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Blog Creativity

DIY Soy Candles

Fall is here! It’s time to pull out those blankets, grab a hot cup of tea, and read a book by the fire. Nothing sets that cozy mood like the flickering fire light, so if you don’t have a fireplace, or if you just want to amp up that autumn vibe it’s super easy to make your own candles!

muffinchanel make soy candles at home super easy!This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Soy candles burn “cleaner” and don’t have the chemicals that paraffin candles have. They’re great because they burn slower too so your candle will last longer & you can add whatever scent you like, so you can personalize a gift for friends and family.

Making your own candles will save you money — plus this DIY Soy Candles guide is extremely easy and fun! I made all of these candles in about 30 minutes (not counting setting time) and I love them. They’ll make a beautiful and thoughtful gift for any occasion and you can customize them in so many ways.

muffinchanel make soy candles at home super easy! what you need soy wax candle wicks jarHere’s what you’ll need*

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Blog Lifestyle

Delicious Berry Smoothie | Recipe

smoothie recipe muffinchanel This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

This simple smoothie is so delicious. With just five ingredients + ice, this smoothie is healthy and easy to make.

This berry smoothie is my favorite for a healthy breakfast or an afternoon treat. The sherbet makes it a little on the dessert side, but I like how the fresh berries and juices give me my fruit serving for the day. It’s super easy to make and is delicious!

You’ll need:

  • 12 oz. Raspberry Juice
  • 9 oz. Orange Juice
  • 1c. Scoop of Raspberry Sherbet
  • 1/2c. Scoop of Raspberries
  • 1/2c. Scoop of Strawberries
  • Ice

smoothie recipe muffinchanel  strawberrysmoothie recipe muffinchanel sorbet blender

Combine all of your ingredients into a blender and pulse until the ice is blended & you have that perfect “smoothie” consistency.

smoothie recipe muffinchanel  cute glass straw yum

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Blog Creativity Lifestyle

DIY Home Fragrance

DIY simple home fragranceThis post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I love it when my house smells good — when we’re cooking, or if I have candles burning. I love that fresh laundry smell or fresh ground coffee smell. #allthesmells … but not all at once, obviously.

Recently I’ve been trying to avoid Fabreeze-type air fresheners and traditional candles because of all the chemicals. I don’t want to breathe those toxins just to have a “fresh” smelling house, so I have tried out some homemade fragrance ideas I saw on Pinterest…and this one is amazing. This DIY Home Fragrance is natural and smells amazing!

diy simple home fragrance muffinchanel ingredients recipeIt’s super simple! All you need is:

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Blog Lifestyle

2015 Birthday Wishlist

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Foldio – pop up photo studiofoldio-portable-studio-2973.0000001439153934I want the Foldio 2 because it’s a little bit bigger and has two sets of lights. I love taking pictures and I would love to have a mini studio for blog pictures or fun close-ups.

Apple iPhone 6s

iphone6-plus-box-silver-2014My contract is almost up and I would like the new iPhone 6s coming out in September. I thought about getting the plus version, but it might be a little too big for me. I read that the plus had better battery life and a better camera which would be great. I’m just hesitant about the AT&T Next plan. I don’t really want to pay monthly installments for a phone… :/

Green tea – tea daisy

tea_daisy_green_tea_2_large

I got a sample of the green tea and I loved it. It’s loose leaf (not in a tea bag) so you have to use a strainer to steep it. Green tea has a ton of great health benefits too, so I definitely will be getting some more soon.

Hypnose Drama mascara – Lancome

3614270362224_HypnoseDrama_ExcessivePurple_1000x1000

My 2015 birthday wishlist includes my favorite mascara. I love how it makes my lashes look super thick and dark. I recently got the waterproof type by mistake and I’m so happy it’s nearly gone because I prefer the regular version.

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Blog Lifestyle

Erin Condren 2016 Life Planner Review

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I am currently loving my 2015 Erin Condren Life Planner — making lists and writing down my plans is my favorite way to help me stay organized. I love how the EC Life Planners are colorful and interesting because it helps me to stay excited and motivated about being organized.

