DetroitDuchess, Author at Detroit Duchess

Step It Up in April with Sephora PLAY!

May 2, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 1 Comment

I’ve finally succumbed to subscription box mania (besides Barkbox for Sport). I’ve resisted signing up for other beauty boxes because I’m pretty particular about my makeup products. I felt that I would rather spend the money on a full size product. I changed my mind when I saw that Sephora had their own version called PLAY! for just $10/month! You cannot beat that price for what you get.

Sephora PLAY! is in demand so you do have to sign up and be accepted to start receiving your box. I got accepted right away so I guess it depends how demand is when you decide to sign up. It includes five skin care, makeup or hair care samples and a fragrance. Everyone gets something a little different depending on the answers you provide when you set up your profile. Each box comes with an adorable bag that has a different theme. You also get a PLAY! Pass that you can redeem in the store for 50 bonus Beauty Insider points and a free tutorial. You get a ton of other tutorials and instructions along with your box as well.

April’s box was themed “Step it Up” to focus on stepping up your beauty routine. I received five great products and lots of tips.

Philosophy Made Simple Face Cleanser ($24)

I’ve never tried the Philosophy cleanser before, but it’s so gentle you can even use it to clean your makeup brushes!

Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover ($11)

The extra bonus in this eye makeup remover is a lash-strengthening complex full of flavonoids and olive wood extracts. So you can get rid of that pesky mascara while building your lashes at the same time. Win-win.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream ($52)

This moisturizer contains 30 percent hyaluronic acid, which I discovered constantly attracts and retains up to 1,000 times its weight in water from moisture in the atmosphere. It also include ceramides to lock in moisture, ProHyal+ to improve hydration and elderberry to curb aging with antioxidants. It packs a lot of punch for one product.

Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36)

This has been one of my long-time staples. I like to test out new primers but always come back to this one. I normally prefer the light version. Fun fact: This is the first product that Smashbox ever created.

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner ($21)

This eyeliner is an Allure Best of Beauty Winner which always makes me take notice. The reviews seem pretty negative about it staying put on the waterline, but I will have to try it out and let you know.

MIU MIU L’eau Bleue ($68)

This is a fun take on the original Miu Miu perfume and updates the bottle using a glittering transparent glass. Scent notes include lily of the valley, wild rose and akigalawood. I LOVE fragrance commercials, I could probably watch them all day, and I especially love this song from Dirty Dancing!

Did you get a PLAY! box this month and get something different? I’m curious to know what you purchased with your PLAY! pass. I got a refill of Dior’s Fix It 2-In-1 Concealer that I was out of.

For more beauty posts, click here.

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: beauty, Sephora, Sephora PLAY!, Subscription box

Bachelorette 13 – Rachel Lindsay

May 1, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 5 Comments

The new promos for The Bachelorette are here and I am pumped for a new season to start on May 22! Rachel Lindsay has received the Cary Fetman (Bachelor/Bachelorette stylist) treatment and looks fabulous:

I don’t have the ID for her actual jumpsuit, but this Kyara Tux Jumpsuit from Diane von Furstenberg ($219.20) is a great match:

Rachel’s dress is custom designed by Randi Rahm and it’s a shame that she can’t wear this more places. It would be awesome if she wore this on night one. If you want to get the look for yourself, try this Bustle Up Exposed Back Ball Gown by Terani Couture ($495):

Now on to the main event, this promo. Rachel is ON FIRE!

First of all, the song is Fifth Harmony’s “That’s My Girl.” Second of all, those shoes! Cary Fetman tells me they’re Dolce & Gabbana so I did some searching and discovered the Dolce & Gabbana Climbing Rose Sandals ($1,395). You can also find them with a pink flower for $1,995:

To get this look for yourself might require a little arts and crafts. Take these Steve Madden Strappy Sandals ($99.95) and then head out to the craft store to get some flowers and attach with your glue gun. Easy peasy.

Who’s excited for a new season of The Bachelorette?!

For more Bachelorette posts, click here.

