Columbus Day at Yankee Candle Factory with My Guy

Hello:

So today's post will be a bit different but I hope you all will enjoy it. As you know a few weekends ago was Columbus Day weekend, so my boyfriend and I decided we would take a little day trip up to Massachusetts to visit Yankee Candle Factory and see the beautiful foliage along the way, I warn you this post will be a bit picture heavy. But I hope you will enjoy it all the same.

The drive up was very beautiful as we were able to see all the leaves changing color. There really is nothing quite as beautiful as living in New England and experiencing all the lovely seasons. As well as some pretty funny Electronic Highway Signs. Kudos to Massachusetts' DOT.  

Once we arrived to our final location we were greeted with a mass amount of people because it was a holiday weekend Yankee candle had lots of events for children and families. They had a hay ride, pumpkin picking and carving, arts and crafts, food, music the works. It was all very beautiful to experience and felt like one big family.

After making our way through the crowds we were able to get inside and locate a greeter who provided us with a map and some coupons and thus our adventure began. We made our way through various sections smelling the candles as we went along. Walked through the snow room (where it snowed every 4 minutes) as well as through a room that was dark but had miniature Christmas themed houses lit up that made you feel like it was just days away. After getting in the Christmas spirit we walked into the toy section where every child was going nuts asking for this toy and that one. Already mentally writing there Christmas lists. Ken and I even took a picture on the sled. 

We had such a blast making our own candle and picking out different scents that I completely recommend this place to anyone within a two hour drive. It will be completely worth it. Instead of explaining all of the wonderful things we witnessed I'll let the pictures talk for themselves.

These collages are just snippets of the awesome attractions at the Yankee Candle Factory.  There is so much to see and explore. 

Hope you all enjoyed this post. Let me know if you like posts like this one. What day trips do you do with your significant other?

Leave a comment below. As well as the link to your blog if you have one.  See you all Monday with a new My Opinion Monday post.

Xs Mia

My Opinion Mondays - Nurtura Replenishing Cream

Hello Again!

For my first My Opinion Monday I'd like to rave about one of my very favorite beauty products and a key player in my skincare routine.  My moisturizer.  I wasn't sure what product to review and I wanted to make sure it was one that I was completely sold on and that has been tried and  proven true.

My skincare routine has changed many times throughout the years but the one product that has remained in every phase is the Avon Nurtura Replenishing Cream.  This product is absolutely amazing.  My skin is normal to dry and I rarely breakout but I feel I owe a lot of that in part to this cream.

I've tried many moisturizers and none of them have come close.  It has a soft fresh fragrance and a smooth buttery feel.  I would actually describe it as butter for your face because it nourishes the skin like nothing I've experienced before.  I normally only apply it at night once I've gone through my skincare routine. When applied to the skin it feels very greasy but that is because it is restoring moisture and nourishing the skin, this feeling will only last 2-5 minutes until it is absorbed. On days like today (a lazy blogging saturday) where I don't have to be anywhere for sometime, I like to cleanse and exfoliate my face in the morning and then apply two coats (yes you read right TWO COATS) of this moisturizer and just let it work its magic.  My face thanks me every time for it :)

Below is a photo of this wonder products.  I sincerely hope some of you will give it a try especially with fall and winter fast approaching.  We could all use a really good moisturizer.

PS. I just looked on the website and it's on sale for $2.99.  I'm a bit excited as I will be stocking up on this as if it were liquid gold!!

What's your favorite moisturizer?

Hope you'll come back for next week's My Opinion Monday.

xoxo Mia

2014 Top 4 Fall Nail Polishes

Hello Again!

I hope you've enjoyed my last post along with the new look of my blog.

Today's post will be on one of my favorite collections. My nail polish rack. I started collecting nail polish a few years ago after watching one of Nicole Guerriero's videos. So over the years I've built and established a pretty good collection if I do say so myself. As the title of this post states below are my top four colors along with a few designs I found on Pinterest in no particular order.

1. Cinna-snap is a  red/berry polish from Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri line. This polish is one of the newest additions to my collection. I never thought I could pull a color like this off before but I bit the bullet and bought it and am so happy with it. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and try something outside of your comfort zone in order to truly see your potential. This polish is very pigmented and dried instantly as the name states and is truly one I would recommend buying this season.

I found this beautiful design on mywomenstuff.com

2. Gold Roses this is also a Sally Hansen's polish but sadly I believe it is discontinued. I have yet to see this color on the racks this season and what a shame that is. It is truly the best rose gold polish I have seen by far. Just like the polish above it is also an extremely pigmented polish one coat and a good top coat and you're all set to head out the door!

