Review: Clairol Temporary Root Touch-Up Concealing Powder

Well, color me happy... This stuff actually works! Clairol Temporary Root Touch-up Concealing Powder for the win! My hair is way over due for a coloring, but this touch-up powder will get me through until my new dye arrives. It is ridiculously easy to apply with the brush that is included. I recommend using a fine, angled brush for applying to your brows, though. 😘 Hardly any transfer onto my fingers or pillow case and it washes out easily. I was surprised to see glitter/shimmer in the powder but it does not seem to show when applied to my hair or brows. Thanks for the free product, Influenster! #colorconfidently #complimentary #contest @influenster @clairolcolor

L'oréal Elvive Repair & Protect Balm Review!

I am officially #obsessed with this new L'oréal Elvive Repair & Protect Balm! I received a free sample for testing through Influenster and this will be my deep conditioner of choice moving forward. It smells sooooo good! And I styled my hair today using zero products outside of the shower. From a curly haired girl, I can tell you that is nearly unheard of! There was a visible change in my hair after just one use. I can tell my hair is healthier and my Honey thinks it smells great. 😘 #complimentary #ElviveRevive #Proofin1Use #contest @Influenster #curlyhairdontcare #growingoutapixie

BodyBudd Chin-Up Pull-Up Assist Band Review and Video

So, my Honey has been wanting to try a Pull-Up Chin-Up Assist band for a while. He usually uses a chair or toolbox when he needs an assist but these bands are really the best for doing that job. When I saw an opportunity to review this BodyBudd-Pullup Assist Band, Chin up Max at a discount, I jumped on it. My Honey was so excited when he found out! I'm sad that I can't use it because of my bad back, but he's a fitness instructor and coach and works out every day. Even the pros need assistance every now and then. Plus, more assistance just means more reps in the long run and that's the whole point, right?

Okay, so the #BodyBudd Assist Band arrived within a matter of days because I ordered it on Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.com/BodyBudd-trade-Pullup-Assist-Carrying/dp/B00O3R7LAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457021594&sr=8-1&keywords=B00O3R7LAS

The product comes with a neat, black carrying bag that keeps everything tucked away when it's not in use. Inside the bag you will find the Assist Band fully assembled and ready to go. There's also an instructional pamphlet with loads of great tips!

To use the BodyBudd, just unhook the buckle on the top hanging strap and wrap the strap around the middle bar of your chin up bar and snap the buckle back together. It's so easy. Once the Assist Band is in place, you want to adjust the hanging strap using the adjustable metal clip. The correct length is going to depend on your height, the height of the doorway, how much help you need, etc. Just try out a few different lengths until you feel the most comfortable.

The #BodyBudd Assist Band contains three heavy duty assist tubes/bands. In the beginning, most people will want to use all 3 bands. As you get stronger, you will graduate to removing the center band to increase the intensity of the workout. I didn't realize that the bands were made of latex when I made the purchase. My Honey is very latex sensitive so this may be a concern. We have not noticed any reactions so far, though.

He has been using this BodyBudd Assist Band for a few workouts so far and is now a big fan of the product. If you are considering adding a Chin-Up Assist Band to your workout equipment, we think this #BodyBudd Assist Band is a great choice! I'm so happy I was able to find this product for him to use! This is a short review video that we made to show you how easy this product really is to use:

Pros:
-Extremely easy to set up
-Feels very sturdy and safe
-Has removable bands for customizable workout
-assistance equals more reps and better results
-Lightweight and easy to transport from the gym to home
-great price and fast shipping on Amazon

Cons:
-Latex bands may cause sensitivity
-Little tricky getting foot in strap (possible learning curve)

I purchased this product deeply discounted in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thanks for checking out this review and stay tuned for more reviews in the future!

Always,
Bee

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Makeup Sample Review

Influenster and Sally Hansen sent me this free Airbrush Legs Makeup to test and review! The lotion was pretty easy to apply and I really like the way it wears. There's no distinguishable smell... YAY! It feels smooth and looks a bit like pantyhose. The lightweight formula did hide some vein imperfections and did not rub off on my clothes, but it only slightly disguised my bruise and bug bites. I think I requested the wrong shade, though, because the medium shade looked way too orange for my pale white skin. (It was WAY more orange than the above photographs show.) They have it in 5 shades to match any skin tone, so I do plan to try the lightest shade for a better match. Bonus Tip: When I use the lighter shade, I will also be applying it with a little body lotion to help the edges blend out a little more easily. #airbrushperfectlegs

Bee's Banana Bread Recipe... you will want to save this!

Bee's Banana Bread Recipe-
You will want to save this!

Are you ready for a taste of Heaven??? Introducing Bee’s Banana Bread Recipe! I’ve been working on this recipe for years, tweaking it here and there. What I now have is the most delicious banana bread recipe ever! It’s moist and spongy, sweet and decadent. This bread makes a delicious dessert and an even tastier breakfast. When this bread is baking, your entire house will be filled with the aromas that dreams are made of. Sometimes, I stand over the oven and just bathe in those warm cinnamon notes.


This recipe is literally fail-proof. I’ve “messed it up” on occasion and it still comes out delicious every time. One time, I completely forgot the egg and you couldn’t even tell a difference in the look or taste. So, if you want to leave out the egg to make this a Vegan recipe, feel free! I’ve tried this recipe with 1, 2, and 3 bananas… it has been a success each time, so use what you have even if it is only 1 banana.

 

Last year, I posted this recipe on my Facebook page and all of my friends went nuts! About once every few weeks, someone writes to me to ask for the recipe because they didn’t write it down, or lost it in a junk drawer. As of today, my flawless recipe will be out in cyberspace forever! Tip: Bookmark this page and try out this recipe on Saturday!



Classic Baking Ingredients



I hope that you enjoy it. I know you will! You, your friends, your family, your coworkers, your neighbor, your mailman… Just make it already!

Bee's Banana Bread
2-3 very ripe bananas
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten lightly
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon + extra for top
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
powdered sugar (optional)
 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large  mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Add all ingredients, ONE at a time, mixing well after each new ingredient. Batter will be smooth and glossy with small lumps of banana.
3. Pour into greased loaf pan.
4. Sprinkle extra cinnamon on top of the batter.
5. Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
6. Let sit to cool completely, or serve slightly warm. Add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to each slice if you like!


In my house, bananas don't go bad...
they get good!



In my house, we deliberately buy extra bananas just to let them “go bad.” The darker the better for this recipe! When bananas “go bad” they get super sweet. The sweetness and extra moisture is what makes this banana bread so good.



Bananas, Butter and Sugar... sounds like a dessert just by themselves!



The bananas I chose for this recipe were HUGE. Three very large bananas would probably be too many, so I only used two for this batch. When I mash up the bananas, I like to pick out the hard, black knots at the very end of the bananas. You don’t have to do this, but I like to. I tend to pick out anything that’s questionable, but I am a bit neurotic. (My friends and family reading this are saying, “A bit?!?!” lol)

LOTS of cinnamon on top of Bee's Banana Bread batter!

I like to sprinkle a bunch of cinnamon on the top of the batter once I’ve poured it into the loaf pan. I think that this helps it to form a really crusty crust. If you aren’t a fan of cinnamon you can completely eliminate it from the recipe. I’ve had to do it when I forgot to add it to the grocery list. Still delicious!


Check out that crust... Banana Bread fresh out of the oven!



One week last year, my neighbor went out of town. He left his golden retriever behind and asked for my Honey and I to dog sit. We LOVE to dog sit that sweet boy! On the very first day, I noticed that he had a huge bunch of organic bananas sitting on his kitchen counter. No way those things were going to last a week… by then they will be perfect for my banana bread. So, the evening before he came home, I made two loaves of banana bread. My Honey and I devoured one loaf and the other was waiting for my neighbor when he got home. He was so surprised! He said that he originally planned to share with his friends at work… but then he tried a piece and had to keep the whole loaf to himself!



