This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
I am loving the Erin Condren Gift Wrap Book. Create an account through my link for $10 off your purchase at erincondren.com.
Author: muffinchanel.com
I love all of Lush Cosmetics’ bath products — bath bombs (make your own Lush-Inspired Bath Bombs), bubbleroons, and of course bubble bars! I’ve been a Lush customer for at least 5 years and I’ve posted all over about my favorite products, my Lush Hauls, the limited edition seasonal products, (hello, Valentine’s Day!) and more.
It’s no secret that I love a nice, long Lush bath — in fact, my go-to Lush favorite is the Comforter Bubble Bar. Love. Love. Love. So, when I recently went in to Lush, I was super sad to see that the price of the Comforter Bubble Bar had gone up again 🙁
I really love the Comforter, but the value for the price is getting kind of close for me. I cut it up into smaller pieces for my bath, but I thought it was pricey at $9.95, and now that it’s $11.95, I’ve started looking into other options for my bubble bath.
I found this Bubble Bar recipe on Hayley Williams’ YouTube and it was super fun to make. I made a ton of fun Bubble Bars and figured out a few tips for the next time I make these.
Here’s everything you’ll need to make your own Lush-inspired bubble bars:
Categories
DIY Soy Candles
Fall is here! It’s time to pull out those blankets, grab a hot cup of tea, and read a book by the fire. Nothing sets that cozy mood like the flickering fire light, so if you don’t have a fireplace, or if you just want to amp up that autumn vibe it’s super easy to make your own candles!
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Soy candles burn “cleaner” and don’t have the chemicals that paraffin candles have. They’re great because they burn slower too so your candle will last longer & you can add whatever scent you like, so you can personalize a gift for friends and family.
Making your own candles will save you money — plus this DIY Soy Candles guide is extremely easy and fun! I made all of these candles in about 30 minutes (not counting setting time) and I love them. They’ll make a beautiful and thoughtful gift for any occasion and you can customize them in so many ways.
Here’s what you’ll need*
- Soy Wax
- Natural Candle Wicks
- Candle Jar/Container
- Microwave Safe Bowl
- Essential Oils (optional)
- Hot Glue Gun (optional)
- Hair Dryer (optional)
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
This simple smoothie is so delicious. With just five ingredients + ice, this smoothie is healthy and easy to make.
This berry smoothie is my favorite for a healthy breakfast or an afternoon treat. The sherbet makes it a little on the dessert side, but I like how the fresh berries and juices give me my fruit serving for the day. It’s super easy to make and is delicious!
You’ll need:
- 12 oz. Raspberry Juice
- 9 oz. Orange Juice
- 1c. Scoop of Raspberry Sherbet
- 1/2c. Scoop of Raspberries
- 1/2c. Scoop of Strawberries
- Ice
Combine all of your ingredients into a blender and pulse until the ice is blended & you have that perfect “smoothie” consistency.
Categories
DIY Home Fragrance
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
I love it when my house smells good — when we’re cooking, or if I have candles burning. I love that fresh laundry smell or fresh ground coffee smell. #allthesmells … but not all at once, obviously.
Recently I’ve been trying to avoid Fabreeze-type air fresheners and traditional candles because of all the chemicals. I don’t want to breathe those toxins just to have a “fresh” smelling house, so I have tried out some homemade fragrance ideas I saw on Pinterest…and this one is amazing. This DIY Home Fragrance is natural and smells amazing!
It’s super simple! All you need is:
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Foldio – pop up photo studio
I want the Foldio 2 because it’s a little bit bigger and has two sets of lights. I love taking pictures and I would love to have a mini studio for blog pictures or fun close-ups.
My contract is almost up and I would like the new iPhone 6s coming out in September. I thought about getting the plus version, but it might be a little too big for me. I read that the plus had better battery life and a better camera which would be great. I’m just hesitant about the AT&T Next plan. I don’t really want to pay monthly installments for a phone… :/
Green tea – tea daisy
I got a sample of the green tea and I loved it. It’s loose leaf (not in a tea bag) so you have to use a strainer to steep it. Green tea has a ton of great health benefits too, so I definitely will be getting some more soon.
Hypnose Drama mascara – Lancome
My 2015 birthday wishlist includes my favorite mascara. I love how it makes my lashes look super thick and dark. I recently got the waterproof type by mistake and I’m so happy it’s nearly gone because I prefer the regular version.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
I am currently loving my 2015 Erin Condren Life Planner — making lists and writing down my plans is my favorite way to help me stay organized. I love how the EC Life Planners are colorful and interesting because it helps me to stay excited and motivated about being organized.
Recently, Erin Condren came out with a new layout for the Life Planners — Horizontal Layout. The horizontal layout is more traditional; it’s what all my past planners were — before I got started with my first Erin Condren Life Planner. So when I saw that Erin Condren was offering a Horizontal layout, I knew I would love it. I ordered the Prism Metallic Platinum Life Planner in peacock blue.
I was interested in the metallic planners before, but they only offered maybe three colors with either gold or platinum foil & there was only that one Fleur Feliz pattern. I like the pattern, but the metallic versions are more expensive than the regular planners & it was more than I wanted to spend if I wasn’t in love with the pattern. This year, there was a new cover pattern option for the metallic which I love — Prism.
This order was $75.05 including shipping (the planner was $60; shipping $9.95; tax $5.10). If you’re interested in buying a Life Planner & want a $10 coupon, sign up for an account through my link.
I ordered my new 2016 Erin Condren Life Planner and shipping took forever! There was some sort of delay with the foil printing, so Erin Condren sent me an email update and a coupon for $20 off my next order! Excellent customer service & I didn’t mind waiting because I really can’t use the planner until 2016 anyway. I decided to use my $20 coupon right away and purchase a new Notebook and the LifePlanner Launch Bundle that I was kicking myself for not ordering with my planner initially.
Finally, my Life Planner arrived! YAY!! I personalized it with “MC” for MuffinChanel & I love it. The metallic planners also come with the elastic bands that help to hold you planner closed which is definitely a nice perk. Even though it’s not 2016 yet, here is my Erin Condren 2016 Life Planner Review:
There is a velum + foil sheet next to the inside cover that is such a nice touch — it just makes my planner feel a little more special. I also like how the spot to write your personal info (for if your planner gets lost) is no longer on the inside cover, but on the first real page of the planner. This is especially great if you do change your covers.
One of the very first things I noticed about this new 2016 planner vs. previous Erin Condren planners is that the spiral binding is larger. It still feels super sturdy — not going to bend or come uncoiled in your bag, but now it’s pretty big. Here is a comparison with my 2015 Life Planner.
I love this change because now, I don’t have to clean out my planner of random papers and cards that I am always storing in there. 
I’m loving this watercolor/marble theme and more subdued color scheme. This 2016 Life Planner feels more mature and professional. The month’s quote is on the page before the calendar page.
The Calendar is more simple looking and “clean”. The color scheme is uniform and there aren’t any quotes on the calendar page. The horizontal layout is really clean and nice looking. I love the prism pattern along the top of the page and the subtle ombré. 
I like how there is a lot of space to write each day — a lined section and a small blank area for each day. There’s a section at the bottom right corner of every week for a “Thankful Thought”. Such a great idea.
2016 horizontal layout vs. the 2015 vertical layout
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
We found this Brownie Mix at Trader Joe’s over the weekend and decided to give it a try. I can appreciate a brownie every now and then, but I’d never made any at home. This Trader Joe’s Truffle Baking Mix is super simple and easy to make.
Basically just three ingredients:
- Trader Joes Truffle Baking Mix
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1/2 stick Butter
I also picked up these Trader Joe’s semi-sweet Chocolate Chunks to add. 
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Grease a 9×9 baking dish with butter and spoon in the Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix!
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes and let cool for at least 45 minutes.
These brownies were amazing and we will definitely keep a box on hand in case of “emergencies”. 
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
I just completed another juice cleanse (my second), and I am feeling great! Last June I did a Jus by Julie 3-day Juice Cleanse which was alright. There were things I liked and didn’t like about the Jus by Julie, but I did enjoy the “cleanse” part and was excited when my mom told me she had a Groupon for a 3 day cleanse from Juice From The Raw.
What I liked about the Juice From The Raw (aka Juice In The Raw) is that the juices are Organic, Cold Pressed, and Raw. Yay! The Juice From the Raw 3 Day ORGANIC Juice Cleanse – Whenever Cleanse – 18 Bottles
We order the juices to arrive on Thursday for our “Weekend Cleanse”. It’s really nice to do the cleanse with someone else because you can encourage each other and support one another when you might be feeling hungry.
The juices arrived frozen in a cooler bag insider a box. Rock hard frozen. We were starting the cleanse on the Friday so I put all my juices in the refrigerator to thaw. Then realized that it wasn’t going to be enough to have Friday’s juices ready to drink in time, so I left them on the kitchen counter overnight to thaw out. Juice From the Raw recommends leaving them out until they are mostly thawed & then putting them in the fridge to thaw completely.
We each got the Forever Cleanse which I prefer because I don’t care for pineapple or other “fruity” juices that their other types of cleanses include. The Forever Cleanse has the most green juices, a Spicy Lemonade, and a Coconut Juice.
These juices aren’t numbered like other Juice Cleanse bottles are. There is a little card stock included in the box with the recommended order to drink the juices and they have it on their website.
You drink the same set of juices each of the three days:
- Detox Greens
- Detox Greens
- Sweet Greens
- Spicy Lemonade
- Sweet Greens
- Coconut Fusion
My favorites were the Detox Greens and the Spicy Lemonade
These Juice From The Raw juices were really flavorful and filling. I preferred them over the Jus By Julie juices and I would love to do this cleanse again.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
We went to Sephora’s VIB Rouge “Beauty Before Brunch” event this morning and we had a great time. The Beauty Before Brunch event was an exclusive VIB Rouge shopping event to launch the 15% off spring sale. I attended last year’s spring event, and overall, I would say that this event was better.
I RSVP’d right away for myself and a guest. We arrived today at around 9:30am and they checked us in at a table near the entrance — everyone was super friendly and energetic. I was really fun to be around people who are all excited about beauty, skincare and makeup.
For the Sephora VIB Rouge event there was a small setup of food in the back of the store — way smaller than last year’s spread. It was kind of disappointing, but I didn’t come here for the muffins & bagels…
I already had a list ready to go…with a few minor changes. And I found everything on my list! Yay!
I got the new Marc Jacobs #InstaMarc Light Filtering Contour Powders in 40 Mirage. This was the main reason I went into the store instead of ordering online. The 40 Mirage shade has been sold out online for a while but they said it was available in store. I went to the Marc Jacobs section right away and they were out of this color….I was super sad until I turned around and saw it on a “Contouring” podium. hallelujah!
These powders are so soft and the brush is mega soft, plus the compact is HUGE!!! I can’t wait to use it!
With 15% off, I picked up another Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation. I love the coverage of this foundation and how easy it is to apply. I first picked this up at Sephora’s Spring Sale last year!
I picked up the Dior Lash Plumping Serum as an eyelash primer and I got the waterproof version of my favorite mascara — Lancome Hypnose Drama!
I’m really happy with my purchases and the sample baggie we got. Great customer service today as well — really makes VIB Rouge feel a little extra special. We got a ton of awesome samples and color matched for two great foundations. Everyone was awesome today and I’m really happy we went.
What did you pick up today? Or what will you be getting during the sale? 🙂
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Erin Condren just released new Notebooks! So exciting! I love my Erin Condren Life Planners so much but I was really interested in one of the new notebooks for just jotting down quick ideas, making lists (I make a lot of lists), and planning larger events/goals.
There are two versions of the Erin Condren Notebooks — the Keep It Simple ($22) and the Deluxe ($35). You can choose to get the Keep It Simple version or the Deluxe version in either 7″x9″ or 8.5″ x 11″. Use my link to create an account for $10 off.