Filed Under: Bachelorette, Fashion, TV Tagged With: Bachelorette, Dolce & Gabbana Climbing Rose Sandals, fashion, Rachel Lindsay, The Bachelorette, TV

Weekend Recap: I’m a Godmother

April 29, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 4 Comments

This past weekend was one of the busiest I’ve had in a while. It was also one of the most memorable. I think I mentioned a number of times to people that I felt like I was living the life of a Sex and the City character with all of the events that I was booked for. It all started on Thursday night, when I was invited to the Spring Launch Party of TBD Magazine.

TBD Magazine Spring Launch Party

TBD is a new magazine launched by Bedrock to feature the unique people, places, organizations and culture of Detroit. The Spring ebdition just came out and we celebrated with a special release party at El Club.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I attended with my boss, Tina, and wore the Connected floral-print faux-wrap dress from my Spring Favorites post.

Frame Dinner Featuring Katoi

This was a last minute opportunity for me. My boss had tickets to go and had an event come up at the last minute so I was the lucky one who got to take her spot. Frame is a secret restaurant located in the back of JoeBar in Hazel Park. They just launched on March 31st with a month long residency with Katoi. They are going to feature different headliners for various lengths of time after Katoi. This was SO much fun! I hadn’t been to JoeBar which just opened in March either and will have to go back. Here are some of the foodie highlights for you. It seemed like coconut was the theme of the menu and I wasn’t complaining!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Spring Fever Beer Fest

On Saturday John and I met some friends at the Spring Fever Beer Fest hosted at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market. My favorite beer of the night was (at least I’m fairly certain this was it) the St. James Ale from the Paw Paw Brewing Company. It tasted like a smooth milkshake – I was sad when they ran out of it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Allison’s Baptism

I was honored when my dear friend Carolyn asked me to be her daughter, Allison’s, godmother. On Sunday we participated in her baptism and it was such a great day! Just thinking of what the future holds for Allison Elizabeth gets me all emotional. Celebrations, graduation and someday even her wedding. I’m glad I get to be part of it all. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I was on a high for the rest of the day, one of my most memorable moments by far. If any of you have godchildren I would love to hear what kinds of things you do in the comments.

Filed Under: Detroit, Fashion Tagged With: Bedrock, Detroit, El Club, Frame, JoeBar, Katoi, Royal Oak, Spring Fever Beer Fest, TBD Magazine

The Miracle Morning – 90 Days

April 25, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 2 Comments

I am thrilled to share that I recently hit 90 days in my Miracle Morning journey! In case you missed my introduction post, you can see it here and my 60 days post here. Since I started doing the Miracle Morning, I have been more on track and focused on my goals than ever before. I can see a number of positive changes already happening in my life which makes me even more determined. If you still aren’t convinced that getting up early is a good thing, take a look at this article from Business Insider on all of the successful CEOs that are incorporating parts of The Miracle Morning into their routines. I never considered myself a morning person, but if I can do it, so can you!

If you’ve been following along, I’m going to share a few insights and tips I have learned or added to the morning routine for each of the SAVERS.

Silence

I am still loving the Headspace app more than ever! Now that it has warmed up and I’m walking the dog again, I’ve been using the Walking Meditation available in the Singles section. I haven’t mentioned it yet, but after the first 30 days I wanted to add some devotions to my silence. We had a copy of Jesus Lives in our guest room and I have been doing that every day after my meditation.

Affirmations

I’m still loving the ThinkUp App for my affirmations and I recently discovered that you can categorize them. So I could have a set that I listen to in the morning and some on the way to work, etc. Over the past 30 days, I have hit two of the goals that I have been saying daily affirmations for. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to do that. One was a money goal that I set a specific time limit to (end of Q1) and the other was my water goal. Ever since I got the Hidrate Spark, I went from barely getting in 8 ounces a day to exceeding 100 ounces everyday! Both were HUGE accomplishments for me. Stay tuned for a full review of the Hidrate Spark in an upcoming post. I also want to create a group of bedtime affirmations that are specifically targeted for the next day and start a night routine as well. I’m sharing this video just for fun – you have to own your affirmations people!

