Hello again!
I feel that I owe you all an explanation as to my sudden absence. As you may know, I graduated college in May. I have been pursuing my goal of owning my own insurance agency. With that goal, comes very little time to blog and come up with new DIYs. I still love creating things, I just don't have the time I used to.
With that said, I have decided that I will leave this blog up, but I am going to transition over to my Tumblr, which you can find here. I won't post as often as I used to here, but I will reblog cool posts as well as occasionally come up with my own content. I fell that this is the best option for my lifestyle at this time.
I hope you will all come and join me over on Tumblr so we can keep the Country Class family alive!
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and never stop living frugally!
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Products I Used Up: Would I Repurchase?
Hello everyone!
I apologize for my terrible, non-existent posting schedule! I just graduated from college on the 14 and I'm still trying to get my life together! Without WiFi at home, it is difficult to post, as the formatting on the Blogger app is horrible, but rest assured, I am trying!
Today I am sharing the first post of a new series. I decided to share with you the products that I have used up and tell you my thoughts. I would love to hear what you think about this type of post, as I am still working out some kinks. Also, big news! I am working with a small vinyl business and will hopefully have some posts up and some discounts for you all soon!
First are these exfoliating facial wipes from Dollar Tree. I used these to remove my makeup at night and I have to say, I was not impressed. They are not very moist and are quite stiff, so it took forever to get all of my makeup off. I give these a 2/10 and would not repurchase.
This Foot Works Overnight Cream in Lavender is AMAZING! It is by far one of my favorite Foot Works products! It smells amazing and is great for relaxing after a long day. It makes your feet super soft as well! I give this a 10/10 and will repurchase once I finish up my other Foot Works cream!
I love the Twisted Peppermint Hand Cream and Body Wash from Bath and Body Works! They smell amazing! The lotion is extremely hydrating and I may have washed my hands just so I could reapply it more often (don't judge me, okay?). I give both products a 10/10 for sure! I will be repurchasing them when they come back!
This is a "beauty blender" that I purchased from Dollar Tree. It is extremely dense and really doesn't blend your makeup out very well. If you only use a BB cream or something with light coverage, this would probably be perfect for you, but I personally prefer something that is a little less dense. I give this a 5/10 and I would not repurchase.
This is the Real Techniques blending sponge. I bought a two pack at Ulta for about $11. I love this sponge, as it is extremely spongy (for lack of a better word) and blends out makeup perfectly! Mine was very well-loved (as you can see) and I will definitely be repurchasing this when I need a new one! I will warn you to be extremely careful when washing this, as it expands very easily and therefore can be torn easily. Learn from my mistakes. I give this a 10/10 and will repurchase!
You may notice this is not my photo. That is because I hated this product so much that I threw it away before taking a picture of my own. The product in question is the Spa Haus Hair Therapy Keratin Oil Shampoo, which I purchased from Dollar Tree. I know, I know, I only paid a dollar so shouldn't expect much, but let me tell you, I have very high expectations for items I buy from Dollar Tree. This shampoo smelt amazing, it reminded me of fruit punch! Unfortunately, that was the only good thing about it. It was extremely watery, hardly lathered, and did not clean my hair well at all. I give this product a 2/10 and would not repurchase.
Let me tell you about this jerky. BEST THING EVER! We bought this at Dollar Tree and literally went back the next day to buy the rest. It's nice and chewy and tastes amazing. You also get a good amount for a dollar. I give this a 10/10 and will certainly repurchase if I ever find it again!
First off, I apologize for the blurry picture. This is a microfiber hair wrap from Dollar Tree. Do not purchase this unless it is for a small child. I got this to dry my hair in overnight and it barely fit my head, let alone hold all of my hair. You win some you lose some. At least it was only a dollar! I give this a 0/10 and would not repurchase.
You may recall this from my Blossom VoxBox Reviews and Opinions post last June. This is the Hair Food Strawberry Ginger cleansing shampoo. I absolutely love this! I used it once a week to clean all of the products I used out of my hair and it left me with clean, pretty smelling hair! I give this a 10/10 and will definitely repurchase!
This NYC City Proof 24hr Eye Primer is great! I bought this after trying one of their shadows in my Blossom VoxBox and was extremely happy for the price! It helps your shadow stay on all day with minimal creasing. I have very oily eyelids, so I have not repurchased, as I am still trying to find a primer that has absolutely no creasing, but I still give this an 8/10.
Have you tried any of these products? Did you love them or hate them? Any products you want to see me try? Let me know in the comments!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Friday, May 6, 2016
Chicken Fajita Salad
Hello again!
Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I've been super busy trying to get everything finished before my college graduation nest Saturday! I still have two test to take but am waiting on certain things and it's become quite stressful for me! Also, because of all that stress, I haven't really been cooking much lately. We either go out to dinner or I make grilled cheese or a similar meal. I'll admit, I am not in prime form currently.
I will say that this chicken fajita salad is super easy to make and it is absolutely amazing! Keep reading to find out how I made it!
What you need:
- Chicken Breasts (I used 2 but Tommy said I needed to make more)
- Seasonings (I used Lawry's seasoning salt and Cumin)
- Red Onion
- Assorted Bell Peppers
- Head of Lettuce
- Southwest Dressing (I used one from Kraft)
First, you will want to season your chicken breasts and set them aside. I just put some Lawry's Seasoning Salt and Cumin on mine.
Next, cut up your bell peppers into small strips. I used 3 peppers and that was perfect for Tommy and I. We made big salads, so this might even work for 3-4 people, depending on the size of your salad.
Also cut some thin slices of your red onion and separate them. I used about 1/4 of the onion.
Take your head of lettuce and chop it up. I cut up 3/4 of the head and it was enough for probably 5 salads.
Finally, cut up your chicken into small pieces. You can cook it whole then cut it, but I find it much easier to cook it when it's pre-cut!
Now for the fun part!
Put your peppers and onions in a pan with a cooking oil of your choice (I used olive oil) and cook them on medium heat until the begin to brown. I also added a bit of Lawry's and cumin to the oil.
While you are cooking your peppers and onions, also put your chicken into a pan with some oil and cook that over medium heat until it is done (about 10 minutes).
Once everything is cooked, place some lettuce on your plate and add your veggies and chicken. Top with your dressing and cheese and you're done!
This is seriously so easy and takes literally 15-20 minutes to prepare. I might even make it for dinner again tonight!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Friday, April 22, 2016
Barbecue Pulled Chicken Hot Pockets
Second post in a week! I'm on a roll! Let's see how long I can keep this going!
Lately I've been trying to come up with healthy and inexpensive items to make for Tommy so he can grab a snack if I'm going to be home late or if he's going out fishing. If I don't have easy things around, he just doesn't eat until I get home, and we can't have that!
We have been loving Hot Pockets as quick lunches or for dinner on a lazy night. One of our favorites is the barbecue pork. For some reason trying these Hot Pockets gave me the idea to make my own! This recipe is super easy and makes about 6 Hot Pockets.
***Since making these, Tommy has tried one and I have decided that these would be best when they are first made. When heated up in the microwave after being frozen, the dough was chewy and not so pleasant.***
What you need:
- 3 Boiled Chicken Breasts
- Pre-Made Pizza Crust
- Garlic
- Butter
- Barbecue Sauce
Preheat your oven to the temperature required by your pizza dough. Mine called for 425 degrees. While the oven is preheating, begin boiling your chicken. To do this, put your chicken breast in a pot with just enough water to cover them. Once your water starts boiling, set a timer for 12 minutes. It may take a little longer for the chicken to cook all the way through, depending on how thick it is.
Once your chicken is done boiling, remove it from the pot and place it on a cutting board. Then you will want to shred it using two forks. If the chicken is cooled down you can also use your hands, which I do a lot of the time as it is a bit quicker.
Once your chicken is shredded, place it in a bowl and coat it with barbecue sauce. Make sure to put a TON of barbecue sauce, as when Tommy tried mine, he said there was literally no flavor.
You win some, you lose some.
Next you will want to roll out your dough. I rolled mine pretty thin, as I wanted to make sure that it would bake all the way through.
This step is optional, but I made a homemade garlic butter to put on top. I simply melted some butter with a little bit of minced garlic.
Cut your dough into long strips. I apparently forgot to take a picture of this part, but you get the idea.
Once your strips are cut, cover half of the dough with the chicken. Add extra barbecue sauce as desired.
Now fold your dough in half and seal the edges.
Transfer your hot pocket to a baking tray and coat with your garlic butter.
Bake them at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes (just wait for them to get golden brown)
Though my freezer idea didn't quite work, I think these would be a great party snack!
Let me know what you think!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Dollar Tree Jewelry Stand
I'm back!
I always tell myself that I'm going to blog more then life comes knocking on my door. I've been so busy with finals and housework that I haven't had time to do much else. In the past few days I've freed up some time so I was finally able to do a DIY and make a fun recipe. Be on the lookout for the recipe a little later this week! Yes, two posts in one week!
