focus feature: batiste "fruity & cheeky" cherry

ok, so i have a love affair with dry shampoo. to my friends, this is no surprise. i am sure they are sitting, reading this post, and thinking, "i wish she would shower more." fact of the matter is that i do shower regularly. i am not a caveman. BUT i absolutely, positively HATE washing my hair. hence the love affair with dry shampoos.

when i first started using dry shampoos, i swore by and only used ones that i could find in french pharmacies (i was living in France at the time, but the obsession continued upon my return to the US). however, the $18 a can price tag for the amount of dry shampoo i used was just getting to be rather ridiculous. i had heard some beauty bloggers/vloggers mention the batiste line, and at $7 a can, i was all in.

i love batiste dry shampoos. if you have read some of my other posts, i mentioned how i use dry shampoo at night before bed so that way it has sunk in or rubbed off on my pillow. ta-da! presto chango! beautiful hair.

ok, so my love affair with batiste has grown even more! they came out with a cherry scent. it smells like synthetic cherry, but i love it. it also has the cutest design on the can. very retro in my opinion, plus i love anything with cherries on it too. here's a pretty picture.

i highly recommend trying the batiste dry shampoos. they have a bunch of different scents, and i am sure you can find one that suits your fancy.

TWEETS OF THE WEEK: 8/22

tweets i find amusing from myself and people i follow. laugh away my little friends.

The 7/18 Playlist

i love music. i mean, who doesn't? but back in high school, i was quite the music snob. these days i listen to whatever i like, from country to experimental genres. here are some of my current favs:

1] Sweater Weather- The Neighborhood "I'm Sorry... -EP"

been out for a while, still can't get enough of it.

2] Hot Damn- Ivy Levan "Introducing the Dame -EP"

heard on a youtube vid, old school vibe. me likey.

3] No Diggity- Blackstreet & Dr. Dre "Another Level"

oldie but always a goodie. pitch perfect reinforced my love for this song.

4] Chicken Fried- Zac Brown Band {ZEY-BAY-BAY}"Play On"

i blame my friend for my love for this song, but who doesn't love chicken and beer?

5] Dark Paradise- Lana Del Rey "Born To Die - The Paradise Edition"

say whatever you want about the singer, but the song is awesome nonetheless.

6] Wagon Wheel- Darius Rucker/Old Crow Medicine Show

whichever version of the song you like better, it doesn't matter. it's just a real feel good song.

7] Heads Will Roll- Yeah Yeah Yeahs "It's Blitz!"

another song that just never gets old in my book.

listen.

xo damers

a girl's best friend....

i love makeup AND i am a compulsive shopper by trade. this leads to many dollars wasted on things i dont like or are the wrong color, especially foundation. i never wore it until recently, and i still hardly reach for. so, basically, i am a foundation noob.

in a recent youtube video i came across, the vlogger recommended this website. it will literally make shopping for foundation a million times easier, especially since in the US it is very uncommon to have testers in the drugstore.

http://findation.com

i highly recommend using this website. i played around on it a bit earlier today and know i will be visiting it frequently.

the intellectual corner: hemingway's the sun also rises

i came across this book on a list of books that should be read in one's twenties posted on buzzfeed. i remember hearing about this book, as well, from a friend while perusing the city lights bookstore in san francisco. i finally caved and downloaded said book on my e-reader.

at first i really didn't care for the book, but after a while i got into the story. i did find that there was no real arc in the story as it just commented on events that were transpiring, however its main setting was paris, france. i am a HUGE sucker for anything parisian. i did enjoy the book, but it isn't something i would reread or stand out to recommend to others.

