Category: Lifestyle

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Blog Lifestyle

Sephora Shares | Tangent

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’m really loving the free apps that Sephora Shares is offering! Similar to the Starbucks app, the Sephora app for iPhone offers free songs or applications. You can download the Sephora Shares freebees on your computer as well. Usually, I am not interested in the free apps since they don’t really meet a need I have, but I was excited to see Tangent offered! I’d looked at it before, and the $1.99 price tag was a turn off. But thanks again to Sephora Shares, it was FREE! YAY!

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The Tangent app is a fun photo editing app that uses geometric overlays to create interesting pictures. Lots of free options for customization — also some in-app purchases available, but the “basic” version is very powerful. Sephora Shares is offering this app for free until June 15 (US only). So check it out if you’re interested; there are other apps and songs available as well!!

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What’s on my iPhone | Photo Editing, Fitness + More

What's on my iPhone MuffinChanel blog photo editing fitness and more

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

It seems like the phone is the one accessory we never leave the house without. It’s a camera, a calendar, fitness tracker, social media outlet, and of course helps us keep in touch with our friends and family. We use our phones everyday for tons of things, so I thought I’d share some of what’s on my iPhone with you.

Photo Editing

Diptic – Make a quick and easy collage with this app. With lots of free templates to choose from and customization options, this is my go-to for any Instagram collage. You can even adjust the borders’ thickness, shape, texture, and color.

ColorSplash – This app makes it easy to add a splash of color to a black & white photo or vice versa. You start with a color photo and then you can hand-draw the black & white filter, leaving something specific in color so that object really stands out.

LINE camera – The auto-enhance option on LINE is really good, especially for selfies. It corrects the lighting, smoothes imperfections, and can make your eyes look bigger. They have a lot of fun “stickers” to choose from too that make this app super fun.

PixlrExpress+ – I use pixlr to edit photos on my blog, so when I saw that there was an app for iPhone, I knew I wanted to try it. I use this for most of my phone-editing. Lots of filters and fonts for text overlays and powerful basic editing features. Plus, I really love how I can resize the image to keep its full size and clarity. I hate when a great picture end up looking pixilated because the app compressed it — not with PixlrExpress+!

Bokehful – The best app for adding bokeh! Not just a filter or overlay, Bokehful lets you kind of control the placement (puts a bokeh near where you tap; not exactly on the spot). You can also choose the color/color palette and shapes of the bokeh.

A Beautiful Mess – I got this app for free from Sephora and  it’s pretty cool. You can add text, doodles, and borders and choose from a few filters. It’s pretty basic. There are some upgrades that I haven’t tried, but the free content seem sufficient for a quick edit.

Social Media

Twitter – I like the official app for Twitter on the iPhone. It’s clean and simple; gets the job done.

Instagram – It’s fun to go through different Instagram feeds and see everyone’s pictures. I never really use the filters in Insta; instead, I’ll upload after using some of the apps I mentioned ^.

WordPress – I mostly just check comments from the WordPress app. It’s a little tricky for me to try to blog from the app, but I have before. It’s good in a pinch!

Health & Fitness

MyFitnessPal – This app is great for monitoring your food intake and calorie goals. There is a huge library of foods you can select and you can chat with your friends so everyone stays motivated. I have it linked with my Fitbit, so MFP automatically keeps track of my activity too!

Nike+ Running – I’ve been slacking on my running goals lately….big time. But I still love the Nike+ Running app for tracking my runs. The Nike Coach update is great and helps you reach your goals without having to think too much into it.

Nike Training – I just recently downloaded this app, but it seems cool so far. Great for a Cross-Training day or its own program — I like how there are lots of sessions you can choose from. It’s like a guided workout with videos so you can see what each move is supposed to look like.

Fitbit – The Fitbit app helps me track the number of steps I have for the day, my sleep cycle, and my ranking among my friends. It’s great to not have to log into a computer to sync up my stats.

Let me know what some of your favorite apps are; I’d love to try out some new ones!

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President’s Day | Bonus Star Holiday

muffinchanel starbucks star dash double stars
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here.

If you use your registered Starbucks Rewards Card now through the 18th after 2pm, you’ll receive a bonus star for every purchase!

