first single, “While We’re Young,” can be heard on radio stations across the country and their self-titled debut album is available now!

Connect with 1GirlNation:


My Review…

I’d actually heard one of their songs — While We’re Young — several weeks before I found out about this album. It was on a Christian radio station that I listen to frequently and I remember thinking how they reminded me of One Direction. I thought it was pretty ironic when I got an email with an offer to review this group and to find out that they put themselves out there as a cross between One Direction and TobyMac!

I’ve listen to a few songs from both One Direction and TobyMac in the past and agree with the pitch that this group takes — their songs really do remind me a nice cross between the two. Let me start out by saying that this type of music isn’t really my type. Not that I hate it — I just don’t prefer this genre when I pick out songs to listen to throughout the day. 🙂

So with that said, if you enjoy the type of beat that One Direction songs have, but want the Christian elements to be within the song (like TobyMac), then I’m pretty sure you would like 1 Girl Nation‘s music! Each song has a fast and uplifting beat. After a few times listening to a song, I could get the full message/meaning behind the lyrics. I do appreciate that these girls are trying to write music that points to God and Christ, but I’m not sure about their method — as, besides the lyrics, their songs sound just like any other song in the world today.

1 Girl Nation is pretty similar to One Direction, though, and because they’re a ‘girl band’, I could imagine that they’d start giving One Direction a bit of competition. All the girls have beautiful voices and they even get into a bit of rap (which reminds me of TobyMac music).

All in all, I’m not a big fan of this type of music, but if you do and are looking for songs that have more of an uplifting and ‘Christian’ approach to them and in their words, then you’d probably enjoy 1 Girl Nation‘s CD.

I reviewed this CD for FlyBy Promotions – special thanks to Laura for setting this up! It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this CD, which I have done.

Get ready for hours of fun with Iello’s new game, Steam Park! (Game Review)

6 Comments

I’ve really been looking forward to bringing this review to y’all. I’ve never done a review for a family game, but there’s always a first time for everything, right? 🙂 Let me know if you like the idea of me reviewing family games and I’ll be sure to repeat them in the future. My family loves big group games, so we have a ton in our game closet. 🙂

Okay, so board game publisher Iello (stands for yellow) sent me their new, robot-themed game called Steam Park
 to try out with my family.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

HEADING FULL-STEAM INTO FUN!

In this management game you’ll have to build your own gigantic, coal-powered amusement park and make it the largest and most profitable in the region. By constructing the three-dimensional, beautifully designed rides, you will see your park grow right before your eyes.
But as owners of those fantastic steam park, building attractions won’t be enough: you’ll also need to manage your employees, invest in advertising in order to attract and please the different kinds of guests visiting your park, and, above all, keep the dirt you park produces under strict control!
Choose your strategy well! Build Stands to attract more Visitors, or Toilets to keep the Dirt under control. Whatever decision you take, take it quickly: the less time you spend planning, the more time you’ll have to maintain you Park.
Thanks to a clever, original action-choosing mechanic, winning a game of Steam Park is as much a matter of being the best… as of being the fastest! 
My Review…
First Impression…
I wasn’t sure what to expect in this game. While they company had a very fun description of the game, I wasn’t sure exactly how you’d play the game. I was really excited when it finally game in and I immediately began reading the instructions. 
The theme park rides you build!
I give Iello two big thumbs up on the way they wrote their instructions. It was so personable and fun! And some of the way’s they explained things was down-right funny. For example:

One of the players…will have the task of giving and receiving components and money on behalf of the bank for the other players (no, this player can’t steal money from the bank. This isn’t that home-wrecking game in which you have to make your relatives broke and desperate).

As a matter of fact, once a die is placed on the Pig board, it can’t be touched again until the actions phase. If you “inadvertently” change the result “by accident” on purpose, please know that you are a bad person, and we pity you, you despicable game-spirit-ruining cheater.

