Pinterest Experiment #1- Long lashes

Hey FashionSISTAS!  Hope ya'll are having a great week so far.  It is almost the weekend.. almost! LOL!  But as other Moms can vouch, what is the weekend?  I mean, it's just pretty much another day for us.  KWIM?!  

Well, a few weeks ago- I posted on Instagram, a picture I found on Pinterest, about a "natural" way to grow your eyelashes.  If you are married to a man like my husband, who has eyelashes for daaayyysss (I mean, really.  It is not fair!)- you would start to get a little self- conscious about how short your lashes are, too.  I can only hope that our baby girls get their dad's genes in that area!  So when I saw that Pinterest tip on growing eyelashes, I thought I would share with everyone else!  The Pinterest picture simply said to "add 1 drop of lavender oil to your mascara to promote growth."  What?!  That's it!?!  I am on top of it, Rose!   

So I did it.

I got my oil from "Whole Foods" and the mascara is one of my favorites- that probably had half of it left.  Okay, here is where I think I messed up.  Instead of adding just ONE drop, I thought "the more lavender oil, the better"... right?? WRONG.  LOL  I will touch base on that later.
I added about 4-6 drops, shook it, and applied to my eyes that night.  I woke up and rushed to the bathroom mirror to see if my shorties could rival my husband's!  Nope.  Needless to say, it does not work overnight.  Anyway, I would use the mascara sporadically... because I would forget to use it everyday.  (I am not sure if ya'll have heard about the "pregnancy brain syndrome"- but when you are pregnant you tend to be forgetful and lose things.  I can assure you, I was like that before my pregnancies, but during AND after it was/is 10x worse!  Even 5 months after my 2nd baby- I still suffer from this "disease." LOL)

Well, I noticed that sometimes after I would apply the mascara, I would feel kinda sleepy.  It took me awhile to put the two together.  I was like "Wow, I just woke up- but I feel like I need a nap already."  Once I concluded it was on the days that I applied the special mascara- I figured, I better see what else lavender oil is "suppose" to do.  Ummm, hello!  According to Wikipedia, lavender oil aides in relaxation!  HAHA!  So by putting MORE drops than needed- I was actually making myself feel more relaxed and sleepy! So if YOU want to try this- PLEASE only add one drop!

Now for the question everyone wants to know:  "Did it work?"  Honestly, I don't know.  I did not use it everyday.  And I barely use it now since, as mentioned above, I tend to get sleepy.  I would LIKE to think it works.  As far as the length of lashes, No- I have not seen any change.  If anyone else tries it, and applies it everyday (for a month)- let me know what your thoughts are.  However, I still do use it from time to time- because what do I have to lose??

I do know one thing.  If you need help sleeping, apply lavender oil to your pillow.  Thank me later.  I am now an advocate on essential oils.  Once I realized just how well lavender oil worked in making me relax and sleepy- I just had to find out about all the other "essential oils!" Needless to say, I now make my own bug repellent spray (my daughter, Kiana, gets EATEN ALIVE by misquitos)- of which I will give the recipe in a later blog when I write about all my essential oil uses!

Oh and did you see my last instagram post on my dream book nook??  Well, being the Book Worm that I am- here is a great book to download/buy:

"Are you there, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea"- it is soooo funny!  I can't believe I have not read this book before!  I highly recommend it!  Just a fair warning- her book is NOT politically correct.  It is written the way she talks on her show.  That being said, if you don't like her explicitness- then don't get it.  LOL

SIDENOTE- 

<KWIM> = My acronym for "Knowwhatimean?'

"ELF" is not just a movie title!

Hey FashionSISTAS!  (It's like "fashionISTA- but with a spin!  You know,  fashion sister= fashionSISTA Get it?!?  French class, ha! << Name that movie!  Oh, I tend to throw in random movie quotes in my everyday life.  Just something I do.)  Here is another blog on some makeup products that I tried out for the first time this weekend.  As stated before, now that the blog is up- I am eager to "blog" away!!  Let's see how long this lasts! LOL

  Anywho- for those that follow our instagram page, I mentioned that this past weekend I got to try some ELF products!  For those of you that don't know what ELF is, it is a makeup brand that stands for Eyes, Lips, and Face!  Pretty clever, huh?  I first heard about the brand on everyone's favorite- Pinterest!  I am not sure where else to buy it, but I found these items at Target.  (Otherwise known as "tarjeet"- silent "t".)

No, we don't have a Target on Maui- I went back to Tacoma for the weekend for my good friend- Aiza's Baby Shower.  Doesn't she look great?  Babies are such a blessing.  Hard work but fun!

Sisters!  Let me tell you!  I was SHOCKED to see the prices for this brand.  All brushes are $1!! And everything else is $3!  When I say- "everything else," I mean everraayythang.  Everraaaythang?  Everrayythang!  Lipstick, foundation, blushes, concealers, etc.  All $3.  Have ya'll ever seen this brand before?  I've been to Target numerous times, not to mention their makeup section- and I have never noticed the ELF section!  

At first, the prices kind of threw me off.  A brush for $1?  Will it work?  Will I have to throw it away after I use it once?  I was hesitant, to say the least, on purchasing from their line.  Rightly so, because if you have ever bought makeup brushes- you know it is a far cry from $1!  I got 2 brushes, a makeup mist setter, red lipstick/pencil, and a blush/bronzer palette.

These are the 2 brushes I got.  

I give the foundation brush "3 stars" from a star scale of 1-5.  A "3" because it was ONLY a $1 and did a pretty decent job.  I did not like how it felt a little rough on my skin and it did not smooth the foundation out enough.  I give the Kabuki brush  "4 stars." (Remember Star Search?  I feel like Ed McMahon saying, "Our Challenger received 3 and a quarter stars!" LOL)  Again, the quality is pretty good for $1.  Also, I forgot my blush brush at home- so I used this to apply my blush and it went on pretty well!  Honestly, these brushes are pretty good for $1.  If you are on a budget but need more tools- this line is actually decent!  I mean, really!  What can you get for a $1 nowadays?? 

Below is the blush/bronzer palette I got.  I forgot which one it is exactly.  Oops.  

 Anyway, this little bad boy was $3.  Yes, $3.  It cost less for this palette than a coffee at Starbuck's and it lasts longer than a drink!  I give this "5 stars".  Yes, 5 stars.  The blush was actually a pretty color on my face.  And easy to apply.  I should have gotten more of these.  I dabble in putting makeup on other people, so these would be perfect to use on others and again, hellooo- $3!!!

I also got this makeup mist setter. 

How much you ask?  Oh ya know, just $3.  Anyway, this is to be sprayed on your face AFTER you finish applying all your makeup.  It is suppose to help set your face and your makeup stays on longer.  Kind of like hair spray for your face.  I didn't really use one before, so I don't have much to compare it to.  The initial "spray" on my face did feel good, though.  It felt cool and refreshing.  And I think  my makeup stayed on longer than usual.  I did not really check though out the nite at the Baby Shower- so I don't know for certain.  I give it "3 stars" just because I am not too sure if it really helped my "face" stay on. 

Since ya'll know I like my red lips, I got the "Rich Red" lipstick/pencil.  

I took a "selfie" because I always feel weird "posing" for pictures by myself! LOL (I mean, I do it most of the time, so that people can see how certain clothes look on- but I feel weird without other people in the pic. LOL)  Anyhow- this is the lipstick on, which is actually a stick.  When you apply this- you literally are "coloring" your lips.  For $3- I rate it "4 stars!"  I was surprised at how nice it looked on!  I love a good lipstick or lipgloss and this was pretty decent for the price.  It looks more matte-like in real life.  When I go out (which is rare), I like to bring my lipstick or lipgloss with me for a quick touch up.  Sometimes, I lose them.  So next time I go out, I won't really worry if I lose it because it was only $3!  So this is definitely a must buy next time I go to the "mainland"; since Maui does NOT have a Target! (Boo.  But it makes up for the lack of with beautiful weather and beaches!) 

Last but not least- is my review on this!

This is NOT an ELF product- but I have always wanted to try this! Behold, "Garnier's Anti Puff Eye Serum!"  For those that have babies, you know that 'sleeping in' is simply not in our vocabulary.  Remind me, again, how it feels to sleep past 8am and for more than 6-7 hours straight?  Since I feel like the bags under my eyes can be seen a MILE away- I use the "Clinique- All about Eyes Serum," which is a roll-on that is suppose to eliminate the puffiness under your eyeballs.  Bags for dayysss- lemme tell you.  Anywho, the Clinique one is about $25 from Sephora.  Recently, I saw a post on Pinterest- on how this (pictured above) is the "dupe" for it.  This was only $11 from Target.  I think it works just as good! I use the word- "think," because it could just be me wishing/hoping that it works!  Knowhatimean?  (aka-  KWIM <My acronym for that word>).  Regardless, I will be getting this from now on- since spending $11 or so sounds better than $25!  Especially, if it does the same thing!  I love saving money when I can.  Don't you?  

Well, there you have it Fashionsistas!  My review on a few ELF products and the eye serum.  I give the WHOLE line "5 stars!"  For the price of most of the items- the products were pretty adequate.  Geez, it only took me 2 days to write this! LOL  In fact, I am holding my sleeping Princess, Kailea, as I finally finish this!  I swear, the minute I sit down, my girls need something!  KWIM?? (See how I did that there? teehee.)  Perhaps, if I stand up and do work- they won't cry for Mom.  I'll experiment with this today. Ha!  The life of a Mommy.  

 <<SIDENOTE>>

-The brushes I currently use are from MAC, my foundation from MAC and Benefit, lipstick from MAC and Sephora's brand, blush from MAC, and bronzer from Benefit.  So when I "rate" these items that is what I am comparing them to.

-The "mainland" is what those that live in Hawaii, call North America.  Obviously, we are islands 'seperated' from the rest of the the 48 states by a vast ocean.  So whenever we visit the "states"- we refer to it as the "mainland."  (We tend to stock up at stores when we go to the "mainland." KWIM?!?  If you see a "brown person" buying loads of cookie butter from Trader Joe's- 9 times out of 10- they are from Hawaii! LOL)

Taming this Wild Hair

If you have hair like mine- "good" hair days are one that we really have to work hard at.  I have, what I call the "mixed girl" hair problem!  For those of you out there with beautiful and manageable hair; that check "other" when it asks your race- you are a rare breed. I am mixed with Asian (Filipino and Japanese), and white (Irish) <aka- haole.>  Also referred to as hapa.

  My mixed genes plus Hawaii's humidity is no bueno.  My hair gets soo frizzy and nappy- I hate to wear it down!  Which is unfortunate, because I love to curl my hair.  The longer my hair gets, the wavier it gets- which means the more tangles I get.  I don't even know how many brushes I have broken with my wild mess.  It is so hard to find a good brush that is not that expensive.  Trust me, I have had them all.  The cheap plastic brush that gets stuck IN your hair and the expensive wooden brushes that are made with Unicorn tears- hence the outrageous price.  The worse is when your hair air dries.  When my hair air dries, I need to constantly run a comb through it or by the time it dries- I can barely run my fingers through the knotted mess. 

Behold, the Knot Genie.  Thanks to late night informercials, I was introduced to the best brush that can get knots out!  This brush is hands down- the best one yet!  (No, I am not paid to endorse products, but if you know the maker of the Knot Genie- tell them I will market their product for free.99 because it saved my life!)  When I first saw it on an informercial I thought, "hmmm- I wonder if that works?"  I NEVER order anything off the T.V. because I don't want to start.  Know what I mean?  I don't want to be the person that orders off the T.V alll the time.  I mean, I ALREADY have an online shopping addiction! LOL.  Well, funny the way the universe works, because the very next day, I saw it as a special on a website I frequent!  (Zulily!)  It was meant to be!  Fate said so.  So I got it.  And it is the BEST hairbrush hands down!!  I can brush my hair easily after I shower, and I can AIR DRY my hair! I highly, highly recommend this bad boy if you have hair like mine.

I am always on the hunt for a GOOD conditioner for my mane.  Be it- leave in conditioner, a hair mask, or regular everyday use- I am always looking for the best kind.  I even make my own with coconut oil! (I will give the recipe on a later blog.)  

I just started to use this hair mask- and it is hands down, AMAZING!!! It smells soooo delicious and it makes my hair feel really soft.  My husband loves the way it smells, and I love the way my hair looks after I straighten it!  

I am always at the beach or outside, so my hair gets dried and "crunchy."  In fact, sometimes I like to leave in a conditioner when I go to the beach.  Hey, you gotta take care of your hair, right??  LOL.  The other day I put the mask on before we went to the beach (because I knew we were gonna be there alllll day- lucky us!), and it helped my hair to not get so tangled!  I love this thing!!  

Again, I do not get paid to endorse any products- I just want to share MY OPINION on what works for me!  Pictured below is the mask.  It is made by the popular Moroccan Oil brand.  It is kinda pricey but sooo worth it!

There you have it.  Just a few hair products that I absolutely LOVE.  What hair products    do you like to use??

SIDENOTE: Just to clarify a few words.

-Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. We call "mixed people"- hapa. 

-Haole: [ˈhɔule], in the Hawaiian language, is generally used to refer to an individual that fits one (or more) of the following: "White person, American, Englishman, Caucasian; American, English; formerly, any foreigner; foreign, introduced, of foreign origin"

PS- HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!! Use code- "vday" at www.shoptiel.com to get FREE SHIPPING today!!!!!!

What does "Tiel" mean?

I know many of ya'll probably pronounce our name as "teal." But it is actually pronounced as "tea- el." Not the color.  So say "tea" (like the drink) and then like Espanol when something is mascular- you say "el."  Now you know it has to mean something, right?  I mean, who has heard of the word "tiel" before?  Is that some word I just made up?  Weelll, kinda.  Here is the background on how our name, "Tiel" came to be.
Back in 2008 (wow, that seems sooo long ago!), I went to Dubai to start a bathing suit line.  Kinda random to do it in Dubai, but my dad had a business there, had contacts, and it was DUBAI!  So why not?  LOL.  I did the whole 9 yards- got my fabric and materials and designed some "trial period" suits.   Unfortunately, I did not do much with it.  It's a long story but the tailors took too long to produce 1 suit since it was their first time making bikinis and it was all trial-and-error.  I was in Dubai for about 2 months and did not get as much done as I wanted.  (I still have most of my bathing suit material, so maybbee its another project in the near future!)  By the way, everyone should try to go to Dubai.  It is a very interesting country.  I love seeing different cultures and how they live.
Anyway, when the time came to figure out MY label name- I had to think really hard about it.  I knew I wanted it to be pink, have a heart in it, and somehow tie my name into it.  My name is Tara Lee- first and middle.  But I did not want to be the typical clothing line and use my name as my brand.  Plus, how could I tie a heart into Tara Lee?  Somehow or another, I wanted the heart to "dot" the letter "i."  Tara Lee= equals the initials T.L.  Hmm, okay, T.L.  Should I just name my line "T.L?"  Perhaps put a heart in between the initials?  "T<3L"?  But what would people call it? "T heart L?"  Waitassseecond! T.L said out loud is "tea-el." If I spell it, the way it sounds with an "i", "tiel"- that looks pretty good!  AND I can dot the "i" with a heart!!!! YAHTZEE!  Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.  I can dot the "i" with a heart, it can be pink, and it is my name- without being my name!
So there you have it!  That is how the name "Tiel," came to life!  Once I started to get my online boutique together back in 2012- I knew I would call it "Tiel."  Tara Lee= T.L.= Tiel.