#2 | Round Up + Review | 02/24 / Mainly Marta :: A Motherhood + Lifestyle Blog

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What started as a digital diary to document a newfound journey as a stay at home mom / wife has quickly evolved into my own little corner on the internet where I share all that life brings my way -- the good, the bad, and everything in between. Thanks for stopping by; I hope you stay awhile!

#2 | Round Up + Review | 02/24

over the tea cup (1917) by harrison fisher

 

 

hello again, lovely readers! 

today's post is a round up + review of last month's hits and misses. this series is fairly new, so I want to make it abundantly clear that these round ups are not sponsored. the products listed are things that I have purchased with my own money. I don't want to just limit this series to products either -- food, films, trips, clothes, etc. anything is up for a rating!

I thought it would be fun to share whether I am loving or hating things as I always love hearing what people think about products. I promise my 100%, unfiltered opinion in these posts, and that's what I aim to give. so without futher ado, let's get to the round up and reviews! 

per usual, here is the mini disclaimer that some links are affiliate!

 


 

sanctuary fragrance collection

I bought these for my birthday to try and find out a signature fragrance for myself. I love that they have this option, so you can sample all the scents, but I am a little bummed because I thought I would love them more. 

The packaging is cute at first glance. I love the colors, but you get what you pay for. When I tried taking the cap off the first time, I pulled on it and the spritzer came off too. At first, I thought it was just a plastic brush to rub on your skin and I used it like that until I wanted to try another fragrance. the cap on that one left the spritzer on. 

When it comes to the fragrance, they don't smell bad, but they don't smell amazing either. Because of that, they aren't my favorite. I thought I would love them, but I just don't. I'm using them to not be wasteful, but I won't be repurchasing the set as a gift or buying a full size fragrance from them either. I think it's a great if you want to try them, though, so really I am torn.

Would I recommend to a friend? yes/no ☺☹

overall rating: 5/10


trader joe's mini rice crackers

for this month's foodie feature, we need to talk about these rice crackers from Trader Joe's. they are a top tier snacking option -- perfect for dipping, charcuterie + kid friendly snack boards or for when those days you need something crunchy to snack on. if you have some smoked salmon and cream cheese on hand, grab a handful of these and go to town. it's something that has become a staple in my pantry and I'm always so bummed when I run out. 

would I recommend to a friend? yes! ☺

overall rating: 10/10

 

american eagle claw clips

this one is gonna be short because I know what you're thinking -- claw clips, really? and yes. it's the only way I style my hair these days and these are my favorite. I know, they're kind of pricey, but  in my opinion, so worth it. they're sturdy and one has yet to break on me, so because of that, I am always reaching for them. every claw clip from AE that I've purchased has been nothing short of amazing quality.

would I recommend them to a friend? yes! ☺

overall rating: 8/10


face base lanolin + vitamin day cream 

I have very dry skin -- think eczema prone all year long. I am always on the lookout for good skin care products and creams that help tame the patches + flakes of dry skin that like to painfully peel off. Not only that, but I also suffer from eyelid psoriasis, which is essentially scales forming on my eyelid, almost like dandruff, and it's so painful.

I bought this face cream on a whim, and can I just say -- do that more often. this is now the cream that I reach for every single time. It has helped soothe the dry patches on my cheeks, and get rid of the scales on my eyelid. My skin soaks this all up and feels so good after application. I honestly love it so much that I now consider it a staple in my skincare routine! 

would I recommend it to a friend? yes! ☺

overall rating: 10/10


the film: napoleon

first, let me preface this by saying that I was so excited about this film. I  mean, putting it mildly, I was thrilled. as a self-professed history buff, I am allllllll in when it comes to movies about historical figures -- especially when they're about a grand figure like Napoleon.

the trailer was epic and when I saw that Joaquin Phoenix was Napoleon, I was stoked! Come time to watch the movie, I expected great things...... and all that excitement flat lined REAL quick

I was so disappointed in the way they portrayed Napoleon. Instead of giving us one of the greatest military leaders of all time with epic battles and ruthless execution, we got a whiny and weak leader who could not function.

I felt like they focused on his love life for the film which, in my personal opinion, was a bad move. When I think Napoleon, I think Waterloo, the invasion of Russia, etc. I think brilliant mind, great leader, and when all the major battles were glossed over, it really became painful to watch.

all that to say, you guys, this movie had so much potential -- literally so much potential. the cast was good, the script was horrible. I honestly hated it. when the credits rolled, I was angry that I wasted 2+ hours on this film. Not to be dramatic, but I felt like mourning what the film could have been. 

would I recommend it to a friend? no. ☹

overall rating: 1/10

 

thrive causemetics brilliant eye brightener

I first came upon this product a few years back and loved it. I'm a one and done when it comes to eyeshadow, so these are my go to. I've always wanted to try all the colors, so I finally bought them all. 

in short, I really like them. the colors are gorgeous and there are some fun colors like a pastel green, purple and blue, which I don't typically grab, but it's fun to have on hand in case you want to get creative. they're creamy and glide on well. I love them because I like a sheer look, but if you're looking for super vibrant colors, maybe pass on these. that being said, they are buildable, so don't write them off right away either.  

I'm not a bold eye look kind of girly, so they're perfect for me. I love using them as smudgy eyeliner when I don't want to color the whole lid. honestly, for my makeup skills and minimal wants, they're a hit.

would I recommend it to a friend? yes! ☺

overall rating: 9/10

 

and that's a wrap! 

those are my hit and misses for the month of February. I'll see you next time. xoxo


 

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