Author Archives: Pamela

MeUndies review for you.

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Last June, one year ago, I was convinced I had found the best birthday gift for my husband.  I just didn’t know that he had found it first.  It was a subscription to MeUndies (if I’m being accurate, we now had 2 subscriptions, one of which we did cancel).  Anyway, I didn’t know anything about them, I’m not even sure how I discovered them but it seemed fun, and everyone likes a monthly subscription, right?  (I always had felt he was a little envious of my monthly Birchbox)  

One year later and their ads are all over the place.  And though we have since ended his subscription (how many pairs of underwear does a person really need?) they have proven to be selling a really great product.  

So, how this works is you pay a monthly subscription fee of $16.  That gets you one pair of undies a month, and you choose which style you want at your initial sign up – for men -boxer brief, trunk, boxer or brief, and and which color collection it comes from –  the classic solid colors, the bold brighter solid colors, or the adventurous patterns (he went for boxer brief in adventurous.)

Womens cheeky brief and mens boxer brief. Image from meundies.com

One year since his first pair, here are his thoughts:

The first pair still feels good and looks as good as the last pair received.  The fabric is super soft and stretchy, but keeps it’s shape, as does the waist band.  None of the pairs are losing shape or falling apart.  They don’t ride up, and aren’t too tight, nor are they too loose. They don’t have any annoying or scratchy tags. The only con is that some of the brighter color prints have faded with wear and washing, which is to be expected probably.  

Also, in my opinion, they look really good on him.

All in all this was a great investment (and actually, writing this has prompted me to sign him up again!).  They almost make me consider getting a subscription for myself! (TMI – I don’t wear underwear)

*These MeUndies were bought and paid for by me.

My camping essentials.

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Camping season is upon us!  Now with more shelter!  My husband and I have always been tent campers, but as fate would have it, this spring we found and  purchased a camper (I don’t mean to brag, but it’s not just any camper… it’s a 1972 Airstream!!!) Tent camping – you’re dead to me.  Even still, many of my camping essentials remain the same.  Here are some of my requirements to survive a long weekend in the woods.

Coffee – More than likely I’ll sleep not quite as good as I do in my own bed at home.  You know….. that bed, that is in a house, not on the ground or a less than comfortable mattress of sorts.  While I love camping, getting a good night’s rest is a challenge for me.  I require lots and lots of coffee in the AM.  We always bring pre-ground beans and a french press, which is how we have it at home.  Just add hot water and you’re good to go.

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Instagram-a-rama.

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Instagram happens to be my favorite of the social media apps/platforms.  I don’t like Facebook.  I’m bored (not to mention super irritated) with Snapchat.  I don’t even open my Twitter app anymore at all.  But I could look at pictures all day.  It’s somehow much more soothing to my senses than all of the nonsense I seem to encounter on other social media apps.  Sure, they added the very similar to Snapchat “story” function, which I was kind of mad about at first, but I’ve grown to be ok with with it, and even use it over Snapchat now.   So, who am I following and why?  Here are some of my current favorites.

If I cannot live by the ocean and surf daily, I guess living the beach life vicariously through @roxy is going to have to be enough.

@roxy

Claire Marshall, @heyclaire, is an amazingly talented, smart and beautiful makeup artist turned vlogger.  She has great style, awesome tattoos and a cute cat.

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DIY – high/low denim hem

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When I started see this new (new to me, at least- I honestly don’t think it’s new at all and I’m not sure how I am just now noticing this is a thing) trend of the high/low denim hem, I at first liked it, then didn’t like it, and in the end decided I had to try it myself to really know for sure.  With a quick google search you can find lots of high end brands selling denim with this sort of hem line.  Those jeans are all running a hundred dollars or more – keep in mind I could have probably found a pair with lower price point, but I tend to feel like buying a pair of jeans that are already cut off is kind of a silly investment when I can just do that myself.  So, that’s what I did.  Now, I am a Levis girl through and through, so naturally I have many different pairs at varied lengths and fits, some vintage and some new… but my point is, I definitely had a pair already in my possession with which to give this a go.  Turns out with another quick google search I also found that there are quite a few DIY tutorials out there on how to make this hem.  I watched a couple of  YouTube videos and read a couple of blogs, but ultimately did something altogether different then any of them.  Here’s what I did, as well as my results.

