The Siberian American

Monday, February 6, 2017

February 2017 PopSugar Must Have Box Review

I was so excited to receive my February PopSugar box, so I knew I wanted to share it with y’all as soon as possible. The February box is a great example of why I love PopSugar so much. It’s has several items higher than the value of the box and is full of products I know I will use.


Note: This post contains referral links. If you decide to purchase a PopSugar box, I would love it if you used my link.

Tribe Alive Foldover Clutch—Atitlán Brocade ($98):
I would never pay $98 for this reversible clutch, but I really like getting it in this box! Each bag is handwoven, and I really like that Tribe Alive partners with artisans around the world to employ impoverished women at fair-trade wages and give them access to safe jobs. The inside of this clutch says it’s made with love from India.

Kris Nations Jewelry Love Script Necklace ($48, though the website says $58):
Usually, I prefer silver jewelry, but this dainty gold necklace is so cute! I know I will get a lot of use out of it. For those that don’t know, I wear a heart necklace every day that Chris gave me for our first married Valentine’s Day, so these type of necklaces are my cup of tea! Also, the packaging is adorable.

Juara Skincare Candlenut Body Crème ($35):
My skin always gets super dry in the winter, so I am always eager to try new body crème. This crème is thick, but it absorbs really quickly and is super moisturizing.

Battington Lashes Monroe 3D Silk Lashes and Eyelash Glue ($28):
I have never tried fake lashes, but I think I have to try these! I love the length and how these look. You can use them up to 25 times, and I like that they also included an eyelash glue.

Chuao Chocolatier Cinnamon Cereal Smooch Chocolate Bar ($6):
We have had Chuao before and really liked it. This flavor has Chris written all over it, so I passed it on to him!

Special Extra: Revlon Super Lustrous™ Love Is on Lipstick ($7.99):
Revlon claims this red looks great on everyone, and I have to agree! It’s such a pretty shade and perfect for a Valentine’s (or Galentines!) date.

The total for this box is about $223, which I think is amazing! I think it was a perfect box for this time of year, and I will use everything in it (except maybe the lashes).

If you are interested in a PopSugar subscriptionPopSugar is currently offering $5 of your first box with the code “MUSTHAVE5.”

What do you think of the February PopSugar box? What is your favorite item?

Friday, February 3, 2017

Friday Favorites: Lots of Mini Life Updates

Happy Friday, friends! I feel like I haven’t updated y’all on life in a while, so I thought I would do that today.

One.
My little brother turns 21 today! (Anyone with younger siblings knows how old that makes me feel). He just left Texas on Tuesday to spend a semester studying abroad in Prague, so I hope he has the best time celebrating! It was funny because he was a little bummed he is celebrating his 21st birthday in a country where the legal drinking age is 18. Happy birthday, Vlady!


Two.
Now that it’s February, I’m getting really excited for our trip to Denver and Breckenridge. Chris has been a bit worn out during his current rotation, so it’s time for a break. Plus, his schedule will get much harder after we get back, so it will be nice to feel refreshed.

Three.
I am so excited to say Chris and I managed to meal plan for the entire month of January! I know that doesn’t sound like much to most, but I hate meal planning (or deciding what to cook in general), but since we’ve started doing it together, it has become a fun thing for us to do together. I’ll definitely post some more of our recent favorite recipes soon (this was my last recipe post).

Four.
That said, we are still continuing our tradition of going on a date once a week. We usually try to do it on Thursday, but we move it around according to our schedules. We love that time of focusing solely on each other, and I’ve been able to keep it budget friendly with coupons and Groupons.


Five.
I’ve been working on some early spring cleaning, and it feels so great to get rid of some of the clutter. I was clearing out my closet a bit because mom asked me if I had any clothes to send to Russia, and even though I purged in June, it was amazing how many clothes I found to give her. She even asked me if I really wanted to give all of that away. Yes, yes I do!


Have a great weekend, everyone! What have you been up to lately?

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Valentine's Day Makeup Look with HoneyGlam Ink

I have always loved makeup. I’m that girl with three full boxes of makeup from subscription boxes I haven’t tried yet but will get to eventually. When a friend invited me to join a Facebook group called HoneyGlam Ink, where people share photos and makeup tips in a safe, fun community. A few months later, Erika, the founder of HoneyGlam Ink, launched her own makeup line with her business partner Leanne! I was so intrigued I did something I have never done before—I reached out to Erika to see if she wanted to do a collaboration.


This post (excluding the HoneyGlam Ink links) contains affiliate links. If you click on them, I get a tiny commission!

If I could only wear one makeup item for the rest of my life, I would pick eyeliner, so Erika sent me the HoneyGlam Ink Luxe Crème Eyeliner in Onyx and Angled Eye Liner Brush. I had never tried a crème liner before, so I was really interested to see what it was like. Y’all, this eyeliner is perfect. The angled brush made it so easy to apply, and the texture was incredibly smooth. The best part was the staying power! The eyeliner did not move all day, and that’s a huge win in my book! I am always curious about how small business owners come up with their products, so I had to ask Erika and Leanne how they came up with the eyeliner and brush:


"The crème liner was our brainchild to combine the ease of applying a tighter eyeshadow line with the staying power and appearance of a liquid line. We decided to bring a product to market that beginners and pros can use with ease, combined with a perfect fine line natural haired brush to make any eye look timeless. Although gel is not a new concept, we have found a great balance between staying power and pigment to deliver the most dramatic and clean eyeshadow looks."



Since I did a bold line with the onyx eyeliner, I decided to do a soft look for the rest of my makeup. I used my favorite neutral palette-TheBalm Nude'tude Eyeshadow Palette in Sultry blended with ShadowSense in Candlestone Shimmer to add a little sparkle, Laura Geller New York Beauty Baked Blush-n-Brighten in Tropic Hues, TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter & Shimmer, and LipSense in Gingerbread and Bombshell Diamond with Bougainvillea Gloss. PS-Interested in LipSense? Erika is currently selling it on the HoneyGlam Ink Facebook page for 10 percent off!



HoneyGlam Ink also features beautiful eye shadow, a powdered liner pencil, and gorgeous lashes. If you want to join in on the makeup discussion fun, join the HoneyGlam Ink Facebook group! Everyone is welcome. Erika and Leanne are also offering my readers 10 percent off their entire cart through the end of February.


I received the HoneyGlam Ink crème eyeliner and brush for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

Have you ever tried a crème eyeliner? What makeup are you planning for Valentine's Day?

Monday, January 30, 2017

Lake Michigan Circle Tour: Pyramid Point Trail at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

After spending the morning hiking to Big Sable Point Lighthouse and enjoying the views at Arcadia Inspiration Point, Chris and I were excited to get to Traverse City and spend the afternoon at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We knew we wanted to hike a trail, but we didn’t want to pick something too intense since we had Skyler with us, and she had already been on a long hike with us that day.


The Pyramid Point Trail is listed at a 2.7-mile hike roundtrip, though my FitBit showed it as a little over three miles. The hike is through a maple-beech forest and ends at a gorgeous bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. We really enjoyed the walk, and the view was even better.


We decided to do only one hike since we also wanted to do Glen Haven and the Pierce Stocking Drive, but I would love to spend more time near Traverse City and go back to Sleeping Bear Dunes!



Catch Up on Our Lake Michigan Circle Tour Road Trip:
Have you ever been to Michigan?

Friday, January 27, 2017

Seven Foods That Will Change Your Life

Quick note: Today is the last day to sign up for our Galentine's Blogger Gift Exchange! Click here for more details.

This is a sponsored post written by the company, but I wouldn't share it if I didn't believe everything it says. One of my goals is to eat healthier in 2017, and this post is a great way for me to get started in the right direction.

You don’t have to win the lottery or do something drastic to change your life, making some tweaks in your diet is a great start, particularly if you eat way too much unhealthy food. These diet choices don’t provide much-needed nutrients for the healthy functioning of your body and it is needless to mention they affect your waistline at the same time. Introducing different foods to your diet will help you stay healthy, manage weight, and gain a different perspective regarding other aspects of your life. It all starts with a diet which is why this post features seven foods that you should eat to change your life.


Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds offer a wide array of health benefits due to the fact they are an incredible source of zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and so on. For example, magnesium participates in multiple processes in your body and improves heart health. This way, these tiny seeds can, actually, prevent heart attack, cardiac arrest, and stroke. High level of zinc is essential for strong immunity that keeps you healthy and fends off viruses and infections. Here’s yet another reason to eat more pumpkin seeds, they promote restful sleep. They are a rich source of tryptophan, an amino acid converted into the serotonin in your body. Then, serotonin is converted to melatonin, the sleep hormone. Getting enough sleep is essential for productivity, energy levels, stress management, beauty, and so on.


Quinoa
Quinoa is widely popular among vegetarians and vegans, but even if you don’t adhere to these eating patterns you should still introduce it to your diet. The reason is simple, quinoa is incredibly healthy thanks to high fiber content, B vitamins, potassium, Vitamin E, calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants. Plus, it’s ideal for people who are gluten intolerant. Some health benefits associated with quinoa intake include blood sugar control, improvement in metabolic health, aids weight loss, and so on. Nowadays, you can have quinoa when you’re eating out, all you have to do is to find a restaurant that suits your needs and preferences.


Cherries
While most people use cherries as ingredients in desserts such as Cherry Cobbler with Cheese Cream Crust, they’re more than that. These are extremely beneficial for your health due to high nutritional content including an abundance of vitamins and antioxidants. Cherries have a low glycemic index thus posing as a perfect snack for diabetics. Moreover, they are a great source of melatonin, which helps you sleep better and it is needless to mention that cherries are well-known for their ability to help you lose weight. Other benefits you can expect with regular consumption of cherries are a lower risk of stroke, beautiful and nourished skin, alleviating muscle pain, and so on.


Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk drink that most people have never heard of. Just like yogurt is made from live culture, kefir comprises of bacteria that your organism needs to properly digest foods and absorb nutrients. In fact, kefir is a more powerful probiotic than yogurt which is why you should definitely give it a try. Certain probiotics in kefir have antibacterial properties and offer protection from infections. Thanks to the high level of calcium, kefir protects bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. If you’re lactose intolerant, you’ll be happy to know that kefir is perfectly safe for you.


Green tea
Even if you’re not a “tea person” you still shouldn’t avoid green tea, the healthiest beverage on the planet. It is abundant in antioxidants and nutrients that keep you healthy and happy. Active ingredients in this beverage improve brain function and enhance your cognitive abilities. Also, this tea is well-known for the tremendous potential to burn fat and help you lose weight. Just take a look at some weight loss products on the market and you’ll see they contain green tea. Thanks to high antioxidant content, the beverage lowers your risk of different kinds of cancer such as breast, prostate cancer. If you want to maintain your beautiful smile, green tea steps up again as it kills bacteria and improves dental health.


Sweet potatoes
It’s not uncommon for people to assume that all healthy foods are expensive and difficult to find. But, that’s far from the truth! Let’s take sweet potatoes as an example, they are high in Vitamin B6 which reduces homocysteine chemical in our body (known for inducing heart attacks and degenerative diseases). Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and so on. Plus, they’re abundant in potassium which regulates your blood pressure. Although sweet-tasting, they don’t cause spikes in blood sugar levels.


Dark chocolate
Although everybody is a chocoholic to some degree, most people stay away from dark chocolate because it’s “not sweet enough.” What it lacks in sweetness, dark chocolate makes up with incredible health benefits it provides. In fact, its benefits go so far that scientists refer to it as a superfood. Dark chocolate is nutritious and supplies the body with fiber, antioxidants, magnesium, manganese, copper, potassium, zinc, selenium, and phosphorus. Regular intake of dark chocolate protects brain health and improves cognitive abilities, lowers blood pressure and regulates blood flow, manages cholesterol levels, protects skin against the sun, and much more.


Making some tweaks in your diet can, indeed, change your life because you feel healthier, happier, and you become more mindful. As a result, you instinctively make healthier lifestyle choices that improve the overall quality of life. This post just gave seven pointers that you can use to start making that change.