Bee-utiful! Would you like a slice?



One evening, I put the banana bread in the oven as a storm was rolling through. About 20 minutes into the 1 hour baking time, the power went out. And it stayed out. After about 10 minutes of waiting for the power to come back on, I decided to just leave the loaf in the oven and see what happens. Luckily, I had not opened the oven door, so all of the heat was trapped inside. A friend of mine was visiting so we lit a few candles, told funny stories and watched the storm through the windows. After about 45 minutes, we got impatient (I told you about the amazing smell!) and opened the oven door. The banana bread was PERFECT!! This actually might have been the best banana bread that I have ever made. No joke. We sprinkled our powdered sugar in the dark kitchen and ate by candlelight. I’m telling you, this Bee’s Banana Bread Recipe is fool-proof.

I wish you could smell this Bee's Banana Bread...



Powdered sugar is optional... but I like my options!


I hope that you enjoy this recipe for many years to come! If you make a loaf, think about making a second one for your neighbor. You never know when someone could use a little comfort food. I like to show my love for others with food and other homemade goodies.


Please come back and leave me a comment if you use this recipe. I would love to hear your thoughts! Thank you for stopping by and Happy Baking!

Warmest Regards,
Bee
 



Guitar Pick Holder Keychain- FREE Crochet Pattern!

FREE CROCHET PATTERN-
Guitar Pick Holder Keychain

Well, today is the day! My very first original, FREE CROCHET PATTERN is ready for you guys! I created this Guitar Pick Holder Keychain pattern last year, but it's just been sitting in a spiral notebook just waiting to be shared. Almost ALL of the crochet knowledge I have gained has been from FREE patterns and tutorials that I found online. I would not be where I am today with my crochet business, if it wasn't for the hard work of others. Now that I have gone through the whole process of writing and publishing a pattern online, I have even more respect for the amazing people who have published so many before me. A million thank yous to each and every one of you!! It is because of you that I feel inclined to give back was has been so freely given to me...



Tribute to Paul Stanley of KISS
made for my future bro-n-law!



This past Christmas, I wanted to create something special for my future brother-in-law. He's my Honey's big brother and I love him dearly. He's a rocker through and through and deserved something really unique as a gift! After a lot of thought, I decided on a Crochet Guitar Pick Holder for his keychain. My Honey has a leather one, but I'm no leather worker. I looked everywhere for a pattern like this and couldn’t find one. We know a ton of people who play guitar or bass… so, there’s got to be other people out there looking for a similar pattern. As soon as I wrote the pattern, I knew it was destined to go online!

 



 

Guitar Pick Holder Keychain Crochet Pattern

Written By: Brittany “Bee” Williams

Supplies:

3mm hook (a small hook keeps everything nice and tight!)

Med. Worsted Weight yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver)

Large yarn needle for sewing in ends

Small snap and embroidery thread for sewing

Key ring of your choice

Abbreviations:

SC= single crochet

FO= finish off or cut yarn

SK1= skip 1^st stitch

SC2TOG= single crochet two stitches together

SLST= slipstitch



 

For this piece, I chose to not use the “CH1 and turn” method to finish off each row. If I am starting an increase row, I like to skip the CH1, and just turn at the end of each row without it. I prefer this method in almost all of my work. If it makes you nervous, feel free to apply a CH1 as needed at the end of every row.

CH3

1- Using the back bumps, place 1SC in 2^nd ch from hook and in last. (2)

2- 2SC in each (4)

3- 2SC, SC, SC, 2SC (6)

4- 1SC in each (6)

5- 2SC, SC, SC, SC, SC, 2SC (8)

6- 1SC in each (8)

7- 1SC in each (8)

8- 1SC in each (8)

9- 1SC in each (8)

10- 1SC in each, FO (8)

 

Make another piece exactly like that (rows 1-10) but DO NOT FO at the end of row 10!