SHOCK HORROR! i know. what can i say? i am a weirdo, and this hemingway book didn't do it for me.

do you have a favorite hemingway book that i should read? did i miss the whole point of the sun also rises? let me know. sometimes things are lost on me. i can't help it.

xoxo damers

it's like i have ESPN or something....

over xmas break, my sister forced me into seeing a psychic because she wanted to see one. being in the state of Florida, where nothing is normal, she wasn't allowed to have her fortune told because she was under 18. therefore, the pleasure fell upon me. now this psychic worked at Universal Studios, need i say more? so i was extremely skeptical of this spiritual adventure that i was about to embark on.

i have to say that all the mumbo jumbo that was discussed about my love life to be complete bullshit. i am a lone wolf in the world and will probably continue on in that way, but the psychic did say something that has been so extremely true. she said that i was going to be traveling a lot this year. now all those who are reading this who know me are all like what else is new, dipshit? BUT!!! i have been traveling so much more in 2013, than i have before. i have barely spent anytime in my apartment since the beginning of the year and i miss it so.

that being said, there are some other things that this woman said that i hope to be true too! but hopefully, i will own my own business before age 47!!!

should i believe all the other shit this woman said based off one good guess?? who knows. i guess only time will tell.

from the real world,

xoxo damers

branching out. making moves.

it has been a long time, but ive been studying for the gre. HOWEVER, ive decided to branch out into making videos for this blog!!! making moves all right. expect to see this face like real soon.

xo Damers

obsessive tendencies #5: disney. disney. disney movies

i grew up as a disney child. my mom loves disney, and having grown up in a disney loving household, i haven't fallen far from the apple tree. some people are against disney, but personally that doesn't matter to me. i love it and am not ashamed to say so even in my mid-twenties. 

so i thought i share some of my favorite disney movies on the off chance that it makes you think, "hmmm, i haven't watched that in ages. i should totally watch it again." animated only though, because disney makes more movies than one blog post/blogger can handle.

1. Cinderella- my favorite disney film. at a young age, there was not a day that i didn't watch this movie. i am sure that my parents can go the rest of their lives without any reference to it, but i still love it.

2. The Little Mermaid- a favorite as a child, but a disney film that my love for hasn't really continued on. it still holds a special place in my heart, and ariel is still one of my favorite disney princesses, but not a disney film that i am motivated to pop in the DVD player and watch.

3. Alice in Wonderland- this film is one of my favorites. a children's film that i believe is really for adults. i can actually relate to alice at this pivotal time in my life, when I'm trying to figure out what to do with my future. i often give myself really good advice, but i rarely often follow it.

4. The Sword in the Stone- a disney film that i hated as a child, but came to appreciate thanks to my best friends in high school. it has become a nostalgic activity to watch the movie, but also something that i enjoy watching.

5. Mary Poppins- a classic film with an awesome soundtrack. another childhood favorite that has followed me in to adulthood, and another film i still watch often.

6. Mulan- the song "i'll make a man out of you" is a good enough reason for anyone to watch this movie. 'nuff said.

7. Pocahontas- another childhood favorite, and a film that i would still consider popping into the DVD player on a lazy sunday. plus, christian bale is one of the voice actors in the sequel.

8. Dumbo- one of my favorites, but a difficult one to watch. i cry every time. i haven't watched it in forever, and this post has inspired me to do so.

9. The Three Caballeros- a all around feel good film, and a classic. love this and still watch it.

10. 101 Dalmatians- a film that i myself often forget about, but upon re-watching end up falling in love with all over again.

insanity: insane in the membrane, insane in the brain

so one of my best friends is always trying to push herself in the realm of physical fitness (she's doing a triathlon!! GET IT!!!), which has prompted me to do the same. i have struggled with weight loss over the years and had a personal trainer for a little over two years with little results. after having to wake up at the wee hours of the morning when babysitting my brothers to make sure they get to school on time, i ended up watching tons of infomercials. i got sucked it.

i did a bit of research before i decided on a program to do, and i settled on insanity. so far i have completed the fit test and the first workout on the schedule. OMG, i am so sore already and its been like a day. it's a really intense workout, and i'm actually feeling like all the effort is worth it. i am looking forward to continuing the program to the best of my abilities. i have quite the ridiculous life, thanks to my crazy family, and i never really know where i'm going to be from one month to the next. so therefore, my goal is to do the program as often as possible.

in all, my first impressions on the program is that it is great! i will be posting updates periodically as a way for people to gauge the effectiveness of the program. it is rather expensive, and i haven't looked but there's a good chance you can find a free version floating on the internet. so the price is my only negative.

work it, gurl, work it,

xo damers

empties #3: look at my trash.... ooooooo! ahhhh!

more trash!! this is exciting for me to be able to finish products up. the cabinet under my sink is slowly but surely emptying. i am not allowing myself to buy anything that i already have multiples of, so these posts are making feel like i am making progress on the product using endeavor.

