Tag: blogging

Absences & Mind Sets

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Hi, friends!

I hope you are all having a great week and a fabulous summer. Here in Oklahoma we are experiencing another season of uncomfortable heat and it is less than fun to be sure. I’ve been pretty absent here and on my social medias lately. Taking breaks from blogging is never fun and I am the worst at taking them. I always think I stay away for too long and when I do end up coming back to blog, it won’t be worth it. Welcome to the highs and lows of Mimi. So in every aspect, I let myself down when I set goals for the month because I get sidetracked or things happen and my focus goes away.

With college starting up really soon, I know I am not going to be here as much as I used to be or as much as I would like to be. And you know what? That’s okay. It isn’t going to be the end of the world and the universe won’t explode if I don’t have a consistent blogging schedule. I would rather get a degree and work in my passion.

As for mind sets (Because we all could use a super positive mindset where we only build ourselves up!), I am working on mine. I don’t like being confused and right now, I feel majorly confused about everything that is going on in my life. The balance has been knocked out of alignment and that really freaks me out. With major life changes happening, I know that it is normal to feel this way and to want things to be centered again. Going with the flow is not one of my strong suits and I need to work on trusting that everything is going to work out.

One of my favorite songs is “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing’ don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright

It is relaxing and is my go-to song for when I am about to have an anxiety or panic attack. All I have to do is plug in the music and let it flow into my soul.

So in all of the changes going on in my life and through all the confusion, I’m trying to remember that it is going to be okay. Going with the flow is good. My wish for you is that you can go with the flow, too. Let’s all relax and “Rise up this mornin’
Smiled with the risin’ sun.”

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CaseApp Tech Gear

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Happy Friday, friends!

If you love phone cases and laptop skins like I do, you are going to love today’s post! CaseApp was kind enough to collaborate with me and I ordered two laptop skins for my MacBook Pro to spice it up. I also had the honor of hosting a giveaway on my Instagram last month with CaseApp, so if you missed out on that, make sure to follow my Instagram account so you will stay updated on when I post new giveaways!

The ordering process was really simple and if I had any problems, my PR rep Tobias was there to help me. There are a lot of skins to choose from for different laptop sizes that are all stylish and modern. If you have a phone that fits one of their case sizes, you will find a phone case or skin that you love! My phone is an odd model so there weren’t any case sizes that would fit it, thus my choice in ordering two laptop skins.

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YOLO Vivianne MacBook Pro Skin

When I was getting ready to order everything, I had 5 favorites that I couldn’t make my mind up on. A lot of “but this one is so gorgeous, too!” later, I narrowed things down to my top two favorite designs. YOLO Vivianne and Spring Flowers are my two favorite designs and they fit my personal style so well.

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Spring Flowers MacBook Pro Skin

Spring Flowers is so gorgeous and caught my eye immediately! I love the detail the little strawberries add to it and the pastel colors are beautiful.

CaseApp ships worldwide and all of the MacBook Pro skins (US priced) are $29. Since this post is going up so late, the code I had for you guys that was on my Instagram has now expired. There are a lot of bloggers who collaborate with CaseApp though, so if you support and follow fellow bloggers, one of them is sure to have a code you can use for a small discount!

Another fun fact about CaseApp: you can design your own phone case, skin, or laptop skin in their creator studio! Just select the size of your phone or laptop and then begin designing your own personalized tech gear! This feature is great if you want a family photo to be your laptop skin or phone case.

Check out CaseApp here and start browsing their designs!

I hope you had a great holiday weekend if you live in the US and that you celebrated the 4th of July safely!

See you next time,

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Beauty Serum Review | elDivine Beauty

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Hi, friends!

I hope you all are having a great week and you had a great weekend. Today’s review is more skincare and I think you will love it. I had never tried serums before and they honestly scared me, but after trying the three serum set from elDivine Beauty. I was sent the retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C kit for free (as usual, disclaimer is below.). Let me start off with a big thank you to the elDivine Beauty team for working with me! Everyone in communication has been incredibly nice and helpful whenever I had questions.