Who can help but chuckle as you read that?! My sister and I were having a lot of fun reading through the short instructions manual and finding more humorous instructions. What a way to spice up a game — and I loved it!
All the pieces, before we popped them
out and put them together
Packaging/Quality…
The box and all the different pieces inside are made from really thick, sturdy material. No flimsy paper items that will rip, crease, or dissolve when accidentally got wet! The material is really durable and will no doubt last for years — even with my rough-on-games family. 🙂 That earned Steam Park
 another big thumbs up from me!
Playing the Game…
It was SO much fun! At the beginning of the game you get a little plot of land to build your steam park on, and the name of the game is to make enough rides and have enough visitors to earn you the most money out of the other players — and the game only lasts 6 phases! 
From left to right – Rea, myself, Julia, and Jessica
All set up for our first game!
I will admit that it took us all a couple phases before we completely understood how it worked. But by the end of the 6 phases, we all had a good grasp on the name of the game and were ready to start the game over and begin in earnest as more experienced players. 🙂 Everyone loves this game — from my 8 year old sister all the way up to the adults in the house. For the first several weeks, my sisters played this game almost daily — and even now, a month after I got it in the mail, it’s still a popular game that the girls pick out. And I anticipate it being popular for years to come. 🙂
Some of the other items you
use when you play
Major Likes…
As I’ve already said, I love the way they wrote out the instructions for this game. It’s really humorous and totally tickles my funny bone. 🙂 I also really like that the game only lasts 6 phases. It helps it from not dragging out too long, like some popular group games (*cough* Monopoly *cough*). I like that Steam Park
 is different and unique — as I said earlier, my family has a ton of games, but we’ve never played a game like this one before.
Major Dislikes…
There really isn’t anything big that I dislike about the game. If there was one thing, it would be that some of the game pieces are kind of ‘dark’. The whole game has that feel to it, really, but some of the pieces have sculls on them and some kind of octopus-looking creature coming out of the window. Depending on your preference, you might like or dislike this aspect of the game. For myself, I don’t really think of it anymore.
Final Thoughts…
I thoroughly enjoy playing Steam Park
! All the aspects of the game that are important to me — quality of pieces, point of the game, and  overall appearance — got a big thumbs up from me. And it’s just plain fun to play! I would say that if you enjoy spending nights playing games, Steam Park
 is definitely one you should invest in. It will last forever and give you hours of fun and memories as you try to battle each other for the biggest theme park!
Places to find Iello…

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Support your Military Significant Other with These Special Bracelets! (Review & Giveaway)

12 Comments

I am really excited to feature this lovely Etsy shop today! Not only is the jewelry beautiful, but her bracelets mean something extra special to every Military wife/fiance/girlfriend out there.

Shannah’s Etsy shop is called Owl Meets Fox, but her banner proudly proclaims where she stands in the different military branches with a loud, “Our Love is Semper Fi”.

Shannah started this shop back in 2012 for a wonderful reason. In her own words… “I started this shop so that milsos could support their men even if they are far away. Nothing says “I’m waiting for you” better than wearing something that supports him!”

For those of you who don’t know, I am going to become a military wife in April. *smile* So when I saw her silver Navy bracelet, I got excited! It came in the mail a few weeks ago, and I’ve been really excited to share my thoughts about it with you all! 🙂

She’s only got four different bracelets available right now — “Army”, “USMC”, “Navy”, and “USAF” — but she plans to expand her shop in the near future. So stay tuned to see what else she comes out with! 😉

My Review…

The bracelet arrived strung around this really pretty card. It was a nice way to not only display the bracelet, but also to ensure it doesn’t tangle during shipping. 

As you can see from the picture, she writes “our love is ocean deep” and also includes a bible verse at the bottom. These special little touches really made her Etsy shop stand out to me — I love when things are taken to the next step, even if just a little bit, and personalized this way. 

As for the bracelet itself, it’s a really nice, shiny silver wire that makes up the words, and then just a traditional chain for the rest of the bracelet. While I think it is very well made, I also think it’s a very delicate, dainty piece of jewelry. Because of the wire used to write out the names, I wouldn’t recommend wearing this bracelet for any occasion — especially the situation is rather rough. I tend to wear it when I am going out and not so much when I am cleaning or cooking around the house. Again, let me say, this is just my own thoughts and how I personally think for my bracelet. My “Navy” bracelet hasn’t become bent, twisted, or ‘unwound’ in any way since I got it. 

All in all, I think these bracelets are great! And she sells them for very reasonable prices. You can’t ask for a better way to support your soldier then getting a “Army” or “USMC” bracelet for under ten dollars! 😉

I received this bracelet from Owl Meets Fox in order to review on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products I personally liked.

The Giveaway…

Shannah has very generously offered one of her bracelets as a giveaway for one of the followers of my blog! 😀 The winner get’s to choose any of the bracelets in her Etsy Shop. Make sure you check out all of Shannah’s social media spots, too!

—> UPDATE: Shannah has also made a coupon code for you all to use! So if you can’t wait to see if you’ve won, use the code “legacy2014” to get an additional 15% off your order. The coupon expires February 10th, so don’t delay!

Rules: This giveaway is only open to GFC follower of Legacy of a Writer, so be sure you are a follower! There are many chances to earn extra entries, so come back every day to take advantage of them. 🙂 This giveaway will run for three weeks, ending at midnight on Monday, February 10th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway