Projects with Pilar: Handmade Crafts

Hello Everyone!

Since moving back in July. I've been making a lot of crafts and DIY projects. I feel like this, why spend a lot of money (especially when you're on a budget) when you can make things yourself? Since I'm a pretty crafty girl anyway, I decided to put my talents to use and make some items for my home. Here are a few of the items that I've made so far. This is a series that I decided to create Projects with Pilar.

1. Candle Box

2. Tall Circle Mirror Candle Holder

3. Short Circle Glass Candle Holder

4. Short Square Mirror Candle Holder

5. Front Door Wreath

6. Double Mirror and Glass Candle Holder

7. Mirror Box

Mirror Boxes (These are good for storing various items)

8. Octagon Mirror Candle Holder

9. Short Circle Mirror Candle Holder

10. Granny Square Afghan (Full View)

Granny Square Afghan (Side View) This is how the afghan is displayed. The pillow is from Homegoods

11. Glass Body Mist Holder

I really love making and creating new designs with my crafts. I plan on showing a few more of my crafts for the holidays as well.



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Holiday Gift Guide for Makeup Lovers ft. Original Beauty Box

Hello Everyone!

* This post is a collaboration with Original Beauty Box. All opinions are 100%

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Since the holidays are coming up I wanted to share some gift ideas for all the makeup lovers out there. Whether your buying a gift for yourself or for someone else, these are a few makeup related products that are likely to bring a smile to any makeup lovers face! My introduction picture is based on one side of my makeup collection. I'll probably do an updated makeup collection post sometime early next year. Stay Tuned!

Spinning Lipstick Tower, 15 Piece Makeup Brush Set, and Pro Box

I was fortunate enough to collaborate a few months ago with Original Beauty Box to get an amazing discount on a few products that I wanted to try. I'll link those at the end of the post. Now that I have my makeup storage set up in my bathroom, I thought now would be a perfect time to share some of my ideas for some gifts as I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

*Product Information comes from  Original Beauty Box. A few pictures are from the site as indicated. 

1. Spinning Lipstick Tower ($99.00)

Our Spinning Lipstick/Compact Tower holds 72 lipsticks, 16 compacts; and has room for palettes and makeup brushes on the side. It is made from heavy duty acrylic and spins 360 degrees for easy access to your make. A great addition to any vanity!

DIMESIONS:

12 1/2 H x 10" W x 5" D

* MAKEUP NOT INCLUDED

You can choose from four different sections in White, black, pink, and clear

These brushes are also from Original Beauty Box. I usually have them in a separate makeup brush holder, but I wanted to show them on the side of the spinning Lipstick Tower for this post. I'll have more details about the brushes later in this post. I keep my lip pencils on the side for easy access. As you can see, you can fit a lot of lip pencils in the compartment. 

A little video that I made for my Spinning Lipstick Tower 

Where has this spinning lipstick tower been all of my life?! If you have a massive lipstick collection, you will love this product! So much lipstick storage! I also like how there are compartments that you can place your compacts!

2. Pro Beauty Box ($199.00)

Brand new to the line up is our PRO BEAUTY BOX, the largest organizer in our collection! It is perfect for makeup lovers as well as professional artists who have a large collection. It features five drawers with 3 removable dividers. The drawers are extra large to allow room for foundations, compact dividers, and lipstick organizers. 

* Picture Courtesy of Original Beauty Box

Add on additional X Dividers for $10.00 a set.

DIMENSIONS: 

14" L x 12" W x 14" H

TOP DRAWER (2 EACH): 3/4" DEEP

MIDDLE DRAWERS (2 EACH): 3" DEEP

BOTTOM DRAWER: 4 1/2" DEEP 

*MAKEUP NOT INCLUDED

1. Top Drawer: 3/4" Deep

2. Top Drawer: 3/4" Deep

3. Middle Drawer with Divider:  3" Deep

4. Middle Drawer with Divider: 3" Deep

5. Bottom Drawer with Divider: 4 1/2" Deep

I absolutely love my Pro Beauty Box! As you can see you can fit a lot of makeup products in this box, especially the bottom drawer. You can even stand some your foundations. I don't have any nail polish stored, but the bottom drawer is also good for storing your nail polish. I know that Pro Box may seem a little pricey, but it's definitely worth the money! Even if  I wouldn't have received this box on a discount, I still would have paid full price because this is a good investment for storing my makeup; however there are two other boxes on the site that are less expensive and may better suite you makeup needs.

