Livy Has A Surprise!

Hello! I wanted to thank everyone for their support of my blog! It has been up and going for about a month and I am really enjoying myself. With every new subscriber, a big smile comes across my face. Today, tell me about a beauty product you have discovered and love. I want to hear from everyone, so leave a comment or email me at ideasfromlivy@yahoo.com. Did I mention there is going to be a prize? The winner is going to get a free beauty product that I adore! Tell your friends about this and good luck! :)

An Enjoyable Listen

Sometimes, you need a break from the hip-hop and rock music that is playing on the radio. Something that is easy to listen to and actually has meaningful lyrics. I bought the CD Coco by Colbie Callait. You have heard of her! Does the song Bubbly ring any bells? If you like the song or not, I am sure you will adore her CD. I was not really fond of the song Bubbly, but there are some great songs on her album. If you prefer to buy a few songs rather that the whole album, I suggest Oxygen, One Fine Wire, Feelings Show, Midnight Bottle, and Tailor Made. These are songs that are upbeat and you can sing to or relax with. That is the perfect combination. I hope you enjoy the songs as much as I have!

Pain Free Beauty!

Beauty is pain... Not with this tool! Eyebrow shapers are a great way to shape your eyebrows and get rid of those hairs on your neck, arms, face, and bikini area. There are three in a package, in pink, blue, and green. The brand is Personna and it runs for about three dollars. What a bargain, considering these tools last a while! Plus, who wants to be hairy? When I tried these on my eyebrows and face, it was practically pain free. I removed the little hairs above my lip and on my face. The tool was easy to use and the blade was small, so it was easy to maneuver. The shapers are sold at Walgreen's. Good luck and happy shaping!

The picture is a bit old. They have a differnet design and colors for their blades now!

Moisture of the Ocean Waves

I use a conditioner for my hair called Sydney Smooth by Aussie. The product is supposed to give your hair a sleek and frizz free look. It does not exactly succeed in making your hair sleek like a movie star, but the conditioner does give your hair moisture. When you apply the conditioner to your hair, it is absolutely amazing. Your hair feels healthy, smooth, and it smells delicious. Now remember, your hair is still wet at this point. When you rinse your hair, the smoothness of your hair is unbelievable. When my hair dried, it was still a bit frizzy, but my hair smelled good and was very shiny. My hair was sleeker when I blow dried, but I try to stay away from heat as much as I can. I recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a conditioner that provides moisture and a good scent to your hair. If your hair needs volume, repair, or shine, Aussie has got that covered with other products. Also, Aussie is not limited to just conditioner. They have shampoo, gel, and hairspray. The best part is that is only about three dollars. You could buy your whole hair care for under ten dollars! Enjoy Aussie girl!

http://www.aussie.com/us/collections/sydney_smooth/

Take Your Vitamins!

I recently started taking Nature's Bounty Multi-Day vitamins.They are small tablets that are easy to swallow. This supplement contains the important vitamins your body needs in every day life, and you only have to take one a day. My hair has been noticeably shinier, so do as your mother said, "Take your vitamins!" The vitamins cost around seven dollars for 100 caplets, and are available at most drugstores. I feel good knowing that I am getting my daily supply of vitamins. Be healthy and enjoy!

http://www.naturesbounty.com/pages/products.aspx?PPID=95

Lovely Lips?

Sheer, shiny, natural, and pretty... Is it possible to achieve all of that, plus more in a lipstick? Of course! I found a new lipstick by CQ in a shade called Mimosa Bliss. It is a light, pink color that is easy to apply. The lipstick goes on smoothly and does not overpower your look. You can find it at Walmart or Ebay for a few dollars. Enjoy!

My Mints, Please!

When checking out at your local grocery store, an assortment of mints surround you. Which ones to buy? My personal favorite is Eclipse in winterfrost. The mints are not very strong, but they give you long lasting fresh breath. I pop in a few at a time, and they last for several minutes. The best part is that they are only a dollar! No worries, the mints are filled to the very top in their tin case, so this is no trick. Have a minty day and enjoy!

Feeling Blue?

About two months ago, I purchased a Toshiba HD-DVD player for around $450. Wow! That is a chunk of change! The player performed magnificantly, and the picture was so clear. A HD-DVD player is short for high defintion player, and it makes the picture look brilliant. The trouble was a competing technology, called Blu-Ray, was more popular than HD. At Walmart and other stores, a good selection of Blu-Ray movies existed, but the supply of HD movies was extremely limited. A few days ago, Toshiba discontinued HD format. Sad, right? People, including me, paid money for players and DVD's specifically for HD and now they no longer exist. That is a lot of money wasted because, HD-DVD's cannot play on Blu-Ray. It is not possible to play Blu-Ray movies on HD players, so you have to purchase another player. This is the risk you take when you buy new technology, and if you want to know more about it go to http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-02-19-toshiba-quits-hd-dvd_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip. I guess I am switching to Blu-Ray...

Planning To Perfection

These past few weeks, I have been planning my trip to California this summer. I will spend a few weeks in San Francisco, Redwood National Park, and the mountains. I am incredibly excited about this trip! So. I thought now is the time to share some of my tips about planning. I researched activities using the search engine, goodsearch. Every time you search, money goes to the organization of your choice. Great idea! I suggest the charity for curing autism. When searching, I look up fun activities, places to go, hotels, and restaurants. Then, I print out pictures of different places, so I can have a visual of my trip. I put together a booklet, which is helpful to look back at. A poster makes a great display, too. The best part of planning is that you look forward to your trip, even if it is months away. I know I can't stop thinking about mine! It is early to start planning, but it is always better to be prepared and have your affairs in order. Enjoy these tips and happy planning!

Polish It Up!

My new favorite nail polish color is O.P.I. Catherine the Grape. The color is a gorgeous purple and it is perfect for when you go out at night. It goes on smoothly with the full brush, and the color has a shiny tint to it. It makes your nails look well kept, even if they are not! So, just swipe some on, and you will look perfectly polished. I usually find O.P.I. products at a salon, and it costs around eight dollars. Are you ready to go out tonight?

Is Orange the New Bronze?

I recently tested Loreal's Sublime Bronze self tanning spray. I have to say, I am a bit disappointed. As soon as I began spraying, the cap broke off. I had to tape it back on and it was difficult to spray an even amount. The product's claim was that it would dry quickly and leave no greasy residue. That was not the case. The product took hours to dry and get rid of the greasy residue. The spray got all over my bathroom floor and was very slippery, so put a towel on the floor befor applying. The tan did develop after an hour, and I was impressed. Due to artificial lighting in my bathroom, it was difficult to tell which spots I missed. I suggest applying it during the day, so you can use natural light and see the true color of your tan. Because of the cold weather, I wore stockings the next day. I did not know I was tan enough and I applied another application that night. Again, the artificial lighting blinded me from seeing the spots I missed. This part is rather funny. I walked outside the next morning, and I was orange with a white streak up my leg! Not to mention, my feet and hands were horrible looking. Orange and blotchy! So, my tips for spray tanning are to use natural lighting, one application is enough until it starts to fade, and scrub your hands after applying. Also, do not spray your feet. Spray a little on your hands, and rub it in. For those awful streaks, Loreal has some wipes. Best of luck when spray tanning! I am going to test a few more self tanning products soon, because I am not happy with this one.

Fool's Gold

Last night, I had the privilege of seeing the movie, Fool's Gold. It was really cute and entertaining. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey acted great in the movie and they make a cute duo. Overall, the movie was clever and funny and I enjoyed it thoroughly, but the price to get in the door was outrageous! I spent seven dollars on a ticket, five on a Coke, five on nachos, and three on some Raisinettes. Hey, I eat a lot when I see a movie! So, the question is, how can I save money when I go to see a movie? I don't want to cut back on the amount of food I eat. Munching is the key to any movie, and franky, I can't afford to spend 13 dollars on food every time I see a movie. So, here are a few recipes that are easy, sneaky, and somewhat healthy!

• I loved eating raisins dipped in chocolate last night. Why not strawberries? This recipe is quick and easy. All you need is chocolate chips, cream, and strawberries. Mix and dip! Mmm...

foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_21529,00.html

• Grapes! Pop them in your mouth one after the other. Mix different flavors up like green and purple. Put them in a little baggy and you are set.

