As you may or may not know, I am a HUGE fan of makeup. I love trying out new products and sharing my thoughts with my friends and I also love watching YouTube for reviews, swatches, and tutorials. I’m a new subscriber to Ipsy and some of my friends were wondering if it’s worth it. I decided to start doing a monthly review on my bag and you can decide if it’s something you’d be interested in. It’s $10/month (not including shipping) and you get 5 products in the bag. For the most part, they’re sample size but sometimes you’ll get something that is full size!

We’ll start with my least favorite product, Oscar Blandi hair lift mousse (full size). First off, I’m not a huge fan of mousse. That being said, I hate this product. It left a residue in my hair that made me wash my hair later on that day even though I had washed it that morning. It also didn’t give me much lift. What a disappointment. 

I received the Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing patches (two packages, full sized) I’m not too sure how I feel about this. It’s supposed to depuff your under eyes, but I have naturally puffy under eyes so I didn’t see much of a difference. I saw online that it has other uses, so I’ll have to try that out and see if it works. I will say that it felt awesome, very cooling! 

This brand is a cult favorite on YouTube, so I was pretty excited to try it! GlamGlow’s THIRSTYCLEANSE Daily Hydrating Cleanser (sample size). While using it, I didn’t notice anything special about it. But after rinsing my face and applying my face serum, I felt a HUGE difference in my skin. The product starts off as a mud and then you gradually add in water and to turns into a foaming cleanser. I thought that was pretty cool considering I have never seen anything that does that. I’m excited to try out more GlamGlow products!

Next up is Jesse’s Girl Pure Pigment Eye Dust in the color brown sugar (full size). This color is a warm toned copper with a slight orange undertone. At least, that’s how I see it! I love it. It really works with my skin tone. I applied this with a fluffy blending brush in order to get a very light wash of color on my lids and it was gorgeous. I’m sure that if I were to pack it on a little more I’d love the color just as much! Loved this product!

The Luxie Beauty tapered blending eye brush 205 was hands down my favorite product I received (full size). The brush itself was little bit too big for me, but my eyes are small and I can still make it work. The hairs are soft but thick enough to feel as if it won’t break apart quickly. Anyways, there’s not enough good things I could say about this. LOOOOOOOVE.

Now, here’s the breakdown:

Oscar Blandi Mousse: $23

Klorane Eye Patches: $21 (for a set of 7, I received two so that brings it to $3 each)

GlamGlow Face Wash: $39 for a full sized bottle (5 oz), I received a sample that was 1 oz. It’s about $7.80 per ounce

Jesse’s Girl Eye Pigment: $4.99

Luxie Beauty Brush: $12

Total worth: $53.79

Subscription Cost: $10.73

Difference: $43.06

Hope this was helpful!

Until next time,

Dessie x

Hey y’all. These are my monthly favorites and it gets a little random. Let’s get started! :)

I’m currently obsessed with:

1.       My nails. I recently just took off my acrylic nails (may they rest in peace, they were beautiful) and I completely forgot how much I loved painting and taking care of my nails. I have painted them about 4 times in the past week, and I am LOVING that option even though I do miss my claws.

2.       Neutrogena’s Morning Burst face wash. I have the one without the exfoliating beads in it and I must say, my new routine is killing it. I can honestly say that while using this, I have only had one pimple in the past two months. YES! I use this twice daily and it’s gentle enough to not dry me out. LOVE.

3.       Equate Facial Serum. I have eczema, so my skin is super dry just because it wants to be. I’ve tried every lotion and moisturizer that the dermatologist has suggested and honestly, nothing truly worked. Someone told me about Olay’s regenerist face serum so I went to the store to get it. That stuff was expensive, especially for something I wasn’t sure I’d like so I went ahead and got Equate’s version of it (thank you WalMart) instead and I fell in love. I apply this at least twice a day and I’ve noticed a huge difference in my skin. Not only does it feel amazing but my makeup goes on a lot better as well! Win!

4.       Morning Star roasted garlic and quinoa patties. I’m a pescatarian so I’ve been on the hunt for a good replacement burger; this is one of my favorites. This with your favorite burger toppings in a lettuce wrap is just phenomenal.

5.       Vampire Diaries. I know. I’m SO late to this series but I randomly started watching it when I was up early on my day off and I’m kind of obsessed. Stefan (Paul Wesley) and his brooding stare can talk vampire to me any day.  

6.       Royal Revolt II. Ask any one around me and they’ll tell you, I’m addicted to this game. I play it on my iPhone ALL DAY. It is so addicting. Download it, it’s free. I’m also a fan of the original Royal Revolt as well. I just love games like this!