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The serum that I used the most is the Hyaluronic acid to help with my dry skin and giving my skin a glow. At night, I would sometimes add the retinol into my routine. The vitamin c serum is great in the mornings for a fresh glow! I did notice that my skin glowed really nicely when I was consistently using the serums and once I stopped using them, my skin dulled a bit. The kit is great if you are looking to add an extra step into your skincare routine and to achieve a healthy glow. Unfortunately, I failed to document my results of before and after, but I guarantee you that my skin was glowing!

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All three of the serums came in the elDivine Beauty Anti-Aging and Skin Rejuvenating kit that is $19.99 on Amazon. For the low price point, the serums are very much worth it. You don’t need to break the bank to get a glow!

Thank you to elDivine Beauty and the team for sending me the serum kit! Check out the product link below!

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elDivine Beauty Serum Set

Neocell Beauty Supplement Review | PR

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Hi, friends, and happy Thursday!

If you have been here for a while, you know I love beauty supplements and skincare things. When Jean from Neocell asked me if I would like to try two supplements, I jumped on it and said YES. I was sent the Neocell beauty chews and the Neocell Glow Matrix capsules.

The beauty chews claim to help grow your hair, skin, and nails, as well as firming your skin and giving it a glow. I was so excited to try them out because I have been trying to grow my hair out for a while now and regular biotin chews weren’t seeming to help. After a few weeks, I think my hair did grow faster and my nails definitely did! The collagen chews contain 5,000 MCG of biotin and vitamin C. The Neocell collagen chews are also non-GMO and gluten free! If you are looking at trying to grow your hair and nails quicker, it’s worth it to pick these chews up and try them out! I can’t guarantee that you will have results but I did and I didn’t think that I would.

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The Glow Matrix capsules are really cool and I do think that they improved my skin! I stopped taking them recently and I have noticed a difference in the glow of my skin. Since I have stopped taking the capsules, my skin is looking a bit dull and my acne is popping up more again. The Glow Matrix capsules are designed to give your skin a glow from the inside out and they do! I am a skeptic when it comes to certain beauty supplements but these are a keeper for me. The only weird thing I noticed while taking the capsules is that it changed the color of my urine(TMI, sorry) for a few hours after I took the capsules. It isn’t a big deal and it isn’t harmful, but you might notice that if you take the Glow Matrix capsules. The same thing happened when I was taking Stress B-Complex supplements. I 100% recommend these capsules to get a summer glow!

Thank you, Jean, for sending me these products!

As usual, I hope you guys have an amazing day and a fabulous week! Make sure to connect with me on my social media accounts (linked below!). I love talking with you guys on social media; let’s be friends!

Until next time,

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Disclaimer: these products were sent to me to review, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. I have no monetary gain by posting my review. This is purely my opinion.

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Bolzano PR

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Hey, friends!

In February, I was contacted by Bolzano Handbags PR about sending me a purse to review for their just recently launched monthly subscription box. Of course, I said yes! The absolutely lovely Leylani was my customer service representative and she is a dream to work with. She made the process so easy!

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I was sent the Alisse Messenger bag in brown and let me tell ya, I love it! Generally I am not a fan of messenger style bags because I find that they don’t have enough space to carry around all of the things I need. However, having a messenger bag has really helped me realize what I actually need and I do have enough space.

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The purse strap measures 44 inches and it is adjustable so you can get the perfect fit. There’s also a lock and key on the purse so you can keep your wallet, keys, and everything else secure. When the purse is unlocked, just pinch together the buttons on the front and your purse will open. I personally love it for the rodeo and fair seasons that are coming up! I wish I had this purse a few years ago when I was at the Tulsa State Fair!

The purse is made from cowhide, so it is real leather. Bolzano also has handbags that are made from lambskin and cowhide/lambskin combination. If you are thinking about ordering an item from Bolzano but do not want to purchase a purse or wallet that is made from animal skin, they do have options that are fabrics. If you would prefer to shop from a brand that avoids using animal hides, Bolzano isn’t the brand for you, sadly. However, there are a lot of other amazing brands that are cruelty free!