As you may know, I have a slight addiction to shopping at Dollar Tree. I have been there 3 times this week and spent between $8 and $15 each time I went. I told Tommy that I am banning myself from Dollar Tree for the rest of the month. I am happy to share that I FINALLY found the candle stick holders so that I can share with you this awesome DIY Jewelry stand!
I was using my DIY Watch and Bracelet Holder but it was getting a bit too full and I had to pull everything off to get one thing off. It was super cute, just not practical!
This Jewelry Stand is elegant, convenient, and cheap! The entire thing cost me about $5 and should only take about 10 or 15 minutes to complete! Keep reading to see how I completed this project!
What you need:
- 3 Bowls/Plates
- 2 Candlesticks
- Hot Glue Gun
**Notice the roll of contact paper? I got through cutting it out and attaching it only to realize it DOES NOT work for this project! Read on for further details!**
You will first want to remove any labels from the items and wipe them down with some alcohol to clean the surface.
Once you have wiped everything down, glue the small end of the candlestick to the bottom of your first dish.
I originally wanted to add contact paper to the bottom of my dishes to make it a little more interesting and personalized. After spending 20 minutes cutting out the heart shapes and attaching the paper I found out that hot glue apparently doesn't stick too well to contact paper. So I scratched that idea.
Let your glue dry then glue around the other part of the candlestick and carefully center your second bowl on top.
Once the glue dries, repeat the previous two steps for your third bowl.
You could choose to spray paint this if you so wish, but I think it looks quite elegant as it is.
Fill it up with your bracelets and necklaces and you're done!
An elegant jewelry stand for only $5? It doesn't get much better than that! I put mine on the top shelf of my bookshelf (we don't have much counter space) next to my favorite picture of Bo and me (Rest in Peace buddy) and my perfumes. That way I can grab a piece of jewelry on my way out the door every morning because we all know that I'm always running late!
Let me know what you think!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Dollar Tree Succulent Planter
Hello again!
I apologize for the lack of posts recently, but these past few weeks have been crazy with graduation approaching. I feel like I'm juggling way too many things, so sometimes I have to put the blog on the back burner a bit.
I just painted my nails for the first time in at least a month last night, if that tells you anything about how busy I am. But, I'm back, and that's all that matters, right?
I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to Dollar Tree. I have to go at least once a week, and I watch SO MANY haul videos on YouTube it's scary. I just love finding new, high quality things at Dollar Tree! Not to mention, it's a great store for a broke college student who loves to make things!
I have also been loving succulents lately. They just look so chic and add the perfect pop of greenery to any room! When I found out that Dollar Tree had fake succulents, I had to find them! I finally found one that I wanted at the second store I went to. I am hoping to find more to make a bigger arrangement in the near future but until then, this little cutie will do!
What you need:
- Glass Container of some sort
- White Stones
- Fake Succulent
This is a super easy DIY, and I'm sure you don't need me to tell you what to do, but I'm going to tell you anyway!
First you will want to pour some of your stones into your container. How many is up to your personal preference. I filled mine up about half of the way, maybe a bit over half. We don't get specific with measurements around here.
Once you have your desired level of stones, pull your succulent out of the little pot it comes in. This should be fairly easy. Watch out for the little foam balls though, they may go all over if you aren't careful.
My succulent was hot glued in, but I just had to twist it a bit and it came right out.
Once you have your succulent out, place it in your stones and you're done!
I am so in love with little thing it's not even funny! And can you believe it only cost me $3?
What other Dollar Tree DIYs would you like to see?
Let me know in the comments below!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Friday, March 25, 2016
Business Casual: Printed Dress
Hello, hello, hello!
I haven't been motivated to post lately, but the semi-spring like weather we are having in Michigan today has given me a boost of motivation!
Today I'm going to share with you an outfit from earlier this week that I absolutely loved! This was perfect for the business casual dress code at my office, and I think it would also be a great outfit for Easter!
Watch: 10dollarmall.com (similar)
Shoes: Payless (similar)
I love how simple, yet fun this outfit is! It's super customizable and it just screams Spring to me! I also like that I can wear this dress in many different ways to make it appropriate for different settings!
What would you pair this dress with?
Also, I just wanted to share this lovely photo with you all! I was having my mom take the picture of me and her Golden Retriever, Ryle, was rolling around in the background. I almost died when I looked at the pictures!
Happy Spring!