7.       Pilot G-2 pens. Hands down my favorite pen. Flow is consistent and it’s a thicker line. Love.

8.       Theorie hair serum. I got this in my Ipsy bag last month and at first, I hated it. Like, REALLY hated it. I received a sample size and it took FOREVER for the serum to come out but as I continued using it, it started coming out easier. I really really like this product for my hair. Most of the time my hair just soaks up any serum and I can’t tell a difference but with this, my hair feel fantastic! I’m sure it helps that I haven’t really used heat on my hair that often, but hey, it’s summer!

9.       Maybelline’s Lash Sensational and Lash Discovery mascaras. Love these two products. My lashes are REALLY short, but they are naturally curled and extremely dark. I need something that gives it volume without looking too spidery. I use the Lash Sensational on my top lashes and pack it on, I’m talking 3 or 4 coats of it. I use the Lash Discovery to separate my top lashes and to put mascara on my extremely short bottom lashes. My favorite combo as of right now!

10.   Aerology Wedge Comfort Slingback Sandals. I found these when I was looking for summer sandals for work at Shoe Carnival. I’m really picky about sandals because I know my feet and what they’ll like so I ended up not finding any BUT I did find these gems. I bought them in a nude color (hello, matches everything) because I wanted to make sure I’d really like them. I love them. They’re prefect work wedges. I love heels but with the floors where I work, they’re a little troublesome unless they have a thicker heel. These are a professional height and still offer adequate support. Love, love, love!

Hope you guys enjoyed! 

Until next time,

Dessie x

I've been super busy the last couple weeks, and super stressed! It feels like everyone is going through some shizz and I found out what's to blame!

Apparently Mercury is in retrograde until June 11 thus raining hell on any and everyone until then. But don't worry, we are almost through it! I read somewhere that you should not sign a contract, make any big decisions, don't marry, don't travel and don't touch electrics during this time. I'm pretty much going to do all those things. So wish me luck-I might be screwed.

We applied for my visa a week ago and will hear back in 10-15 business days. Which of you count on the calendar could be until the mide of June. 😑 But it's done, sent, in England and now we wait. CROSS YOIR FINGERS, HOLD THUMBS AND SEND GOOD VIBES MY WAY. Yes. Please do all of those things. I need some good luck.

At The Barmy Fox Shoppe I've been experimenting with new ideas and new materials. I'd found some faux leather (because you know, animal rights) ages ago and am just getting around to cutting it up. Cannot wait for that!

I'm making new bibdanas from cotton for the summer. They are still super absorbent but not as thick (and potentially sweaty) for the little ones. I'm also thinking scarves! I literally want to make all the things. Ha!

I've also been asked to do a painting for a friend's sister, so that has also started this week! Super busy is the new norm, and that's ok.

Here on the blog we have loads of new posts and series coming up. I say WE because there is a new guest blogger on the site! Dessie has so many great ideas and I can't wait to work with her more. We also have Kolleen who has contributed a DIY project so far (which I have always wanted to do!) and hopefully will continue to to write for TBF!

We have started the Tuesday Tip each Tuesday. Don't be scared, just get involved! There are so many different people who have such great tips, from moms to high school students, it doesn't matter! We love tips from everyone.

We are also starting a Monthly Favourites series. Every month we will list our favourite things and why. This is similar to the I heart Monday series, so I will have to have a think about that. Do I stop I heart Monday?! Do I do a small I heart Monday with just one thing each Monday?! I don't know! What do you think?!

We are getting more and more guest bloggers, and I LOVE it! If you are interested in guest blogging, send a message or email torybishop@me.com and let me know what you want to write about! I'm up for anything, and especially am looking for some 'life stories'. Exercise that pen (or typing fingers really) and come be a guest blogger!

I am also thinking up some rad giveaways so check this space and you could win some awesome stuff from The Barmy Fox.

What do you want to see?! Suggestions are always welcome!

Leave us some love!

Tory xx

For my first time doing this I guess it didn't turn out as bad as I thought it did. Practice makes perfect though right? Let's start out by saying you can do whatever you want for string art. This craft is very inexpensive and totally dependent on your creativity.

Okay so I'm sure you want to know what supplies you'll need..

3/4 inch think piece of wood any size you want (I bought mine at Michaels)

The best thing to do is to print out the image for the size of board you want to use.