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The quality of this purse is so great and it is really sturdy, making it perfect for me! The Alisse messenger bag retails for $148. If you are looking for a well-made purse that will last you for a long time, make sure to check out this style on Bolzano’s website, which is linked above! When you tour their website, there is a chat box that pops up so there is a person to help you if you have any questions.

Thank you so much to the entire Bolzano team for sending me this amazing purse! Make sure to go check out their website and see if they have anything that suits your taste!

If you want to catch up on my previous post click here or scroll down and hit the previous post button! All of my social media links are also above and below, and I love talking with you guys on Instagram and Twitter!

What’s your favorite purse style? Let me know in the comments below!

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Disclaimer: I was not paid to review this purse or any other products from Bolzano Handbags. All opinions stated are my own and this post contains no affiliate links. Happy reading!

Unchained: A Journey In Amazing Faith & Grace pt. 1

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Unchained

Hi, friends!

So as many of you may know if you follow me on Twitter, read one of my 2017 Blogmas posts, or the post where I discussed the upcoming year, that opening up on my faith and using Glitz and Glitter as an outlet for that is something that I have wanted to do since I started Glitz and Glitter last year. The fear of backlash held me back and I started caring about what others would think, how my friends who aren’t Christians would see me, and how it might change potential business deals. I am so ashamed to say that.

Romans 12:2 tells us to not conform to the world but “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” I will be the first to tell you that my faith isn’t a solid one. Every single day, I wake up with doubts and confusion. For the past year, I have had a whole in my heart and soul and deep down I knew what it was but I didn’t want to admit it and go before God and admit that I had lost my faith. I don’t like having to admit that I am wrong and I really hate that God already knew how I truly felt and I kept pushing Him away. Having a group of people around me who would help me grow in my faith, keep me accountable, and be there for me is something that I pray for.

Recently I started listening to a podcast called That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs on Spotify and it truly helped me reconnect with my faith and help me admit that I needed to bring God back into my life again. Today while I was driving into classes, I was listening to the Jesus Calling podcast (also on Spotify, if you are interested!) and one of the guest speakers was Sadie Robertson, a young woman who I wish was my best friend and who I have admired for years. Her testimony made me cry and believe me, trying to drive safely and cry at the same time is not something I recommend! I then found a podcast episode of That Sounds Fun that had Sadie as a guest and I got so excited- two of my favorite people were collaborating on a podcast! Listening to that episode really hit me and I was ready to admit I needed God in my daily life again. That led me onto finding more podcasts (I’m thinking of doing a post on my favorite podcasts! Keep your eyes peeled!) and even more women talking about their faith and how they incorporate reading, devotions, and other things into their daily routines so they are always in a relationship with God and standing firm in their faith. I can’t tell you how much these podcasts have helped me.

Another amazing thing that I am so grateful for is having a friend who is there for me and shares my views on faith. We reconnected recently and I am so glad we did because my eyes are opening again and it is the best feeling to have someone along with you for that journey. Surrounding yourself with a group of people (or even just a few) who are going to be there for you 100% and help you grow in your faith is so essential and I have noticed that I am wanting to have that again. Keeping good influences in your life is so important because they do influence you. There is a verse in 1 Corinthians that says “Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character.” I believe in this entirely. It has such truth in my life but also in others who I know. Meeting new people is incredible and I love talking to people, but I do think that you should keep your friend circle close to you and have only people who are of a good influence to you.

Being afraid of how my faith and beliefs would change potential friendships and business interactions is not something that I am proud of. If a business deal doesn’t work out due to my faith, there will be others that will work out. If there is a friend in my life who doesn’t like the fact that I choose to love, worship, and trust my life to Jesus Christ, that’s sad and unfortunate but there will be other friends who will be beneficial to my journey. With every season there is something new to learn and meditate on. I am coming into a new season of life with a new outlook and attitude. I am open and that makes me happy. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.

I have so many new ideas and topics I am trying to plan to cover in this new area on Glitz and Glitter and I am so excited to share them with you that I am brimming with joy!

I’m going to leave you with one of my favorite verses and I’ll see you all very soon with more!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16

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Amazing PR from Mxtur

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stella bistro

Bonjour, babes!

