YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils

I was so thrilled to be chosen by Influenster to test and review a recently reissued classic by YSL: Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils or "False Lash Effect" mascara. Influenster asks their testers to post honest reviews of the product, and I did so on the YSL website. I had tried the mascara, and mostly loved it. The packaging is simply beautiful - a gorgeous metal case of gold and rose gold tones that conjures up images of jewelry or high end cosmetics. The mascara goes on as you would expect a mascara billed as "false lashes" would - highly buildable, yet soft and not spidery or spiky. I was given a classic black mascara to try, but I love the modern touch of the brand making other colors available. It's a great touch of modernity to a classic.

Perfect, right?

Well, as I was looking over my 5 star review later, I remembered the part about the smudging... this mascara did smudge. I mentioned as much in the review, but then I thought, "wait a minute, why did I give it 5 stars?" Was I seduced by the beautiful package? The excellent look and feel of my lashes? The feeling of being able to go from work to play without re-applying? Smudging is normally a deal breaker for me. There's nothing like seeing your raccoon eyes in a mirror and wondering how long they have been that way... While I was talking to my boss? While I was flirting with that cute Fed Ex guy? You get the point. It's pointless to invest in a mascara that you can't depend on to stay put. So I decided to try again, and this is what I found.

The day of the smudging incident, I had put on sunscreen, serum and facial moisturizer and I applied the mascara soon after. It occurred to me that my skin products just hadn't had time to soak in, so I made sure I did my creams and skin potions first and then did my hair and then the rest of it before putting on the YSL Faux Cils. What a difference. No smudging, all day. I am happy to report that the mascara stayed put, justifying my original  score. I probably would not expect the same results after a strenuous bike ride in 90 degree weather, but for work it's perfectly great.

Glad I revisited the performance of this product. Definitely worth it.

How to make easy, inexpensive cat toys

This is not a product review, but a tutorial on how I make mountains of cat toys for my local animal shelter. I have been volunteering regularly for years, and it seemed like they were always running low on cat toys because they go through them so quickly. They get quickly worn out through washing or rough play with bored kitties. I started out by buying 3 packs from the local dollar store, but when there are 40-60 cats in shelter at the same time, it got a little expensive to keep them stocked. So I decided to start making them myself out of scraps with my sewing machine.

After much trial and error I came up with a toy that is washable, somewhat durable, and harmless; distilled down to fast & easy construction. No googly eyes or tails to get detached and swallowed. If they get wet, they dry out, yet they are pretty much disposable since there is not a lot of investment here. I thought I would share my process.

You will need:

Felt, or some other fabric that doesn't fray. I have have used denim and Ultrasuede in the past, but find felt the easiest to work with.

Catnip. It grows like a weed where I live, so I harvest and dry the leaves during the summer so I have a good supply the rest of the year. Any catnip available at the pet supply will do, however.

Soft foam, as in the packing material sometimes used in computer shipping boxes. I salvage it from my company IT department. It is also available at Joanne fabrics (although I make sure to buy it on sale or with a coupon) or other craft stores. I also managed to find some at a garage sale once.

Sewing Machine & Thread. I make random pairings of colors, because I am not trying to hide the stitching at all and I often buy thread on sale. I've been known to use red and green at Christmas.


Step 1: Cut out some squares of felt. Approximately 4" - 5" square. This is not an exact science, they can be larger or smaller and of different sizes.

Step 2: Fold the square in half, and cut out a reasonable facsimile of a mouse shape. This is a bit like cutting out paper dolls - the base of the mouse is at the fold.

Step 3: Cut some pieces of foam into small triangular shapes. Again, not an exact science. What you're going for is a little stuffing so the toy will be soft, squishy and a little three dimensional.

 

Step 4: Stuff the toy with a bit of catnip and a piece of foam. Fold it in half to enclose the stuffing. You will need to squish the foam up so it is enclosed and away from the stitch line. It will bounce back once the mouse is sewn up.

 

Step 5: Sew the mouse closed around the stuffing. No need to stitch around the ears. It's fun that they stand up as separate appendages!

Step 6: Trim any threads hanging from the mouse. I start sewing at the tail area of the mouse and end up at the face, that way if there is a tiny bit of thread left on it could be considered whiskers. You don't want to leave on anything big enough that a cat could bite off and swallow... 

Voila! You are done. Add it to the pile and make another.

Feel free to test the quality of your mouse with a helper and bag up the rest to deliver to the shelter:

 

I would be so thrilled to learn that anyone used this tutorial; I have been meaning to post it for along while and finally had some time to do it. I know these toys mean a lot to the shelter cats and it's an easy, inexpensive way to brighten a kitty's day. Thanks for looking!

Charles Viancin Hibiscus Silicone Lid

I really love writing about products that have exceeded my expectations. Seems like most new things I try are adequate, but not fantastic. Another thing I love is a good kitchen gadget. These two happy things come together in the Charles Viancin line of botanically themed silicone lids.

I borrowed the following from a retail listing for this product. I'm sure it comes right from the product packaging:

Charles Viancin is a French designer who in many of his products combines elements of nature, like flowers and leaves, to create fun, useful and multi-functional items for the kitchen...Designed in France, Charles Viancin silicone products are made with BPA-free, food-grade silicone that is:

Oven safe to 428F

Locks in moisture while storing or cooking

Freezer safe to -40F

Microwave Safe

Dishwasher Safe

I bought an 9" lid in a lovely pink Hibiscus shape.

The look of this product is so unique and fun, it had me from the start. Then I read the details and realized I needed to try it - BPA free? Love that... Dishwasher safe? Love THAT. 

I got the second largest size thinking that I would most likely be using the lid for covering large salad bowls and the like. It really does seal to the bowl like plastic wrap, without the frustration of the classic plastic wrap box/ serrated blade dispenser and the single use mentality. Using this lid is like making Tupperware out of any bowl in your cabinet. 

The other reason I love this lid is that it's great for covering food heating in the microwave. I stopped using plastic wrap long ago because of the dangers of chemicals from the wrap leaching into the food. I use either glass or wax paper to prevent splattering. The lid is an easy thing to grab and put on for reheating that bowl of soup and again, it's reusable.

Overall, I love this product! I would like to have the whole set - there are different sizes available from 4" wide to 11"w. There are many beautiful botanics to choose from; the bamboo set has a 10x13 rectangular size that would be good for a brownie pan. With so many pretty and fun images to choose from, I might find it hard to pick just one. Pumpkin blossoms, snowflakes and butterfly shapes make wonderful seasonal designs. The only thing stopping me from acquiring every size is the somewhat high price point of these lids. There are plain lids available in silicone that most likely have the same functionality but just aren't as novel or attractive. I'm going to watch for sales...

Available online and in kitchen stores.