Beauty and More by Pilar : July 2017

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Happy 4th Blogiversary to my Blog!

Hello Everyone!

Today is a very special day for me! Today I'm celebrating my blog's 4th blogiversary, and this also my 500th post! I know that I say this every year, but it always seems so surreal with each passing year that I've been blogging. I feel that I've grown so much in these last four years that I've been writing my blog.

I still remember 4 years ago staring my blank laptop screen thinking about all the topics that I wanted to write about. I'm still that way now with my ideas etc. I don't know what it is, but I always seem to have something to write about. I look at that as a good thing.

There are so many things I love about blogging. I like to think in some way shape or form that I help people through my writing. Whether I'm reviewing a makeup product, sharing my personal experiences with depression and anxiety, or my crafts etc. I like to think that you all take something positive from my blog when you visit.

I feel so blessed to have come this far. This time last year when I was celebrating my blog's 3rd anniversary, shortly after I took a two month hiatus. I was going through some personal issues and for the first time I wanted to quit something I loved so much...blogging. I think sometimes when you go through things in life you should take a step back until you're thinking clearly. That's what I did and honestly I can't see blogging not being in my life.

Thank You

I shared on my Instagram page the amazing gifts I received from my mom and best friend. I love them so much for always supporting me with my blog and everything else outside my blog. I feel so loved.

Gifts from my mom :)

The card my mom gave me :)

Gifts from my best friend :)

Over the past four years I've collaborated with some amazing companies. I want to thank those companies for letting me review their products and share my thoughts with my audience.

Last, but not least I want to thank all of my followers here on my blog and my other social media platforms! I'm getting so close to 1,000 followers on INSTAGRAM! Whether you've been following me since the beginning, or you just started following I appreciate the support and kind words from my audience!

What's Next?

I have so many projects I'm working on for my blog and Instagram! I'm excited! Here's to looking ahead and more great things to come!

Unicorn Inspired Makeup

Sunset Eyes

Vampy Lips For Summer

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Casserole Meals

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Oven Baked Hash Browns

Pilar in the Pantry: Quick and Easy Garlic Bread

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Friday, July 21, 2017

Pilar in the Pantry: Quick and Easy Garlic Bread

Hello Everyone!

Garlic bread is one bread that most people will agree goes great with pasta dishes. Whether you're making pasta, or you just want to eat a slice of garlic bread, today I'm going to be sharing my recipe for making homemade garlic butter to put on your bread.

Ingredients

- 1 loaf of French bread
- 1 stick butter softened (I used 1/2 stick for 6 slices)
- Garlic Powder (add how much you like)
- Dried parsley flakes optional

Other Materials

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

In a bowl, mix softened butter and garlic powder

Slice bread into 1-inch slices

Spread garlic butter mixture on one side of each bread slice, and Place bread onto aluminum foil baking sheet.

Bake for about 10 minutes until garlic butter is melted onto bread.

Bon Appetit!

My Homemade Crock Pot Lasagna and White Grape Juice

I guess I dedicated this week to easy meals amd recipes. Don't forget to check out my other two Pilar in the Pantry posts from this week!

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Casserole Meals

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Oven Baked Hash Browns

July 2017 Posts

Bath and Body Works SAS Summer 2017 Pt. 2

Beauty Big Bang Powder Brush

Projects with Pilar: DIY Flower Crown Headbands

Beauty Big Bang 10 Piece Cosmetic Brushes Set (Unicorn Brushes)

Unicorn Inspired Makeup

Sunset Eyes

Vampy Lips For Summer

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Casserole Meals

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Oven Baked Hash Browns

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Oven Baked Hashbrowns

Hello Everyone!

*Disclaimer: This meal was prepared and photo wast taken at my old house.

Two back to back Pilar in Pantry Posts? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you lol! One of my guilty pleasure foods would have to be hash browns. I absolutely love them! Most of the time I'll make a quick trip to Waffle House and get a hash browns covered (cheese) and chunked (ham) and it's so good! Don't you just love when you can make some of you favorite take out foods at home?! For today's post I'm sharing a quick and easy recipe to make oven baked hashbrowns browns.

