Long overdue review of Parnevu hair products

*These items were sent by Parnevu for me to review. I am not being compensated in any way and all opinions are my own.*

***Edited 5/16/2013 to finally add pictures to this review.***

 

This review is LOOOOONG overdue, and I apologize to Parnevu for the delay in my posting. Hannah and I were sent 3 products to use and review. We got to pick from a list of haircare products so that we could find something that best suited to our needs. Which I loved, because who knows our hair better than us?

I was first told about Parnevu by a friend and fellow blogger Harajuku Girl, you should check out her review.
I have to say I am not disappointed in the products that we tried even though one of them wasn't the best choice for us. I'm just going to focus on the other two products, one of which is now a must have for our home.

My hair is naturally curly, the amount of frizz and poof depends on the humidity. Here in Missouri, humidity is something you can't get away from. It is like a creepy stalker just waiting for the opportunity to attack the hair of innocent people. My hair is also damaged from bleaching it so I could have awesome fun colored hair. Hannah is biracial, her hair is course, frizzy, dry, poofy, and she has ALOT of hair to try to manage. When her hair is managed it is a gorgeous combo of banana curls and spirally curls.



Hannah's hair before using Parnevu products.




Hannah's hair before using Parnevu products.

 We tried using the Parnevu T-Tree shampoo on Hannah first. She has a problem with a dry flaky scalp and I thought it might help with that for her. Here is the listing for the shampoo from the site. The shampoo didn't smell  like what I thought it would since it has tea tree oil in it. I expected the medicinal scent typical of tea tree oil, I was happily surprised that it had a nice smell to it. You could smell the tea tree oils, but it wasn't overpowering at all. After 3 washes using the shampoo she suggested that we use it on me and not her. It seemed to dry the ends of her hair more than it had been and she said that her head itched more. I can tell you that her hair was softer and had more shine to it after using the shampoo. I then used the shampoo and really liked it, but then my mom took what was left from me. Mom tends to have oily hair if it isn't washed every day and she is always complaining of itchy scalp. She has used it a few times and reports that she REALLY likes the shampoo and that I am not getting it back!

The next product that we tried and am absolutely in love with is the T-Tree leave in conditioner. This is a product that I see us using for a long time. Here is the site listing for it. It smells so good! The price is awesome for the big bottle that you get, plus a little goes a long way. You can use it on dry or wet hair too. Hannah and I both use this daily on our hair. After a shower we rub a small blob of it in our hands and then apply it to our wet hair, then comb through. It doesn't leave your hair feeling sticky or heavy like alot of other brands that we have used, and the scent stays all day. In the mornings I apply a small amount to our hair the same way I do when it is wet. The brush goes right through our hair and the leave in conditioner helps to manage the frizziness!!! Another plus I have found with it is... my hands are not as dry or my cuticles either. Our curls are much more defined, our hair is so shiny and soft, and the frizz monster stays away most of the day. I really wish Blogger would let me show you pics of her hair, it is amazing the difference. I am so happy with this product and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone no matter their hair type or ethnicity. 

After using Parnevu maybe 3 times!



After using Parnevu maybe 3 times!




Look at how defined her curls are! Notice that the amount of frizziness has greatly improved. This is only after a few times of using Parnevu products.

 The last product we tried was the Extra Dry Oil Replenisher, you can see the listing here.I am sure this product would work well for someone else, it just wasn't for us. Had I read the description better I would have known that. It smells wonderful though. I have passed this on to my niece to try out on her hair since she uses heated stylers on her hair. Her hair is also a different texture than Hannah's, so I'm sure that it will work great for her.

I want to address something that I am sure some readers will be asking. "This product seems to be more for African Americans or biracial hair types, will it work for me?" Absolutely it could! Most of the ingredients are the same as you will find in other brands, just different formulas. I suggest that you take your time and read the descriptions of the products to find a good fit for your hair type and needs. My mom and  are both white women with 2 completely different hair types and needs and the shampoo worked great for both of us. Hannah is biracial and we both use the leave in conditioner, and it is a holy grail for both of us. There is also a toll free number you can call with any questions. 

I am looking froward to placing an order soon to try the 3-Step Power Pack, T-Tree Scalp Oil, and Hannah wants to try the T-Tree Relaxer - Regular strength.

You can find the Parnevu site by clicking here.
You can find their fan page by clicking here.
You can find their Twitter by clicking here.

I had great service from Panevu for all of my questions, prices are very affordable, and I found a holy grail product for us. So I give Parnevu..... 5 cupcakes!

Peace, Love and Cupcakes!

Boston, you are in my thoughts!

I am not going to make a post other than this today due to the tragic events in Boston today. 

