Sweet Tea and Hydrangeas

A Lifestyle & Beauty Blog

Play! by Sephora June 2017 Review

I am so excited to be sharing my love for this box again with y’all. I have not done a post on my Play! boxes since last year. So it’s long overdue! If you’re not familiar with what Play! by Sephora is , it’s their monthly subscription service in which they send you five beauty products and one perfume sample. It’s only $10 which is a steal because you get all types of products to try out that they sell in stores and  it’s a great way to be able to see if some items are really worth buying. I love how each month they send you a pamphlet with information on the products and tips on how to use them.

For June the theme is: “Your Summer Starters” which contains products geared for the warm weather. Here’s what I received in my box.

Benefit POREfessional Face Primer (Full Size $31)// This is one of my go to primers especially for the summer time. I love that it’s not sticky and very light weight. It applies smoothly and helps minimize my pores and keeps my make up in place. So if you’re looking for a primer to keep your makeup intact this is one I highly recommend!

Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30  (Full Size $36) //have not used this product yet but I have used other products from Coola and loved them. I feel like this would be perfect if you’re the type of person who likes to wear a little bit of makeup to the beach or pool. Even if you’re not looking to wear any makeup to the pool, I have read amazing reviews on this product. I can’t wait to try it out! A few great things about this product is that it does contain SPF 30 which protects you from the sun, aloe vera and cucumber extract to soothe skin and calm any irritation that is caused by the sun.

Kat Von D Everylasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick (Full Size $20) //I have never tried any of Kat Von D’s liquid lipsticks but I must say I really love the formula! It’s not overly drying for a liquid lipstick which is really nice because I hate having dry cracked lips. The color is perfect for me because I tend to go towards the mauve shade range. If you’re looking for a more high end liquid lipstick this one would be perfect to try out!

Verb Sea Salt Spray  (Full Size $14) //I really enjoy the smell of this spray! Some sea salt sprays smell too much like chemicals but this one has a very pleasant scent. I used this on my hair once (sorry I did not take any pictures) and it gave me the perfect look for beachy/mermaid waves. It did not leave my hair feeling dry or crunchy like some sprays have that I’ve used in the past. It contains quinoa protein and hydrating seaweed.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oak Milk (Full Size $20) //I tried this shampoo out awhile ago when I received it in an Ipsy bag and really enjoyed it. I do not use dry shampoo a lot because I’d prefer to wash my hair every morning but if I needed a dry shampoo this one is a great choice. It contains oat milk which helped add some volume to my hair and also took the grease away and left a healthy shine to my hair.

BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Perfume (Full Size $66// Y’all I love the smell of this perfume! It’s sweet but not overly sweet which is really nice. It has hints of lotus flower. I have seriously thought about purchasing the full size for myself.

 

Have you tried out Play! by Sephora? What subscription services do you subscribe to? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

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My Summer Hair Care Essentials

*I received free products in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own*.

Hey Y’all!! I am so excited that Summer has officially started! One of my favorite things about Summer time is having fun in the sun and laying out by the pool. When it comes to Summer I also have to make sure that my hair stays hydrated and protected. Today, I am sharing three of my favorite Summer hair care essentials from It’s A 10 Hair Care.

Seeing that I have color treated hair, spending time in the pool can really do damage on my hair with all the chlorine and chemicals. One way I make sure my blonde hair stays vibrant and hydrated is using the Miracle Five Minute Hair Repair for Blondes. This mask is jammed packed with some great ingredients such as: hydrolyzed collagen, magnolia bark/leaf/flower extract and linalool. I love that this mask leaves my hair feeling extremely soft, hydrated and protects my hair from getting brassy.

Another way I keep my hair from drying out is using the Miracle Daily Conditioner. This conditioner helps lock in moisture which is a huge plus because I hate having dry hair. It also helps repair any damage that is caused, which my hair needs after spending too much time in the sun. This conditioner has made my hair much stronger, silkier and smoother.

Last but not least is the Miracle Leave in Plus Keratin. This helps prevent heat damage, which is a good thing because I tend to blow dry, straighten and curl my hair a lot. Another great thing about this product is that it reduces frizz which is much needed because I live in the south. I swear anytime I go outside during the summer my hair gets extremely poofy but when I use this my hair stays in place.

 

Have you tried any of these products before?

What are some of your hair care essentials for the Summer? 