 

Add these rows to the 2^nd piece:

11- 1SC in each (8)

12- 1SC in each (8)

13- To create a ridge for the flap, work in Front Loops Only, 1SC in each (8)

14- 1SC in each (8)

15- 1SC in each (8)

16- SK1, 1SC in next 5 stitches, SC2TOG, CH1, turn (6)

17- SK1, 1SC in next 3 stitches, SC2TOG, CH1, turn (4)

18- 1SC in each. Do NOT cut yarn unless you are changing colors (4)

 

Sew in the yarn ends of both pieces. Place the two pieces together with the “wrong sides” facing. Make sure that the ridge that you formed in row 13 is facing outside.

19- Now, CH1 and SC down the top edge of the bigger piece. When you run into the bottom piece, start to SC the two pieces together.

When you reach the bottom of the pick holder, you have a few options:

a- SC evenly across the bottom with no keychain loops

b- CH4, SLST (1 loop) and then continue to SC up the other side of the two pieces.

c- **Preferred** Working through the two SC at the bottom of each piece… (SLST in first SC, CH4, SLST in same SC) (SLST in 2^nd SC, CH4, SLST in same SC) (2 loops)

I prefer this method because it allows the key ring to pass through 2 loops. This is more secure AND forces the Pick Holder to stay “in line” with your keys. My Honey is a professional guitar player and personally requested his to be made this way. (See Picture)

 

Then, continue to SC up the other side of  the two pieces. After I SC both pieces together and make my way back up to the top of the piece, I like to finish the piece by putting a SLST in each of the 4 stitches from row 18 and then FO.  I think this gives the flap end a little sturdiness.

Next on the list, sew a snap onto the holder! I use a small snap, but one that is strong enough to have a good hold. You want to sew one side of the snap onto the flap and the other side of the snap onto the bottom piece. Just make sure that they line up! I messed up my first try! lol



My tribute to Paul Stanley...
with the flap up, it looks like his hair!

Final touch is adding the key ring. This part can be tricky, even for my tiny fingers. If you chose to add one loop, that’s easy enough to figure out. If you chose two loops, you want to make sure that the key ring passes through BOTH of the loops. Make sure that you get it through the loop and not through one of the individual chains.

If you chose not to add a loop at the bottom of your Pick Holder, you could always just throw it into your purse or guitar bag! Carry it in your back pocket? Maybe affix the Pick Holder to your guitar strap or an arm band?

Now, get to personalizing! Add a heart or flower! Embroider a design or monogram! Take it to the next level and make it a tribute to Paul Stanley from KISS!

©2013 Brittany Williams/Bee’s Booties and More, all rights reserved. You may sell items you make with this crochet pattern. You may not sell this crochet pattern or claim it as your own. You may publish or post a link to this crochet pattern, but you may not publish or post this crochet pattern in whole or in part.




I hope that you enjoy this awesome FREE pattern! If you like the pattern, please share it with your friends! Thank you, again, to everyone in the crochet community who publishes free patterns!


Warmest Regards,
Bee

Follow me on Pinterest! This Bee's Honey Pinterest




 

Love to Love You Baby...

A heart pillow for my Honey

Happy Valentines Day, ya'll!!

I hope that you all had an amazing Valentines Day! I was going to post this yesterday, but I decided that Valentines Day is best spent away from the confines of my computer desk.

Homemade Chocolate Strawberries...

Because my Honey had the entire day off of work, we were able to make it the best Valentines Day, ever! It was a day filled with love, laughter and lots of delicious food. We dipped our own chocolate-covered strawberries (and a slice of bacon! OMG), had our favorite Southwest Flank Steak for dinner... and our first-ever Chocolate Molten Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. I poured the Lava Cakes into little ramekins and they were absolutely amazing! The day was totally worth looking the other way as I added all of the butter that was called for in that recipe. hehehe



Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved giving hand-made gifts to my loved ones. I enjoy putting time and thought into a gift. It's so easy to just run to the mall and pick up a present for someone, but I have always preferred the warmth of something made with love. This past Christmas, I created something special for every member of my family. I put a lot of time and thought in to each gift... and the payoff was amazing. Watching everyone open their gifts with excitement and then pass them around the room to show them off... the "Ooooh"s and "Awwww!"s made my day AND my Christmas.