Today’s post is a review for PR that I was sent from Mxtur and let me tell ya, there are some new faves! If you haven’t seen Mxtur on Instagram or heard about them, Mxtur is a great brand that is the creation of two women in New York (yay, US based brand!) who strive to create products that are made fresh from natural ingredients.  Because their products are handmade with no chemicals or preservatives, you can feel good about using any of their products.

I was sent a face mask, face/body scrub, and a soap bar in a recent PR package from Mxtur and I am in love with the prodcuts!

Lemon and Mint Face/Body Scrub

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This is one of my favorite face scrubs ever! It smells so good and my skin feels soft, fresh, and revitalized after I use it.  It’s also great for acne prone skin because the lemon oil and fresh lemon work as an antibacterial and mint helps your skin with acne scarring.  The scrubs retail for $10 and believe me, it is worth every penny.

Noor Face Mask

I’m not going to lie, I am not a huge fan of how this mask smells.  I’ve never used turmeric before so I think that might be it.  I do have a sensitive sense of smell, so this isn’t the first product that has had this effect on me.  But I love how my face looked after I used the mask- even just one time! It brightened my skin and it feels so luxurious.  The Noor Face Mask retails for $8 on Mxtur’s website.

Matcha Face & Body Soap

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I’m not typically a fan of soap bars but I really like the Matcha Face and Body Soap.  It leaves my skin feeling super soft and moisturized, plus it is great when I need to quickly cleanse my face.  It doesn’t leave a residue on my skin like some soap bars do and it is so great for my skin.  Matcha is really amazing for your skin, too! The Matcha Face and Body Soap bar is $8.

Now you guys know that I have a little something for ya! Mxtur was kind enough to give me a discount code that you guys can use on their website to get 15% off! When you check out, use code Glitz15 and you can save some coin on your fabulous products!

Mxtur is looking at launching a subscription service, too, so make sure to sign up for their newsletter on their website to stay updated!

Thank you so much to Mxtur for sending me a PR package!

I hope you all have a fabulous week and survive this Monday!

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It’s Here: Glitz & Glitter Spotlight

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Hi, babes!

Welcome back to part 2 of the Glitz & Glitter Spotlight! This is another list of blogs I am loving at the moment and I truly think you should support these bloggers! I have a few more installments coming after this, so be ready for more amazing blogs!

My Passion Projects

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photo owned by Maud @ My Passion Projects

Maud is the lovely owner and creator of My Passion Projects, a blog where you can find so many resources on writing, self-help, exploration, and personal development.  The layout of My Passion Projects is so clean and feminine, which is something I love! Maud has really put so much heart into My Passion Projects and I know you are going to love it as much as I do.  There are also freebies and tips, so you have no reason to not check out Maud’s site! The link is in the blog title! (*wink*) Two of my favorites on MPP are the Starters Guide To Living Healthy and 10 Highly Inspirational TED Talks.

I’ve Found Waldo

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photo owned by Melina @ I’ve Found Waldo

Melina, what a darling! Her blog I’ve Found Waldo is so chic and I love all of the bullet journal posts she has.  I really admire people who keep bullet journals because that stuff takes commitment.  Melina is an overall fun person and I love her social media feeds.  Two of my favorite posts on I’ve Found Waldo are 2018 Bullet Journal Set Up and 2018 Skincare Routine .

Born To Be Bright

Sofia’s blog Born To Be Bright is everything I love in the blogging world.  Her site layout, the themes, and the vibes from BTBB are stellar and I love how you can see all the though she puts into her blog.  I also really like supporting bloggers who have been around for a bit and Sofia started blogging back in 2013.  One of my faves on Born To Be Bright is Stay Moisturized This Winter because heavens know I need it!

Soulful Seeds

Zahra’s blog Soulful Seeds is a great site for how to live a great life and grow spiritually.  From forming healthy relationships with food to killing 5 bad morning habits, Soulful Seeds has many resources to help you along in your spiritual journey.  Zahra’s site is so chill and gorgeous and she is so welcoming. Check out Zahra on Twiter and Pinterest for even more inspo!