Easy Oven Baked Hashbrowns

Ingredients:

- Bag of frozen hashbrowns

- Pam Cooking Spray

- Salt

- Pepper

Other Materials

- Cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375° degrees,

Line the bottom of a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil lightly with cooking spray.

Spread the frozen hash browns in a semi thick layer on the foil (about a cup)

Spray the top of the hash brown layer lightly with the cooking spray.

Bake for 30 minutes, turning the hash browns over halfway through and remove from oven

Lightly respray the top of the hash browns and place back into he oven uncovered for the remaining 15 minutes. The hash browns will be golden-brown and crispy on the top once done baking.

Remove hash brown from the oven, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

I've made these a few times and each time the hash browns taste delicious! I've tired frying these hash browns, but honestly I like the oven baked version so much better!

This another quick dish you can make on a busy weekday. Don't forget to check out my previous post on easy casserole meals Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Casserole Meals

Unicorn Inspired Makeup

Sunset Eyes

Vampy Lips For Summer

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Casserole Meals

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Pilar in the Pantry: Easy Casserole Meals

Hello Everyone!

* Disclaimer: These meals were prepared, and photos were taken at my old house

It's no secret that I love to cook, especially for others. Sometimes I think I missed my calling for culinary school lol. We all know life can get hectic and that can leave limited amounts of time for preparing homecooked meals. Well today I wanted to share a few of my favorite casserole meals to make. These meals are quick, easy, and budget friendly.

Cheeseburger Pie

I've tweaked this recipe because I won't lie I don't like the Betty Crocker version. To me it tastes really bland. I love to make this, but I love my mom's version. What is it about mom's recipes that just taste so good?!

Sausage Pie

This is another casserole that's pretty simple to make. If you follow the Betty Crocker Version you're just substituting hamburger for sausage. Once again I tweak this version to make it into my own and once again my mom makes this recipe so well!

Side Note: You can follow the Betty Crocker Recipes for Cheeseburger Pie and Sausage Pie, but I recommend tweaking it into your own. You can add seasonings, veggies, potatoes, etc.

Ham, Peas, and Potatoes Casserole

I swear this has to be the most simple recipe to make! Just as the recipe title those are the ingredients you'll need to make a quick and delicious meal. Unless you decide to make the potatoes and cheese sauce from scratch, just follow the ingredients on the box and add ham and peas.

What are some of your favorite quick go to meals for a busy weekday?

July 2017 Post

Bath and Body Works SAS Summer 2017 Pt. 2

Beauty Big Bang Powder Brush

Projects with Pilar: DIY Flower Crown Headbands

Beauty Big Bang 10 Piece Cosmetic Brushes Set (Unicorn Brushes)

Unicorn Inspired Makeup

Sunset Eyes

Vampy Lips For Summer

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Vampy Lips for Summer

Hello Everyone!

It may be Summer, but who says you can't wear a vampy lip? I love wearing bright lipsticks during the Summer, but sometimes I just want to wear a dark lipstick. I guess I like wearing lipstick during the Summer since it's too hot to wear any other type of makeup. These are pics from a few weeks ago.

I'm wearing Milani's Amore Lip Creme in Obsession. I should have an upcoming post on these liquid lipsticks.

Unicorn Inspired Makeup

Sunset Eyes

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Sunset Eyes

Hello Everyone!

A few weeks ago I shared a Sunset inspired eye makeup look on my Instagram. So today I wanted share that look here on my blog!

Products Used

Unicorn Inspired Makeup

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Unicorn Inspired Makeup

Hello Everyone!