Both versions have a snap-in ruler, 66 sheets of college-ruled pages, and 10 pages of blank pages. They also have the aluminum coil that the Life Planner has and will accommodate interchangeable covers as well.The Deluxe version has a few extras — stickers, folder pocket, and a ziplock pouch.
I chose the 8.5″ x 11″ Keep It Simple version in hot pink with white lettering in the X Prism style.
The box was larger than the normal Life Planner size to accommodate my large notebook.
My Erin Condren Notebook was covered in bubble wrap and bright purple tissue paper.
I love the 8.5″ x 11″ size for my Erin Condren Notebook. It is a nice standard size that is easy to handle.
My Life Planner looks like a baby next to my new Notebook! They are both so pretty; I’m so excited to start using the Notebook.
The pages are lined with cute colorful accents on the corners and borders.
The blank pages in the back also have super fun boarders and colors.
Are you getting/have you already gotten one of the new Erin Condren Notebooks? I’m loving mine!
Also, the Life Planners are now 40% off. If you are interested in trying them out, they’re only $20 when you use my link to make your account! See my Review of the 2015 Erin Condren Life Planner.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Sephora usually has their VIB Spring sale at the end of March/beginning of April. Last year’s Spring Social was so much fun! VIB’s got 15% off and I picked up some great Tarte foundation and a NARS matte multiple.
I’ve had a few things in my Sephora cart for a while now, but I am waiting for the 15% off before I buy anything. Until then, I thought I’d share my wishlist!
- Lancôme – VISIONNAIRE LR 2412 4% – Cx Advanced Skin Corrector
I really like this “skin corrector” by Lancôme. I’ve used it for years on and off, but lately I’ve really noticed an improvement in my skin. My face feels hydrated and smooth and looks brighter.
- Lancôme – Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 For All Skin Types
This has been my go-to facial moisturizer for a while. I like how it has SPF 15 and is so light weight. I’m really running low, so I hope that 15% off comes soon! 🙂
- NARS – Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (Bettina)
This lip pencil looks like the perfect dusty pink color. It’s a creamy matte lip stain/crayon that looks like the NARS pencils in this year’s VIB birthday set. I think this color would be great for spring/everyday.
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NARS – Radiant Creamy Concealer (Custard)
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this NARS concealer. I’ve been looking for a brightening concealer for my under eyes, but something that won’t crease or look too light/chalky. I’m not sure if this is it, but I’m interested in trying it out.
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Smashbox – Layer Lash Primer
I’ve been out of this for a while and have been getting along just fine, but I feel like it helps my lashes from drying out with different mascaras. I like how this primer doesn’t have those “fibers” and it glides on smoothly.
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Marc Jacobs Beauty – #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour
There’s a lot of hype around contouring the face lately and I’ve been using my NARS matte multiple to define my face more, but with spring/summer approaching, I prefer powders over creams (foundation/highlighters/bronzers).
-
tarte – The Slenderizer Bamboo Contour
This brush would be great to apply the contour powders and it looks really fun.
What’s on your wishlist? Are you excited for Sephora’s VIB spring sale?
*word on the street– VIB Rouge will get early access to the spring sale discount. April 12th!
Categories
Fitbit ChargeHR | REVIEW
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Like the Fitbit Flex I had before, The Fitbit ChargeHR is a fitness band that mainly tracks your steps and is a motivational tool to help you be more active throughout the day. The Fitbit app for the phone and the main dashboard on the website are very user-friendly and make it easy to monitor your progress during the day.
I’ve had my Fitbit Charge HR for just over three weeks now and I’m ready to give my review! The Fitbit ChargeHR comes with a USB charging cable and a wireless syncing dongle.*
Design
The Fitbit ChargeHR has textured wristband that is soft and smooth underneath. The band is .83 inches wide & has a watch-clasp closure that feels very secure. 
The display is larger than the Fitbit Flex display and will show your daily activity stats and real time heart rate.