Recently, Erin Condren came out with a new layout for the Life Planners — Horizontal Layout. The horizontal layout is more traditional; it’s what all my past planners were — before I got started with my first Erin Condren Life Planner. So when I saw that Erin Condren was offering a Horizontal layout, I knew I would love it. I ordered the Prism Metallic Platinum Life Planner in peacock blue.muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review cover

I was interested in the metallic planners before, but they only offered maybe three colors with either gold or platinum foil & there was only that one Fleur Feliz pattern. I like the pattern, but the metallic versions are more expensive than the regular planners & it was more than I wanted to spend if I wasn’t in love with the pattern. This year, there was a new cover pattern option for the metallic which I love — Prism.

This order was $75.05 including shipping (the planner was $60; shipping $9.95; tax $5.10). If you’re interested in buying a Life Planner & want a $10 coupon, sign up for an account through my link.

I ordered my new 2016 Erin Condren Life Planner and shipping took forever! There was some sort of delay with the foil printing, so Erin Condren sent me an email update and a coupon for $20 off my next order! Excellent customer service & I didn’t mind waiting because I really can’t use the planner until 2016 anyway. I decided to use my $20 coupon right away and purchase a new Notebook and the LifePlanner Launch Bundle that I was kicking myself for not ordering with my planner initially.

Finally, my Life Planner arrived! YAY!! I personalized it with “MC” for MuffinChanel & I love it. The metallic planners also come with the elastic bands that help to hold you planner closed which is definitely a nice perk. Even though it’s not 2016 yet, here is my Erin Condren 2016 Life Planner Review:muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review cover foilThere is a velum + foil sheet next to the inside cover that is such a nice touch — it just makes my planner feel a little more special. I also like how the spot to write your personal info (for if your planner gets lost) is no longer on the inside cover, but on the first real page of the planner. This is especially great if you do change your covers.

muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review inside covermuffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review velum cover pageOne of the very first things I noticed about this new 2016 planner vs. previous Erin Condren planners is that the spiral binding is larger. It still feels super sturdy — not going to bend or come uncoiled in your bag, but now it’s pretty big. Here is a comparison with my 2015 Life Planner.muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review coil larger I love this change because now, I don’t have to clean out my planner of random papers and cards that I am always storing in there. muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review color schemeI’m loving this watercolor/marble theme and more subdued color scheme. This 2016 Life Planner feels more mature and professional. The month’s quote is on the page before the calendar page.muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review january calendarThe Calendar is more simple looking and “clean”. The color scheme is uniform and there aren’t any quotes on the calendar page. The horizontal layout is really clean and nice looking. I love the prism pattern along the top of the page and the subtle ombré. muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review horizontal layout

I like how there is a lot of space to write each day — a lined section and a small blank area for each day. There’s a section at the bottom right corner of every week for a “Thankful Thought”. Such a great idea.

muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review thankful thought2016 horizontal layout vs. the 2015 vertical layout

muffinchanel 2016 erin condren life planner life planner horizontal layout 2015 comparison + review coil larger

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Blog Lifestyle

Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix

muffinchanel trader joe's brownie truffle mix review easy quick boxThis post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

We found this Brownie Mix at Trader Joe’s over the weekend and decided to give it a try. I can appreciate a brownie every now and then, but I’d never made any at home. This Trader Joe’s Truffle Baking Mix is super simple and easy to make.

Basically just three ingredients:

  • Trader Joes Truffle Baking Mix
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1/2 stick Butter

I also picked up these Trader Joe’s semi-sweet Chocolate Chunks to add. muffinchanel trader joe's brownie truffle mix review easy quick ingredients




Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.muffinchanel trader joe's brownie truffle mix review easy quick chocolate chunks optional

Grease a 9×9 baking dish with butter and spoon in the Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix!muffinchanel trader joe's brownie truffle mix review easy quick ovenBake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes and let cool for at least 45 minutes.muffinchanel trader joe's brownie truffle mix review easy quick finished closeThese brownies were amazing and we will definitely keep a box on hand in case of “emergencies”. muffinchanel trader joe's brownie truffle mix review easy quick finished




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Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Juice From The Raw – 3 Day Cleanse | REVIEW

juice in the raw juice from the raw juice cleanse forever cleanse reviewThis post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I just completed another juice cleanse (my second), and I am feeling great! Last June I did a Jus by Julie 3-day Juice Cleanse which was alright. There were things I liked and didn’t like about the Jus by Julie, but I did enjoy the “cleanse” part and was excited when my mom told me she had a Groupon for a 3 day cleanse from Juice From The Raw.

What I liked about the Juice From The Raw (aka Juice In The Raw) is that the juices are Organic, Cold Pressed, and Raw. Yay! The Juice From the Raw 3 Day ORGANIC Juice Cleanse – Whenever Cleanse – 18 Bottles is on Amazon so if you have prime, then you can get it to your house with 2-day shipping.




We order the juices to arrive on Thursday for our “Weekend Cleanse”. It’s really nice to do the cleanse with someone else because you can encourage each other and support one another when you might be feeling hungry.

juice in the raw juice from the raw juice cleanse forever cleanse review frozenThe juices arrived frozen in a cooler bag insider a box. Rock hard frozen. We were starting the cleanse on the Friday so I put all my juices in the refrigerator to thaw. Then realized that it wasn’t going to be enough to have Friday’s juices ready to drink in time, so I left them on the kitchen counter overnight to thaw out. Juice From the Raw recommends leaving them out until they are mostly thawed & then putting them in the fridge to thaw completely.

juice in the raw juice from the raw juice cleanse forever cleanse review line upWe each got the Forever Cleanse which I prefer because I don’t care for pineapple or other “fruity” juices that their other types of cleanses include. The Forever Cleanse has the most green juices, a Spicy Lemonade, and a Coconut Juice.

These juices aren’t numbered like other Juice Cleanse bottles are. There is a little card stock included in the box with the recommended order to drink the juices and they have it on their website.




juice from the raw forever cleanse

You drink the same set of juices each of the three days:

  • Detox Greens
  • Detox Greens
  • Sweet Greens
  • Spicy Lemonade
  • Sweet Greens
  • Coconut Fusion

My favorites were the Detox Greens and the Spicy Lemonade

muffinchanel juice in the raw favorites review

These Juice From The Raw juices were really flavorful and filling. I preferred them over the Jus By Julie juices and I would love to do this cleanse again.

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Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Sephora VIB Rouge | Beauty Before Brunch

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

We went to Sephora’s VIB Rouge “Beauty Before Brunch” event this morning and we had a great time. The Beauty Before Brunch event was an exclusive VIB Rouge shopping event to launch the 15% off spring sale. I attended last year’s spring event, and overall, I would say that this event was better.

muffinchanel sephora vib vibrouge spring sale discount marc jacobs tarte lancome dior beauty before brunch confirmationI RSVP’d right away for myself and a guest. We arrived today at around 9:30am and they checked us in at a table near the entrance — everyone was super friendly and energetic. I was really fun to be around people who are all excited about beauty, skincare and makeup.

For the Sephora VIB Rouge event there was a small setup of food in the back of the store — way smaller than last year’s spread. It was kind of disappointing, but I didn’t come here for the muffins & bagels…muffinchanel sephora vib vibrouge spring sale discount marc jacobs tarte lancome dior beauty before brunch food




I already had a list ready to go…with a few minor changes. And I found everything on my list! Yay!muffinchanel sephora vib vibrouge spring sale discount marc jacobs tarte lancome dior beauty before brunch sephora haulI got the new Marc Jacobs #InstaMarc Light Filtering Contour Powders in 40 Mirage. This was the main reason I went into the store instead of ordering online. The 40 Mirage shade has been sold out online for a while but they said it was available in store. I went to the Marc Jacobs section right away and they were out of this color….I was super sad until I turned around and saw it on a “Contouring” podium. hallelujah!

muffinchanel sephora vib vibrouge spring sale discount marc jacobs tarte lancome dior beauty before brunch 40 mirageThese powders are so soft and the brush is mega soft, plus the compact is HUGE!!! I can’t wait to use it!

muffinchanel sephora vib vibrouge spring sale discount marc jacobs tarte lancome dior beauty before brunch tarte amazonian clay airbrush foundationWith 15% off, I picked up another Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation. I love the coverage of this foundation and how easy it is to apply. I first picked this up at Sephora’s Spring Sale last year!




muffinchanel sephora vib vibrouge spring sale discount marc jacobs tarte lancome dior beauty before brunch mascaraI picked up the Dior Lash Plumping Serum as an eyelash primer and I got the waterproof version of my favorite mascara — Lancome Hypnose Drama!

I’m really happy with my purchases and the sample baggie we got. Great customer service today as well — really makes VIB Rouge feel a little extra special. We got a ton of awesome samples and color matched for two great foundations. Everyone was awesome today and I’m really happy we went.

What did you pick up today? Or what will you be getting during the sale? 🙂

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Blog Lifestyle

Erin Condren Notebooks | Unboxing

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Erin Condren just released new Notebooks! So exciting! I love my Erin Condren Life Planners so much but I was really interested in one of the new notebooks for just jotting down quick ideas, making lists (I make a lot of lists), and planning larger events/goals.

There are two versions of the Erin Condren Notebooks — the Keep It Simple ($22) and the Deluxe ($35). You can choose to get the Keep It Simple version or the Deluxe version in either 7″x9″ or 8.5″ x 11″. Use my link to create an account for $10 off.

Both versions have a snap-in ruler, 66 sheets of college-ruled pages, and 10 pages of blank pages. They also have the aluminum coil that the Life Planner has and will accommodate interchangeable covers as well.The Deluxe version has a few extras — stickers, folder pocket, and a ziplock pouch.

I chose the 8.5″ x 11″ Keep It Simple version in hot pink with white lettering in the X Prism style.muffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple hot pink

The box was larger than the normal Life Planner size to accommodate my large notebook.muffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple box 8.5 x 11




My Erin Condren Notebook was covered in bubble wrap and bright purple tissue paper.

muffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple wrapping

I love the 8.5″ x 11″ size for my Erin Condren Notebook. It is a nice standard size that is easy to handle.

muffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple compared to life planner size

My Life Planner looks like a baby next to my new Notebook! They are both so pretty; I’m so excited to start using the Notebook.

muffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple life planner size comparison

The pages are lined with cute colorful accents on the corners and borders.muffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple lined pagesmuffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple cute lined pages

The blank pages in the back also have super fun boarders and colors.




muffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple blank pagesmuffinchanel erin condren unboxing x prism review notebook keep it simple blank pages fun colors

Are you getting/have you already gotten one of the new Erin Condren Notebooks? I’m loving mine!

Also, the Life Planners are now 40% off. If you are interested in trying them out, they’re only $20 when you use my link to make your account! See my Review of the 2015 Erin Condren Life Planner.

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Categories
Blog Health + Beauty

Sephora VIB Spring Sale | Wishlist

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Sephora usually has their VIB Spring sale at the end of March/beginning of April. Last year’s Spring Social was so much fun! VIB’s got 15% off and I picked up some great Tarte foundation and a NARS matte multiple.

I’ve had a few things in my Sephora cart for a while now, but I am waiting for the 15% off before I buy anything. Until then, I thought I’d share my wishlist!

  • Lancôme – VISIONNAIRE LR 2412 4% – Cx Advanced Skin Corrector

I really like this “skin corrector” by Lancôme. I’ve used it for years on and off, but lately I’ve really noticed an improvement in my skin. My face feels hydrated and smooth and looks brighter.

muffinchanel sephora wishlist Lancôme VISIONNAIRE LR 2412 4% - Cx Advanced Skin Corrector

  • Lancôme – Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 For All Skin Types

This has been my go-to facial moisturizer for a while. I like how it has SPF 15 and is so light weight. I’m really running low, so I hope that 15% off comes soon! 🙂

Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 For All Skin Types

  • NARS – Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (Bettina)

This lip pencil looks like the perfect dusty pink color. It’s a creamy matte lip stain/crayon that looks like the NARS pencils in this year’s VIB birthday set. I think this color would be great for spring/everyday.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil muffinchanel sephora spring vib wishlist

  • NARS – Radiant Creamy Concealer (Custard)

I’ve heard a lot of good things about this NARS concealer. I’ve been looking for a brightening concealer for my under eyes, but something that won’t crease or look too light/chalky. I’m not sure if this is it, but I’m interested in trying it out.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer muffinchanel sephora spring sale vib 15%

  • Smashbox – Layer Lash Primer

I’ve been out of this for a while and have been getting along just fine, but I feel like it helps my lashes from drying out with different mascaras. I like how this primer doesn’t have those “fibers” and it glides on smoothly.

Smashbox Layer Lash Primer muffinchanel spear spring vib wishlist

  • Marc Jacobs Beauty – #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour 

There’s a lot of hype around contouring the face lately and I’ve been using my NARS matte multiple to define my face more, but with spring/summer approaching, I prefer powders over creams (foundation/highlighters/bronzers).

Marc Jacobs Beauty #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour sephora spring sale wishlist vibe 15% muffinchanel

  • tarte – The Slenderizer Bamboo Contour 

This brush would be great to apply the contour powders and it looks really fun.

tarte The Slenderizer Bamboo Contour  sephora spring sale vibe wishlist
What’s on your wishlist? Are you excited for Sephora’s VIB spring sale?

*word on the street– VIB Rouge will get early access to the spring sale discount. April 12th!

Categories
Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Fitbit ChargeHR | REVIEW

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Like the Fitbit Flex I had before, The Fitbit ChargeHR is a fitness band that mainly tracks your steps and is a motivational tool to help you be more active throughout the day. The Fitbit app for the phone and the main dashboard on the website are very user-friendly and make it easy to monitor your progress during the day.

I’ve had my Fitbit Charge HR  for just over three weeks now and I’m ready to give my review! The Fitbit ChargeHR comes with a USB charging cable and a wireless syncing dongle.*

Design

The Fitbit ChargeHR has textured wristband that is soft and smooth underneath. The band is .83 inches wide & has a watch-clasp closure that feels very secure. Fitbit Charge ChargeHR fitness band fit heart rate monitor design comfort review muffinchanel watch claspThe display is larger than the Fitbit Flex display and will show your daily activity stats and real time heart rate.

Sizing

Fitbit Charge ChargeHR fitness band fit heart rate monitor design comfort review muffinchanelI got the Fitbit ChargeHR in size Large. There is a sizing guide on Fitbit’s website to help you determine the best size for you. I picked the Large size because Fitbit recommends wearing the ChargeHR higher up on your wrist for a more accurate heart rate reading. They suggest about 2-3 finger widths above your wrist bone which is pretty comfortable to me. I probably could have been great with the Small size band — I’m wearing the Large at the 3rd to tightest hole in order to wear it higher on my wrist.

Charging

Fitbit Charge ChargeHR fitness band fit heart rate monitor design comfort review muffinchanel chargingThe Fitbit ChargeHR was about 50% charged out of the box. I fully charged it before using it and the battery lasted about 4.5 days before I got an email to let me know the battery was low. I’ve consistently gotten between 4-5 days between charges. Charging the ChargeHR takes about 1 hour. The charger plugs into any USB power source and then into the underside of the Fitbit ChargeHR display.