I first tried them on and decided what length I wanted to front (the shorter side) to be, keeping in mind I would make the back about 2 inches longer than the front.  So, in case you’ve not already gone there in your mind, I’m basically going to be making a hemline that looks like a mullet.  Right?

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Three things.

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I was scrolling through my Instagram feed one day and came across a text only post.  It said “NAME THREE THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT YOURSELF”  My mind went blank.  Seriously. Blank. So I took a screenshot of the post and thought, I’ll think about this and get back to you, Instagram post.  And then I promptly forgot about it.  Today I was scrolling through my photo reel and there it was. Staring me in the face.  I wish I didn’t feel like it was mocking me, but I did.  Why couldn’t I just come up with three things, like, it should be so easy, right?!!  But also, if I did just spout off three things that I love about myself, don’t I then sound sort of conceited?  Why is it so hard to practice self love?  I know, this is a beauty/lifestyle blog…. so forgive me for getting all deep on you, but I feel like this is a big deal.  And if I couldn’t just very simply come up with three things, surely I am not alone?  Hello?  Anyone there?  Even as I write this, the struggle is real. So today, at the risk of feeling a little bit vulnerable, I will share with you three things I love about myself.  Will you share three with me?

  XO – Pamela

instagram screenshot from @thedetoxmarket

My type A tendencies

It seems that often, people will start speaking of someone in terms of being type A or type B when they feel they need to point out something they see as a personality flaw.  But are these tendencies really flaws either way?  I love to feel organized.  I like to have my time efficiently planned out.  I like making lists.  I’ll read the whole owner’s manual for our new truck so I know what everything does, before I start just pushing all the buttons.  Am I a bit of a control freak?  Sure.  Do I lack patience?  Yeah, sometimes I do.  Do I get things done?  Hell yes.  And at the end of the day I don’t feel bad about any of it.

My strength

Strength or being strong, can mean so many things.  I am specifically talking about my personal physical strength.  Now, don’t get me wrong….. I’m not someone who lifts weights or competes in fitness competitions, or can even win at arm wrestling. But ask me to hold a strong plank for the length of a song, and I will own that.  I can wall sit all day (well, probably not literally all day.) My job requires a certain amount of physical strength, and I do a pretty good job at my job. Are there a million people out there one billion times stronger?  You bet.  But I feel strong for me.  I think it’s pretty great to feel strong.

My hair

It feels a little weird to admit to loving one of my physical features….. it seems like pure vanity.  I do though.  I’ve always been really lucky to have a great head of hair.  I can wear any style with ease and I feel like I’ve had it all.  From super short pixie, to really long all one length.  Bangs, or no bangs.  It all seems to work for me.  It’s super thick, which sometimes feels like a curse, but I know it’s probably a hair trait coveted by many.  These days the gray hairs are far beyond a few, but I don’t mind terribly when they start to show…. besides, my husband thinks they’re cute.  I’ve never wanted to be blonde.  I love being brunette.  Like anyone, I do have bad hair days, but in the end I really love my hair.  (It doesn’t hurt that I have an amazing stylist as well – Sherri, owner of Epic salon in downtown Neenah, for any of you Fox Valley ladies who are looking for a fantastic salon.)

 

 

 