Sizing
I got the Fitbit ChargeHR in size Large. There is a sizing guide on Fitbit’s website to help you determine the best size for you. I picked the Large size because Fitbit recommends wearing the ChargeHR higher up on your wrist for a more accurate heart rate reading. They suggest about 2-3 finger widths above your wrist bone which is pretty comfortable to me. I probably could have been great with the Small size band — I’m wearing the Large at the 3rd to tightest hole in order to wear it higher on my wrist.
Charging
The Fitbit ChargeHR was about 50% charged out of the box. I fully charged it before using it and the battery lasted about 4.5 days before I got an email to let me know the battery was low. I’ve consistently gotten between 4-5 days between charges. Charging the ChargeHR takes about 1 hour. The charger plugs into any USB power source and then into the underside of the Fitbit ChargeHR display.
Interface
There is a small button on the left side of the display which lets you toggle through the time display, daily steps, distance walked, calories burned, stairs climbed, alarms, and heart rate. You can customize what categories are displayed and in what order they appear. You can also set a shortcut for a specific display by double tapping the Fitbit ChargeHR. I have mine set to display the heart rate since that was what I was most interested in purchasing the ChargeHR.
Sleep Mode
I really thought the sleep tracking data from the Fitbit Flex was great, and I think it’s even better with the ChargeHR. The ChargeHR automatically records your sleep without having to do anything. With the Flex, you had to tap it to tell it you were going to sleep, but the ChargeHR detects it on it’s own & it’s super accurate. The ChargeHR will tell you how long you slept for and how many times you were restless in the night. It’s awesome.
Heart Rate Monitor
The heart rate monitor is accurate. I compared it with a pulse counting app and each time it is within 10 BPM which is great for me. The Fitbit ChargeHR uses LED lights to reflect off your skin to detect changes in your blood. When your heart beats, your capillaries expand & contract, the ChargeHR measures those changes with special algorithms to display your heart rate.
The display shows you live heart rate monitoring and what “zones” you’re in while working out. The three zones — Fat Burn, Cardio, and Peak — are calculated based on a max heart rate of 220 BPM minus your age, but you can adjust it and make your own custom zones. I like to check my heart rate and see how intense my workout is.
Workouts
If you press and hold the side button, the Workout mode will begin and track your exercise activity. I like to review the workout data because it isolates your heart rate data for the workout and helps me stay motivated throughout the day. My workouts are mostly jogging/running so the Fitbit ChargeHR is tracking my steps as well.
Overall, I love my Fitbit ChargeHR. The heart rate monitoring is the main reason to get this fitness band; it’s accurate and easy to view your data. The band is comfortable and it has good battery life. The sleep tracking feature is better than before and also very accurate.
Categories
Valentine’s Day DIY | Paper Flowers
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
This is such a cute DIY that you can easily make for you Valentine or your friends or family. Paper flowers are beautiful and they won’t while like real flowers (and are less expensive)! Your valentine will love that you made them a personalized gift and you will have fun making these fun flowers.
You will need:
- Card stock
- Scissors
- Floral wire
- Floral tape
- Glue gun & glue sticks
- Tissue paper
- Glitter
- Ribbon
- Pattern – Click here for a printable Paper Flower Pattern
1. Use the pattern to cut out at least 8 petal shapes, 1 – 2 leaf shapes, and the center flower shape.
2. Use the hot glue gun to glue the petal shapes together at the split — this will create a more realistic petal shape and give the flower dimension.
3. Begin gluing the petals onto one another in a spiral layer.
4. Continue layering on petals until you reach the desired shaper/texture of your flower.
Next add the tissue paper to the center flower and then add that to the main flower. 
Next, you attach the floral wire to a small circle of card stock. This will be the base to attach the wire to the flower. These Valentine’s Day Paper Flowers are super easy to make!
Finally, you add the floral tape to the wire to polish the look. Add a ribbon to the flowers or pop them in a cute vase to give to your valentine!
Check out another DIY HERE. Or Click HERE for my 2014 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide or see another paper flower DIY that’s even easier!