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On Wednesdays We Confess Vol 58


Happy Wednesday Y’all!! I hope everyone is having an amazing week so far! Mine has been…well let’s just say overwhelming and stressful to say the least. Despite being stressed to the max, I am happy to be sharing a little bit of my week with y’all through my confessions. So, thank you all who take time to read about my crazy life each week. Let’s get to my confessions…

I confess that work has been so exhausting lately. This has caused much of my stress recently. I am a recruiter who oversee’s 13 branches on one side of our company and another 11 branches on a different side of the company. I have done this job for almost five years now and it’s really starting to take a toll on me. Last Summer was the same situation, it’s usually when I hate my job because I am so burnt out. I have been thinking of leaving and changing back to my previous career but in a little bit of a different sitting. A lot is up in the air for me now. I just hate the idea of having to start all over again with a company but if it’s a little less stressful, it may just be worth it. Fingers crossed I figure out what is best for me. Tomorrow I have a meeting with my supervisor.

I confess that wedding planning has been a breeze so far. Typically it can be stressful but I’ve been on top of things as much as possible. If I could I would only do wedding planning items until my wedding date. Unfortunately that is not an option because this girl has bills to pay.

I confess that I can not wait till my two hour deep tissue massage next weekend. My body is completely knotted which is causing me some pain. No fun!

I confess that we are getting ready to deal with some very crazy weather these next few days. I will admit that I would not be upset if we did not have to come to work because of it….that’s wishful thinking. I just could really use a break for a few days.

I confess that I booked my wedding photographer and I could not be more excited! I looked at over 30+ photographers and I finally found the one who’s work I just could not pass up. This photographer has taken photos at the venue we are getting married at and it’s what I’ve wanted in my photos.

I confess that I have been feeling really dizzy and off balance lately. Not quit so much lately but I still get that way a little bit. I am not sure if it’s vertigo or if it could be increased blood pressure…if it gets bad again…I’ll be going to get it checked out.

I confess that I mentioned awhile back about doing a series on face masks that I love. I will be getting that series started very soon!

I confess that I really want to get back to doing more beauty posts. I have slacked a lot on this lately and I hope to be able to provide more reviews soon.

I confess that I have been so behind on posting about my subscription services. I’m still thinking about doing reviews on them anyway…Would y’all still like me to post my boxes even if they are a few months old?

Thanks again for reading my confessions for this week! How has life been going for you? Any confessions to share this week?

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June 2017 Goals

Happy June y’all (yes I know we are already 9 days into it)!  Can you believe that we are half way through 2017? I’m not quite sure that I’m okay with this. Though, I will admit that these next few months or should I say year and a half will be filled with wedding planning. So that’s one exciting thing to look forward to with the year being almost half way over. Today I’m going to be recapping my May goals and share what I want to accomplish this month.

May Goals Revisited: Blog & Personal 

-Write two beauty posts// I only wrote one last month. I shared my May Favorites here.

-Finish reading “Talking As Fast As I Can” by Lauren Graham// Done! I loved this book. I will have my review coming soon.

-Get my skin in check// Yes! My skin has calmed down significantly when it came to my forehead breaking out like crazy. I have been using some old products and new products that have helped make that happen. I will have my review of some of those new products coming soon.

-Continue to reach out to brands for collaborations// Yes!! I completed one of those collaborations so far, which you can read about here. I also have several others in the works.

-Continue getting ideas together for my series collaboration// This is still in the works but it’s been started. Hopefully myself and Leslie will be able to get it going soon.

-Get back to working out 3 x’s a week// Yes and no. Some weeks I worked out 3 x’s a week and other’s just no.

4.5/6 goals accomplished. I gave myself .5 for half way completing some of my goals.

June Goals: Blog & Personal

–Start looking into wedding photographers// I have started looking into photographers but I am being very picky. I don’t want just any photographer. I’m getting married at night time outside, so I need someone who can take beautiful photos during the night.

-Start looking into makeup artist// Again I have started to do this already but I am super picky about my makeup. I want to look beautiful that day, so not just any artist will do.

-Write three beauty posts// I am determined to meet this goal, since I’ve been slacking. I have been wanting to get back to one of the reasons why I started blogging, which was to do beauty reviews.

-Continue to work out// With my wedding coming up in a year in a half I really want to get into better shape. Gotta look good in that wedding dress! I want to strive for working out at least 3 x’s a week but I’m going to try for four.

-Eat healthier// Y’all I love food. Sometimes I got on a complete health kick and other days…not so much (I like a little bit of some balance). So of course with wanting to look good in the wedding dress also, comes healthier eating. I have been eating a lot of protein, smoothies and salads lately. I plan on cooking healthier meals as well for me and my future hubby to be.

-Learn how to better pitch myself to brands through BossPitch// I’ve already started this some and I can’t wait to see everything I learn.

-Start finalizing my blog series with Leslie// We have some great ideas underway but we need to get it altogether. Stayed tuned because I am excited! I love working with other bloggers.