Let me know what you think!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Friday, March 11, 2016
L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil Review
Hello again!
I hope it's becoming Spring wherever you are! It's been rough here in Michigan, but today it's sunny and 55! I'll take that over snow any day!
Today I am going to review the L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil line! I received the shampoo, conditioner, and serum free for review from Influenster. I was not paid to do this review, and all opinions stated in this blog post are my own.
If you're interested in these products, keep reading!
First, let's start off with some background on my hair. I have always had very fine and dry hair. My scalp is very dry and so are my ends, however, my roots tend to get very oily, possibly because I have a terrible habit of touching my hair.
With that said, about 3 or 4 months ago, I stopped washing my hair every day (yes, I still shower daily) and only use conditioner on my ends once a week. I wash my hair every other day and just use dry shampoo on my roots on the days I don't wash my hair. It has really helped with the texture of my hair. Prior to this, if I let me hair air dry, it would just get frizzy and poofy. I could never go without using heat unless I wore my hair up. I no longer use heat and wear my hair down naturally every day, as it has transformed to a much more manageable wavy look.
With that said, let's get into my before and after and my thoughts!
It's hard to see a huge difference in my before and after pictures as it was night when I took these and the lighting in out bathroom wasn't the greatest. Not to mention I had to use the front facing camera on my phone and my mirror because Tommy was sleeping.
If you look closely at the before picture, you'll see that my hair is a bit poofy. It was also quite dull and dry. I used the shampoo on my roots, the conditioner on my ends, and then the serum on my ends when I got out of the shower. I ten let my hair air dry overnight and took the after picture the next morning before going to work.
This line of products made my hair super shiny and smooth as well as making it much easier to work with in general. Not to mention, it smells absolutely amazing. It has so many great oils in it and over the 2 or 3 weeks I have been using this, I have really noticed a difference in the health of my hair.
Now the real test was my second day hair. I was going to take a picture on the second day, but I was running late for work and it just didn't happen. But I will tell you that my hair was still shiny and smooth on the second day. I did still use dry shampoo because my roots get extremely oily if I don't, but I didn't have to use nearly as much as with other shampoos that I have tried. In all honesty, I probably don't even need to use dry shampoo, as my hair never looks oily on the second day, but I'm paranoid that someone will think my hair is greasy, so I use it anyway.
My final verdict: Go buy this product! Seriously, if your hair is anything like mine, you need this line in your life. I am typically very cheap when it comes to shampoo, but this is something I will definitely splurge on and I plan on repurchasing it when I run out.
Have you tried this product before?
Let me know what you think!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Monday, February 29, 2016
Apple Peanut Butter Waffle Sandwich
Hello everyone!
Just a quick post for you tonight! This is a healthy lunch idea that I came up with a few months ago. It's super easy and inexpensive and contains some protein as well as fruit. It's great for those days where you don't really know what you want. It's the perfect mix between savory and sweet!
Just a quick post for you tonight! This is a healthy lunch idea that I came up with a few months ago. It's super easy and inexpensive and contains some protein as well as fruit. It's great for those days where you don't really know what you want. It's the perfect mix between savory and sweet!
What you need:
- 2 Frozen Waffles
- 1 Apple
- Peanut Butter
All you need to do is toast your waffles, spread some peanut butter on them, then add some slices of any apple of your choice.
It's as easy as that! This is a great last minute lunch idea and would even be a good choice for a snack!
Let me know what you think!
Recreations? #countryclassdiy
Monday, February 22, 2016
Spring Daisy Manicure
Hello again!
Is anyone else dreaming of Spring? Here in Michigan, we had 2 days in the 60s last week and it has me ready for Spring. I'm even wearing my neon coral skirt today! Unfortunately, we will be getting quite a bit of snow in the next few days. That doesn't mean my nails can't be Spring-ready!
I painted these yesterday (Sunday) and unfortunately, they are already chipped (I did the dishes without gloves), so shame on me for not using Gelous!
What you need:
- Essie in Lilacism
- Sally Girl in Canary
- Pure Ice Quick Dry Top Coat
- Various sized dotting tools
After my base coat was dry, I applied a thin layer of my white polish, just to make Lilacism pop.
I applied 2 coats of Lilacism, until it was opaque, then let dry.
Once your base polish is dry, place 3-4 yellow dots with a small dotting tool on each nail.
Next, place 5 white dots with a smaller dotter around each yellow dot.
Apply a top coat and you're done!
What's the weather like where you live? Are you dreaming of Spring as well?
Recreations? #countryclassdiy