Visualization

This is the area I have the most trouble with. I am still using my HayHouseVB app but think I need to step it up a bit. Someone in the Miracle Morning Facebook Community suggested YouTube visualization videos and I am just starting to incorporate them into my morning. For example, one of the things I am visualizing is taking a trip to Paris, so I found this video which is 100 times better than just looking at photos:

Exercise

Now that it has warmed up again, Sport and I are back at our morning walks. I try to get 10,000 steps each day which is hard to do without our walk. About a month ago I accidentally flushed my Fitbit Zip down the toilet so I couldn’t track my steps anymore. This was the perfect reason to upgrade to the FitBit One, which I love! This added a sleep tracker and the ability to set an alarm. So I now have an alarm set on my Fitbit to vibrate and wake me up in the morning. How cool is that?

Reading

I finally finished Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. That one was a harder read just because of the outdated language, but the principles are great. I took a short stop to my next book to read Michael Ellsburg’s manifesto What Does it Mean That Your Life is Perfect? This was recommended in one of Hal Elrod’s podcasts and it is a free download and only about 40 pages.

Scribing

This is another SAVER that I am still working on. One thing I want to incorporate into this next round is adding one thing that I’m grateful for each day.

How are you sticking to The Miracle Morning?

For more Be the Best You posts, click here.

Filed Under: Be the Best You Tagged With: Affirmations, Be the Best You, Fitbit, Hal Elrod, HayHouse, Headspace, Jesus Lives, Journaling, Meditation, Michael Ellsburg, Miracle Morning, Napoleon Hill, The Miracle Morning, Think and Grow Rich, Visualization, What Does it Mean That Your Life is Perfect

Unforgettable Movie Review

April 24, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 4 Comments

I had a lot of fun screening Unforgettable a few weeks back. Now that the movie is out, I wanted to share a few fashion finds. This movie is lots of fun for a girls night out and Katherine Heigl’s style is flawless. Say what you will about her character, Tessa’s, state of mind, but crazy looks good on her.

Heigl recently stepped out for the official red carpet premiere event and was definitely channeling Tessa in a Blumarine dress. I found this Lauren Ralph Lauren Metallic Mesh Gown ($210) to recreate the look.

During the movie, Julia (Rosario Dawson) tries on a beautiful v-neck white dress and then Tessa shows up to the opening of her ex-husband’s bar opening wearing the exact same dress! This Ivanka Trump Scuba Crepe Dress ($128) is similar:

During the riding scene, Katherine Heigl wore a pair of Mountain Horse Firenze zip dress boots ($119.99):

During the movie, there is a scene with Tessa and her daughter at her vanity and it reminded me of old Hollywood glam. I loved the robe and that vanity is to die for!

I found this Dalia Robe ($250) to get her look:

I loved all of Tessa’s sheath dresses throughout the movie, especially this grey one at the school. This Kasper V-Neck Sheath Dress ($49.99) is similar:

Will you see Unforgettable? I would love to hear what you thought!

For previous movie reviews, click here.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: Blumarine, fashion, Katherine Heigl, Movie, Rosario Dawson, Unforgettable

Wine of the Week: The Bachelor Wines

April 19, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 2 Comments

I’ve mentioned my Bachelor wine nights a number of different times here on the blog. My friend and I watch the Bachelor/Bachelorette every Monday night with wine. I’ve always thought that the Bachelor franchise was missing out by not selling branded wine. Well ask and you shall receive, because now we have The Bachelor Wines.

Before Nick’s season started, I scooped up the Collector’s Pack for $47.88 and would drink them as appropriate during each date. I like that you can buy these in a pack or one-on-one. I will definitely need some replacements before Rachel’s season starts. I will say that the Chardonnay really surprised me. I am not a huge fan of the buttery flavors of a normal Chardonnay, but these were really understated and I actually really liked it. Here is the breakdown on each wine:

One-on-One Chardonnay

Will you be the chosen one? After reading the wine details, I discovered that the juice was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to harness the inherently bright fruit flavor and character of Chardonnay. This is why it didn’t have a strong buttery flavor. Usually they use oak barrels for that which explains why I loved this version. Described as sunshine in a bottle, you’ll taste ripe apple flavors with notes of lemon, pear and a hint of cream.