3. 15 Piece Brush Set ($39.00)

* Picture Courtesy of Original Beauty Box

Our super soft brush set has everything you need to create a flawless makeup application. Our synthetic brushes are cruelty free and won't shed during use. Also included in the set is a leatherette bag, perfect for travel. 

What's Included:

Bronzer Brush

Loose Powder Brush

Contour Brush

Kabuki Foundation Brush

Small Powder Brush

Four Large Crease Brushes

Three Medium Crease Brushes 

Three Eyeliner Brushes 

Leatherette Bag 

I love a good makeup brush, and these brushes are very good quality. They're so soft and pick up makeup very well. These brushes don't shed and I can see them being a part of my makeup collection for a long time. I also like that this set came with a leatherette bag which is great for travel or general storing. These brushes are NOT in any particular order.

These are the items that I have from Original Beauty Box, so far. I plan on getting a few more items in the future. Check out www.originalbeautybox.com for more products! Right now the site is have a 30% off Black Friday Sale use code BLACKFRIDAY30

If you miss the Black Friday Sale, you can use my code LOVEPILAR for a 10% off discount! Make sure you sign up for other discounts and savings!

As promised, here are the links to my other previous posts relating to the items in this post

Original Beauty Box: Pro Beauty Box First Impressions

Happy 3rd Birthday to my Blog!! (This post contains my 15 piece makeup brush set)

Moving Day: July 26th 2016 and Update (This post contains my Spinning Lipstick Tower)

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Thanksgiving Inspired Makeup Looks

Hello Everyone!

Thanksgiving is almost here!! So today I wanted to share two makeup looks that I created for the upcoming holiday. Maybe you're going to someone's house for Thanksgiving or maybe you're hosting your own Thanksgiving get together. Here are two easy makeup looks that you can recreate for the holiday.


1. Nude Eyes and Vampy Lips

* Eyes *

- Transition Color: 2nd Shade

- All Over the Lid: 3rd Shade

- Outer V: 6th Color

* Lips *

- NYX Lip Pencil in Purple Rain

- MAC Lipstick in Pure Heroine (Limited Edition)

2. Cranberry Smokey Eye and Plum Lips

* Eyes *

- Base Color: Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Creamy Beige

- Crease: Colourpop Flutes

- Lid: Colourpop Porter

- Outer V and Blend on Top of the Lid:  BH Cosmetics Forever Nude Palette Darkest Shade on the bottom right 

* Lips *

- Colourpop Panda Ultra Satin Lip Liquid Lipstick

If you need any details about the rest of the products I used let me know in the comments section!

Also don't forget to check out my post on how I'm preparing my skin for the holidays CLICK HERE

Last but not least, I'm Grateful...

This year has been a very trying year for me, but nonetheless I'm grateful for life, health, and the people that I love and care about in my life. I'm also grateful for all of you that stop by and show my social media support. I appreciate you all!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Skincare Prep. ft. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Products

Hello Everyone!

* DISCLAIMER: This post is a collaboration and sponsored by Palmer's.  I want to thank them for sending me these products. All opinions are 100% my own.

For the last post for the Love of Chocolate Week, I wanted to share some of  my favorite Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Products. This post is actually has another theme as well, Holiday Skincare Prep Part 1 Since the busy holiday season is quickly approaching sometimes people tend to forget to care for their skin properly. We just can't forget to care for our skin especially since the temperature is cold or about to get cold in most places. Dry and neglected skin is unhappy skin lol.

You may notice that I've written reviews on some of these products in the past. I've provided information in the description from Palmer's Website and from the products.

1. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula 
Moisturizing Cocoa Butter Body Wash

Description:
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Moisturizing Body contains pure Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter to provide ultimate moisture for your skin, leaving it soft and smooth.

This body wash smells so good! It has a sweet cocoa scent. I used this body wash quite often and it leave my skin feeling so soft after I take a shower. I even add a little of this to my bath water.


2. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula
Daily Skin Therapy Body Lotion

Rich, luxurious Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Daily Skin Therapy body lotion provides deep hydration all over. This velvety soft formula absorbs quickly, creating a protective barrier that locks in moisture. From normal to dry to eczema prone skin, this emollient rich lotion effectively heals and softens, leaving skin smooth, supple and beautiful.

After my shower moisturizing my skin is a must! I typically use the Palmer's Cocoa Butter in the jar, but this lotion works just as well. The formula is so creamy and it leaves my skin feeling so hydrated! 

3. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula 

Skin Therapy Oil

Description:

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil is an advanced multi-purpose skin perfection product that can be used all over the body. This preservative-free, lightweight formula contains an exclusive blend of key ingredients formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry, damaged skin, uneven skin tone, aging skin and fine lines and wrinkles. Skin looks and feels instantly soft and smooth with this unique, non-greasy, non-staining formula.

Ok I'll be the first to admit that I can be a little extra when it comes to keep my skin soft and moisturized lol. I like to use body oil as a part of my skin regimen.  Layering the body wash, body lotion, and body oil makes my skin feeling so rejuvenated. As I mentioned in a prior review, this oil isn't greasy and it doesn't stain your clothing.


4. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula 
Moisture Rich Night Cream

Description:
Palmer's moisture Rich Night cream helps skin to regenerate while you sleep. Containing natural cocoa butter, retinol, and Antioxidant Vitamin E , this unique formula promotes softer, smoother skin overnight. Nightly use leaves skin looking for radiant, youthful, and health.

I'm not a big fan of using cocoa butter on my face, but I noticed that most of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Products don't smell like the brands traditional cocoa butter. This facial cream has a light cocoa scent that smells really fresh. This is a brand new jar, but I've been using this night cream since the Summer. I don't use this cream on my face and neck every night, but it's so important that you use a facial cream. When your face is exposed to harsh colder weather it can make your face feel dry throughout the day. I can tell a difference by morning that this cream works to help my face look and feel more healthy .


What are you doing to keep your skin happy and healthy throughout the upcoming holiday season? Have you tried any of these products?

Don't forget to check out my other posts from For the Love of Chocolate Week on my blog.

Pilar in the Pantry: Homemade Hot Chocolate

Bath and body Works Hot Cocoa and Cream 3 Wick Candle Review



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Bath and Body Works Hot Cocoa and Cream 3 Wick Candle Review

Hello Everyone!

Continuing with for the Love of Chocolate Week on my blog, today I'm going to share my thoughts on this Hot Cocoa and Cream Candle from Bath and Body Works. For all my hot chocolate lovers out there I think this is an review that may interest you!

Bath and Body works Description:

- Decadent Milk Chocolate, Fresh Steamed Milk, Mini Marshmallows

A cute Christmas Tree on the lid

I made another handmade candle holder and I put the marshmallows into my snowflake Mason Jar

My Thoughts

I absolutely love this candle! It's definitely worth the hype that everyone has been talking about on social media. It reminds me of a packet of hot chocolate. It's smells somewhat sweet and creamy on a cold so sniff, but when you burn this candle it smells like chocolatety goodness! The wicks burn evenly and the throw is pretty strong. I first burned this candle in the kitchen and I could smell it strongly in the den. I also could smell this candle moderately throughout my house. I think this was a test candle, and I'm super happy Bath and Body Works added this as a part of their candles for the holiday season. I'm definitely going to try to stock up on this candle!

Have you tried this candle from Bath and body works? What are your thoughts?


I also picked up two more candles online during a recent sale, Vanilla Bean Noel and Merry Cookie. These are two of my longtime favorite candles!

Don't forget to check out my Pilar in the Pantry: Homemade Hot Chocolate CLICK HERE


Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Pilar in the Pantry: Homemade Hot Chocolate

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to For the Love of Chocolate Week on my  blog! Today I'm going to share my recipe for yummy rich sweet hot chocolate. Don't get me wrong I love a packet of Swiss Miss Cocoa, but it's something about making Homemade hot chocolate that makes hot chocolate taste even better lol. I feel that homemade hot chocolate is one of those recipes that you have to make to your desired taste. It's truly a trial and error type of recipe in my opinion. I've tried other recipes, but it wasn't to my liking until I just tried one of my own a few years ago. The recipe I'm sharing today is enough for a cup of hot chocolate if you want to make more, add ingredients as desired.

Ingredients:

- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

- 3 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)

- Pinch of salt

- 1 and 1/2 cup milk of your choice. I used 1% low fat milk

- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

 - Mini Marshmallows or marshmallows (optional)

Directions

1 and 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (sometimes I only add 1 tablespoon and the cocoa still tastes pretty rich and chocolatety. 

3 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)

Just a pinch of salt! You don't want salty hot chocolate lol

1 and 1/2 cup milk of your choice. I used 1% low fat milk

 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Wisk hot chocolate occassionally on medium heat

All finished 

Don't forget the marshmallows!

Now Pour your hot chocolate in your favorite mug and enjoy! My cute little snowman mug :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog!