December 2016 | Favorites

January 2, 2016 Red Rose & Honey2 Comments

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe another year is in the books. I think 2015 was a great year for me and I am excited to see what 2016 has in store. Hopefully my blog gains a lot more followers too! Here are some of my favorite products from December.

Philosophy Back to Nurture Oil Gelee

I have to write about his product first because I am blown away by how great it has been. Over Thanksgiving weekend I stopped at Ulta in hopes of finding a good serum. I tried two Clinique serums which both caused breakouts. I usually don’t impulse buy skincare products, but I saw this gelee next to Philosophy’s Take A Deep Breath moisturizer which I love in the summer months. An Ulta salesperson said the gelee was a new product, so grabbed it.

The Back to Nurture Oil Gelee is meant to give your skin serious hydration. It is a light weight oil (lighter on your skin than coconut oil) that you can apply morning and night. I started by applying it only at night to make sure I didn’t breakout. For the past month I have been using this product twice a day and I LOVE it. My skin, especially my t-zone, gets very dry in the winter. This product has kept my skin so hydrated without causing breakouts. I have seen a tremendous improvement in my skin overall. Since using this product my skin looks brighter and more plump. I have even noticed improvement in the appearance of dry lines. My makeup also applies nicely over this product. The only downside of this product is the price. I’ve gone through almost half a bottle in one month. Also, like many Philosophy product this one has a scent, but it is very mild.

OGX Eucalyptus Mint Shampoo

As I have mentioned in previous posts, my skin and scalp get dry in the winter. The crown of my head always seems to be dry and itchy. I started using this Eucalyptus Mint Shampoo a few months ago and love it. My scalp has barely been itchy. I usually wash my hair twice week, which definitely helps to combat dryness. OGX is frequently on sale at Ulta which makes it a great buy.

BareMinerals Deluxe Original Mineral Foundation

Around the holidays, BareMinerals offers a deluxe size original foundation. It is a great value if you regularly use this product. It is more than twice the size of the standard package, but not twice the price. The original foundations last for a long time. The special holiday packaging is really pretty too. I have actually found the foundation from the deluxe foundation to be sitting better on my skin. Sometimes you just need new, fresh product!

Vanilla Bean Noel Lotion

I haven’t been able to get enough of Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel holiday lotion. It is light and delicious. Early in December I took advantage of a Bath & Body Works sale and coupons. I keep a bottle of this lotion in my room and on my desk at work. The holiday scents are on sales now, so it’s a great time to stock up.

VS Iced Cranberry Winter Plum Body Spray

A few years ago I got Victoria Secret’s Iced Cranberry Winter Plum Body Spray in my stocking. I LOVE this scent and always get compliments when I wear it. It is light and fruity without being over powering. Unfortunately, this holiday scent has been discontinued. My mom found it on Amazon, so I had a nice surprise in my stocking last week!

xo Miss Alyss

Hostess with the Mostest: Guests with Food Allergies

January 1, 2016 Red Rose & Honey2 Comments

As the holiday season comes to a close, I have been thinking more about my experiences as a dinner guest and host. I know that a food allergy or food intolerance can be stressful. It’s normal for me to put extra effort into a dinner reservation. My gluten-free life style has made dinning at restaurants a bit of a hassle. I never eat at a new restaurant spur of the moment (I always call ahead), I review the menu and search for reviews online before arriving for dinner.

On the flip side, when I’m eating at a friend or family member’s house the last thing I want to worry about is if I’m going be be able to eat. I have put this blog together to give you a few easy tips on entertaining guests with gluten-free allergies, so you can make sure all of your guests have a great time.

Think About Your Guest List

If you are hosting get-together at your house, I will venture to guess you know your guests pretty well. Before planning your menu think about your guest’s eating preferences and consider allergies. Peanut, diary, gluten and wheat allergies are very common these days. It is also important to consider vegetarian and vegan guests.

Plan Your Menu

Once you have reviewed your guest list, plan out your meals around food allergies. Try to serve dishes that don’t incorporate any common allergens, such as fruit and veggie platters for an appetizer. When preparing a salad, keep croutons, nuts and cheeses in separate bowls, so guests can choose their own toppings. This will provide your “special guests” with a safe options. At a minimum, you should make sure your all guests can eat something during each of your courses. If you are really unsure of what to make, it’s okay to ask your guests for input or ask them to bring a dish to share (this goes for guests too. If you have a food allergy and you love dessert, offer to bring a dessert).

