The Perfect Lightweight Moisturizer: Clinique Even Better Essence Lotion

Finding a lightweight moisturizer that does the job, but doesn't make your face feel ick or break you out can be a difficult task.  I've been looking for one to wear underneath my makeup that does it's job to moisturize.

I consult Paula's Choice before making any beauty purchase these days and I found a great review breaking down on all the beneficial ingredients of Clinque's Even Better Essence Lotion for Combination to Oily Skin.

Clinique Even Better Essence Lotion
Combination Oily to Oily
$32 for 3.4 oz.
Image Source: Sephora

Paula's Choice says that this product is really more of a toner, but I'm getting the moisturizing benefits too!  I've been using the product for about 3 months now and I'm loving the results!  I still use my nighttime moisturizer, but this gets me through the day!  This moisturizer may not be the best product for those of you with extremely dry skin, but if you just need a little boost and you have combination to oily skin - I highly recommend this product.

The oddest feature of this product is that it is a straight up liquid.  Despite the name, this is not a lotion and it actually looks more like water.  I put a small amount in the palm of my hand and rub it all over my face and neck.  A little goes a long way!  I still have about 15% left of the bottle after 3 months of daily use...which also makes this product a great value in my book!

***We were not compensated in anyway by Clinique, Sephora, or Paula's Choice.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

Posh Purpose Review: The Cottage Shop in Nags Head, NC

When we went to Nags Head last year, I came across a super cute shop called The Cottage Shop that sells home decor, Christmas decorations, entertaining essentials, and small gifts.  I bought our yearly ornament from The Cottage Shop last year and I decided to go back to look for another this past weekend.  I also got a bunch of great Christmas decorating ideas for my first Christmas tree that I was able to put together using cheaper sources such as Michael's.  The store is creatively decorated with at least six Christmas trees, but doesn't feel too crowded or overdone.  The sales ladies are all wonderfully helpful and sweet.  Here's a couple of the displays that I thought were especially creative...like this inverted white Christmas tree designed to look like underwater sea life:

I also really like the more natural look to this red and burlap woodland tree.  I love the frilly bow at the top.  The faux poinsettias are really pretty pops of color!  Using faux florals on my tree is one of the ideas I got from this store last year.

These beautiful hanging ornaments would look great in the windows, hanging from the banisters or mantels, or even from certain chandeliers.

Unfortunately, I couldn't limit myself to just one ornament this year!  All the ornaments are so pretty and well-made, that I wound up buying four, but luckily they were only $11.99-$13.99 each aaaaaand the super sweet sales lady gave me a discount.

I'm super excited to put these on my tree in a few weeks!  If you are in the Outer Banks, I highly recommend that you stop by The Cottage Shop at one of their three locations for some decorating inspiration and gift ideas. There will be another sale on Black Friday if you are lucky enough to be spending Thanksgiving at the beach!

Duck

1201 Duck Road

Kitty Hawk, NC 27949

252-261-8121

Nags Head

5000 South Croatan Highway

Nags Head, NC 27959

252-441-2522

Corolla

Timbuck II Shopping Village

790 North Ocean Trail

Unit G

Corolla, NC 27927

252-453-3525

Posh Purpose Review: Brooks Brothers Outlet

I took a pile of clothes to the dry cleaners recently and discovered that my favorite black suit had developed a hole in the crotch and in the crease in the front of the pants (how does that happen?).  I also took a look at the jacket and I saw the fibers were starting to break down.  If you've ever accidentally thrown a dry clean only item in the wash, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  My mom had originally bought my suit for me when I did an internship in grad school which was over 7 years ago...soooo I definitely got my wear out of it (thanks mom!).

I immediately went into a panic, because the official colors of Washingtonian work life are navy, grey, and black...with black being the most dependable.  After a trip to the mall to check out suits at J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, and Brooks Brothers, I've determined that women's fashion is a barren wasteland of cheap polyester suits with ill-fitting pants and cuts that will go out of style (belted jacket anyone?).  My original suits came from Talbots, so I was really disappointed that they have change their cut and I couldn't find an easy replacement.  Brooks Brothers was the sole exception in the quality department, but there was only one suit I wanted, they didn't have it in my size, and even with the Friends and Family special they were running, my suit was going to be close to $850 with a jacket, skirt, and pants.

After a call to my mother, who has always advised me to buy the best quality suit, I was still wrestling with the decision to blow a ton of $$$$ on the suit.

THEN Mr. 3 offered to drive me out to the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets to visit the Brooks Brothers Outlet on a MONDAY AFTER WORK.  For those of you who aren't in the know, this was an extremely generous offer, considering the outlets are 45 minutes away...without D.C. commuter traffic.

Image Source: BrooksBrothers.com

After a little bit of searching (they were also short on sizes), I found exactly what I wanted: a skirt, jacket, and lined pants made from tropical wool with a classic (but not frumpy) silhouette in petite sizing.  Brooks Brothers Outlet was also running a huge sale and I had an outlet coupon for an additional 15% off.  Mr. 3 has also needed a new suit for over a year, so we both wound up purchasing new black suits for less than what I would have paid for one suit at the retail store.

I know outlets get a bad rap for having lesser quality items than the retail stores carry.  If you've ever been to Banana Republic or an Ann Taylor Outlet, you have seen the difference.

However, I found out a lot of really helpful information from the store manager, who used to work at the retail location, that made feel 100% OK with an outlet suit. To begin with, the outlet uses the same fabric as retail but the outlet store suits are manufactured in Egypt or Taiwan. Retail suits are made in the U.S. or Italy.  However, all of the factories, regardless of location, are owned by Brooks Brothers so they can maintain quality control rather than hiring it out to any ol' garment factory and slapping a label on it.  Both of these factors made me feel really good about this purchase because the fabric and quality control standards for the outlet suits and the retail suits are the same.

Mr. 3 went with the classic style in a classic fabric (as opposed to the fashion styles and fabrics which will come and go), which means Brooks Brothers Outlet will always carry Mr. 3's suit so if his pants wear our or he needs another pair, I can just go in and purchase them without having to invest in a new jacket too.  As for tailoring, the manager told me that you can take your pants to the retail store and they will hem them for $10 and also do other alterations.  Luckily, neither Mr. 3 nor I have to get any alterations, but I think it is a great service (and $10 for hemming is a STEAL in D.C.).

While I would always prefer to buy American or Italian-made, sometimes it just isn't in the budget.  I'm happy I found exactly what I wanted at a price I could afford while still being confident in the quality and longevity of the suit.  Anyone else had a hard time suit shopping?  What solutions did you find?

***This post was not sponsored by Brooks Brothers or Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets.  We just like sharing our thoughts on all things fashion.***

Posh Purpose Review: Victoria's Secret No-Show Hiphugger Sport Panty

I'm a huge fan of the Victoria's Secret Sport Collection and I've blogged my love and devotion to their line of sports bras before and my positive feelings about them have stayed the same.  I decided to give their sports line of underwear a go and I bought three pairs of the Victoria's Secret No-Show Hiphugger Sport Panty when I spotted them on sale for 3 for $33.

No-Show Hiphugger Sport Panty
$12.50 - $14.50
Image Source: Victoria's Secret

I wanted to try this line of underwear because of the cheaper price (Lululemon's are $18 each!) and the material.  I've had microfiber work out underwear in the past before which has been great performance-wise, but I still had horrible visible panty lines (VPL).  Usually, I'm soooooo anti-VPL and I simply do not understand women who traipse around with an outline on their tush.  It's not slimming especially if your backside is your problem area (I know it's one of mine!).  HOWEVER, the gym is the one place I give it a pass.  You should be as comfortable as possible when sweatin' it out and if that means VPLs then VPLs it is!

This underwear is made from moisture wicking fabric and billed as no-show.  I gave them a test run on Saturday at zumba class, because it doesn't get sweatier than that.  I was really impressed with how comfortable this underwear was when I wasn't moving around.  I loved them when I was hanging out around the apartment in the morning and sitting in the car on the way to the gym.  I hated them once the music started.  Let me just tell you that it is indeed possible to have your underwear ride up in both the back aaaaand the front at the same time...for a solid hour.  As for the no-show claim, I will say the panty lines were only partially visible and it was very faint, but I'd glad trade in more lines for less...ummmmm...upward mobility?

I'll be taking the other two unworn pairs back to Victoria's Secret because I just can't see these being a good thing for cardio classes.  I'll keep wearing the pair I have, but probably only for strength training or yoga type of classes which I don't attend too often.

Posh Purpose Rating: C

Posh Purpose Review: Downgrading Herbal Essence Naked Dry Shampoo

Earlier in the week, I posted about my review of the Herbal Essence Naked Dry Shampoo; and, despite some formula issues, I liked the price and the end result enough to give it a Posh Purpose Rating of "B."  Later in the week, I went to use the dry shampoo again and it was clogged.  After running the spray nozzle under hot water and shaking the can to try to break up the clog, I still couldn't get the aerosol can to start spraying.  I did a bit of checking on some other online reviews at Target and I found out this is a common complaint.