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Valentine’s Day Love List | Gift Guide

muffinchanel-2014-valentines-day-gift-guide1-1024x1024

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

1. Starbucks Gift Card | Starbucks, various denominations

If your Valentine likes Starbucks, gift cards are the way to go. They even have cute, Valentine’s Day themed cards online and in-store. Even just $5 is super sweet to give to school friends, family or a co-worker.

2. Veranda Place Bee Wristlet | Kate Spade, $98

This wristlet is so cute! Pink with bows? You can’t go wrong. It’s great because it can hold your cards & money and be a sort of on-the-go wallet or throw it in your purse to help you stay organized. Perfect for your sister or best friend….or yourself!

3. togoPower Boost Keychain | Photojojo, $40

This keychain holds up to 1.5 hrs of extra battery life for your phone. It’s small and fits on your key ring. This would be great for anyone, even the guy in your life. A boost of power can help you stay connected with your Valentine when they need it most.

4. Valentine’s Day socks | Nordstrom, $10

Everyone loves a cute pair of socks. These pink, heart socks are sweet and cozy. Perfect for your sister or school friends. Tie them up with a ribbon and some candy & you’re good to go!

5. Too Faced Plump Gloss Glow | Sephora, $42

This set from Sephora comes with a mascara, nude lipstick, and a heart shaped pink blush. Very Valentine’s Day appropriate! The blush looks nice and rosy with a shimmer highlighter built in. A great  Valentine’s Day gift for the makeup lover in your life. 

6. Rue iPhone 5 Case | Marc Jacobs, $48

This iPhone case is so fun and pink! With a black cat with white mascara detail around the eyes, this gift is perfect for your best friend or sister who like trendy things or anything Marc Jacobs. The case bulges in certain areas around the phone so you’ll always have a good grip!

7. “Love Edge” Stud Earrings | Marc Jacobs, $42

Sleek, simple heart earrings are perfect for a casual day or a romantic Valentine’s Day evening. Delicate & dainty and perfect for the girly girl in your life.

8. Hanalei Triangles iPhone 5 Case | Pura Vida Bracelets, $20

This case is fun and beachy. Perfect for your friend who isn’t really into Valentine’s, but you still want to get them something. It has a slightly romantic feel with the layers of colors, but it’s perfect to give year round. Check the site for other fun case options!

9. Heart Compact | Marc Jacobs, $7

This mirrored compact is super cute to give to your teammates, school friends or anyone who would like a heart shaped mirror. At just $7, it’s a cute gift for everyone.

10. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Gift Trio | Sephora, $120

My favorite fragrance of all time! Flowerbomb is a super floral scent that just makes you happy when you smell it. This set comes with the fragrance, a shower gel, and a body cream. And if you get it from Sephora with your Beauty Insider card, you’ll earn triple points. This gift is great for a girlfriend/wife.

11. Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Complexion Kit | Sephora, $68

This set is perfect for your mother, your sister, or anyone who likes makeup/skincare. The set comes with a bottle of the Josie Maran Argan Oil Light, Cheek Gelée, Matchmaker Powder Foundation, and Matchmaker Serum Foundation. It’s limited edition and there are three color options. 

12. Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm | Sephora, $27

Love this lip balm! It’s amazing! Perfect for the bestie or family member in your life who cares about skincare or lip products. This balm will heal chapped, winter lips and can be used as a primer, on its own, or as a treatment. Plus, it’s sheer pink and romantic in its embelished white case.

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The First Star Dash of 2014 | Starbucks Rewards

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

It’s that time again — Star Dash time at Starbucks that is. This Winter Star Dash is a little different than the ones we’ve seen in the past. Rather than earning a $5 or $10 gift card upon reaching your star goal, this time you’ll just earn more stars.

starbucks star dash muffinchanelCheck your email or your Starbucks app to see if you’ve been selected to participate in this offer. If you don’t have a registered Starbucks card, you can sign up here and start earning stars for your purchases.

The Winter Star Dash is running from now until February 9th 11th. If you earn 25 stars, you’ll receive 10 bonus stars, and if you earn 40 stars, you’ll receive 20 bonus stars.

What do you think of this Star Dash? Do you prefer a gift card or bonus stars?

UPDATE: The Star Dash ends on February 11th. And Rewards will be distributed by February 18th.