 What are your goals for June?  

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On Wednesdays We Confess Vol 57

Happy Wednesday!!! How has everyone’s week been going so far? Mine has not been too bad, just extremely busy. I am looking forward to the weekend and so happy we are at the half way mark of this week! I’m ready for a little bit of relaxing and fun this weekend. For now I’ll contain my excitement and share my confessions for this week with y’all.

I confess that I am going to be in deep trouble when it comes to the new Urban Decay and Jaclyn Hill Morpe palettes being released. I can not wait to get my hands on them. I really don’t need anymore palettes…but the makeup obsessed hoarder is going to win.

I confess that I am so excited that my wedding planner binder came in! It’s adorable and I can not wait to start getting things all organized in it. If you would be ever so kind to answer the question from the picture below, I would greatly appreciate it (leave in the comments below please). If you follow me on Instagram already and gave your feed back, you rock! 🙂

 

I confess that I am really excited to have my best friend and her family coming to visit this weekend. I haven’t seen her in a little over a month.

I confess that I am really excited about collaborating with Leslie over at Peaches & Willow for some upcoming blog posts. Stay tuned for that!

I confess that my parents have been so amazing with the whole wedding planning process. They are going over and beyond in any way to make sure my dream wedding happens. Again, I can not count my blessings.

I confess that I am excited to be visiting the wedding venue next month with some of my family. They really want to go see it before the big day.

I confess that it really bugs me when supervisors hold some people accountable at one level and other’s at a completely different one. I feel that everyone should be held accountable at the same level. Maybe that’s just me.

I confess that I am so excited that Boss Pitch started today! I can not wait to dive in!

I confess that I am so excited about my first collaboration post with Pelle Beauty. I’d love if you would check out the post. 🙂

 

Thank You so much for spending a little bit of your Wednesday with me.

 

What has been going on in your life lately? Do you have anything to confess this week?

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Pelle Beauty Oils Review

*I received free products in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own*

For those of you who have read my blog for a long time and follow me on Instagram, know how obsessed I am with all things skincare and beauty. However, when it comes to picking out products that I use on my face, I am super picky. In the past I’ve used products that have been to harsh on my skin or that have made my face go into a major meltdown.

Introducing Pelle Beauty: 

Pelle Beauty is a Canadian company that is founded by Marnie Cipriani who has a background in business and cosmetology. All Pelle Beauty products are Vegan and Cruelty-free, using plant based ingredients and essential oils.  Marnie states that “We create skincare that is simple, straightforward, and easy to use. We believe in making the most natural products we can while ensuring that they are luxurious, safe and effective. We use the finest plant based ingredients and essential oils available to keep you gorgeous.” 

Products I tried: Harmony & Nurture Beauty Oils (the oils can be purchased in two sizes)

Harmony Beauty Oil ($58 CAD for 30 ml and $24 CAD for 10ml). This oil can be used on all skin types. This oil preserves the natural moisture production of your complexion.

Ingredients Include: Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, Squalane, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) oil, Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium) oil, Cymbopogon (palmarosa) martini oil, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil.

Nurture Beauty Oil is for normal to dry skin types. It is rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants and essential fatty acids to provide your skin with the rich nutrients it needs.

Ingredients Include: Camellia oleifera seed oil, Crambe abyssinica (abyssinian) seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil,  Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) oil, Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium) oil, Cymbopogon (palmarosa) martini oil, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil.

Both oils are free from water, preservatives, dyes fillers and synthetic fragrances.

How I use the oils

For the day time I massage two drops into my hands and apply (it’s recommended that you use 2-4 drops) to my face before putting on my makeup. During the nighttime I use four drops for a little extra moisture while sleeping.

Why use facial oils? 

Facial oils are a great way to deliver nutrients to your skin because they are extremely concentrated. You can use them in place of a moisturizer. They also contain great anti-aging products, which I am all for!

Overall Impressions:

  • I love how refreshing both of the oils smell. The scents are not over powering, which is a huge plus. I feel like I am at a luxurious spa when using them.
  • Since incorporating these oils into my beauty regime for the last two weeks, I have seen a major change in my skin. My skin feels softer, more smooth and extremely moisturized. I also love the glow my skin has.
  • Though these are facial oils, they do not leave my face looking greasy. I have used other oils in the past and have looked like a major grease ball.
  • I have also noticed that the fine lines I have, have become a little less noticeable.
  • I love that Pelle Beauty is cruelty-free because I am a huge animal lover.
  • I love that two sizes are offered for the oils. You have one that you can use at home and one that you can easily travel with. Having items I can travel with is a huge plus because I do lots of it.

