A Memory Of Us

I was recently sent an eight in one curling wand set from Irresistible Me and am completely in love with it! Today I am sharing with you all how I use the wand to curl my hair.

The Irresistible Me set comes with eight different wand types. It all comes in a heat proof pouch for easy storing. One of my favorite things about the wand is that it automatically shuts off after it is on for awhile. This is great for me because whenever I leave the house I always have to double check that I've unplugged my tools! I'm very paranoid about leaving something turned on, so I love this feature.

The curling wand heats up within 20 seconds which makes getting ready super quick. The set also comes with a heat glove. I've never used one before, but I was surprised to see how much quicker I was able to do my hair with it. I section off my hair and spray it with a heat protectant before starting. I wrap my hair away from the face and hold it there for about 10 seconds.

I will continue wrapping the entire bottom section of my hair before moving on to the next section. I wrap the hair that frames my face away from my face, as mentioned above. However, once I am back further into the pieces I will alternate the direction of each curl to achieve a more natural look.

Once the bottom section of my hair is done, I will move onto another section of hair. I hold each curl for about 10 seconds to achieve tighter curls. However, if I want looser waves I will only hold it for about 3-5 seconds. That is how I did my hair in this post.

After I release each curl from the wand, I will catch it in my hand and hold it before letting it fall.

Once I am done with all of my hair, I will spray it with a hairspray and I'm ready to go! I like to leave my curls tight, because I know they will fall as the night goes on. For these pictures, I was getting ready for a wedding that was 40 minutes away from our house. I knew they would fall before the wedding started. If these are too tight for your preference, or if you don't have time to wait, I would recommend finger combing through your hair once done. Another option is to lightly pull on each curl after you release it from the wand to achieve a looser look.

I also love this wand because the curls really hold. Even after sleeping, my curls were still in tact and I was able to just leave them for the next day.

Additionally, I am impressed with how quickly I am able to do my hair with it. I always listen to music while getting ready, and it only takes me two songs to do my whole head! (Am I the only person who judges how long it takes to get ready, shower, etc. based off the number of songs that play haha?!) If you are in the market for a new wand, I highly recommend you look into the Irresistible Me Sapphire 8 in 1 Complete Curling Wand.

Linking up with More Pieces of Me and B Loved Boston.
I would love it if you would follow me on GFC or Bloglovin'!

product review - Monday, October 19, 2015

Irresistible Me Curling Wand Review

I was recently sent an eight in one curling wand set from Irresistible Me and am completely in love with it! Today I am sharing with you...

Today I am taking a break from my usual OOTD posts to talk about a product I recently received in the mail and absolutely love. Paper Style sent me a personalized stationary ink stamper to use for mail throughout the wedding planning process!

I have wanted one ever since seeing them on Pinterest but was hesitant to order one. I never found a company that had consistently good reviews of their stampers, until I discovered Paper Style. The other reviews I read always said that it didn't stamp evenly, the words didn't transfer well, etc. I have had zero problems with the stamper since ordering it and using it! It looks exactly like the images say it will.

They have so many different styles and themes I honestly want to order another one. I love this one where you can added in your wedding date. They would be great for teachers too! Tyler and I chose one with our address so that we can use it instead of return labels on our thank you cards. Since we do not yet know what our invitations will look like (read about that here) it is hard to say if we will use it for them or not! I've already started using it on all the mail we send out :).

If you are looking for this type of product, I highly recommend it! It is very cool because the ink is included with the stamper. It is made to last for 30,000 uses so you probably won't have to replace it. I like that you only have to keep track of one product, rather than the stamp and the ink. If you do run out of ink you can order more from the website! (They have lots of different colors, too!) Here is how ours looks when stamped:

Unfortunately I cannot give you a better picture without actually including my address. Hopefully you are able to see how great it looks though :). If you have any questions, please let me know or contact Paper Style directly. They have 24/7 live chat to help. They are currently running a lot of promotions on their website, if you wish to order something!!

Linking up with Because Shanna Said So

I would love it if you would follow me on GFC or BlogLovin'!

product review - Wednesday, April 02, 2014

personal stamper

Today I am taking a break from my usual OOTD posts to talk about a product I recently received in the mail and absolutely love. Paper St...

Hi everyone! Today I have an amazing company to tell you about called Kidogo Kidogo.