First impressions: Girlfriend Collective leggings

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I’ve mentioned before that I rarely go on Facebook.  Maybe once a day.  And I certainly never click the ads when I’m on FB.  But then there was this “free leggings” ad.  Free leggings from Girlfriend Collective. The ad looked nice, pleasing to the eye.  The leggings pictured looked flattering and actually like they could be kind of expensive – like the original Nike legends or Lululemon wunder unders – both of which I have had in the past and loved.  But ok, free?  What’s the catch?  So I clicked.  I proceeded to read all about these free leggings.  They’re eco friendly (made from recycled plastic bottles.) High waisted (12 inch rise that sits above your bellybutton). Shaping with a perfect amount of compression, but comfortable as the fabric responds to your body heat and molds to your body.  All this with a high end look and feel.   Ok, but still what’s the catch?  Their retail cost is $70, but during this pre-launch campaign they’re FREE with a shipping cost of $19.95.  Ahh…. ok.  So, not free.  Why $19.95 shipping though?  Because this pre-launch batch of leggings is coming directly from their factories in Vietnam.  Ok, seems legit.  I was intrigued, so I kept reading.  They have a serious amount of very specific information on their website!  And I suddenly found myself convinced that they were going to be the best leggings I’ve ever owned.  And what’s 20 bucks anyway?  Add up the cost of all the stupid leggings that I’ve gotten from Target and Forever21 that fit like crap and are faded and gross…. and that equals WAY more than $19.95.  So I pulled the trigger.  The thing is though, it would take about three months to get them. So three months went by, and yesterday I finally got them!  And I wore them last night to yoga.  Not to practice yoga but to teach, so basically I was walking around in a hot room wearing them.  Having worn them for only just that one time, allow me to share my thoughts and feelings…..   Continue reading →

First Impressions – Glossier Cloud Paint

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As you already know, I am in love with Glossier.  Everything about the brand….. the products, the colors and formulas, the packaging… all of it.  So when they released information stating that they were going to be developing a blush, I was beyond excited for it.  Then I found out it was going to be a gel formula and was even more excited!  The day it went live I ordered two of the four colors (they currently have a code for buy 2 for $30, so I had to get 2 – no brainer), and I can tell you after just using it for the past couple of days…. I reeeeally love it!  

They’re packaged in tubes that look like acrylic paints! (image from glossier)

The colors I chose are Beam and Puff.  Beam is a peachy coral and Puff is a light pink.  I’ve always been a fan of cream blushes as I sometimes feel like powder blushes look too chalky or, er… powdery on my skin – I don’t use setting powders ever for that very reason. Basically, my skin can use all the extra hydration it can get, and with specific ingredients to hydrate the skin, the gel-cream formula is plumping, lightweight and super blendable.  It looks just like a natural flush, and is very buildable.  I really want the other two colors now, actually.   I’ll stay strong and hold off, using these two for a while, but for who knows how long???  Of course I would highly recommend trying at least one (BUT there’s that code for 2 for $30!)  PSSST!!  Use this code for 20% off your first purchase!

5 Things I’m Loving Right Now

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I’m totally loving this unseasonably warm weather!  But that’s a given. You are too.  But colder temps are on their way back in….. and snow…… It’s February….. It was inevitable.  While we enjoy these last moments of “trick spring” let me tell you about a few things I’m pretty into right now.

Dr. Martens

Like any good goth kid in the 90’s, I had several pairs of Dr. Martens.  All of which have been long since donated.  I never thought when I was 19 that I’d want to revisit them again when I was 40. Silly me, because guess what…. I wish I’d held on to all my old Dr. Martens.  So I bought a new pair (well, two new pairs… you already know about the ones I purchased with my Poshmark dollars.)  They are a bit more sophisticated than any of my previous pairs and definitely just as shiny as I remember them in the 90’s. Maybe even a little more comfortable than I remember, yet still ridiculous to break in (the stiff, quality leather is still a thing my friends.)  They are the shoes I’ve been looking for all winter…. good thing there’s still some winter left.

The Bianca boot… image from Dr. Martens website.

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lovers gonna love.

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I love Valentine’s day. When I tell people this, the usual response is: “You do?”  Followed by: “Why??” Am I totally in the minority on this one?  I often feel like I am. But I really do love it.  Here’s why….

Hearts:  I love anything heart shaped. And Valentine’s day with all it’s red and pink and hearts…. forget decorating for Christmas or any other holiday for that matter…. Valentines decorations are my favorite. I keep some of my Valentines decorations up year round in fact. It’s so pretty and refreshing in February… a reminder that surely there is more to this month than the dreary gray and cold of Wisconsin winter.

These stay up year round.

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