Although I have used this product multiple times, I had used less than half of the can and now I can't get the product to spray anymore which means this can is going in the trash.  Although the $5 price tag is great, I just lost $2.50...which makes me super unhappy.  Therefore, I'm downgrading our Posh Purpose rating:

Posh Purpose Rating: D

Product Review: Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo

Edit: After two more days of use, I had to downgrade the rating. Click through for more info

I'm a huge fan of dry shampoo.  I have fine hair and in the summertime I often need to refresh my hair at the end of the day if I'm headed out for dinner.  I also try to wash my hair every other day when I can because my scalp gets so dry (I usually only wind up skipping twice a week though, because I can hardly stand it to have dirty hair).  Since my hair is so fine, I can only get away with this because of dry shampoo which came onto the market a few years ago.

You can spend a lot of moo-lah on a good dry shampoo, which I have done in the past, but I'm always interested in trying to find a cheaper version at the drugstore.  Briana has experimented with a homemade version using corn starch, but found it didn't hold up during Florida's rainy season so I've still been looking for a cheaper brand.  When running through the Target a few weeks ago, I spotted this Herbal Essences Naked Dry shampoo and snapped it up to try.

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo
$4.99
Image Source: Target

I've used it off and on for the past few weeks, but I have mixed feelings about the product.  While I like that the Herbal Essences brand is paraben and colorant free, I'm not sure about the formula.  I skipped washing my hair yesterday and I needed to take care of a few oily bits on my part, around my face, and underneath my the back of my hair (it's important to get this area if you plan to put your hair up at any point in the day).  

Here's my part after I had brushed out my "bed head" and sprayed the dry shampoo on the oily parts of my hair.  It definitely makes my hair worse before it looks better.  The dry shampoo actually dampened my hair and also leaves tiny clumps of product that are much more visible in front of the mirror than this photo.

It also requires SIGNIFICANTLY more brushing to work it through once my hair dried and get rid of the white streaks (forget about trying to brush when your hair still feels damp..it just gets sticky and clumpy). Luckily, I'm blonde, so the white streaking is less noticeable, but I definitely would not recommend this product to anyone with dark hair.  You have to really get the underneath part of your hair brushed well as this was the area that has the most leftover white streaking.

This dry shampoo also has a bit of light fragrance.  The smell is described as "white grapefruit and mint essences," which is definitely true, but the scent quickly fades and leaves behind a different odor which I can't really explain or identify.  I'm not saying it's bad, just that the scent advertised doesn't stick around.  

Here's how my hair turned out after I brushed the dry shampoo through, styled it, and finished it off with some hair spray. 

Although I think the formula is a bit difficult to work with, the end result is pretty good (as an FYI, this photo was taken at about 7:30 AM before I went to work).  My hair has volume and doesn't look like "second day hair."  I'm not sure if I will purchase this product again or not.  The issues I've mentioned seem to be pretty consistent with each time I've used the product.  I love the price and the end result is good, but, in the past, I've used dry shampoos with a much better formula.

Posh Purpose Rating: B

Mixin' & Matchin' - Tory Burch China

Y'all know I dearly love to mix and match beautiful china and my dream closet would look similar to the inside of a Tory Burch boutique, so I was super exited when Tory Burch debuted her new line of mix and match china, barware, and table linens last week.  I'm a big fan of Tory Burch's shoes, handbags, and especially her clothing, so I was expecting to have a similar reaction to her newest additions to her home collection.

Image Source: Tory Burch

At first glance, I loved all the elements of the abstract pattern of the china with the blue flowers on the linens and the pretty glassware.

Image Source: Tory Burch

However, as I kept looking at the individual pieces I just didn't find them quite as exciting on their own.  

I feel like I've seen this before!
Mackie Highball
$60 for set of 4
Image Source: Tory Burch

Jardin Place Mat
$98 for set of 4
Image Source: Tory Burch

Spongeware Salad Plate
$100 for set of 4
Image Source: Tory Burch

I found the prices to be reasonable and on par with Kate Spade china, but I'm a bit concerned about craftsmanship.  While other designers have come out with their own china, most of them partner with established and reputable china manufacturing companies - Kate Spade and Marchesa are with Lenox, Monique Lhuillier is with Waterford, and Vera Wang is with Wedgwood.  Tory Burch has not disclosed her manufacturer or even the country of origin...which makes me uncertain about the quality.  Generally speaking, if the manufacturer is special or the goods are made in a country known for quality (USA!, Italy, France, England, Scotland, Spain, Portugal), designers looove to call it out.  For example, Williams-Sonoma has a line of barware called Dorset that is unique to WS stores, but in their product descriptions they note that the barware is hand-cut and produced at an 80 year old Slovenian glasswork factory.  Tory Burch notes when products are hand-blown or hand-painted but doesn't say where or by whom.

Another issue I have with the line is that it is billed as everyday entertaining, but the glassware is hand wash and, although, the place mats say you can wash them on the gentle cycle they also suggest dry cleaning.  In my experience, if dry cleaning is suggested it's probably best for the long term care of your items.  Now to keep it real with y'all, I have plenty of hand wash only items, but that's because I'm using crystal glassware and fine china everyday (yes I'm cray-cray)....not because I picked out and purchased something that was marketed as "everyday."  I wouldn't want to pay a weekly dry cleaning bill for place mats and napkins.

