My Lysine Experience

In addition to taking Biotin, I have also started taking Lysine. Lysine is a dietary supplement that supports skin and tissue health. I have taken Lysine every now and then for the past 5 or so years, but I have never taken it religiously [and probably never will]. I used to take it whenever I had a cold sore or canker sore, but I recently started taking it because of other skin problems, specifically acne on my back and and constant breakouts on my face. I have never really had skin problems and I rarely get pimples, so when I started breaking out so often I decided to start taking Lysine.

I have noticed the Lysine helps, but not a ton. I have noticed I don't get pimples too often anymore, and if I do they're not very big and they go away quickly. I also noticed that my skin isn't as oily (face) or dry (legs & arms) as it normally is, so that's nice. As far as my back goes, I haven't seen a difference at all. What I think has helped the most with my back is that I use antibacterial body wash to wash it daily.

I have been taking Lysine daily for the past 3 or 4 weeks now, and I will keep you updated if I notice any other differences!

P.S.- If you're interested in taking Lysine, know that the pills are ginormous! I can usually swallow them pretty easily, but other family members and friends who have also tried Lysine have mentioned that they have a hard time swallowing the pills. They aren't the biggest pills I've taken, but they're definitely huge. If you're not great at swallowing pills, maybe try taking birth control to help with your skin before trying Lysine- they're much easier to swallow!

My Biotin Experience {Cycle 2}

I recently finished my 2nd "cycle" with Biotin. To see my 1st post about Biotin, click here. This time around was totally different from my last. 

I feel like my hair growth started to regulate itself. Before I started taking Biotin I had to shave my legs every other day (I have dark, very thick hair and it would grow very quickly). Although I didn't shave very often during either cycle, if it had been Summer during my 1st cycle I would have had to shave my legs every day, which would have sucked! The 2nd cycle was much different than the 1st mainly because my hair growth on my legs and underarms became more "normal" and it stopped growing so quickly--hallelujah! That being said, I have to add that I did start to notice the hair on my head started growing a lot more, which really confused me. I don't know how on earth this happened, but it's perfect. 

I also noticed that my nails got a lot stronger; this was probably the most noticeable difference I saw this time around. My nails didn't chip at all during the 3 weeks of my 2nd cycle. It was awesome. The only downside was that if I scratched myself my nails would cut me, which was super annoying, especially since I have such dry skin. 

So far, I have had a pretty good experience with Biotin. I have seen a difference in my hair and nails and I know it has been doing its job. Cycle 3 here I come!

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 12 {DIY Map Panel}

I saw this on Pinterest and decided I wanted to make one for my mom for Christmas! It only cost a little over $15 total, so it's a super easy, cheap gift idea!

This is not my picture- all rights go to owner.

This picture is the actual "tutorial". There are no written instructions or anything on the website I got it off of, so I decided to write my own. Here are the steps I followed in making the panel-

1. Purchase supplies. I was able to find everything I needed at Walmart! I found a wood panel by the art canvases for about $12. You can click here to see some cute, cheap panels from Walmart. Next I bought some nails. I bought the shortest nails I could find, they ended up being 18x19mm, 2oz or something like that! They cost $0.94. I chose my mom's favorite color, dark burgundy, to paint the panel. The paint was just the typical acrylic paint you can find at any craft store that costs $0.97. For the string I used crochet thread, which cost like $1.27. 
2. Paint the panel.
3. Find a map of the state/province/country...whatever it is you're making & cut out the outline. Set it on the panel wherever you'd like it to go & VERY LIGHTLY trace around it. After you trace it, you will not need the map anymore and you can throw it away or do what you'd like with it.
4. Keeping a consistent distance between each nail, use a hammer to secure the nails where you'd like them to go. I kept mine about 1/3 inch apart. 
5. Lightly draw a heart in the capital or the hometown of the person you're giving it to. For my mom's, I put the heart around her hometown. 
6. Using a hammer, secure the nails around the outline of the heart. I kept mine as close as I possibly could.
7. Use the thread to "embroider" the map panel. I recommend dividing the # of nails you have on the map outline by the # of nails you have on the heart outline. This will tell you how many times you have to use each nail in the heart. I had to do 7 nails from the map for each nail on the heart.
8. When I was done with the "embroidery", I tied a very secure, small knot and used tacky glue to glue it around the nail so it blended in with all the other strings wrapped around the nail. 

Obviously I'm horrible at writing instructions. Especially #7 and #8! Those probably make no sense at all. Sorry! Hope this helps. My mom loved hers. She immigrated to the US when she was 18, so doing her hometown made her really happy :) 

I probably won't be posting again until after New Years, so Merry Christmas everyone!