• Mixed nuts is one of my favorite snacks. The brand, Emerald, makes little baggies of mixed nuts that are of high quality and really filling. The bag is not filled with a bunch of unhealthy peanuts, but with walnuts, cashews, almonds, and brazilian nuts. Crunchy!

Stuff these delicious snacks in your purse and check out Fool's Gold if you are interested in a light hearted laugh. Wow! This movie and these snacks, I think you just hit the jackpot!

Not So Sweet

Vitamin Water is normally yummy. My personal favorite is the Multi-V Vitamin Water. It has a lemonade flavor that sweet, but not overdoing it. There is one flavor I tried that you need to steer clear from. The Energy Tropical Citrus (to the left). Yuck! If you need some energy, just grab a Coke. This natural energy is not worth it, but everyone has their own flavor they like. So try some Vitamin Water and tell me what you think!Do you know something else that is not so sweet? Republican presidential dropout, Mitt Romney, endorses John McCain. You should see the clip! They look so uncomfortable!

Lucky You!

Are you a lucky girl? I know I am! I wear the sweet-smelling Lucky You perfume. It smells amazing. The fragrance has a blend of light flowers and fresh citrus, with lower notes of musk and sandalwood amber. It is a casual, daytime fragrance and you can buy for as low as 18 dollars for an ounce. Wow! I say head to your local drugstore today!

A Cool Touch For Your Eyes!

Are your eyes looking a little dull these days? Say no more! Rimmel has an amazing product called Cool Touch Shadow that gives your eyes a little sparkle and shine. It is a cream shadow that makes your eyes noticeable! My only complaint is that it squirts out very quickly, so be careful. Dab a teeny bit on your finger and distribute the shadow evenly on your lids. If you use too much, it will be difficult to have an even look. I received these shadows for Christmas, and I have fallen in love with them. The shadow works really well and does not fade or smear, and it dries really quickly.



I have Cool Touch shadow in (from left to right) Cool Down, Ice Princess, Cool It, and On Ice.




Not the most original names, but truly a great product! Try it out! The shadow is very affordable and is available at any drugstore. My favorite? Cool Down. Really looks great paired with my brown LashBlast mascara. Enjoy!

Eyes. Lips. Face.

Love makeup, but have trouble affording it? Well here is your solution! E.l.f. (Eyes.Lips.Face.) is a cosmetic brand that is fantastic for anyone who is on a budget. Almost everything on their site is only a dollar! Can you beleive that?! I know what you are thinking, there is no way makeup can only be a dollar. Well it is true. As soon as I heard about this brand, I went straight to their site and ordered all my new makeup from there for under twenty dollars! You can get brushes, mascara, blush, foundation, etc! The makup is of great quality also. I recommend this to anyone, whether you are on a budget or not. So try it out and let me know what you think! --Cami =]

Mineral Makeup, Anyone?

Do you like wearing heavy, liquid makeup? Personally, I prefer to go a bit more natural. I have found a new product that I loved the first time I tried it. My discovery is I.D. Bare Minerals. You have seen the commercials, but maybe you did not give it another thought. It is made from 100% pure bareMinerals and does not include any talc, fragrance, or other skin irritants, often found in other products. The weightless powder contains SPF 15, which protects your skin from the sun. When I put it on, it evened out my skin and covered my blemishes, while giving my skin a natural look. There is another powder you apply called "warmth" that gives your face a beautiful glow. My skin looks and feels pretty when I use this product. It may seem pricey, but it comes with many different brushes and powder and is worth the investment. I recommend this product for anyone who wants gorgeous, natural skin. I love it!

www.bareminerals.com

Berrylicious!

Are you trying to eat healthy? That was one of my New Year's aspirations and it is likely others had the same one, too. My mornings since then do not consist of donuts and other sweets. I start my mornings off with Special K cereal with red berries. Now, you are probably asking why I am dedicating a post in my blog to this cereal. The answer is simple! It is really delicious! The strawberries taste like real strawberries, not like your normal, dried berries. The cereal has just enough crunch, and a load of flavor. To make it even better, it is super healthy. If strawberries are not your thing, there are other types you can try like, Chocolatey Delight, Cinnamon Pecan, Vanilla Almond, and Fruit and Yogurt. On your next stop to the local grocery store, pick up a box of Special K cereal. You will not regret it becuse this cereal is sin free!