Finally, my last complaint is the $395.00 plastic ice bucket (it says acrylic, but that's code for nice plastic).  It's so pretty and the square shape is different from most ice buckets, but the price tag on this super fun piece of plastic is just too high and acrylic can be easily scratched.  I can only imagine what they might try to charge for crystal.  I also can only imagine what I would do if someone scratched my $400 ice bucket (a simple "bless your heart" would just not cut it my friends).

Rae Ice Bucket
$395
Image Source: Tory Burch

With all my complaints, I still love the line when it's all paired together.  Overall, the price point is reasonable and it surely does make for a cheerful table!  What do y'all think?  Fans?

Wine Review: Cloud Break Pinot Noir

I don't know about y'all, but when I'm throwing a party or having people over for dinner I like to serve a nice bottle of wine...but wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good!  The wine store can be really overwhelming and intimidating if you don't know where to start.  Fortunately, I have a fool proof wine to suggest for y'all today!

Cloud Break Pinot Noir
California
$8.99
Image Source: Total Wine

Mr. 3 and I found Cloud Break Pinot Noir over a year ago at our local Total Wine store.  We picked it out based on the price and the fact that it was a California pinot noir which always seems to appeal to both of us.  Not only did we love it, all of our guests have as well!  We had a wine tasting party where everyone bought a bottle of pinot noir under $15 to share and we voted at the end on which one tasted best and this wine was chosen by our friends as the top pick!

Total Wine describes Cloud Break as: Elegant, Strawberry, Cherry, Medium-bodied, pairs well with salmon

I'm not fancy pants enough to identify 100% of all the notes in a wine, but I can say that it pairs well with just about everything, is very mellow, and super drinkable!

As for using it for parties or taking it as a hostess gift, the label artwork looks nice and the price is even better!  We bring this quite frequently when we are invited to dinner at other people's houses. Sooo, if you are in need of a go to wine that won't break the bank, I highly recommend Cloud Break for your next event!

***This post was not sponsored by either Total Wine or Cloud Break. We just like to share our ways to make your Posh Purpose lifestyle easier!***

Sur la Table Cooking Class

Last week, I got an email from Sur la Table promoting its sale on cooking classes.  Mr. 3 and I have been dying to take a cooking class and even discussed finding one for our anniversary.  However, we haven't been able to find any that we felt we could afford (D.C. classes start at $70 per person for a really simple class).  I popped on over to the website and looked up the schedules for the classes near me.  I couldn't believe the prices!  $33.96 per person for a 2 hour cooking class!??!?  Not only was that cheaper than any other class I had seen in D.C, BUT it was a steal of a deal for a Sur la Table class that is usually priced at $69.  So, we skipped our usual date night at a restaurant to spend the money on this cooking class which was conveniently scheduled during dinnertime on Sunday night.

This was a first time cooking class for both of us, so we didn't know what to expect.  LUCKILY, Sur la Table makes the class both easy and informative.  We went to the Date Night: Night of Romance class at the Pentagon City location.  The menu included Spinach and Pancetta Salad with Dried Cherry and Port Dressing, Spice-Crusted Sea Scallops with Blood Orange Beurre Blanc, Smashed Roasted Garlic Fingerling Potatoes, and Vanilla Pots De Crème with Chocolate and Almonds.  Mr. 3 and I have had issues getting our scallops just right in the past so we were up for attending this class!

The kitchen set up at Sur la Table is amazing, but not quite what I expected.  Instead of each couple preparing each recipe, the cooking class is split into two groups which work as a team to create the dish.  For example, I chopped garlic while another couple sliced shallots.  Sur la Table does most of the prep work for you (i.e. measuring out the ingredients and washing all the produce)...they also do 100% of the cleaning!  

What we didn't like about our cooking class:

1. Mr. 3 wasn't a super big fan of the Buerre Blanc sauce (but that could have been because our group didn't get the temperature right when cooking the sauce orrrr the fact that a regular naval orange was substituted in because blood oranges are out of season).

2. We didn't make the dessert.  Post-sampling of the scallops and smashed potatoes, I turned around to make myself a decaf latte to go with the dessert I thought we were making.  By the time I got done, the chef had already read through the recipe for the dessert and served up a sample for us to try.  I was very disappointed because this is one of the items on the menu I have absolutely no knowledge of how to make and I was really looking forward to seeing how it was done.  I feel like this was a big let down for a cooking class!

What we liked about our cooking class: 

1. We were offered a choice of filtered water, a fruity drink using carbonated water from a Soda Stream, a latte or espresso from a Nespresso machine, or a coffee from the new Nespresso VertuoLine.