Would I recommend adding these into your current beauty regime? Absolutely!!! Remember to pick the correct facial oil for your skin type to ensure that you are getting the correct nutrients your skin needs.

A huge Thank You again to Marnie for sending me these oils to try out. I can not say enough good things about them! I will be purchasing some other products from them soon! If you’re interested in giving Pelle Beauty a try, you can use code: SWEETTEA for 20% off  your order. Make sure to check out all the other great products Pelle Beauty has to offer!

Have you heard of Pelle Beauty before? Do you use facial oils currently? Let me know in the comments below!

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On Wednesdays We Confess Vol 56

Happy Wednesday Y’all!!! I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day holiday. I enjoyed my much needed long weekend. I did not get as much as I wanted accomplished but I got to relax, so that’s what really counts. Here’s what I am confessing today.

I confess that me and my fiancé have set our wedding date. We are getting married October 27th, 2018.  I really wanted an October wedding because it’s not too hot or cold during that time in Louisiana. When I called the wedding venue they only had that date left in October, so I knew it was our date.

I confess that I can not get over my wedding venue. It is absolutely gorgeous! When I saw it years ago, I knew it was where I wanted to get married.

I confess that I had a little wedding planning melt down last week. Yes I’ve only been engaged for 2.5 weeks but everyone and their mom was asking questions…so it kind of stressed me out. Everything is all good now though (let’s hope it stays that way).

I confess that along with my little melt down a family member felt that they should tell us “what we will be doing at our wedding” as far as wedding favors. I will just say I nipped that in the butt quick, though I think I hurt some feelings (I tried really hard to be nice). No offense, but this is our wedding and we will be doing what we want. I am happy to hear suggestions but I will not be told what to do with my wedding. I guess I am a bridezilla.

I confess that I had an amazing time spending time with our friends & neighbors Sunday. We boiled crawfish and shrimp and just had a great time.

I confess that I just enrolled in BossPitch from Erika at Coming Up Roses. I’m excited to learn new ways on how to pitch myself to brands.

I confess that I truly have the best fiancé ever. I was not feeling well yesterday and looked a hot mess. He told me loved me no matter what I looked like. Yes, I know he should be saying that regardless. Lol.

I confess that I am still in awe when it has come to working with some amazing brands recently. I will have my first collaboration post up this week.

I confess that I feel like I have finally gotten back into my blogging groove. I hope to continue with it, especially with all the upcoming wedding planning.

I confess that I celebrated my birthday last week and my boyfriend surprised me with tickets to go see Britney Spears in Vegas. Yes I am a Britney lover…don’t hate. I’ve been wanting to go see her in Vegas since she has been there.

So there you have it! My weekly ramblings. I’m sure in weeks to come I will be confessing a lot about wedding planning. I apologize in advance!

What are you confessing this week? How has everything been going for you lately? Share with me below!

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May 2017 Favorites

I have not done a favorites post in months! I’m so glad to be back to telling you about what beauty, hair and makeup products I have been obsessed with recently. The brings me back to one of the main reasons why I started blogging in the first place, which was to share my love for all things beauty with my readers. I also am sharing some of my favorite blog posts from this month. Here’s what I’ve been loving lately.

 

MaskerAide All Nigher Sheet Mask $6.99// If you follow me on Instagram I shared how much I loved this mask after I came back from vacation. I was feeling under the weather and so tired but once I used this mask my skin looked more awake, refreshed and replenished. It was a life saver! If you’re skin is needing a pick up me this mask is for you (hence the name: All Nighter Sheet Mask).

Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish Foundation Primer $36// I have tried out several primers in the last few months and nothing has been working for me. With the new medication I have been taken it makes my face produce a lot more oil then I normally have in the past. I find that this primer has worked very well with keeping my makeup in place even when I get a little oily. It goes so so smooth and I love that it’s oil free. I also love that it makes my pores look much smaller.

Sephora Shea Lip Mask $3// I am in love with this lip mask!!! The first time I used one earlier this month my lips were in bad shape and needed a little TLC. I left this masks on for 15 minutes as recommended and after I took it off my lips look 10 X’s better. If you’re lips are chapped or dry I promise this will help make your lips look and feel much prettier!

RCMA No Color Powder $12// I had heard so many great things about this setting powder and I finally purchased some. I loved that it was so affordable because in the past I had used Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder. This powder goes on so easily when applying it under my eyes to set my concealer, as well as when I sweep it off. It has a matte finish which is really great especially for someone who has oily skin.