Interface

Fitbit Charge ChargeHR fitness band fit heart rate monitor design comfort review muffinchanelThere is a small button on the left side of the display which lets you toggle through the time display, daily steps, distance walked, calories burned, stairs climbed, alarms, and heart rate. You can customize what categories are displayed and in what order they appear. You can also set a shortcut for a specific display by double tapping the Fitbit ChargeHR. I have mine set to display the heart rate since that was what I was most interested in purchasing the ChargeHR.

Sleep Mode

I really thought the sleep tracking data from the Fitbit Flex was great, and I think it’s even better with the ChargeHR. The ChargeHR automatically records your sleep without having to do anything. With the Flex, you had to tap it to tell it you were going to sleep, but the ChargeHR detects it on it’s own & it’s super accurate. The ChargeHR will tell you how long you slept for and how many times you were restless in the night. It’s awesome.

Heart Rate Monitor

Fitbit Charge ChargeHR fitness band fit heart rate monitor design comfort review muffinchanel lights chargeThe heart rate monitor is accurate. I compared it with a pulse counting app and each time it is within 10 BPM which is great for me. The Fitbit ChargeHR uses LED lights to reflect off your skin to detect changes in your blood. When your heart beats, your capillaries expand & contract, the ChargeHR measures those changes with special algorithms to display your heart rate.

The display shows you live heart rate monitoring and what “zones” you’re in while working out. The three zones — Fat Burn, Cardio, and Peak — are calculated based on a max heart rate of 220 BPM minus your age, but you can adjust it and make your own custom zones. I like to check  my heart rate and see how intense my workout is.

Workouts

If you press and hold the side button, the Workout mode will begin and track your exercise activity. I like to review the workout data because it isolates your heart rate data for the workout and helps me stay motivated throughout the day. My workouts are mostly jogging/running so the Fitbit ChargeHR is tracking my steps as well.

Overall, I love my Fitbit ChargeHR. The heart rate monitoring is the main reason to get this fitness band; it’s accurate and easy to view your data. The band is comfortable and it has good battery life. The sleep tracking feature is better than before and also very accurate.

Categories
Blog Creativity

Valentine’s Day DIY | Paper Flowers

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

This is such a cute DIY that you can easily make for you Valentine or your friends or family. Paper flowers are beautiful and they won’t while like real flowers (and are less expensive)! Your valentine will love that you made them a personalized gift and you will have fun making these fun flowers.

muffinchanel paper flowers valentines day pattern easy quick fun cute gift ideaYou will need:

muffinchanel paper flowers valentines day pattern easy quick fun cute gift idea1. Use the pattern to cut out at least 8 petal shapes, 1 – 2 leaf shapes, and the center flower shape.

2. Use the hot glue gun to glue the petal shapes together at the split — this will create a more realistic petal shape and give the flower dimension.

3. Begin gluing the petals onto one another in a spiral layer.

4. Continue layering on petals until you reach the desired shaper/texture of your flower.

muffinchanel paper flowers valentines day pattern easy quick fun cute gift ideaNext add the tissue paper to the center flower and then add that to the main flower. muffinchanel paper flowers valentines day pattern easy quick fun cute gift ideaNext, you attach the floral wire to a small circle of card stock. This will be the base to attach the wire to the flower. These Valentine’s Day Paper Flowers are super easy to make!muffinchanel paper flowers valentines day pattern easy quick fun cute gift ideaFinally, you add the floral tape to the wire to polish the look. Add a ribbon to the flowers or pop them in a cute vase to give to your valentine!

Other types of Paper Flower DIY is super cute for mother's day or valentine's day. Making more of these this weekend. MuffinChanel.

Check out another DIY HERE. Or Click HERE for my 2014 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide or see another paper flower DIY that’s even easier!

Everything you need for Paper Flower DIY is super cute for mother's day or valentine's day. Making more of these this weekend. MuffinChanel.