1/2 inch long nails (I bought mine at Lowes)

Embroidery thread (Michaels again) (I secretly live at Michaels they just don't know it) 

The image you printed off the computer

Paint (if you want to paint the board itself)

Hammer

Pliers

So, you can paint the board whatever color you want to go with your string art. Cut the image all the way around and any parts in the middle of it. (Like I should have done with the O's) I put double sided tape on the image and centered it on the board. I used the pliers to hold the nails in place as I hammered them around the image. Basically all you do is go around the whole image with the nails around 1 cm apart from each other. Leave the image on there until you are all done. Then make sure all the nails are in there good enough. (Which I also failed to do) This will prevent them from falling out of the board while you are putting the thread on. So after that remove the image from it and keep it as a reference if you need it. Tie a knot on one of the nails to start your stringing. The best thing to do is not think about this too much. Basically just start going around the nails with the thread. It doesn't need to be in any certain way, you are making it how you want. Once you're done tie a knot on the last nail, and admire your masterpiece. :)

Have you tried this before?! Post a picture or comment with some tips and tricks that you have learned!

Leave us some love!

This week's Tuesday Tip is from Dessie!

If you're like me and hate bringing your ring to the jewelry store to get it cleaned, this is the tip for you! Not only does it get your diamonds clean but it cleans while you sleep!

Disclaimer: DO NOT SUBMERGE ANYTHING THAT IS NOT WATERPROOF, IE: WATCHES.

Leave us some love,

Dessie x

It's time for a Tuesday Tip!!

These are super easy and super useful. I wouldn't share something that didn't work!

If you have a tip that you swear by-don't keep it all to yourself!!! Share!!!

Leave your tip in the comments below and you could be next week's Tuesday Tip!

Leave me some love,

Tory xx

My father-in-law passed away this past Thursday. It has been so hard to be so far away, not allowed to physically go hug my husband and his family. But hopefully this will help them as much as it has helped me.

I did not write the passage below, and I do not know who did. It was given to my dear friend when she experienced the loss of her father, and then she, in turn, sent it to me.

'...I wish I could say you get used to people dying. I never did. I don't want to. It tears a hole through me whenever somebody I love dies, no matter the circumstances. But I don't want it to "not matter". I don't want it to be something that just passes. My scars are a testament to the love and the relationship that I had for and with that person. And if the scar is deep, so was the love. So be it. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are a testament that I can love deeply and live deeply and be cut, or even gorged, and that I can heal and continue to live and continue to love. And the scar tissue is stronger than the original flesh ever was. Scars are a testament to life. Scars are only ugly to people who can't see.

As for grief, you'll find it comes in waves. When the ship is first wrecked, you're drowning, with wreckage all around you. Everything floating around you reminds you of the beauty and the magnificence of the ship that was, and is no more. And all you can do is float. You find some piece of the wreckage and you hang on for a while. Maybe it's some physical thing. Maybe it's a happy memory or a photograph. Maybe it's a person who is also floating. For a while, all you can do is float. Stay alive.

In the beginning, the waves are 100 feet tall and crash over you without mercy. They come 10 seconds apart and don't even give you time to catch your breath. All you can do is hang on and float. After a while, maybe weeks, maybe months, you'll find the waves are still 100 feet tall, but they come further apart. When they come, they still crash all over you and wipe you out. But in between, you can breathe, you can function. You never know what's going to trigger the grief. It might be a song, a picture, a street intersection, the smell of a cup of coffee. It can be just about anything...and the wave comes crashing. But in between waves, there is life.

Somewhere down the line, and it's different for everybody, you find that the waves are only 80 feet tall. Or 50 feet tall. And while they still come, they come further apart. You can see them coming. An anniversary, a birthday, or Christmas, or landing at O'Hare. You can see it coming, for the most part, and prepare yourself. And when it washes over you, you know that somehow you will, again, come out the other side. Soaking wet, sputtering, still hanging on to some tiny piece of the wreckage, but you'll come out.

Take it from an old guy. The waves never stop coming, and somehow you don't really want them to. But you learn that you'll survive them. And other waves will come. And you'll survive them too. If you're lucky, you'll have lots of scars from lots of loves. And lots of shipwrecks.'

This is not my first shipwreck, and will not be my last. It gives me hope that the waves will become less and less, and while I am waiting for that to happen, it's ok to just float.

Leave me some love,

Tory xx

I've seen these tissue paper pom pom decorative balls all over Pinterest. So what do I do when I see something all over Pinterest?! I have to try it! I need to know-does it turn out nice? Just like the picture? Is it another (admitted) Pinterest fail?!

You're going to find out, because today my dear friend and I tried it out!

Here is a tutorial for how we made them, and any tips/tricks we figured out along the way.

NEED:

tissue paper

string (we used the friendship bracelet kind, like embroidery floss)

scissors (or a paper chopper, we had both and used both)

nimble fingers (some of us were better at not tearing the paper than others!)