2. The chef was very helpful in explaining the process, offering tips, and taking over when things got a bit hairy in the kitchen.  We also received a packet with all the recipes to take home with us and recreate (for when you need an extra fancy pants dinner!).

3. We received a 10% off coupon for Sur la Table...which we used to pick up a few Christmas gifts!

4. We finally learned how to properly cook scallops! Check back this afternoon for the tips we picked up!

5. The end product!  We each tried a side salad, four scallops, a scoop of mashed potatoes, and a little pot de crème.  Mr. 3 was still a bit hungry afterwards, but it was plenty for me!

Overall Assessment:

I think the Sur la Table cooking class was tons of fun and worth going to, but if I had any suggestion it would be to make sure that you like ALL of the menu being served.  I had the option of another course that had a great dessert and meat, but it involved fennel which I cannot stand.  Now knowing that you may not even get to make the dessert, I would have been really upset to find out I paid to practice making an item I wouldn't want to ever eat.  Otherwise, I really enjoyed the set up of the kitchen and that we got to try several products like the Soda Stream.  If you decide to book a class, be sure to check out Ebates or Top Cash Back as you can get the classes even cheaper when you take into account the cash back that those companies offer.  I think our classes wound up being closer to $30 with Top Cash Back rebates.  Also, sign up for Sur la Table to get alerts on when they have a sale on cooking classes!

***This post was not sponsored by Sur la Table.  I simply had a great experience and wanted to share with others!***

Coconut Oil: A Girl's Best Friend, Part 1

Briana and I have been using coconut oil over the past few months with great success!  We have added coconut oil to our daily routines, but in different ways.  So far, I've:

1. Used it as a day moisturizer
2. Used it as a night moisturizer
3. Used it to preserve my spray tans as an all over body moisturizer
4. Integrated it into a protein smoothie and other recipes
5. Used it as mosquito repellent

You can read about my protein smoothie and spray tan success here and here.  I really like using the coconut oil as a night time moisturizer.  It makes my face super soft and I'm saving a bunch of money by using this home remedy rather than buying expensive night cream.  However, I did not like it at as a day moisturizer up underneath my makeup.  I'm not sure if it's because, typically, I use a liquid sunscreen and mineral powder foundation on top of my moisturizer (which just may mean that the coconut oil doesn't mix well) orrrr if it's the fact that D.C. is a sweat box of sticky humidity and heat.  For those of y'all that don't know, coconut oil liquefies at about 77 degrees, which may explain why my face starts sliding around 10 AM.  Either way it was no bueno for me for this time of year.  I may try again when it cools off in November.  So, for now, I'm still spending money for a great moisturizer for daytime, but I haven't bought any night creams in 4 months.  If it still doesn't work out with my makeup, I'll be ok with it because I think it is important to diversify your moisturizers so that you can get different anti-aging goodness.  So, I will get coconut oil nutrients at night and Dr. Dennis Gross Age Erase Moisturizer with Mega 10 Plus for day.

I've also been using it as an all over moisturizer and my skin feels so much softer.  I put a good coat on pretty much every night and then I repeat on my legs in the morning.  I was having lots of dry skin problems after we moved last year, but this seems to be working to get rid of the issue.  My spray tan is also lasting longer and fading more evenly!

I can't report back on the health benefits of the coconut oil protein shake other than to say it is delicious and very filling.  I've also used it to cook chicken for an Indian dish and put it is some baked goods for church.  Yummy all around!

Finally, and probably most surprising, I'm using the coconut oil as the base for natural mosquito repellent.  I can't take the credit for this one.  A friend handed me her homemade mosquito repellent at her barbecue last summer after a big ol' nasty mosquito sucked practically all the blood out of the back of my leg .  Basically, you take a mix one tablespoon of coconut oil with 3-4 drops of lemongrass oil and 3-4 drops of peppermint oil and then you rub in the mixture on your exposed skin (mix up more using the same formula).  I used it twice last summer and had not a single mosquito bite.  I've used it this year with the same results.  It smells amazing, is all natural, makes your skin feel soft, aaaaand it works (shout out to AnnaMarie for introducing this remedy to me!)!  I bought the essential oils off of Amazon and the little bottles will last for quite some time.  NOW, I will say that this repellent has only been tested in the backyards and patios of the greater D.C. metropolitan area.  I'm not sure it would stand up to strenuous activity in the wilderness such as hiking, camping, trail running, rock climbing, or mountain biking.  Luckily, I don't do those things so I won't ever have to find out that I should have hosed myself down with DEET, 50 billion bites in the woods later.

