Category Archives: Beauty and whatnot

Hair Care + The Like

still being molly - outfit post photo bloopers

This is how I feel about hair care.

I will be honest, I am NOT great with hair. I mean, I know how to wash and dry it properly. I know about “leave-in” treatments and all that jazz (even though I don’t do them like I know I probably should…). Hair is just not my strong suit.

I mean, remember that time I did a hair curling tutorial? Yeah, I try not to, either.

Anyway, even since I chopped all my hair off and donated it, I thought by doing so I’d be making my hair life a whole lot easier and that it would feel healthier and whatnot.

Well, I’ll be honest, it hasn’t. My hair has just felt blech and dull and more blech and more dull lately. I blowdry it and I flat iron it, but if I try to curl it, it looks awful. And overall, the texture of my hair has just not felt awesome.

I know it sounds like I’m being complainy and I don’t mean to at all – I’m just being real. I don’t love my hair 99% of the time. I LOVE my hair when I leave the salon, but once I get home and I’m on my own when it comes to care and styling, that’s when it all goes downhill.

One thing that I’ve never honestly felt confident in is my styling products of choice – especially with my shampoo and conditioner.

Now, I’ve used the same shampoo forever (I have awkwardly dry scalp) and so I have to use a moisturizing product and I will switch up my conditioners to see what I like. But I’ve never found a combination that I REALLY like.

I find that the products I use either make my hair dry and frizzy or they weigh it down and my hair feels greasy and I’ve just blow dried it. Know what I mean? Does that happen to you? Am I the only one?! I just want my hair to feel like it feels when I leave the salon and pay someone else to wash and dry it without spending $25 on a bottle of shampoo. IS THAT SO HARD TO ASK FOR?! No? Yes?

Also, a side note, some women when they’re pregnant have GREAT, shiny, vibrant hair – while others while they’re pregnant end up with dull, dry hair. Yeah, I’m in the later of those groups. *Le sigh*

ANYWHO. Rambling.

I was recently sent samples of the new Vidal Sassoon Pro Series moisture shampoo and conditioner. I honestly have never used or even tried Vidal Sassoon products, but I’ve always heard great things about them.

still being molly - Vidal Sassoon Pro Series review

Well, I’ve been using the samples for the past couple of days, and while I’ll be totally honest with you and say they aren’t “life changing” hair products, I do have to say that I really like the way my hair has felt this week!

The shampoo and conditioner both have a light, but pleasant smell and best of all they DON’T leave residue! Now one day I DID NOT blow dry my hair to see how my hair air-dried with these products and the other day I DID to see how my hair reacted to it being, well, blow-dried with these products.

When I DIDN’T blow-dry my hair, my hair was definitely a little more static-y than normal so I had to use a spray to control fly-aways, but when I blow-dried my hair, it felt soft and not too dried out and again NO residue which made me happy!

It’s hard to tell because I was on my own taking these photos and the wind was blowing like CRAZY, but this is my hair when it’s air dried and just flat ironed a little (it looks a little flat here because, again, the wind was blowing like crazy… forgive me):

And sadly, the close up pictures of my hair did not come out great when I took the blow-dried photos over the weekend. But, this photo from yesterday’s post, is what my hair looked like when I used the products and blow-dried my hair. It’s a little more full and has more volume:

Overall I really liked the Vidal Sassoon moisture shampoo and conditioner and will definitely keep using them for the rest of the month to get a more accurate picture of how my hair interacts with them. However, I can’t honestly say right off the bat that they are the best thing since sliced bread, but I do like them.

Have you ever tried Vidal Sassoon products? What hair products are YOUR must-haves? What would you suggest for a hair-challenged person like me to use?

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Great hair doesn’t have to cost a fortune. At Kroger, you can achieve salon-inspired results, brilliantly priced, when you purchased new Vidal Sassoon Pro Series hair products. Download coupons for the already affordable products, now through March 2. Happy shopping (and shampooing)!

I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.

Glossy Blonde Giveaway + #YOLOmondays Link-Up!

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Hey everyone! I am SO pumped to introduce you to Niki from Glossy Blonde AND share an AWESOME beauty giveaway with you. If you don’t already know Niki, you’re seriously missing out. She is one of my DAILY blog reads. I LOVE her sweet, fun personality, her amazing sense of style, and she shares some crazy AMAZING recipes.

Anyway, I’ll stop rambling, here’s Niki!