I usually post a mermaid inspired look every year on my blog, but this year I wanted to create a unicorn themed makeup look. Both looks are very popular right now along with the increasing popularity of Unicorn and Mermaid inspired makeup brushes. In speaking of makeup brushes, don't forget to check out my previous Unicorn Makeup Brushes Review HERE

Products Used

* Eyes *

- NYX Eyeshadow Base in Pearl

- BH Cosmetics Eyes on the 70's Eyeshadow Palette

1. Tear Duct

2. On part of the lid (center)

3. On the other part of the lid (Outer V)

3. Is also used as my crease color

- Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Clear

- Maybelline Great Lash Mascara Lots of Lashes in Black

* Face *

- Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

- Milani 2-in-1 Conceal+ Perfect Foundation and Concealer

- Milani Blush in Delizioso Pink

* Lips *

- MAC Prep+ Prime Lip Primer

- Colourpop USL in Molly

July 2017 Posts

Bath and Body Works SAS Summer 2017 Pt. 2

Beauty Big Bang Powder Brush

Projects with Pilar: DIY Flower Crown Headbands

Beauty Big Bang 10 Piece Cosmetic Brushes Set (Unicorn Brushes)

June 2017 Posts

Derma E Skincare Products First Impressions

Beauty Big Bang 7 Piece Colorful Makeup Brushes (Mermaid Brushes)

Giselle Cosmetics Anti Age Eye Serum

Recent Manicures Ft. Zoya Nail Polishes

Fairytale Pink FOTD

Pre Summer Skincare Prep: Exfoilation

Derma E Vitamin C Micellar Cleansing Water and Nourishing Rose Cleansing Oil

Bath and Body Works and Victoria's SAS Summer 2017

Orange Friday

Purell Healthy Soap

My Life in June 2017

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Friday, July 7, 2017

Beauty Big Bang 10 Piece Cosmetic Brushes Set

Hello Everyone!

* Disclaimer: This post contains PR Samples provided by Beauty Big Bang for review purposes. I would like to thank Beauty Big Bang for sending these products. All product information is courtesy of Beauty Big Bang. All opinions are 100% my own.

Last month I wrote a review on a mermaid makeup brush set from Beauty Big Bang, well today I'm going to share my thoughts on this Unicorn Makeup Brush set I recently received from the company.

Beauty Big Bang 10 Piece Cosmetic Brushes Set

Specification:

Handle Material: Plastic
Brush Material: Synthetic Hair
Color: White & Rainbow

Package Contents:
10Pcs/Set

Feature:
100% brand new and high quality
Used for eyebrows,eyelashes,eyes and cheeks makeup

Fulfills all daily basic makeup requirements

Cost: $9.99

My Thoughts

This is another brush set that looks so pretty in my mameup brush collection. As with the mermaid brushes, these unicorn brushes are so popular in the beauty world right now! The lavender color is absolutely gorgeous (the handles look lavender to me, even though the description states white). I would like to have seen an option to order this set with lavender handles and white bristles. The multi color bristles on the brush are pretty, but it seems a little busy. The bristles are so soft and remain soft after being washed. These brushes are very durable and don't shed after being washed or when you apply your makeup. I did noticed that some of the bristles were quite long on some of the eye makeup brushes.

I really like that brushes are so affordable. Let's be honest here depending on where you purchase unicorn or mermaid brushes, they can be a little costly. I love companies that provide good quality products without being overpriced. Sure it may take about 2 weeks or so to receive your package if you live in the U.S. but I think that's fairly a short amount of time considering your package being shipped from Asia.

As a gift to my audience, use my discount code PIL010 when you make a purchase at beautybigbang.com

July 2017 Posts

Bath and Body Works SAS Pt. 2 Summer 2017

Beauty Big Bang Powder Brush

Projects with Pilar: DIY Flower Crown Headbands

June 2017 Posts

Derma E Skincare Products First Impressions

Beauty Big Bang 7 Piece Colorful Makeup Brushes

Bath and Body Works and Victoria's SAS Summer 2017

Orange Friday

Purell Healthy Soap

My Life in June 2017

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Projects with Pilar: DIY Flower Crown Headbands

Hello Everyone!

I haven't done a projects with Pilar in a few months so today I bring to you one of my recent projects, DIY Flower Crown Headbands. These were super easy to make.