It’s also important to pay attention to the ingredients of pre-made and packaged food. Review the ingredient labels, so you know ahead of time if something contains a common allergen. For gluten allergies, avoid packaged marinades, sauces, dressings and dips which may contain wheat and gluten. Below are some of my allergy friendly suggestions.

Veggie Platter (GF & V)
Meat & Cheese Platter – (GF – if good quality products are used. Boars Head is GF.)
Smokey Spinach & Artichoke Dip – (GF & V – Serve with Fresh Toasted Corn Tortillas)
Fresh Salsa and Guacamole – (GF & V – Serve with Fresh Toasted Corn Tortillas)
Italian Antipasto
Meat, Chicken & Seafood Main Courses – (GF – Avoid store bought marinades for your main course. Stick to olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs. Nix the bread crumb and flour)
Fruit Platters GF & V)
Homemade Ice Cream (GF & V) – (Talenti Gelato is a great store bought dessert option because this brand only contains a few ingredients)

Hope you picked up some entertaining tips!

xo Miss Alyss

Perfect Manicures: The Essentials

December 31, 2015December 2, 2020 Red Rose & HoneyLeave a comment

I love a good manicure. There is nothing better than a fresh mani in the perfect color (and nothing worse than picking a bad polish). For years I was a huge fan of dark shades in the deep red and plum families. I still love those colors, but I always find dark colors chip faster and the chipping is much more noticeable. Dark colors also take longer to dry because they are more pigmented which leaves you at greater risk of smudging too. For the past 6 months or so I have gravitated towards pretty neutrals. Lighter shades are also easier to apply yourself for the perfect at home manicure. I find Essie polishes to be thinner than OPI polishes which makes for faster dry time. Here are my favorite Essie polishes that I think everyone should have in their collection.

Good to Go

Everyone NEEDS this quick dry polish in their collection. It dries your polish super fast and gives it a great shine. This polish costs $10, but is totally worth the splurge. I bring this with me to my nail salon and ask them to use it as my top coat. Most nail salons will charge extra for a quick dry polish. I usually keep a bottle of this polish at home and in my bag for spur of the moment mani/pedis.

Protein Base Coat

Although I am only in my mid twenties, I have noticed my nail beds becoming dry and slightly ridged. When I do my own nails I use this base coat to strengthen and smooth out my nails. It is a bit opaque which seems to serve as a good base for your polish (kind of like an eye shadow primer).

Favorite Light Shades

Shop Till I Drop – A sheer coral

Spaghetti Strap – A light bubble gum pink

Vanity Fairest – A light pink/white with a touch of shimmer

East Hampton Cottage – A light, shimmery white with a touch of pink

Ballet Slippers – A very pale pink; good for French manicures

Sand Tropez – (Not pictured) A light beige with a hint of lilac and grey

Hubby for Dessert – (Pictured Below) A beautiful sheer lilac

Chiffon My Mind – OPI (Not pictured) A pearly semi-sheer white

DIY Mani/Pedi Tips

I love getting my nails done. Sometimes I don’t have the time to stop at the salon or when I am trying to watch my spending I skip salon manicures. Here are a few tips for a great DIY mani/pedi.

Do not leave your nail polish on for longer than a week.
Regularly moisturize your hands and cuticles. I love using extra virgin organic coconut oil and OPI Avojuice lotion. I keep both on my desk at work.
Do not cut your cuticles regularly. Cutting causes your cuticles to become thick. Instead, keep them moisturized and push them back. I will get my cuticles cut once a month or once every other month.
Use a nail file more than a nail clipper. As my nails have gotten more dry, they have also become a bit weak. I find that nail clippers sometimes put too much pressure on my nail better causing white, horizontal bruising. I try to spend the time filing my nails.
Exfoliate your feet in the shower with a pumice stone, apply heavy moisturizer and socks before bed.
Use one a lighter shade for quick, neat application.
Eat healthy and take your vitamins! I have found that taking biotin and multi vitamins daily have greatly improved my nail health. Also, I noticed a HUGE improvement in my nail health when I stopped taking prescription acid reflux medicine.

What are you favorite polish colors?

xo Miss Alyss