The Search for Great Drugstore Mascara

So I'm starting to notice that my trusty MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara is starting to run low. While I really love this stuff, I just don't want to pay $21 for another one. 

There's got to be a great drugstore mascara out there, right?! In the past, I've tried L'Oreal Voluminous, which has always gotten rave reviews, and I've also tried the pink and green tube of Maybelline mascara, which is supposedly a great product as well. However, I thought they were just ok. I ended up with raccoon eyes with both of them by the end of the day, and they were miserable to try to wash off at night.

My MAC mascara has served me well, that's for sure. It has never run or flaked off, and it's easy to remove. But I wonder... do I really have to pay $21 to get a good product? I'd be curious to hear what some of your favorite mascaras are. 

Get Pin-spired: October Edition

Yay! It's October!! I just love October. It's definitely one of my favorite months. For me, it's the signal of cooler weather and all things fall. It hasn't quite cooled down yet here in Florida, but I just know we're getting really close!! At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Today I'm linking up with Shay, Sheaffer and Mel again for this month's Get Pin-spired. This is where we find outfits on Pinterest and try to re-create them using items from our own closets.

I'm all about leopard print right now. I've actually owned lots of leopard items for quite a while, but I just keep adding more and more! I have a leopard purse, belt, flats, scarf, dress, skirt, top... I think that's everything (for now)! In case you couldn't tell, I LOVE leopard print! I've worn my leopard dress a lot over the past year or so. It's actually an Old Navy find from last season. But after I saw this picture on Pinterest, I was inspired to wear my leopard dress with a pop of red. So, I busted out my red scarf and boots, and luckily I stayed in the A/C while I wore it!

That's it folks! Just my leopard dress, a red scarf and my boots! Simple, right? The month got away from me, so I didn't have time to take photos of any other outfits, but you can bet that I'll be pairing lots of cute things with my brand spankin' new pair of Dolce Vita Jaxen booties!!

I just ordered these babies over the weekend, so keep your fingers crossed that they fit and are just are fabulous as I've dreamed they'll be! 

Cranberry, Orange and Pumpkin... Oh, my!

I won't even begin to go into detail about how much I love pumpkin stuff. Anything pumpkin, you name it, and I've probably tried it and loved it! Food, candles, lotion, soap, decorations... my name is Jenna, and yes, I'm a pumpkin addict. With that being said, one of my very favorite items is pumpkin cream cheese. I've been known to clear a shelf of this stuff and buy it in quantities of 10. 

This year, instead of buying regular bagels to have with my cream cheese, I found a new love in the bread aisle. I'm pleased to introduce you to Nature's Own Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Toasters. You can find these bad boys on the bread aisle, and they'd pair deliciously with butter, jam, cream cheese... or anything, really! I'm partial to the pumpkin cream cheese, though!

These little toasters are new and they come in cinnamon raisin flavor, too. They're perfect for breakfast or a snack, and they're also very healthy. I just love finding new yummy products!

Satin Pillowcases

I know this might seem completely random, but I discovered a great new beauty product: satin pillowcases! How is that a beauty product, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Satin pillowcases are not only smooth and comfy, but they can also prevent wrinkles and help your hair! 

Traditional cotton pillowcases absorb moisture, so that means that a lot of the cream or other products you put on your face before bed could get wiped off onto your pillowcase and absorbed into the cotton fibers while you sleep. Satin won't absorb. It also helps keep elasticity in your face because it won't pull on your skin. This means no more waking up with funky creases on your face, either! 

Another benefit of satin pillowcases is that they're better for your hair. Again, they're not absorbing the oils/moisture from your hair, they won't crush your curls if you have curly hair, you won't have to worry about so much breakage, and overall you'll wake up with your hair looking more like the way it did when you went to bed.

I tried a satin pillowcase for the first time last night, and I have to say that I was impressed! It felt cool on my face, too, which is always a plus is this steamy weather. I sleep with two pillows side by side, and I generally turn over from one to another during the night. This morning while I was just dozing for a few minutes after my alarm went off, I kind of turned too quickly and my pillow slid right off my bed! So the silkiness can be a little too slick at times! But I saw no other negatives. 

I slipped my satin pillowcases right over my regular cotton ones, but you don't even have to do that. I just wasn't sure if I was going to like them. My friend's grandma gave mine to me because she swears they satin pillowcases have so many benefits. And you know what, listen to your elders! They're usually right!

Panini Press

I was lucky enough to get a great gift from my parents for my birthday a couple weeks ago... a panini press! They had heard me mention before that I was considering buying one. Especially during the summer when it's just too hot to turn on the stove every night, I like to make sandwiches for dinner. I made several paninis, but didn't have a press. I'd just put a skillet on top of my sandwich and press it down, but my skillet wasn't very heavy and didn't do the best job of pressing it.

I hadn't made any paninis in a little while, and I had convinced myself that I didn't need to buy a panini press because I really don't have room to store it, and I didn't think I'd use it enough to justify the purchase. But, lo and behold, my parents bought me one! However, it's not your typical panini press. It doesn't plug in at all. It's basically just a grill pan with a heavy "lid" on top. The thing I really like about this is that it stores easily with my other pots and pans, it's so simple to clean, and it can be used as a grill pan, as well as a panini press. 

Here is the one I have, and I love it! I broke it in by making my Greek paninis, and I'm sure I'll be making my brie, apple, and caramelized onion sandwich, too! Now I just need to come up with some more sandwich options, and maybe grill some veggies, too!