Overall, I'd say that coconut oil will be in my healthy regimen rotation for some time to come.  No need to try purchase fancy pant coconut oil.  I've been really happy with the Trader Joe's brand and I just recently purchased the Whole Foods 365.  Both run between $6-$10 for 16 oz.  The most important part about buying coconut oil is to get organic, virgin, and cold pressed.  Since you may be eating this or slathering it on your skin, I prefer it to be as toxin-free and minimally processed as possible.

$5.99
Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Image Source: Trader Joe's

Check back this afternoon for Briana's post on how she is using coconut oil in her life!  Be sure to share any useful tips for using coconut oil!

Paula's Choice - A Beauty Resource

Several months ago, I was looking for beauty reviews for cosmetics and I stumbled upon Paula's Choice.  I'm not sure how mainstream this website is, but Paula's Choice is a website that contains beauty product reviews (in addition to a line of skincare).  I've learned a lot from reading through the website, it looks like the major no-no's for skin care products revolve around packaging and fragrance.  Air and light degrade the healthy benefits in anti-aging products and I learned that I should stay away from jar products at all costs.  The jar lets far too much air and light in, while a tube or a bottle with a pump is a much better choice because there is less exposure.  I've actually had eye creams turn from creamy white to yellowish (ick!), so this makes sense to me.  Fragrance is also really really bad because it causes irritation to your skin (even if it is just on the cellular level).

When I started looking at beauty product packaging, I realized that soooooooooo many products come in jars (side note: why don't cosmetic companies know this?).  So, I began using Paula's Choice to find new products. It can be a little daunting to narrow down the selection and figure out what to choose, because you can search by item or by brand for pretty much anything (no hair products or really new products).  There is a lot of information, including: product name, whether the product has been discontinued, purpose of the product, number of oz., price, and overall rating...that's just on the first page.

Once you find your product of choice, there is both technical information and also any relevant information on characteristics, like texture, that wouldn't necessarily be obvious from it's chemical components.

Although the reviews are generally short, I found that there were a lot, and I mean A LOT, of high-end or well-known brands, not to mention cult favorites, that are essentially...junk...and more than likely, expensive junk.  I took quite sometime to look through Paula's Choice reviews and revamp my skincare and makeup.  Now, I don't make a purchase without consulting the website first.  Why waste money on products that don't do the job or are actually harmful to your face (hello, you only have one!)?

Hope this helps you with your future beauty purchases!  Anyone else tried Paula's Choice?

 

 

***This is not a sponsored post and we weren't compensated in any way.  We just like sharing our valuable resources with our Posh Purpose Readers!***

We're Lovin: Warby Parker's Karlie Kloss Collection

Briana and I were recently contacted by Warby Parker to help them announce their new collaboration with model Karlie Kloss (known for her campaigns with Louis Vuitton, Donna Karan, Lavin, and Lacoste just to name a few)*.  Warby Parker is an awesome company that offers affordable trendy eye wear (both sunglasses and prescription eye wear) through a few boutique stores and mail order service.  Warby Parker lets you pick up to five pairs from their online website and mails them to you for free to try for 5 days.  After your time is up, you send back the glasses (again for free).  If you like one of your choices, you place your order.  I've spent tons of money on prescription eye wear at the doctor's office, but Warby Parker's choices start at $95 for frames and prescription, that also includes options like anti-reflective coating while a doctor's office will usually add an extra fee to the bill.

Warby Parker also carries a great line of sunglasses for men and women starting at $95 for non-prescription and $150 for prescription which includes polarization.  For every pair of eye wear purchased, Warby Parker will donate another pair to someone in need.  I've had two friends use Warby Parker (both men!) and said the process was really easy.  I even helped one of them pick out the style best for him through the mail order try on service.  Aaaaand there are tons of styles and colors to choose from...including these pretty choices from the new Karlie Kloss Collection:

Image Source: Warby Parker

Image Source: Warby Parker

The Karlie Kloss Collection benefits the Edible Schoolyard NYC which provides low-income public schools with kitchens and gardens, and help students, through a hands-on curriculum led by Edible Schoolyard staff, learn the tools to develop lifelong healthy habits. The donation will benefit two community farm stands in Brooklyn and East Harlem, where kids learn about food preparation in their own neighborhoods. And as always, for every pair sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need.

The collection is composed of three styles: Julia, Marple, and Clara.  Each style is made from a titanium frame and features your choice of five gradient lens choices and silver and gold tone frames.

Marple
Heirloom Gold with Violet Clover Lenses
Image Source: Warby Parker

Clara
Heirloom Silver with Sepia Wash Lenses
Image Source: Warby Parker

Julia
Heirloom Gold with Copper Fade Lenses
Image Source: Warby Parker

My personal favorite is the Julia (says aviator without saying bad 90s episode of COPS) and Briana is totally loving the Marple style  (I think she likes the violet lens option the best!).  I really love the Warby Parker designs and the Karlie Kloss collection is a great addition to their styles.  We are also really into their business model and commitment to giving back to those in need with out sacrificing quality materials.  The starting price is $145, which is more expensive than your average pair of sunglasses from the bargain bin or Target, BUT it's also waaaaay less expensive than most other polarized sunglasses.