Giveaway from Glossy Blonde Hi! I’m Niki and I blog over at Glossy Blonde. Glossy Blonde is a lifestyle blog with a focus on great beauty products (“Glossy” comes from my obsession with lip gloss!), fabulous fashion finds, my own personal style… and given my uncontrollable sweet tooth, I also like to throw a fun and unique baking recipe in there from time to time! Stop on by and say hello! I’d love to meet you!

Niki has been SO generous to give one lucky still being [molly] reader a $25 gift card to Sephora! Use the Rafflecopter tool below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
NOW it is time for the #YOLOmondays LINK-UP with my awesome co-host Carly from Lipgloss & Crayons! If this is your first time here, #YOLOmondays is a chance for us to link up anything we want (as long as it’s a blog post…). You know, cause it’s Monday, and what better way to jazz up your mundane Monday than to link up and meet some new bloggers? Carly and I love seeing y’all linked up every week!

The Rules for #YOLOMONDAYS Link-Ups: Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] and Carly at Lipgloss & Crayons!
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun! Cause #YOLO!

Rodan + Fields Skincare Giveaway + #YOLOmondays Link-Up!

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I am SO excited to be able to share today’s giveaway with y’all and introduce you to my sweet friend Kristin!

Kristin and I went to college together (we were totally nerdy English majors together! Go Captains!). And even though we live in totally different parts of the country, we’ve kept in touch through social media and whatnot. You know how it goes.

This is Kristin:

Anywho. So I could go on and on about how awesome Kristin is, but I’ll let her speak for herself. Mmmkay? Yay!

Me (Molly): Hi Kristin, I know you, but my readers don’t. Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself.

Kristin: I am a nerdy, neurotic English major who was lucky enough to inherit her Dad’s sense of humor and weird toes, her mom’s gumption, and her Granny’s twitch when she walks. I’m fiercely protective of my family and friends, I love board games, I get anxious when I travel, I love the Pittsburgh Steelers, I refuse to ever follow a recipe the way its written, and I wish I lived next door to my sister…or at the very least in the same state. Mom to two cats, Atticus and Pip, and wife to writer husband Mike.

I am a technical writer and marketing specialist by trade and heard about the incredible business opportunity with Rodan + Fields in August 2012. I immediately realized that I was looking at something that would change my life. I’d been running the hamster wheel of working just to pay bills and feeling like I’d never get ahead, so when I learned about the incredible potential with Rodan + Fields, I jumped in with both feet. I’m thrilled to say that it’s been one of the best decisions of my life.

Me: That’s awesome! I’m so glad you’re doing so well and LOVING what you do! Now, what is RODAN + FIELDS?

Kristin: Rodan + Fields Dermatology is the clinical skincare line created by the doctors who created ProActiv Solution – which is now a $6 BILLION dollar brand!

The brand was first launched in high-end retails stores in 2002, and became the top-selling clinical skincare brand in Nordstrom by 2007! The doctors then transitioned into the network marketing model and sales have quadrupled! Independent consultants can build million-dollar businesses leveraging the incredible programs and technological tools that helped Rodan + Fields win the Direct Selling Association’s Rising Star Award! Me: That sounds awesome, but why? What made a technical writer like you want to do this?

Kristin: Despite thinking that I didn’t have an entrepreneurial bone in my body, starting my own business with Rodan + Fields has opened so many doors for me, both financially and personally. I’ve been able to make an extra income right away, but I’ve also been able to really grow more confident and realize that not only CAN I do this, but I’m good at it and I LOVE it. I love the opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone and coach other people who want to earn full-time income in part-time hours!

Me: Yay! That’s awesome, Kristin! Thanks for stopping by the blog.

Editor’s Note: Kristin sent me a sample of the mini-facial that included micro-dermabrasion and a lip renewing serum and oh my goodness. I LOVED it. The products left my skin feeling SO clean and not like there was any residue or anything like that. And my husband even complimented on how glowy my skin looked that day. Seriously. I was amazed!

Side note: Kristin is looking for people to join her team. Anyone who is motivated, coachable, and has 10-15 hours a week can succeed in this business. Simply call or email Kristin to talk about the opportunity (contact info is on her website khilleary.myrandf.com)

Kristin also has a great Preferred Customer program that gives 10% off and free shipping!

Anywho. Enough rambling. Time to check out the AMAZING giveaway!

Kristin is offering ONE lucky still being [molly] reader: A free, full-sized regimen of your choice (up to a $193 value). Choose from four regimens including ANTI-AGE, to help turn back the clock on your skin; SOOTHE, for sensitivity; REVERSE, to help reverse the signs of sun-damage and dark marks; and UNBLEMISH, to help treat and prevent acne.

Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] and Carly at Lipgloss & Crayons!
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun! Cause #YOLO!

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Feeling Radiant, Bubbly, & Ziggy Zaggy

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Have you entered my Cowboy Boot giveaway from Boot Barn yet? No? you should!

Outfit Deets:

Dress: Everly, purchased at Fedora Boutique in Carrboro (Exact one here on ModCloth)
Shoes: Target (here)
White Bubble Necklace: JCrew via eBay (here for $11)
Clutch: Vintage Prada
Makeup (eyeshadow, lipgloss, and eyeliner): c/o Radiant Cosmetics

You guys, this is what I wore to my sorority sister’s wedding last weekend. I’m going to be honest with you. The reasons for purchasing this dress were two-fold:

I needed a new dress because the last time I bought a dress was like… I dunno… a long time ago.
I AM OBSESSED WITH IT. I saw it on Fedora Boutique’s facebook page and couldn’t run to the store fast enough to try it on. And then I tried it on. And BOOM. I knew it needed to be mine. (But don’t fret, if you love it too, ModCloth has it!)

Because I like to keep it real, I thought I would also show you my “getting ready” process AND tell you about an amazing company in the process.

Nicole, the FABULOUS woman who runs Radiant Cosmetics, contacted me a little while back and asked about sponsoring the blog. When I told her that my sponsorships go to our Kenya mission trip, it turned out to be a GREAT fit! It turns out that she, too, loves the Lord and launched Radiant Cosmetics to help fight human trafficking – another issue that I happen to be really passionate about. 20% of Radiant’s profits go DIRECTLY to an organization located in Austin, Texas that is housing young girls who’ve been rescued out of the sex trafficking industry. Amazing.

Anyway, you’ll be hearing more about Radiant I’m sure, but she did send me a few products to try, and since I was getting ready for the wedding, I thought it would be a perfect time to give them a whirl.

Nicole sent me an eyeshadow “Alchemy“, a brown eyeliner in “Brownie“, and a lipgloss in “Blush.”

So yeah, please excuse the TOTALLY awkward up-close nature of this next set of photos:

I took the same photo before and after I put my makeup on. And I used ALL of Radiant’s products along with a couple of my own that I had previously.

Now, a note – I have CRAZY sensitive skin. Like, I am allergic to EVERYTHING. I don’t know what it is. I have the WORST luck with eye shadows making my eyelids all itchy and irritated and it’s embarrassing and lame. I’m also allergic to like a bajillion lipgloss / lipstick / chap stick brands. I have no idea why.

Radiant’s products didn’t make me itchy, irritated, or swollen all night. In fact, I couldn’t even tell I was wearing them. I was SO EXCITED.

Here’s the Alchemy Eyeshadow on my hand. Super pigmented and went on pretty smoothly.

This is the Brownie eyeliner. I LOVE IT. It went on so smooth and I didn’t feel like it was choppy looking at all. I am NOT great at putting eyeliner on and it was even easy for me. I also love the little smudgy thing on the other end of the eyeliner. I don’t know what the smudgy thing is called… but I like it.

Again, excuse the awkward up-close nature of this photo, but I wanted to show you what the eyeshadow and eyeliner looked like when I put them on. For my final look I did end up using a few other colors to give some definition around the eyes.

And about this lipgloss… other than it being the perfect shade of pink… it smells SO GOOD. Seriously. I kinda wanna eat it, but I don’t think that would be wise.

…ANNNNNND I forgot to take pictures of me doing my hair. But I did my hair the way I did it that one time I did a HAIR TUTORIAL. Oh man, remember that? So, if you wanna know how I did my hair, you can watch that incredibly embarrassing video.

But, this is me all finished!

Apparently I’m not good at taking pictures in hotel rooms with husband.

that’s better. me and the hubster.

me and my grandlittle claire. you might recognize her from amy’s shower last week. claire also happens to share my affinity for diet coke. i love her.

me and janeberry. jb was one of my bridesmaids, she was my roommate in college, and i love her. a lot.

I love Phi Mu weddings because you know that there’s always going to be hilarious photobombs and tons of dancing.

me and the beautiful bride, jessica. (i still swear she looks like sarah jessica parker)

Yeah, so photo overload in this post. But what can I say? I love photos and I love my friends and I love basically “scrapbooking” some of my life on this here blog.