First Aide Beauty Skin Rescue Red Clay Cleanser $24// I can not tell you how much this cleanser has helped my skin! My skin especially on my forehead was having some major break outs. I was not happy about it because lets face it adult acne is no fun and I never had issues with acne before. This cleanser has cleared up my skin immensely without drying it out. The red clay helps absorb impurities and purifies the skin. It has a ton of amazing ingredients for those annoying break outs.

Kenra Brightening Shampoo & Conditioner $57 (for both)// Seeing that I color my hair blonde having a shampoo and conditioner that helps keep that color in place is key. I love that this makes my hair vibrant well after I’ve colored it. It also helps my hair not become brassy.

Favorite Blog Posts

Easy Moist Banana Nut Bread Recipe from Joyful Iowan// I am a huge lover of Banana Nut Bread, so this recipe is perfect.

7 Tips To Help You De-Stress from Being Leanna// Seeing that I just recently got engaged and wedding planning is in full swing, these tips were right what I needed.

3 Ways To Monetize Your Blog On Your Own Terms from Hey There Chelsie// I love how Chelsie explains how to monetize your blog while staying true to yourself.

 

I hope you all enjoyed my favorites for this month.

What have you been loving lately? Let me know in the comments below!

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STH Happenings// Vol. 2

Happy Monday Y’all!! How have y’all been?! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and hopefully today isn’t too rough on you. I will say I am ready for another long weekend! So much has been going on lately in my life but I have been nothing short of being blessed. Find out the details below.

Happenings

-I got engaged last week while on vacation. I was pretty involved in the ring picking out process but was still really surprised. My boyfriend and I have been together for seven years and it finally happened. I thought maybe he was messing with me recently with talking about getting married and being together forever. But nope! He was serious!

-I got to see my family this weekend to share the good news. My mom, his mom and my aunt knew about it so we shared with the rest of the family and everyone could not be more delighted for us.

-Also, while spending time with my family this past weekend, we celebrated my cousin graduating from high school. Crazy to think he’s all grown up.

-I received my first few packages for my upcoming collaborations and I could not be more excited. Y’all these brands are amazing and I could not be more blessed with them wanting to collaborate with me.

-I have been working really hard on getting more organized in general lately. I have a feeling that it will make a huge difference in all aspects of my life including on the blog.

In Case You Missed It

–Blogger Bliss: Meet Leslie

–Blogger Bliss: Meet Kathleen

–May 2017 Goals

–On Wednesdays We Confess Vol 55

Posts I’ve Loved Lately

–How I Edit My Photos For Instagram by Coffee With Summer

–Favorite Make Up Products from Peaches & Willow 

–3 Reasons to Have a Long Engagement from The Confused Millennial 

–To Do List For A Happier Life from Joyful Iowan

Tell me what’s been going on in your life lately. Have you recently celebrated anything fun or have you accomplished some recent goals? I’d love to hear about them!

Let’s be friends>> Instagram Twitter Pinterest

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On Wednesdays We Confess Vol 55

Happy Wednesday Y’all!!! I am back from my amazing vacation. I wish I was still on all the beautiful islands of the Caribbean but I am happy to be back to blogging! I have so many exciting things coming up for STH and can not wait to share them with y’all. While I wait to reveal those exciting things, I will share my confessions with y’all for this week.

I confess that my cruise to the Caribbean was much needed and amazing. We flew into Puerto Rico for the cruise and loved being able to do a little exploring before the cruise actually took off. Once we were on the boat we went to Barbados, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, and St. Lucia. My favorites were St. Thomas and St. Maarten; however, the water in Barbados was just beautiful. We will be visiting these places again in the future.

I confess that while I do not mind helping out at work, I don’t enjoy having to do others work for them because they are “too busy” to do it. Guess what? We are all busy…..but that’s just me.

I confess that I am really excited to be spending time with my family this weekend to celebrate my youngest cousin graduating from high school. Can’t believe he’s all grown up.

I confess that I have an exciting personal announcement that I will be sharing really soon with y’all.

I confess that while on the cruise I got a little sea sick (or I believe it was sea sickness). I woke up the second morning feeling like death. Not nauseated or anything but just like plain old blah. Not cool.

I confess that since I’ve been come from vacation my throat has been itchy. I swear it never fails when I get home from vacation I get a little cold or something. I guess that means I should just stay on vacation right?

I confess that having limited access to the internet last week was really nice. Taking a break from social media can be so nice. I did miss being able to stay updated on my favorite blogs though.

I confess that I am so extremely proud of my boyfriend for being honored by his company for his innovative patents. He works his butt off and so deserves to be recognized.

Hope y’all have a wonderful Wednesday!! Share some confessions or what’s going on in your life currently with me in the comments below. I always love to hear how my readers are doing.

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