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Blog Health + Beauty

Lush Heart Throb Bubbleroon

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I am loving all of the limited edition Lush Valentines Day products. The Lush Heart Throb Bubbleroon is no exception.

muffinchanel lush heart throb bubbleroon review




This red, heart shaped Bubbleroon is so pretty. With shimmery gold glitter in between these two  heart halves. I only used one half, but you could probably use just a third or even a quarter and have a great, bubbly bath.

muffinchanel lush heart throb bubbleroon review halves

The Heart Throb Bubbleroon smells so wonderful. With Ylang Ylang Oil and Vanilla absolute, the bath was full of bubbles and so fragrant. The bubbles last forever and the water turns a rangy-red color.

From Lush:

Take your skin to paradise

Give your heart to the bath with this Heart Throb Bubbleroon. Skin-softening shea butter and beautiful ylang ylang and geranium essential oils will turn your bath into a silky haven while the bright red heart will make the water a passionate red – perfect for setting the mood! This bubbler also shares its intoxicating, delicately floral scent with our African Paradise Body Conditioner to leave skin delicately scented.

muffinchanel lush heart throb bubbleroon review



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Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Fitbit ChargeHR – First Impressions

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’ve had the Fitbit Flex for just over a year and a half and I’ve loved having a lightweight fitness band to track my steps and help me stay motivated about staying active. When I heard about the new fitness bands from Fitbit, I was curious. I’ve always been interested in tracking my heart rate, but I didn’t think a chest strap monitor was right for me. So, when I saw that Fitbit had a new fitness band that could track heart rate — the ChargeHR and the Surge — I thought this would be perfect for me.

muffinchanel Fitbit ChargeHR charge hr fitness bandI started researching the Fitbit ChargeHR but I wasn’t getting all my questions answered. How accurate is the heart rate monitor? How often do you need to charge it? How can I transfer my data from the Flex to the ChargeHR? I kept checking my local Target to see if they were available (at fitbit.com, there is an 8-10 week backorder) and I got very excited when I found the Fitbit ChargeHR at Target yesterday. I decided to buy it today and here are my first impressions.

muffinchanel Fitbit ChargeHR charge hr fitness bandI bought the Fitbit ChargeHR in Large in the color black. I thought I might like the Plum color, but it wasn’t available in store and the Plum display band seemed a little to pink for my liking. I plugged the ChargeHR into my computer to charge it while I went through the setup process.

Some of the first things I noticed:

  • They band is soft and textured. Unlike the flex which feels more rigid and smooth.
  • There is a regular watch band with a latch. The Flex had the pin locking closure.
  • The display is clear and large and the Flex’s screen was minimal with the 5 display dots.

muffinchanel Fitbit ChargeHR charge hr fitness band

I synced up the Fitbit ChargeHR very easily through my computer and Fitbit asked me if I was replacing the Fitbit Flex. I clicked “Yes” and that was it — all of my data was ported over very easily. The entire process took maybe 7 minutes. I’ll do a side by side comparison post soon between the ChargeHR and the Flex.

muffinchanel Fitbit ChargeHR charge hr fitness band replace device

The Fitbit ChargeHR was 50% charged out of the box, and just having it plugged into my computer while I did the setup, took it to 100%.

I then wore it for a treadmill workout to see what the heart rate monitor was like. I ran for 30 minutes and the heart rate seemed very accurate. I also have a Heart Rate monitor app for iPhone that has you key your pulse beats for 10 seconds and it tells you you BPM. Both heart rate numbers were with in 5 BPM each time I tested it.

The band was very comfortable during my workout. Fitbit recommends wearing the band higher on your wrist for more accurate heart rate results. I wore it about 1.5 finger lengths from my wrist bone. I’m excited to see more of my heart rate data throughout the week.

A more in depth review to come after I’ve had time to really use the Fitbit ChargeHR for a while. Let me know if you have any questions so I can include them in my review post. So far, I like the ChargeHR and it’s very comfortable. 🙂