1. Lush Party Popper Bath Bomb- I really didn’t like this bath bomb. It really didn’t make my skin feel nice after using it, and I hated the smell. I know, I know, you are all like WHAT? Why did I buy it if I hated the scent? Well, I bought it online because it looked cool and the description sounded nice. I have to saw that I was very disappointed and will not purchase this bomb again. Though, I believe it was limited edition with the Lush holiday stuff.

Would I repurchase? No.

2. Lush Golden Wonder Bath Bomb- click HERE for a full review of this product.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

3. Nivea Crème- this cream is something my sister turned me onto. It is super rich and moisturizing—one of those lotions that leaves a greasy feeling after applying. It’s not my favorite but the travel containers of this lotion make it unbeatable for me. I travel a lot and having to only take this little container of lotion to help combat my dry skin really makes a huge difference in my already massive toiletry bad. I will repurchase this product for travel only. Definitely a lotion you want to apply right before bed and NOT before getting dressed.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

   4. Chance Eau Fraiche by Chanel Eau de Toilette (Sample)- I received this when I purchased something at the chanel beauty counter a while back. I recently decided to begin going through all my sample and pulled this one out for a go. I really enjoyed this fragrance. It was a light, clean floral scent that was sweet and young. It’s definitely a fragrance I would consider buying a full size of in the future.

5. Benefit Bad Gal Lash (Sample)- this mascara was ok. Nothing that I would write home about or tell my sisters to run out and buy. I found that it really didn’t live up to hype in my opinion and was just average mascara. Definitely not worth the price tag, and something I would not repurchase.

Would I repurchase? No.

  6. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque (one time use packet)- many beauty bloggers rave on and on about this hair treatment. I have picked it up numerous times in stores with the intention of buying it, only to put it back. I saw the one time use packet and grabbed it immediately. Hallelujah! Am I glad I didn’t buy the big tub! Firstly, it is super expensive. And secondly, I really did not like it. I don’t have the patience for a five to seven minute wait time. I know that you can do other things in the shower while waiting for this to soak in, however, I have so much hair that no matter what I do to hold my hair up and out of water during a treatment, it NEVER stays. I also didn’t think that it did all that much for my hair. I found that the Neutrogena triple moisture masque made my hair feel softer and more nourished than this one.

Would I repurchase? No.

     7. Diorshow Maximizing Lash Plumping Serum- I love big voluminous lashes of the crazy variety. I hate false lashes, they make my eyes itchy, and so I am always trying to make my lashes more full. Though I don’t wear makeup or mascara everyday so I cant comment on the serum aspect of this product, as a primer it was amazing. I have already repurchased this product and it has become a staple in my makeup regime.

Would I repurchase? YES!

8. Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange Candle x2- i love this candle. i have a full post on it, pretty much just proclaiming my love for this candle. click HERE to read.

Would I repurchase? YES!

9. Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo- I hated this dry shampoo. It made my hair feel as though it had tons of product in it, and it almost felt as though I had a ton of hairspray in my hair. I really wanted to like it because it is only three dollars and super cost effective, but I had to struggle to use it all. The only upside to this dry shampoo was that it made messy buns look amazing, but then again, how amazing can a messy bun look?

Would I repurchase? No.