Both of my man friends look great in their glasses and said the whole process was really really easy.  Now if a man can get his shop on and call it a success, you know it's got to be easy!

* Although Warby Parker contacted us to help promote their new Karlie Kloss collection, we did not receive any form of compensation or free swag.  We just think Warby Parker is doing an excellent job of bringing high quality goods at affordable prices (aka the Posh Purpose way)!  All opinions are our own!

Ellis Bros. Pecans

Source: Ellis Bros

One of our favorite places to visit while traveling through Georgia is the Ellis Brothers Pecan store, so of course Mother and I stopped by on our way to Kentucky. The store has a legitimate address, but all you really need to know is exit 109 on I-75 because there are giant signs directing you through the pecan groves. The store is a family owned and run operation that sells a huge variety of pecans and peanuts, along with peaches and vidalia onions during the season, and tons of canned goods. {Side note: why is spell check not accepting 'vidalia'} And like yesterday's donut shop, this store has been featured in Southern Living multiple times.

You wouldn't expect a child to get excited about visiting a store full of pecans, but you would be wrong. My little sister and I loved going because you can sample just about everything that is being sold.

Do you see those plastic containers on the left? Those are full of candied pecans - tons of different flavor options! While sampling everything, I picked honey crunch pecans for J. The ingredients list is short: pecans, sugar, water, honey, salt, and vanilla. You can also buy bags of plain pecans, obviously. Mom always makes her pies with pecans from this store.

They also have chocolate covered pecans and peanuts. There are the regular milk and dark options, along with many more flavors. The ingredients list is always short and lacking in scary/hard to pronounce foodesque items. You can also get peanut brittle!

The canned goods section is so much fun. Mom picked up some peach vidalia onion salsa, which we sampled and loved. You can get all kinds of jellies and pickled things too. I got a jar of pickled peaches for J to try (and me to most likely finish). There was even local honeys to be had! As you can see, this place is good times all around. Next time you are driving past exit 109 on I-75, you should totally stop in, try all the samples, and then leave after filling up your trunk and back seat with delicious delicious things. Make sure to buy an extra package of candied pecans for the car ride home!

This post was not sponsored in any way. Ellis Bros. don't have a clue who I am. Well, I thought that was the case until Mother and I spilled a box of sample pecans on the floor. Now they may have our names on a list of clumsy customers.

Best Jelly Donut Ever

Now that I am back in the land of wifi and cell reception, I would like to publicly thank Melinda for keeping the blog rolling all by herself. I was in Kentucky for my cousin's wedding and learned that T-Mobile no longer believes in mountains. I had hardly any reception! That is especially odd, considering I texted my friends constantly while in high school and that involved a T-Mobile phone. I would not have survived more than a few hours without texting at that point in my life!

My mom and I had a ton of fun visiting with family, eating good food, and sightseeing in rural Georgia. I plan on sharing the good times with y'all over the coming days - just in time for you to plan a road trip during the hottest part of the year! My timing is always perfect. For now though, we will discuss the world's best jelly donut.

forgive the lack of staging and styling - one cannot afford to waste time in moments like this

I don't bother with those powdered sugar covered jelly donuts, but when my mom's cousin Lloyd introduced me to this masterpiece, I was in love. This beautiful frosting covered donut is handmade at Amon's Sugar Shack in Somerset, Kentucky. There is no official website for this family run business, but they do have a facebook page. You can find far more info in this blog post, though. Southern Living has written about Amon's Sugar Shack twice, so you know it must be good.

I have actually never been inside. The one time I stopped by myself, the store was closed, but Lloyd is so good to bring the sugary goodness home. Ugh I wish I had one right now! The jelly is slightly tart and not overly sweet, which is important when eating that pile of delicious frosting at the same time. The donut base is just your basic unglazed donut, but it will be the best unglazed donut you will ever experience. I can't say enough good things about this jelly donut, so I will leave you with the knowledge that I ate two with no regrets.

So now you know what to do if you ever find yourself near Somerset. The town sits on US-27, so make a detour and try a donut! Or possibly any of their other menu items! And let us know if you do, because I have only ever eaten the jelly donuts.

Posh Purpose Store Review: Stifel & Capra

 One of my favorite activities this past weekend was doing a little shopping in Falls Church, VA at a thrift store/antique/artisty gift shop called Stifel and Capra.  The store was packed with all sorts of great things to look at and pass an afternoon shopping.  The prices weren't exactly bargain basement, but they weren't as pricey as other antique stores and everything seemed to be in really good condition.  Here are a few of the most fun items that I spotted around the store:

Awesome retro stove and sweet child's rocking chair (wouldn't that be great with a cute pillow or repainted in a fun color?)