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 11 {A Romantic Evening}

This gift idea is something you can make super funny or keep it totally serious- either way, I think it would make a great gift.
For example, last year my sister gave my parents a popcorn bucket that had some uber tacky lingerie (keep in mind this was a joke), some super stupid movies, sparkling cider, etc.  On the other hand, you could keep it serious & give them a gift card to a nice restaurant & a gift card to a movie theater or something like that. This year I'm giving my grandparents a gift card to their favorite restaurant & tickets to a concert they said they wanted to go to.
There are endless possibilities for this gift idea! Take the time to find out what the person/people you're giving this to would find enjoyable & that will make it such an amazing gift! Not only is this a great gift idea for your parents/grandparents, but you could also give it to a friend, or even your significant other (that way you get to go too ;) ).

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 10 {Sugar Scrub}

Sugar scrub is a super easy, affordable homemade gift! Anyone can make/give this because it's so easy to make and most people already have the ingredients, so you don't even have to run to the store! Not only can you use sugar scrub on your hands and feet, but you can also use them on your lips and armpits. All you need is granulated sugar and an oil of your choice (I prefer vegetable oil). I usually start with 2 cups of sugar & then add the oil until I like the consistency. If you accidentally add too much oil, just add more sugar! Once you like the consistency, you can add any extract and food coloring you'd like. My favorite is to make an armpit-lightening scrub (I use scrubs on my armpits because I use Drysol & I just feel like it's good to exfoliate every now and then), where I use strawberry extract, a couple drops of red food coloring, and real lemon juice. It smells like strawberry lemonade & it ends up being a light pink color. For the holidays, I like to make make vanilla-scented or peppermint-scented sugar scrubs and add holiday sprinkles to the mixture! You can be as creative as you'd like! It only takes a few minutes to make & then you can put it in mason jars & tie a bow around it to make it the perfect gift. If you think the person you give it to is going to use it in the shower (most people do), make sure the lid is not metal (or it will rust). You can usually find a glass jar with a plastic lid at the $1 store or a drugstore.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 9 {Perfume/Cologne}

Perfume/cologne is a great gift idea because everyone wears perfume/cologne. For a more affordable option, I highly recommend the fragrances at Rue 21. Rue 21's fragrances cost $9.99, so they're very affordable. Other than that, I would recommend going to Macy's and picking whatever you think the person you're giving it to would like. Ed Hardy is my favorite line- I think their men's and women's fragrances smell great. Taylor Swift, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears all have great fragrances for women. Perfume and cologne are gifts that are great for any budget because you have so many options price wise.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 8 {Sephora}

There have been a few things at Sephora I've seen & thought would be great gift ideas! I'm basically just going to show you the things on my list, just so you can have an idea. Sephora's website has [very large] gift guide on it as well.

$49.50 at Sephora. I've heard mixed reviews on this product & I know it's smaller than it seems it would be, but I still think it would make a great gift.

$52.00 at Sephora. Who doesn't have this on their list this year? The colors are absolutely gorgeous!

$22.00 at Sephora. The colors are absolutely perfect for the holiday season. I especially love the 2 on the right!

$50.00 at Sephora. Such a great deal (considering 1 costs $22.50)! If you have never tried any of the Fresh Sugars before, you HAVE to! They're amazing. They're super moisturizing & easy to wear.

$28.00 at Sephora

$20.00 at Sephora. I just purchased this & I'll probably have a review up sometime in January. As of right now, I actually really like it. They're not very long-lasting, but other than than I like it. Definitely worth $20.00. 

$28.00 at Sephora. I think this is a great gift idea because it comes with the scrub, the balm, and a gloss.

$25.00 at Sephora. This is at the top of my list this year. It looks like a beautiful holiday palette. Sorry the picture is so blurry!

 $32.00 at Sephora. I was given this as a gift and let me tell ya how great it is. I use the brushes daily and they're just great. & hey, a girl can never have too many brushes! This is great because it's travel size & super easy to travel with.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 7 {Homemade Mug}

Everyone uses mugs, especially during winter! I personally don't drink tea or coffee, but I would definitely use a mug like this for hot chocolate. This is an easy, budget-friendly gift that you can customize- way better than a store bought mug! Ingrid (missglamorazzi) shows you how to make your own mug in her DIY December Day 9 video! Enjoy.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 6 {Pampering Kit}

Who doesn't love a little pampering? I think a spa kit is a great gift idea because it doesn't need to cost a lot of money, but it can if you want it to! Everything listed is just an idea of something you can put in a spa kit, so totally optional!