This Valentines Day was no different! I knew that I wanted to make something for my Honey, but I wanted him to be able to enjoy for more than just a day. I found the perfect idea and pattern on one of my favorite websites, Ravelry . Ravelry is a website dedicated to free crochet and knitting patterns. You have to sign up for a free account, but it is SO worth it. Ravelry is where I will eventually post all of the free patterns that I have designed, so that I can share them with you. The pattern that I chose for my Honey is for a Crochet Heart Pillow by DROPS Design. You can find the pattern here: Heart Pillow- DROPS Design 

 



I love to start every project with a tasty snack!

Because of the pattern, I had so much fun making this project that I decided to share my experience with you. I love to test out a new pattern and this one was written so well! I'm a stickler for details and usually end up making corrections on patterns, but this one was spot-on from beginning to end. No corrections necessary. I'm not exactly sure how long it took for me to work up because I was working on it a few hours at a time while my Honey was out of the house this past week.



Before I sat down to work, I gathered all of the necessary supplies: pattern, yarn, H hook, a snugly blanket... and a Little Debbie Star Crunch. Good work requires good snacks! I decided to use Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Red for this project. I like the durability of the acrylic yarn, plus it is stiff enough to hold a good shape. 



It's starting to look like something...

This pattern really reminded me of an amigurumi pattern. Lots of tiny single crochet (SC) stitches and lots of counting. I am notorious for losing count so I am sure that entertains my Honey when I am working on the couch next to him. He has figured out that it is useless to try to talk to me if he can see me counting. He will start to ask me a question and then say, "Oh, sorry. You are counting." Hilarious! The first part of the pattern calls for making the top two "humps" of the heart and then sewing them together like a figure-8. After those were finished, I started wondering if this pattern was for a bra instead of a pillow. Ha!


Seriously, did I accidentally print a pattern for
an old school torpedo bra?!?

After I linked the two humps  cups  sides together, the pattern called for a few rows of even work to really solidify the heart. After those rows were complete, it really started to look like a bra  heart! From that point, all of the work was slowly and methodically making the opening smaller and smaller. This gave my project the tell-tale shape of a heart. It was really fun to watch it work up!

This project also taught me a lesson about taking pictures for my blog. When I got to the "ready-to-stuff" phase, I got so excited and finished up my work without taking any pictures. This whole blogging process will take some getting used to. I am not accustomed to photographing every step of a project just yet.



I remembered to snap a picture right
before I cut the yarn. LOL

Instead of pulling out all of my hard work to snap a few pictures, I decided to just charge forward. I used a ton of stuffing in this pillow, probably half of a Fiber Fill bag. I used more than it called for, but I wanted it to be very firm and not flatten out over time. After everything was filled and the bottom tip was properly sewn over, I sat with the pillow for about 5 minutes to smooth out any lumps or stretches. I noticed a few loose stitches around the "cleavage" area and used some extra thread and a large needle to sew them closed. I can be very particular about my work. *wink* My Heart Pillow ended up being 10" x 10" when finished.


A surprise Valentine just waiting on the couch...

Overall, I am very pleased with the end result! My Honey loves it and keeps throwing it around or using it as a neck pillow while watching TV. I didn't want to wrap it, so I hid it in the closet until Valentines Day morning. I woke up really early to sneak it out of the closet and put it on the living room couch and then I crawled back in bed. He always wakes up before me, so I knew it would be a nice surprise when he was still rubbing the sleepies out of his eyes. "Hey, where did that come from?" hehehe




I'm so glad that my Honey appreciates a homemade Valentine. He deserves to be given the world... for now, I give him my heart. In my house, every day feels like Valentines Day. I hope that you all try to make your house feel the same way!


Warmest Regards,
Bee