I am nowhere near completing my Star Dash goal! Hopefully, I get an easier offer next time. How are you doing with your Star Dash? Check where you are by logging into your account. Did you reach your goal?

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Make your own | Chipotle style Guacamole

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

You know I love Chipotle, I always get a sofritas burrito with fajita peppers, green & corn salsa, sometimes sour cream, and guacamole. Their guacamole is amazing; no wonder they charge $2 extra!

Looking around online, I found a video of how to make Chipotle’s famous guac!

muffinchanel-chipotle-guacamole-ingredients-recipe-1024x768This recipe served 6 – 10 people (or just me for 2 days. lol. I love guacamole!) You’ll need:

  • 6 large ripe avocados – pitted and peeled. (Don’t skimp on the avocado; get the best you can find!)
  • 3 cups fresh cilantro – chopped
  • 1.5 cups red onion – finely chopped
  • 12 large serrano chilies – seeded and finely chopped
  • 12 tsp lime juice (I used 2 limes)
  • 1.5 tsp salt

And that’s it! This recipe is so easy and tastes so perfect.

muffinchanel-avocado-chipotle-guacamole-cut-and-pit-removed-1024x768muffinchanel-chipotle-guacamole-mash-951x1024Combine all your avocado in a large bowl and lightly mash with a fork, large spoon, or a mashed potato press.

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Add your peppers, cilantro, onions, salt, and lime  juice and combine/mash together. I prefer my guac to be a little chunkier so I combine all the ingredients lightly.

muffinchanel-chipotle-guacamole-recipe-finished-1024x768And ta-da! You’re ready to enjoy the best guacamole EVER!

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Make your own | Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you know I love me some Very Berry Hibiscus Refreshers (with Light Ice!) from Starbucks; my Gold Card proves that. It’s tangy, but sweet; it has green coffee extract for a natural boost of  energy; it’s cool and “refreshing”; it’s pink….you get the idea. It’s amazing! But at $5 a drink (I usually get the Trenta size), I wanted to see what other options were available. Check out my Starbucks Berry Hibiscus Refresher DIY Recipe!

Continue reading “Make your own | Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher”
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Disneyland Holiday

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Vegetarian Sandwich | Sautéed Peppers & Onions

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here.

This vegetarian sandwich is easy to make and tastes great!

You’ll need:

  • Cracked Wheat Sourdough bread
  • Bell Peppers
  • Red Onion
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Olive Oil
  • Pepper Jack Cheese
  • Cilantro-Jalepeño Hummus
  • Mustard
  • Tomato
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Broil your bread in the oven and lightly drizzle some Olive Oil on one side, then flip the bread over and let your cheese melt slightly on the bread.

Remove the bread from the oven and add tomato slices to one slice of bread, and spread hummus and mustard to the other slice. *Use a thin layer of hummus. Add salt and pepper to taste.

vegetarian-sandwich-muffinchanel-2-1024x1024Then add sautéed peppers, onions, and garlic to your sandwich, cut, and serve with potato chips.

vegetarian-sandwich-muffinchanel-3-1024x1024*For an extra kick, add some tobasco hot sauce to the vegetables!

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#Sephora Giveaway (Marchesa) – I Won!

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

If you follow me on Twitter, you may already know that I recently was one of three #SephoraGiveaway winners to win a Marchesa prize package! For three days in November, Sephora would tweet out a question related to the Marchesa brand. If you answered correctly within one hour, you were entered into the drawing to win and I won! So exciting!

notte-by-marchesa-dress-white-with-black-lace-straps-muffinchanel sephora giveaway winnerSephora sent me a Direct Message that I’d won and I emailed them the information they requested. About 2 weeks later, I received a box with the Marchesa Parfume D’Extase 1.7oz fragrance, the 1oz fragrance, and the rollerball (the Hair Mist was not in the box 🙁 ).

marchesa-sephora-parfume-dextase-fragrance-muffinchanel-1024x725Then, about two weeks after I received the fragrance, the dress arrived! The Notte by Marchesa dress is all white silk with black lace straps and detailing around the neckline.

notte-by-marchesa-dress-white-with-black-lace-straps-muffinchanel-536x1024I found these images of Katie Lowes wearing the dress at ELLE’s 20th Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration (10.21.13) on katrinapavela’s tumblr.