Love this cool patio furniture set....priced at $150 for all three pieces, it just needs some bright cushions to set it off!

Retro TV stands - $30 for 4.  These would make cute stands for party stations at an outdoor party - paper plates and napkins, beverages, bugspray/sunscreen, etc.  Also great for a little girl's sleepover!  Movie snacks and a nail painting station.

Adorable fruit coasters - $5 for the set.  I would love these in a beach house!

After a good cleaning - great for a playroom or little boy's bedroom.

Interesting light fixture - painted black or bright green this would be great in a powder room!  I believe it was about $90.

Wonderful selection of vintage hats!  I haven't seen this many ever...

Wonderful assortment of vintage clothing and jewelry.  One of the best features of the store were the jewelry cases.  They are old school and each level rotates with the flip of a switch!  Jewelry selection was awesome and priced between $5-$25.  I'm also loving the side table!  It was part of a set which included one other identical side table and a coffee table for $280.

I was also surprised to see a collection of vintage linens.  Usually, you are find linens with age spots or old food stains, but I found a large amount of great retro linens.  I consulted Briana and she said as wonderful as her Habitat ReStore is, there are usually none to be found.  Stifel & Capra's prices were a bit all over the place and I couldn't really say why some items were priced the way they were (maybe because they are a vendor based store), but I was impressed with the quality!  I didn't take advantage of it, but there was a collection of mix and match vintage hankies priced at 5 for $24 which I thought with a bit of starch could make a great set of cocktail napkins!  Here are my purchases for the day:

$22 for 6 napkins

50s Screen Printed Table Square  - $35

Hand embroidered tablecloth - $16

I couldn't photograph everything, but there is sooo much more to see at Stifel & Capra including original artwork and handmade jewelry.  The two ladies working that day were so helpful and kind.  Chatty when they needed to be and quiet when they didn't.  The store also has a generous 10 day return policy which is unheard of in thrift store/antiquing world.  Finally, for all you locals out there...the shop has a parking lot in front, so no worries on trying to find street parking or paying to park!  If you haven't checked it out yet, I hope you swing by!

Stifel & Capra

Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10-6 and Sunday: 1-5

260 West Broad St.

Falls Church, VA 22046

(703) 533-3557

Posh Purpose Review: Sephora Purifying Brush Shampoo

I think every woman should have a nice set of makeup brushes.  You don't have to wander around with a bazillion brushes like the makeup artist from X-Men or your local makeup counter salesperson, but a handful of really decent brushes makes applying cosmetics much easier.  My go to set of basic brushes includes one for concealer, foundation, powder, eye shadow, bronzer, and blush.  If you have those and an eyelash curler and tweezers, you should be set!  My brushes tend to get pretty gunked up after regular use and I've tried a few different methods for cleaning the brushes - soap and water, makeup remover towelettes, and Bare Minerals brush cleaner - but none of them worked that well.  I read a tutorial a few months ago on Fashionable Hostess on cleaning your brushes and it recommended the Sephora brand Purifying Brush Shampoo.  I decided to give it a go and ordered the small bottle for $7.

Sephora Purifying Brush Shampoo
$7-$15
Image Source: Sephora

Here's the before of my gross brushes in desperate need of cleaning.  My brushes are a mixture of Nordstrom and Bare Escentuals brand (the eye shadow brush came with the Urban Decay Naked Palette, but I kept using it after I had used up the palette).  I followed the instructions which basically consist of squirting some product in the palm of your hand, repeatedly wetting the brush and swirling it around the soap, rinsing until clean, patting dry and reshaping the brush, and then letting air dry.  I used two car shammies to blot the brushes and to lay the brushes on to dry.

Here is the after!  The biggest difference is in the bronzer and blush brushes which are now back to their normal white....but also check out the concealer brush (far left) and the eye shadow brush (middle).  Notice that the tips of the brushes are a different color now?

I've now used the Sephora Purifying Brush Shampoo twice on my brushes and it has worked out great!  The first time, my brushes were seriously nasty and it took me about 30 minutes to get them clean.  This time it was much easier since I had only let about 6 weeks pass before cleaning them again.  It took me about 15 minutes to clean them up.  My brushes feel much softer and cleaner now and I feel better about using them (no more icky bacteria on my face!).  I've only used a small bit of product, so I would feel comfortable recommending the smaller size at $7 since it should last you through several cleanings, which keeps you from shelling out $15 for brush cleaner and from having to store a bigger bottle (mine fits perfectly in the medicine cabinet).  Anyone else tried out this product?  Let us know in the comment section below!