The Fantasy Suite Cabernet Sauvignon

The grapes from this wine were crushed and cold soaked for several days to harness color and flavor intensity resulting in a beautiful, deep ruby red color. It has aromas of black cherry, blueberry and dark plum with hints of savory dried herbs. It is easy to drink due to flavors of blackberry and plum.

The Final Rose

The grapes from this one come from Lodi, one of California’s oldest premium winegrowing regions. The skins remained in contact with the juice just long enough to leave a soft shade of blush pink. It has aromas of strawberries, red cherries, and rose petals. Flavors include raspberries, strawberry jam, and a hint of spice.

All of these wines are great and perfect for a Bachelor/Bachelorette viewing party, I used my Coravin so I could enjoy the wine throughout the whole season. I will say that they need to add more options to this and I have some suggestions:

The Right Reasons Riesling
Paradise Pinot Noir
Group Date Gewürztraminer
Neil Lane Sparkling Wine
Two-on-One Tempranillo
Cocktail Party Chianti
Villian Viognier

Let me know if you think of any other ideas. At the very list we definitely need a sparkling wine to add to this collection. Maybe one day each lead will get their own special wine, how fun would that be?

For more Wine of the Week posts, click here.

Filed Under: Wine of the Week Tagged With: Bachelor, Bachelor Wines, Bachelorette, One on One Chardonnay, The Fantasy Suite Cabernet Sauvignon, The Final Rose, wine, wine of the week

Tools of the Trade: PMD Personal Microderm

April 18, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 8 Comments

The first time I heard of the Personal Microderm was on the MMandL Show from my favorite Bachelor contestant, Michelle Money. If you have a few minutes you can watch the original video that first sucked me in:

You may have heard of microdermabrasion before and thought it was an expensive procedure or that it was too harsh for your sensitive skin. Those sentiments are just myths. Exfoliation is one of the main reasons why men’s skin looks so much better than women’s skin as we age – men exfoliate their face and neck every day when they shave. One way you can exfoliate your skin is through microdermabrasion which removes dead skin sells from the top layer of your skin. It can help fight against fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes. By removing the dead skin cells, you are cleaning out your pores and triggering your body to “heal” the skin by replacing the old skin cells with healthy new ones.

PMD has created a video detailing how this works…it definitely makes you feel better about using expensive creams:

I got my PMD as a gift a long time ago before they had all the fun colors so I have the classic grey. If I was buying it now I would get the hot pink one! The Classic Personal Microderm runs $159 and you can get it from Sephora. They also carry the replacement discs so you can earn those points.

The PMD has eight different discs and they are good for about 3-4 uses. You can use the PMD all over your body, not just your face. Think neck, feet, legs, arms, and hands. The discs are made from aluminum oxide crystals which are a natural element and extremely hard. The crystals are hypoallergenic and antibacterial which helps prevent reactions and reduces bacteria spreading.

When you first receive your PMD they send a white training disc in the box. I recommend using that first until you get the hang of it. Then you can gradually move up through grey, blue, green, orange, and red if you feel like you need it. I’m currently on the green disc but think I am ready to try the orange disc now. I like this image because it shows a great plan for how to do your whole face in an organized fashion. Make sure you don’t go over any spot more than twice. I have been fine with no more than two passes, but it really is up to your skin. Start with just one pass and see how you do. I have very sensitive skin but I’ve never had any problems.

I try to stay consistent and use my PMD once a week. I will say that it is hard to keep up with ordering new discs. Mine definitely need to be replaced and I’m not as good about that as I should be. The PMD website has a subscription service to help with this and you can save 15%.

I do want to mention one other important thing, what to do after you use your PMD. Keep in mind that after you’ve used the PMD you’ve essentially taken off the top layer of the Stratum Corneum. After you do this your skin is ready to receive your best product, so think of a face mask, serum or moisturizer that you want to feed your skin immediately after you do this. I take into consideration how my skin is on that particular day – is it dry, oily, breaking out? Then I use the appropriate product.

The PMD is a great at home product that will pay for itself in just a few uses. I haven’t used the body discs much and would love to try them out more on my arms and maybe feet so I’ll have to report back on that. I would love to know if you’ve had good results with the PMD or other tools.

For more Beauty posts, click here.