I’m really excited to have won! Thank you, Sephora and Marchesa! Super excited to wear my dress and fragrance over the holidays!

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Top 10 – November Favorites

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Landon Austinlandon austin muffin chanel muffinchanel once in a lifetime

When I first heard about Landon Austin on Youtube, I thought he used auto-tune on his voice. He has a really unique sound, accompanied by an acoustic guitar and his songs are pretty mellow. I am really liking Once In A Lifetime. Even though it’s a slower song, I like to listen to this when I’m running.

The Hunger Games – Catching Fire

catching-fire1This movie was much better than the first. The Capitol establishes new rules in order to surpress a rebellion encouraged by Katniss Everdeen’s breaking the rules in the last Hunger Games. Peacekeepers are enforcing more rules on the different Districts and Katniss and Peeta must fight again in the 75th Hunger Games. If you liked the first movie, you’ll really like the second. By the end, I was holding up my three fingers and whistling the Mockingjay tune!

Chipotle

sofritas

I’ve been loving Chipotle so much in November. I get a burrito with: white rice, fajita vegetables, sofritas (only served in select states/locations), the green salsa, corn, sour cream, and guacamole. MMMmmm. So good. I’ll sometimes get the chips and guacamole on the side, but only if I’m super hungry.

Nike+ Running

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I’m still training for a half marathon, and I’m using the Nike+ Running App to track my runs. Just the other day, I logged my farthest run – 7.25 miles! Yay. I’ve still got a ways to go and a lot more conditioning, but I really like how the Nike+ Running App lets you create goals how you can “race” with your friends. Add me (MuffinChanel) and we can race!

Lush Baths

photo-1photo-21I love Lush baths; especially during the colder months. Relaxing underneath a blanket of bubbles is so perfect. My favorite combination at the moment is The Comforter bubble bar and Think Pink bath bomb & to make it extra amazing, I add a dropper of Josie Maran’s Argan Oil! With this bath ^, I used Sandstone soap to exfoliate and Sweetie Pie shower jelly. Amazing!

Starbucks Holiday Star Dash

screen-shot-2013-11-29-at-8-27-45-pmI’m so excited that I was selected to participate in the Starbucks Holiday Star Dash. As you can see, I earned my 16 stars and will get the $10 eGift! Yay for those Very Berry Hibiscus Refreshers!

Photojojo Macro/Wide Lens

I got this lens for my birthday and it’s awesome. If I have to choose from the three they offer, this is the one I choose. I love it because it is both Macro and a Wide angle lens — just unscrew it to get the Macro.

Rainbow Loom

rl-heroMy little cousins shared their Rainbow Looms with me over Thanksgiving! They taught me how to make the Starburst and Fishtail bracelets! You can get the Rainbow Loom at Michael’s for $17 and each Rubber Band Pack of 600 bands is $4.

photo-2Grand Theft Auto 5

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I recently bought GTA 5 and it’s so much fun. I have GTA 4 (but I never even finished the story mode), but GTA 5 is so much better. You play as three different characters in story mode & the online mode is so much fun; I’m already on level 16!

Living Proof – Restore

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I bought this in my Sephora VIB Rouge haul to try it out and it’s awesome. My hair looks and feels softer and healthier. I’ll repurchase the larger sizes when I run out. I do like these small bottles though; perfect size for traveling.

What have you been loving this November? Let me know in the comments.

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Holiday Travel Essentials | Beauty

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Many of you may be traveling for the upcoming holidays. It’s always fun to go somewhere new or see friends & family, but it can be difficult deciding what to pack or just carrying everything you want.

I always try to pack just the “essentials” so my bags aren’t loaded down and I’ll have room in case I get a few souvenirs. You really need to ask yourself what you want; try to only bring products that have multiple uses. For example: with makeup, see if you can find a blush you like that can double as an eyeshadow. Or a dark eyeshadow that you can also use to fill in your brows. With beauty items, it can be a little more tricky. You don’t want to neglect your skin while you are on holiday, but you don’t want to carry your full sized bottles either.