10. Colure True Color Care Richly Moisture Shampoo- this shampoo smells phenomenal. I loved this shampoo. It has extended my color and made my curls/waves much more manageable because it is sulfate-free. I have the large and small bottles of these shampoos, and they last a while considering how much shampoo I use in the shower. I have repurchased this shampoo before and will do so again in the future, but will not repurchase the conditioner. I do wish however that it was easier to get a hold of, but I have to order it straight from the manufacturer online.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

11. Caldera Citron Ginger Candle x2- another candle that i love. click HERE to read more about this candle, because again it warranted its own post.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

12. Aveeno Pure Renewal Sulfate-Free Shampoo- I love this shampoo so much more than the conditioner. For a sulfate-free shampoo, it’s an amazing clarifier. My biggest problem with sulfate-free shampoos is not the lather, because I use so much shampoo that I can get it to lather. However, many of them leave residue build-up and aren’t the best for cleaning my hair. This shampoo does not and I can use it over and over again. I do use it as I would use a clarifying shampoo, once or twice a week and has become a staple in my shower/life.
Would I repurchase? YES!

13. Batiste Dry Shampoo Original Scent- this is my new dry shampoo. Its ten dollars less that my previous favorite, Klorane dry shampoo. I like this dry shampoo the most because it left no feeling of residue in my hair at all. I spray dry shampoo in my hair at night so that all the residue is gone by the morning, but often times the powdery residue is usually left behind the following morning but not with the batiste.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

14. Alba Botanica Very Emollient Cream Shave Mango Vanilla Scent- I use the schick intuition razor and bought this for travel, but I never travelled with it. So to use it, I used it as a in-shower lotion. It actually worked well in that sense rather well. It smelled nice and depending on how some of the other shower lotions I currently have work, I may or may not repurchase this product. But if you use a razor without pre-attached soap, I would recommend this shave cream.
Would I repurchase? Don't know.

15.  Olay Luscious Embrace Moisturizing Body Wash- my sister bought this and I ended up using it. I really liked this body wash actually. It smelled nice and was really moisturizing. I would definitely repurchase this at some point, but body wash is something that I am not lacking in my beauty cupboard at the moment.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

16. Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask (Birchbox Sample)- this mask burned my skin. Now I regularly use the queen helene mint julep mask, which also has a tingling sensation, but this mask actually felt like it was burning my skin. Also the sample size had enough for multiple uses, but dried out so I couldn’t use it again. All in all, I didn’t really feel like this mask did all that much, and it irritated my skin.
I will not buy this product. No. no. no.

17. Colure True Color Care Richly Moisture Conditioner (Original Review)- a while back, I dyed my hair red. My stylist recommended this line of products to help keep the red color in my hair. I am now back to blonde, but still enjoy this line of haircare. It smells amazing. Fruity and tropical and the smell lingers in your hair. This conditioner is watery in consistency, but moisturizes your hair nonetheless. It is on the expensive side at $25 for this small bottle. I would repurchase this product but not in the recent future. I have found other sulfate-free products that are much cheaper. But I will really miss this product for its wonderful smell.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

  18. Walgreens Saline Wound Wash x2- this stuff is amazing. I bought this because I recently got a new piercing and had to keep it clean. The piercing salon I went to recommended this, and I could not have been happier. I have a few piercing and with each I was told to clean it differently. However, from now on, I will be using this. It makes taking care of fresh piercing super simple with little clean up. I could not recommend this more for piercings.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

 19. VO5 Hot Oil Weekly Treatment- I wanted to try this hair oil because some beauty bloggers from the UK rave about a similar product that is not sold in the US. However due to the fact that the amount of oil is predetermined, I found this product insufficient for my long hair. There was not enough oil in one tube for a single application. And at four dollars for two little tubes, I will not be purchasing this product again. It was an oil treatment that you use before you shampoo and that only stay in your hair for one minute. I found that it didn’t do all that much either. I find that this will probably work better for someone with thinner hair or less of it than me.

Would I repurchase? No.

phew! that was a long post. it took me a while to compile all these empties because they are from my parents houses and my home, etc. also, there was just a lot of products. geesh. i already have another good number of things for another empties post! crazy. i always thought i hoarded stuff--which dont get me wrong, i do--but this is just proving to me that im actually not wasting all my money. however, im no making a dent in any of my body moisturizers. 

goal for next empties post: one body moisturizer at least. leggo!!