An Extra Boost to Your Eyes!

Eye Magnifier by Rimmel London is a great second layer mascara. The great special tip applicator gets rid of the clumps the other mascara leaves behind! It seperates your lashes while making them longer at the same time, giving your eyes a wider, fuller look than before! However, sometimes you need to apply more than one coat of the mascara to get the full effect. I reccomend this to anyone who wants an extra, special touch to their eye makeup. You will definitely notice the difference as soon as you apply this product. This product is at an affordable price and you can find this at almost any drugstore, unlike other products that do almost the exact same thing.

Cami. =]

Change is Great!

Wow! Today has been absolutely crazy! I decided to dye my hair last night. It was my seventh time, I might add. I changed it to dark brown and I truly love it. It gave me a boost of confidence because it is such a drastic change. I feel like a different person when I look at myself in the mirror. My hair looks and feels healthier and it was a fun and bold thing to do. Next weekend, I am planning on doing my friend's hair. She is ready for a change and really wants to experiment with her look. If you do want to mix it up, know that the non-permanent dye will fade, but if it is a super drastic color, like red, the tint could stay in. I learned that from experience, but there are a lot of good things about dying your hair. It is fun, daring, and makes your hair look fabulous! If you want to be more conservative, try a different hairstyle or play with your makeup. I have learned that change is good, as scary as change may be. Have fun!

LashBlast! Mascara

Over the past few days, I have been wearing Covergirl's new mascara, LashBlast in black brown. The mascara gives you super long lashes without too many clumps. My lashes were very thick and noticable, but not as defined as I would have liked. Some of my lashes stuck together and the mascara was harder than normal to remove. Don't get me wrong, this product succeeds in giving you long, bold lashes. I would recomend this mascara to anyone who wants BIG lashes with a LOT of volume. Overall, this mascara is a blast!

http://www.covergirl.com/products/product.jsp?productId=lashblast_mascara

A Classic Snack

Do you know what tonight is? Hmm...football, fun, and of course, food. Well, I guess that would qualify to be the Super Bowl, which happens to be one of the biggest nights of the year! Whether you are a Patriots or Giants fan, everyone can come together with food. The Super Bowl is stressful enough just by watching, but to cook, clean, and have a chance to root for your team, that's hard. To ease the load on the things to do, go with simple, yummy snacks. My pick would have to be the classic dish. Dip! Now, you could go the regular route and have tortilla chips and salsa, but my favorite would have to be Fiesta Ranch with carrots. Yum! In fact, I first had some when I went to watch the New Orleans Saints practice. Yes, I am from the South! The dip is easy to prepare and buy some already sliced carrots. Simple and truly delicious!

http://www.hiddenvalleyranch.com/products/ProdRanchDipMix.php

Come on...Relax!

Looks like the presidential candidates are dropping like flies in both parties. Democratic candidate John Edwards and Republican Rudy Guliani are out of the race. Whew! This race is stressful. Relieve your stress with Aromatherapy Stress Relief roll on. The relaxing smell of eucalyptus is proven to relieve stress. So, glide this on and keep on watching the news. Hey, its pretty entertaining, considering the writers are on strike for Grey's Anatomy.

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2922069&cp=2484528.2478325&page=2&doVSearch=no&pageBucket=0&parentPage=family

A Lip Soother

This cold weather we are having really leaves your lips dry. They crack and bleed... It is awful! I always use Carmex which is a true healer, but there is another flavor I have learned about. Cherry! At first, I thought it sounded terrible but I tried the balm and I like it. It leaves your lips smoother than the regular flavor. It has a refreshing smell to it, also. So, try it out!

http://www.carma-labs.com/

My Hair Addiction

I have been using this product for some time now and I have completely fallen in love with it. It is called After-Party, but feel free to wear it to the party. It does everything it promises. Your hair will feel soft and smell delicious. You will not want to take your hands off your hair! So, add a dollop to your palms and run your hands through your hair. I use it when my hair feels dry or just needs a little boost. It runs for about 15 dollars but it lasts a long time and they usually have good deals at the JC Penney salon. You will love it!

http://tigihaircare.us/tigi/bedhead/archive/2007/02/27/after-party.aspx