This is where those sample sizes from Sephora or little mini bottles of products come in handy. I always save the samples for traveling because they hardly take up any room and you can just discard them when you are done. If you don’t have the sample sizes of the product you want to bring with you, there are always those mini travel bottles you can buy at the drugstore.

Here’s my travel makeup bag:

muffinchanel makeup holiday travel essentials genius gel marc jacobs naked palette urban decay laura mercier secret brightening powder they're real mascara lancome hypnoses drama star the porefessional prier face brushes mack amazonian clay blush tarte flowerbomb viktor rolf mars eyelash primer watts up highlighter fresh lip target bag

This bag is actually a clutch from the Marc Jacobs collaboration with Target last year; it’s a shiny metallic pouch that’s fairly large and fits all you see here ^ very nicely.

Here’s my skincare and toiletries bag:

muffin chanel victorias secret clarisonic mia samples lancome genefique vissionaire neutrogena sunscreen josie maran argan oil light 100% altoids toothbrush beauty essentials makeup bumble and shampoo conditioner serum purity philosophyThis bag was a gift with purchase at Victoria’s Secret a few years ago. It’s metallic gold, but has vertical pink stripes inside and it’s pretty large.

What’s inside?

Let me know if you have any holiday travel plans coming up and what your must-have beauty travel essentials are! ❤

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Starbucks Holiday Star Dash

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here.

If you have a Starbucks Rewards account, you may have been invited to participate in the Holiday Star Dash! Check by logging in to your My Starbucks Rewards and clicking “Join”

From now until December 3rd, you’ll accumulate stars (separate from the stars you already earn through My Starbucks Rewards) for every purchase. Earn 10 stars, you’ll receive a $5 eGift card; earn 16 Stars, earn a $10 eGift card! You’ll get an email with redemption instructions by December 11!

What a nice extra holiday treat, especially when you can earn that $10 eGift for just 16 stars instead of the 20 stars it was during the Fall Dash.

What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?

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Holiday Travel Essentials | Flying

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

With the holidays right around the corner, many people will be traveling to visit friends and family, or just going on a vacation. Whatever your reason, air travel may be in your near future.

Whenever I fly anywhere, I purpose to pack as lightly as possible. No one wants to lug three suitcases and two totes through the airport; trust me. So, unless you’re going to be away for more than two weeks, try to fit everything into one duffle/suitcase and one larger “carry-on”/purse. Winter time can be more difficult, since many of our sweaters and jackets are bulky, but if you wear or carry some of the larger items, you’ll be fine.

I actually carry on all of my luggage, rather than checking a bag. No one wants to stand around the luggage carrousel after a long flight, waiting to find her bag with the pink ribbon (Tip: always give your bag some kind of distinguishing characteristic if you are checking luggage to help you identify your bag quickly and easily!)

Once you’re on the plane, you’re ready to sit back and enjoy the flight! Here are my travel essentials for your trip:

Large Tote — Think “Weekender Bag”

This will be your go-to bag for all things travel. Big enough to hold all of your essentials, but small enough to slide underneath the seat. I like this handbag by Michael Kors.

Water

rei trader joes water bottles fruit bars muffinchanel

Fill your own water bottle once you are through airport security, or just buy a bottle from one of the many stores past the security gates.

It’s important to stay hydrated on the plane since the air can be very dry. Yes, the flight attendants will bring you a beverage and maybe a snack, but those cups are small and the attendants aren’t there to keep refilling your glass. So come prepared with your own water…

Snacks

…and your own snacks. Plane food isn’t the best especially if you are on a short flight. You won’t be served a meal and if you get a snack, it’ll be a little packet of trail mix or something of the like. That’s fine in a pinch, but I’m all about being prepared and eating more than 5 mini pretzels, so I like to bring fruit bars. The “this strawberry walks into a bar” kind from trader joes are my favorite.

Hand Sanitizer

Purell muffinchanel

Don’t want to eat with dirty hands, of course. But you also want to protect yourself from all the germs on the plane. Anytime you touch your face, eyes or mouth, you want your hands to be clean.

Neosporin

NEOSPORIN muffinchanel

This may sound gross, but it’s a travel pro tip — put a little neosporin on your pinky finger and line the inside of your nose with it. It’s your own personal barrier against breathing in those germs!

Continue reading “Holiday Travel Essentials | Flying”