1. Face Mask: I don't know about you, but I love me a good face mask! My favorite face masks are the Freeman Feeling Beautiful face masks from Ulta. They're only $3.99! You can also get sample sizes at Walmart for a $1 or $2.
   
2. Soap: This is a pretty broad category. If you're trying to keep it cheap, I recommend running to the drugstore & picking up a cheap bubble bath. My favorite holiday soaps are from Philosophy. I love so many of their holiday products. It's a bit of an obsession.

   

   Sweet Fallen Snow shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath, and body lotion $26.00 at philosophy.com 

   

   Home for the Holidays holiday scented shampoo, shower gel & bubble baths, and lip shines $42.00 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Have a Cherry Christmas white cherry shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   The Cookie Exchange gift set $24.00 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Peppermint Stick shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Spiced Gingerbread Cookie shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

   
   

   

   Old Fashioned Eggnog shampoo, shower gel, & bubble bath $16.50 at philosophy.com

3. Fuzzy Socks: Who doesn't love fuzzy socks? I've seen a lot of super cute holiday fuzzy socks at Walmart, but I chose a 2 pack from Target for $5.10.
   
4. Lotion: You can either get a non-scented lotion for sensitive skin (I recommend Vanicream, Cetaphil, or Vaselin), or you can get a scented lotion. For scented lotions, please refer to my previous post :)
5. Nail Polish: I think nail polish is a fun addition to a spa kit! My favorite holiday colors are in the Mariah Carey Holiday Collection by OPI! Here are a few of my favorites from the collection-

   

   My Favorite Ornament

   
   

   

   In My Santa Suit

   
   

   

   Cute Little Vixen

   
   

   

   Visions of Love

   
   

   

   All Sparkley & Gold

6. Hair Mask: I recommend either the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 mask (click here for my review) or the Macadamia mask. You can either get the full size Macadamia or the sample size. I personally would get the L'Oreal one because you get more for your money, but they are both terrific & would be great for a spa kit!

   

   $33.00 at Ulta

   

   $4.00 at Ulta

   
   

   

   $5.97 at Walmart

7. Candle: I love candles and think they are perfect for a spa kit! I highly recommend any of these candles:

   

   $10.00 (large) $5.00 (small) at Target. This has been my favorite candle for a really long time. I've purchased 3 or 4 this year alone!

   
   

   

   $10.00 (large) $5.00 (small) at Target

   
   

   

   $20.00 at Bath & Body Works

   
   

   

   $20.00 (3 wick) $4.50 (mini) at Bath & Body Works

   
   

   

   $20.00 (3 wick) $4.50 (mini) at Bath & Body Works

   
   

   

   $20.00 (3 wick) $4.50 (mini) $12.50 (mason jar) at Bath & Body Works

Make it your own! You can throw some pajamas in there, maybe a loofah, an eye mask, hot chocolate mix- anything you'd like!

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 5 {Lotion}

Lotion is probably one of the most cliche gift ideas ever, but that is because everyone uses lotion- especially in the winter! Warm & Cozy from the Pink line at Victoria's Secret is a great holiday scent! Bath and Body Works and Hempz Treats also have AMAZING holiday scents, and they make the perfect gift for anyone! If you've never heard of Hempz Treats, you're missing out! As far as I know, Hempz Treats is no longer an online website, but I have still been able to find their products on websites like Amazon and ebeautycity. I have also seen them in TJMaxx before for around $7 for the full size (8.5oz) and the small size (2.25 oz) for about $3! They're thicker, very moisturizing lotions. They smell exactly like what they say they smell like and they haven't irritated my sensitive skin before. They're amazing & I think it would be awesome to give someone a lotion from Hempz Treats because odds are they've never even heard of them before. 

Here are a few of my favorite holiday-scented lotions: 

$15 each or 2/$25 or 3/$30 at Victoria's Secret

$12.50 at Bath & Body Works

$12.50 at Bath & Body Works

$12.50 at Bath & Body Works

$25 on Amazon

$14.99 on ebeautycity.com

$14.99 on ebeautycity.com

$14.99 on ebeautycity.com

$14.99 on ebeautycity.com

*This is not a sponsored post.*

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 4 {The Wood Connection}

The Wood Connection is an online shop that sells wood blocks, letters, shapes, etc. ready to be crafted! After you buy them all you have to do is paint them or decorate them however you'd like- you don't even have to sand them! I think this is a really fun gift idea! Their website is http://thewoodconnection.com/, in case you want to look at some of their products. Here are some of my favorites (after they've been decorated):

 

I highly recommend checking out The Wood Connection! It's an awesome shop! 

*This is not a sponsored post.*