This Ish Works- St. Ives Naturally Soothing Body Lotion

I have never been one of those people with naturally baby soft skin. In order to not feel like the desert floor I need to liberally apply lotion daily. Typically I'm way too lazy to do that but with the pregnancy symptoms of stretch marks and itchy skin threatening to make themselves known at any moment, I had to add lotion to my daily routine. In past attempts to try to be one of those people with skin as "soft as a kitten", I have spent my fair share of dough on the fancy stuff at Sephora, well let me tell you- that is so not necessary. St. Ives Naturally Soothing Body Lotion in Oatmeal and Shea Butter is seriously the best I have ever tried. With one application I became one of the soft people I pet all creepy like when I come across them. It costs less than 5 bucks and doesn't contain parabens, which I hear are bad for you so that's another plus. And while it doesn't smell all pretty and girly, you have perfume to do that job for you. Anywhoo if you want to get all silky get this! That is all. 

This Ish Works- Benefit They're Real Mascara

Image via Benefit

I have two shots of praise for Benefit. A few weeks ago I needed my brows shaped. Typically I would call my brow specialist girl and wait a week or more for an appointment and then spend $45 and 45 minutes to get my brows done. I had enough of that spendy waiting game and decided to try the brow bar at Benefit. I called to make an appointment and got one within the hour and for only $20 bucks! My brows looked great and when they are done with your waxing they will do your makeup for free- which is the real reason I'm doing this post. When the makeup artist swiped They're Real mascara on my lashes I was immediately happy with the outcome so I added it to my tab (which was still cheaper than my old place-yes!), but for me the real test with mascara is seeing how long it lasts. Typically by 2:00pm I look like I've been socked in the face due to the dark mascara marks under my eyes, but guess what, with this stuff it all stayed on my lashes. If  you need a truly long wearing mascara  I highly suggest getting yourself to Benefit and pick up a tube of this goodness, and treat your brows while you're at it. 

This Ish Works- Bar Keepers Friend

I have come to accept the fact that I am indeed a clean freak, but really it goes beyond that. Cleaning and organizing are truly two of my biggest passions. I will dust and vacuum until the cows come home and enjoy every minute of it, but when it comes to washing pots I'd rather be a cow coming home (does that joke even make sense? No? Okay forget it.). My disdain for scrubbing pans leads to my love of Bar Keepers Friend. It has been around forever but I only recently got introduced to it by the lovely sales people at Williams-Sonoma. This is the stuff to gently clean your fancy, dirty, food encrusted pans with the absolute greatest of ease; no arm work out required! Just mix a little of the powder and some water onto your sponge and buff away that burned on food that has been soiling your pans for months and months. And as the package so proudly proclaims, it removes rust! So next time you are at Safeway, spend the few bucks and add this to your cart. Your shiny pots will thank you.