Kodogo Kidogo, a company started by two sisters, translates to "little by little" in Swahili. They created the company to help women in Tanzania have access to mobile technology. Their business is similar to Toms Shoes in that it is one-for-one. Your purchase puts something in the hands of a woman in Tanzania.

A mobile phone for a woman in Tanzania means a way to communicate with friends and family, a flashlight, a calculator, a radio, a way to make secure banking transactions, and more. You can read about women who have used the donations from Kidogo Kidogo to run a business, here. It truly is amazing how much empowerment comes to these women from a phone!

Kidogo Kidogo sells cases that help put technology into the hands of women across Tanzania. When you buy a case, Kidogo Kidogo provides a phone, or phone credits, to a woman who could not otherwise afford it. This company is working hard to create a positive change for women in Tanzania. The cases not only benefit the women, but also other non-profit partners. For example, a portion of the profits from the sea turtle case are distributed to Sea Sense. Sea Sense works to conserve and protect endangered marine species.

I am a big fan of companies who try to help people. In fact, the store I bought the dress I wore yesterday from donates 10% of their profits to charity. When I heard about Kidogo Kidogo, I just had to share it with all of you! A mobile phone is something a lot of people take for granted. These women can truly benefit from them. Purchasing from Kidogo Kidogo not only gives you a cute case, but also helps these women. What more could you want!? Their cases are so cute, too. I love little by little.

Kidogo Kidogo is giving away one of their phone cases to a reader of A Memory of Us! The winner will get to pick the phone case of their choice. They currently only have cases for an iPhone, but even if you don't have an iPhone you can still enter and give the case away as a gift!

Enter for your chance to win using the rafflecopter below! This company does such great work. Let's show them support :).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

all images from Kidogo Kidogo

Linking up with Because Shanna Said So.
I would love it if you would follow me on GFC or BlogLovin'!

giveaway - Wednesday, March 26, 2014

cases that care

Hi everyone! Today I have an amazing company to tell you about called Kidogo Kidogo. Kodogo Kidogo , a company started by two sisters...

product review - Tuesday, March 18, 2014

invitation inspiration

Before Tyler and I got engaged, I tried very hard not to let myself look at the Pinterest wedding boards. I am probably one of the only gir...

beauty routine - Friday, February 21, 2014

Younique 3D FiberLash

I normally wait to talk about any products I use until my monthly favorites post, but I have recently discovered something I thought ne...

currently craving - Monday, January 13, 2014

Cold Weather Essentials

The crazy cold temperatures last week got me thinking about my cold weather must haves. There were some things that made going out in the ...

If you follow me on Instagram (@ _darcyylynn_) then you saw this picture on New Year's Eve.

I was preparing for the new year by filling in my new Erin Condren Life Planner! If you have been looking for a new planner, you need to order this one! Not only can you personalize every aspect of the planner, but it also keeps you incredibly organized. I just discovered the brand in 2013. I wish I would have known about it in college because it would have been useful to keep track of my schoolwork, sorority requirements, dance company practices, etc.

So, what makes this planner better than the rest? Honestly, I could go on and on. However, I decided to highlight the top 3 things I like about this planner vs. other planners.

1. Layout

I love the layout in this planner. You get to start each month with a look at the whole month. Then, within each week, the days are broken into "morning, day and night". I love this because it keeps tasks from getting all jumbled. I have OCD about organization and this helps me keep things for work separate from things for my social life.

2. Stickers

Erin Condren planners come with fun stickers for you to use to categorize tasks. For example, there are stickers to use to mark birthdays, hair appointments, concerts, vacations. I like using stickers for things because it makes more important events (like say a dentist appointment) stand out.

3. Looks

The thing that made me want a life planner in the first place was the fact that the planner is so cute! I especially love that you can personalize your planner. You get to pick the cover design, what it says, and can even add personalized stickers. The planner then has different colors for each month and inspirational quotes to start the month off.

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If you don't want a life planner, Erin Condren also sells other amazing paper products. I'm a fan of the stationary, the notepads, and the calendars. Be sure to use the widget below to vote for your favorite Erin Condren item!

Have I convinced you to buy one of these!? Well lucky for you, Erin Condren is so generously giving away a $25 gift card to a reader of A Memory of Us! All you have to do to enter is fill out the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again to Erin Condren for sponsoring this awesome giveaway! Good luck!

I would love it if you would follow me on GFC or BlogLovin'!

giveaway - Friday, January 10, 2014