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is affected in anyway by the bombings. Please take a few minutes to send up prayers, good thoughts, or however you personally choose to acknowledge all those injured, who have died, those who are helping the victims, their families, friends, and those who are reading and watching the aftermath. Tragedies like this affect so many people in so many different ways!

May all of you find peace and comfort in knowing that there are millions of people all over the world who are thinking and praying for you. May this terrible event bring people closer together instead of ripping them apart. For those helping, police, fireman, bystanders, doctors, nurses, clergy, friends and family find the strength they need, the comfort they will need now and in the days to come, the steady hands while giving medical attention, and the wisdom to make clear decisions. Let their selfless actions show others that with love we can make a difference.

Peace, Love and Cupcakes!

Grenades and classified info

*I was not bribed, paid, or held as a P.O.W. in order to get me to make this post. All opinions are my own.*

Today I am bringing you a treat from a great little indie shop. This company is owned and operated by a dear friend of mine Candy. Some of you may know her already, she was formerly Candy's Sweet Treats. Due to some crappy circumstances that were not her fault, Candy decided to change the name of her shop. While doing so, she made some awesome changes to her packaging and improved her already great products as well. Might I add that Candy was doing alot of this while being deployed overseas serving our country! Her mind is always working on new products and just being an all around better company for her customers. In all honesty, I think the new name and direction of the company is so much more fitting for her. 

Photo courtesy of LGC.

LGC offers a nice variety of products including loose and pressed eye shadows, blushes, and face masks. Coming soon will be scents, multi tasking cuticle cream, and a mixing medium that can be used to apply shadows wet, make your own liners, and as a primer too. Her shadows are offered in sets or individual jars, you can even purchase samples too. The prices range from 5 samples for $3 to $5.50 for a 5gr jar to $12.50 for a 3 shade collection to $25 for a custom 4 shade pressed palette. 

Range of shadow colors offered. Photo courtesy of LGC

Spooky Missile Collection offered in 2 sizes. Photo courtesy of LGC.

There are 5 blushes available and come in a 10gr jar for $9.50. There are some gorgeous shades to pick from!

Rose Rocket blush $9.50. Photo courtesy of LGC.

I am really excited for the cuticle cream to be listed for sale in the shop. My cuticles are so finicky about the products I use on them. A product may work for a week or two and then it just stops working. Candy has made me some custom face creams in the past and they were amazing. I am sure that her cuticle cream wont disappoint me! 

Speaking of custom products... Candy is always open to help you out by creating custom products. Before her name change she created a customized collection for my girls. It was the perfect shades for little ladies. The girls and I couldn't have been happier with them! 

So I'm sure you want the links on where to find the shop and fan page right? Let me just tell you that you want to watch the fan page. There are lots of discount codes, giveaways and other surprises happening that you wont want to miss!

You can find the fan page by clicking here.

You can find the shop by clicking here.

Oh yeah I almost forgot to let you know, Candy is offering my readers a nice little discount code! If you use the code SpreadTheWord you will get 15% off of your order. This code is good for the month of April. Make sure you like her fan page, let her know I sent you and also thank her for the discount.

Peace, Love and Cupcakes!

Wearing Rosie Colored Glasses

*This dog was adopted by my family, all opinions are my own and Rosie has not paid, bullied or blackmailed me into saying anything!*

I just realized that I have not shared with you our newest addition Rosie. She is a beagle (probably mix) that is about 1 and a half years old. We adopted her about a month ago. 

Rosie has been a perfect fit with our little family, she is sweet, quirky and full of love. She has tons of energy and lives to go out and play with the kids. She loves her toys, especially squeaky ones and loves to play fetch. Miss Rosie likes to chew up anything she can get her teeth on, so I am always on the lookout for something to keep her mouth busy for more than 5 minutes LOL! She can devour an 8 inch thick rawhide braid in less than 2 hours. She claimed one of the girls old Bratz dolls and gnawed him to pieces. We started playing a game because of her love for that doll, it is called Guess this body part. 

Rosie and her rawhide braid.

Rosie and her Bratz doll. LOL

She is a lover, a snuggler, and a freakin bed hog! Miss Thang doesn't think she should lay on the floor....EVER. 

Rosie is quite the little diva. She loves the girly life of being pretty, sparkles and getting her mani/pedis done.

Her Easter necklace.

We are over the moon with having Rosie with us. She has a few bad habits that we are working on, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. I can handle her getting into the trash or chewing up a pair of undies when this is what I get to see at the end of the day.

If you have any suggestions on chew toys for Rosie or places for me to scope out doggie stuff please let me know. I am always interested in trying new things for Rosie. 

Peace, Love and Cupcakes...and now doggie drool too!

Another quick update

I wanted to give a quick update here so that you all didn't give up on me. I am super sick right now, probably bronchitis :o( I have no voice right now, fever, yucky cough, wheezing, just all around feeling lousy!