Beauty Folio

So I know what you are thinking: “Mimi, what’s Beauty Folio?” Well, since you asked, Beauty Folio is the gorgeous creation from Emma, natural beauty lover.  Her blog is beautiful and I love her posts on Glossier, beauty boxes, and product reviews.  I always love reading about natural beauty products or ethically made products because if there are good products to replace some of the brands I currently use, I am all for it.  Make sure to connect with Emma on her Twitter and gorgeous Instagram feed!

The Thrifting Ginger

I love book bloggers and YouTubers because they have such a fun blogging category.  They can get lost in a book and then have an outlet where they can tell everyone their thoughts.  Plus by reading a book blog post on a book that I may want to read, I can get a better insight on the book itself and determine if I still want to read it or not.  Raylynn at The Thrifting Ginger does just that and her blog is so enjoyable to read.  I particularly love her post on Dancing for Degas. She also loves thrifting (if you couldn’t tell by the title!).

Homebird Hang-Ups

Animals, books, mental health, and home…sounds like a great blog, right? The answer is yes, yes it is.  Homebird Hang-Ups is a blog that has all of that and more in one place.  Claire is a great person and I love seeing her journey through blogging.  Two of my favorite posts on Homebird Hang-Ups are You OK Hun and St. Lucia Likes, Loves, and Loathes.  You can also find Claire on Instagram (trust me, you’ll want to follow her feed!)!

That’s all of the blogs and bloggers mentioned in this part of the Glitz and Glitter Spotlight! The third part will be out soon and I can’t wait for you to see the other blogs!

I hope you all have a great week and a fabulous weekend!

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Blogmas | Day 5

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Happy Saturday, babies!

Today’s Blogmas post is a great one and a collaboration with one of my favorite bloggers, Cait from Lipsticks and Acrylics.  She is tackling a holiday inspired drink and I tried my hand at a dessert! Make sure to check out her post!

When I was trying to find a good recipe for this collab, I took to Pinterest and searched the thousands of holiday recipes they have.  I needed something easy and quick, as the days leading up to today were extremely busy for me.  I found a recipe for Gingerbread Truffles and headed to the store!

 

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These truffles are so incredibly easy to make, the most technical part being dipping them in white chocolate.  I didn’t add as much cinnamon or ginger as the recipe called for because I didn’t want to overpower them.  I also didn’t have any molasses but I did have maple syrup and it worked great!

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I also took most of the truffles to a bowling party we had last night and they were all gone by the end of the night! If you have a holiday party to go to, these little babies are a delicious addition to a dessert table!

I also added some red and green sprinkles for holiday pizazz! If you take photos of your truffles, make sure to have good lighting and don’t wait until it is completely dark outside like I did!

Thanks for reading and happiest of holidays! Make sure to check out Cait’s post here!

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Blogmas | Day 4

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Blogmas day4 (1)

Things I Learned From Christmas With the Kranks…

I love Christmas and all that it stands for. Some of our family traditions involve watching our favorite Christmas movies and my personal favorite is Christmas With the Kranks.

Today’s post is a blogger collab with Phy. She is writing about the same theme but with a different movie. Go check her post out!

Christmas With the Kranks is my favorite holiday film because I find it to teach a few things. Here are two incredibly important reasons why I love CWtK.

  • It shows the importance of thankfulness and saying “Thank You”.

In the film, Luther has a difficult time thanking everyone for their help in creating a picture perfect party last minute due to his daughter’s surprise visit. He knows that his attitude was unkind and saying a simple “thank you” was so incredibly humbling, he couldn’t find the heart to do it. “Thank you” was kind of like an apology.  Sometimes saying “Thank You” is hard, but is shows someone that you are truly appreciate of what they did for you.  Luther’s neighbors didn’t have to help him and Nora out.  They helped them because it was mainly for Blair. 

  • Acceptance of others and their opinion.

After Nora and Luther tell everyone that they are skipping the holiday to go on a cruise, their friends instantly acted like a major crime was being committed. What their friends failed to realize was that Nora and Luther were spending their first Christmas without their daughter. It was going to be hard to celebrate without her with them. Not everyone celebrates Christmas and that is okay.

What are your favorite Christmas films and lessons they teach? Let me know in the comments below!

You can find Phy’s post here! 

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