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: beauty, Microdermabrasion, Personal Microderm, PMD

Splurge vs. Steal: Schutz Juliana Caged Sandals

April 17, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 2 Comments

I have seen these shoes everywhere and they are hot! What a great heel for summer, wedding season, etc. Celebrities are sporting the Schutz Juliana Caged Sandals right and left, you can see them on Jennifer Lawrence, Hillary Duff, Solange, and Michelle Monaghan to name a few.

I had never heard of the Schutz brand before I looked up who made these shoes. The brand is based in Brazil and was created in 1995. The Juliana Caged Heel runs about $190 which isn’t bad if you are looking for a splurge. The heel is 5 inches, but the laser cut outs definitely take them up a notch. If you want to test them out for a steal enter Target with the Mossimo Kylea Caged Heel Strappy Gladiator Pumps lookalikes for only $34.99!

I think I may need to head up to Target and get these for myself!

Do you have a splurge that you want me to find a steal for? Let me know in the comments. Or let me know if you find another steal for the Schutz Juliana Caged Sandals.

For more Splurge vs. Steal posts, click here.

Filed Under: Fashion, Splurge vs. Steal Tagged With: fashion, Hillary Duff, Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Monaghan, Schutz Juliana Caged Sandals, shoes, Solange, splurge vs. steal

BarkBox March 2017 Unboxing

April 13, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 4 Comments

If you decide to treat your pup to their own BarkBox, you can click the link here and use the code “SPORT” to try one for free and Sport gets a free box added on to his account.

This month’s Barkbox says “For centuries, Japanese dogs have celebrated the blooming of sakura by picnicking with their humans! We’ve loaded this box with sushi and snacks to give your dog their very own hanami bento, because tradition is delicious.”

1.Hello Ducky! Treats

These are a Barkbox product made in the USA but unfortunately already sold out. They are made on open grilling racks to keep the fat down. They added rosemary oil for an extra hit of flavor. I did read the instructions and they said that you should only give 1 treat per 15 pounds, so that means Sport only gets one a day.

2. Sydneys Salmon Nigiri ($8)

Sport loves a squeaker and this toy was no different. His last few toys have been a little harder for him to kill the squeaker so this one is just what he needed – an easy squeaker kill. How cute is this little piece of sushi? I tried following him around for a while but he kept running away as soon as I got the camera ready.

3. Mr. Porkle Teriyaki Pork Flavored Dog Treats

Unfortunately these training treats are sold out. Sport loved these! I took the photo on our dining room hutch and after I had put everything away I saw him go back to the spot and had lifted himself up to see if there were any left – he is a hoot!

4. Get that Geta Shoe Toy ($10)

So I had no idea what this toy was for the longest time and then when I went to look it up on the website I realized it was actually a Geta shoe! These shoes are inspired by the traditional getas of feudal Japan, which were designed to elevate the foot in an effort to avoid ruining kimonos in puddles. This toy is filled with crinkle and a squeaker for maximum sound effects. It’s a shoe that your dog can actually eat!

5. Etta Says Buffalo Chews ($3)

Sport really seems to like these types of sticks, and this one was no different – it was gone in about two minutes. Etta Says is made with 100% all natural ingredients from farms throughout the USA. Their chews are easy to digest, don’t have an odor and won’t leave a stain on your carpet (big plus!).

Sport had a lot of fun with his sushi treat this time around:

“Look at what I did Mom!”

This is my squeaker!

If you would like to try Barkbox for your pup, click the link here and use the code “SPORT” to get a free Barkbox for your pup and Sport gets a free box added on to his account.

To read more posts about Sport, click here.

Filed Under: Sport Tagged With: BarkBox, Bento Box, Dog, Sport

April 2017 Pinspired

April 10, 2017 by DetroitDuchess 3 Comments

Now this Pinspired look is one that I’ve had on my list for a long time but have never found the perfect top to match. Well I just found it and can finally recreate this look for spring!

Here is the original Pinterest link. I love the super feminine, but somewhat casual look. It screams, “I just woke up, and threw on some pearls.” The best part is that you don’t need a lot for this look. I found this Lace Blouse from Vince Camuto (on sale right now for $53.40) and knew that it would be perfect!