I also am trying to cope with the sudden passing of a dear friend who left this world way too soon. Jess left behind her husband and stepson, 2 fur babies and many family and friends that were her world. As much as my heart is hurting right now, I know there are many others who are just as devastated by her sudden passing. Please tell those you love what they mean to you, give them a hug, spend some time with them, you never know what tomorrow may bring. I know I would love to have the chance to spend another day laughing, pigging out on chocolate cake, and getting into some sort of trouble with Jess. We always seemed to find harmless (mostly) mischief somewhere! She was a tell it like it is kind of person who pulled no punches. She loved with all she had and was fiercely loyal to those she loved. I can't remember a time of being around her or a phone call that there wasn't uncontrollable laughter involved. She loved music and singing, her smile lit up a room. I remember her telling me one time that music was her way of escaping when she needed to. It's funny how people are put into our paths at certain times of our lives. I met Jess not long after I had moved into mine and the girls first apartment almost 10 years ago. The girls and I were doing laundry and there was a man and his son down there, we started talking and the next thing I knew...there she was. Her then boyfriend (now husband) had went and told her to "Come meet the nice lady he had been talking to." From there it was history and our friendship grew, we were almost inseparable for a long time. We shared so much with each other good and bad, supported each other, and loved each other. I can't tell you how many hours we spent just talking. Even though she had married and moved we kept in touch by emails, phone, texts, and facebook. Our conversations no matter who started them always started with "HEY HOOKER!" even if it was in the middle of WalMart. LOL 

I am going to stop here, I really didn't intend on this being so long. Please keep Jess's family and friends in your thoughts, this has been a devastating loss for so many people. Thank you to those who have had so many kind words of love and support, I love you all! Really as much as my heart aches, I can't imagine how hard this is for her family. They are the ones who need the most support, strength, peace and prayers right now and future. 

Jess, you have your wings now, soar high my friend. Give Grams my love and tell her Cookie says to take good care of you. I hope you know just how much your friendship meant to me. I will hold the memories we made close to my heart always. You were one of a kind. I know you will be watching over all of us, and every butterfly I see will remind me of that! I love you, rest in peace my sweet friend. 

Peace, Love and Cupcakes!

Quick update

I wanted to let you all know that I am down for the count. My back has been giving me fits for the past week, and it has finally won. It went completely out yesterday. Booooooooo! I will be back to posting as soon as I am able. 

Peace, Love, and Cupcakes!

China Glaze Hologlam 2013 holographic polishes

***All products purchased by me, all opinions are my own. I am providing a link to the shop where I purchased my products. I have no affiliation with the shop.***

Today I have swatches of 4 of the new China Glaze Hologlam polishes. I recently grabbed them from an Ebay shop for $3.50 each, which was a steal. The shops prices have gone up to $5.95 now, but even at that price it is still a great deal.

I love China Glaze polishes, they are good quality, easily accessible and a great price. China Glaze usually always knocks it out of the park with their collections. With that said, I am a bit disappointed in this collection. (insert sad cupcake face here) I was expecting alot more holographic goodness out of these polishes. The colors are nice, they are just lacking in the holographic department in my opinion. I had to have direct sunlight on the swatches to really be able to enjoy them at all. I just think given the more wintery/fall color scheme that this collection has that if worn in those months there will be alot more disappointed folks out there. I really wish that there had been more spring/summer color choices in this collection. I personally think it would have been a better choice on China Glaze's part. Most of us match our polishes to what we are wearing, and in spring/summer months you see more bright vivid colored clothing being worn.

Now that I have all that out of the way, let me share the swatches with you.

Sci-Fly-By, Galactic Gray, When Stars Collide, and OMG A UFO

Swatches taken in normal indoor light.

Galactic Gray, OMG A UFO, When Stars Collide, Sci-Fly-By

Swatches taken under desk lamp.

Sci-Fly-By, When Stars Collide, OMG A UFO, Galactic Gray

Swatches taken in direct sunlight on the next 2 pictures.

Galactic Gray, OMG A UFO, When Stars Collide, Sci-Fly-By

Sci-Fly-By, When Stars Collide, OMG A UFO, Galactic Gray

Sci-Fly-By had the strongest holo effect out of these 4 polishes, and is my favorite. OMG A UFO had the second strongest effect, and my second choice. In being honest, I don't think I would have bought these polishes if I had seen them in person beforehand. There are much better choices in mainstream and indie companies when looking for great linear holographic polishes. Of course this wont stop me from loving and buying China Glaze products in the future.

Ebay shop where I purchased from can be found by clicking here.

I would give this set of 4 polishes... 3 out of 5 cupcakes.

The polishes went on nice and even, took 1-2 coats for full opacity, and dried quickly.

Peace, Love and Cupcakes!