Gather four pieces of tissue paper on top of one another.

Cut your tissue paper into your desired size using a paper cutter or just scissors. It can be any size you want, but all four sheets of tissue paper should be the same size.

In the photo above, the paper is about 5 inches by 12 inches.

Start folding your tissue papers back and forth (about a centimetre thick) like you used to when you were little to make a paper fan. This might be called 'accordion' style.

When you are finished, it should look like this.

Tie a piece of embroidery floss or string right in the middle of the tissue paper fan. Use a double knot so it doesn't come apart.

You can cut the string short or leave it long if you want to tie it to something later.

You can cut the ends of the tissue paper to make it look kind of fancy. Paper balls can be fancy! We chose a triangle tip, but round could work as well.

Spread one side apart, and start separating the four layers, pulling them up toward the centre where the string is.

It should start to look like that. This is where the nimble fingers come in, tissue paper rips easily, but it doesn't matter if you rip a couple! You won't even be able to tell!

One side done!

Now do the other side.

Awesomesauce.

You're finished!!

You can hang them from the ceiling (with a longer string of course) or just use them as table decorations.

I can't tell what we are using these for...but they are going to look amazing!

You can make different sizes depending on how you want them to look.

For the little ones we used about a fourth of a whole sheet. For the bigger ones we used half of a sheet.

Just experiment. If you think yours are not thick enough, add some more sheets of tissue paper next time. If it was too thick, take some out for next time. There's really no right/wrong way.

We made some with one colour, two colours and even three colours. It's all up to you!

Let me know if you try these and if they worked for you!! Don't forget to tag @thebarmyfox in your photos-they could get featured on our Instagram!!!

Leave me some love,

Tory xx

Hi there! This is Tory from The Barmy Fox. I'm so happy to announce that I will be guest blogging for RCI Interior Design!

The Barmy Fox describes someone who is trying out lots of new things, crazy enough to go with it, but curious to see what happens. This definition is so spot on and really describes me as a person. The Barmy Fox is all about sharing stories, DIY, recipes, and spreading some love through the Internet.

Personally, I’ve always had a passion for all things creative, whether it be painting, sewing, making, crafting, and especially organizing. Whilst I would not say that I am an interior designer, I would say that I love to decorate! Whether it be choosing artwork or paint colors, I enjoy it all!

During my time with RCI, I will be reviewing some of the projects they have done and choosing some that catch my eye! Maybe it will be a selection of bathroom sinks, or maybe I’ll review some awesome head board options-you never know! RCI has completed so many great projects, and I love looking through them and picking out my favorites.

Stay tuned for my next guest post and be sure to check out RCI at rosecustominteriors.wordpress.com!

Leave me some love!

Tory

Guess what's new at The Barmy Fox?! A new series of weekly posts!

The new series is called Tuesday Tip-where every Tuesday we give you a tip that is tried and true. We're just trying to make your life easier!!! This week is the best because we have two tips!!!

TIP #1:

I LOVE coffee. I especially love Starbucks coffee. I know what you’re thinking. They’re over-priced; their coffee isn’t even really good, blah blah blah. I LOVE IT. I love sweet flavored coffees that help me drink it faster. I don’t always get up early enough to grab some (I love sleep) and I don’t always want to shell out the money for it. What’s my solution? I make my very own flavored coffees at home! I’ve tried those flavored syrups and let me say, it was gross. It just does not taste the same!

My solution?

I make a strong cup of coffee, take a spoonful of Nutella (any chocolate hazelnut spread will work) and mix it into my hot coffee.  I typically like it a little sweeter and over ice, so I let it cool down while I get ready for work, add in simple syrup (I ALWAYS have a jar of this in my fridge), and pour it over ice. Feel free to do it up with whatever you have in your fridge/pantry. Add a chocolate drizzle or whipped cream or both. Do whatever makes you happy, it’s your “fancy” coffee and you can get it in the privacy of your own home, whether you want to wear pants or not.

TIP #2:

Yes they are both about food- because we love food.

There's nothing better than getting a big ol' pizza when you are too lazy to make dinner. What's even better is that if you can't eat it all, it doubles as lunch the next day!

However, I hate heating up the oven for a couple pieces of pizza-but the microwave makes the crust rubbery.

TIP! Put a wet paper towel over your pizza crust and it won't be rubbery!! It won't be crispy, but it will be hot and it won't be rubbery when you eat it! This also works with pretzels, or breadsticks.

I hope our Tuesday tips helped you out-and don't forget to spread the love!

Dessie and Tory x