I found this princessy design on prettydesigns.com

3. Disturbia from the Wet n Wild Megalast line this is a beautiful plum color with the perfect amount of shimmer.  I'm not one for very dark colors but his will most definitely be one of my go-to polishes this fall.

I found this cool design on fashionsy.com

4. Nirvana is the perfect polish for all my brow/grey loving girls out there. This polish is from the Sinful Colors line and I believe it is very fallesque. It reminds me of a pair of  stylish combat boots with an awesome edgy outfit. This will be the perfect accessory to any fallwear.

I found this design on pinky-blue.over-blog.com

Hope you enjoyed this post.

What are your fall nail colors?  Leave your comments below.

See you monday.

xoxo Mia

The Liebster Award

Hello There!

So this post is a new one for me, my lovely friend over at Jay's Blog nominated me for the Liebster Awards. (Thanks Chum) This award was created to help build the blogging community and get us to know one another a bit more.  So lets dive in!

The rules are as follows:

• Get nominated.
• Link back the person who nominated you.
• Answer the 11 questions provided by the person who nominated you.
• Create 11 new questions for the people you choose to nominate (or use the ones you answered).
• Nominate 5-20 people for the award.

The Questions:

1. Do you have a signature scent? (Fragrances you always go back too?)

Oh boy that I do. I always seem to go back to American Eagle's LIVE. This scent has been my go to scent for over a year. There is something about its floral and musky mixture that brings me back to summer nights hanging with friends. I love the fact that this perfume is light but lasting, it is surly my favorite scent to date!

2. If you were to visit anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would it be?                

I would love to visit Portugal to learn the language, the culture and the arts I'm sure there are many breathtaking locations I could photograph as well.

3. Story behind your blog name?

It's funny this was actually going to be the title of my second blog post.  I chose the name Mia's beauty addiction because I love all things beauty and have been known to spend countless hours watching beauty vloggers and playing in my own makeup stash. Makeup, Hair and fashion are not just things I like to dabble into but I am extremely passionate about each one!

4. Three must have beauty products?
Mascara, concealer and Moisturizer. DONE!

5. If you were to eat only one type of food for a year, which would it be?

Mashed potatoes and chicken.......mmmmm........Thanksgiving anyone??

6. If you could open up your own shop, what would the name be?
The name of my shop would be 'Impressions by Mia' which is the watermark on the photos in my last blog. A few months ago I was inspired to put my skills to work and start my own photography business. I love capturing beautiful moments.  The beauty of photography is that you can capture some of the most precious moments for a life time with the click if a finger.

7. Favorite thing to do on your down time?

Take photographs.

8. One high end brand you would splurge on?
After much deliberation and an internal crisis lol I would have to go with Urban Decay they have some of the best palettes and foundation on the market.

9. One book you wouldn't get tired of reading?

This might be a shock to some especially not knowing much about me. But I would have to say my Bible. Every time I read it I get more and more out of it. It is a book that is alive and that makes me strive to be the best person I can be. 

10. Goals for your blog?
I would love to be able to inspire and motivate women of all ages to get out of their comfort zone and go out and do the things they love and become the women they aspire to be.  We get one chance at life and its imperative that we make it count.  I came across a quote the other day I'm not sure who the originator is but it goes something like this - "A year from now, you'll wish you had started today".  So I leave you with that thought!

11. Name a talent of yours.
I'm not sure how much of a talent it is (and it is not one I claimed for myself) it actually took me a while to realize but I would have to say I have been told I am a good motivational speaker.  I like to listen to what those around me are going through and think of ways to encourage them to proceed with their plans (the good plans, that is lol) I like to see the people I love succeed and if all they need is a bit of direction or a little push I will gladly do it!

Well those were the questions.  Thanks again to Jay for the nomination.  I will do the honors now and nominate a few bloggers I am currently reading and loving that I haven't seen tagged yet.  If I didn't tag you please feel free to leave me your link down below.  Im always looking for a new read

1.Emma Lou
2.Irene
3.Little Miss Makeup
4.Jenna
5.Ohh So Glam


Questions To Answer:

1. What inspired you to star blogging?
2. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?
3. What's the one thing you would tell your high school self if you could go back in time?
4. Favorite song?
5. What would you like to achieve in the next 5 years?
6. What do you do when you have writers block?
7. Favorite pass-time?
8. If you had to chose between having your favorite wardrobe or makeup collection which would it be?
9. Where would you go for an ultimate weekend getaway and what MUST HAVE item would you bring?
10. Who inspires you most?
11. Favorite piece of jewelry and why?

Hope you enjoyed this post!

xo xo Mia 

Hair Care Must Haves for Beautiful Shinny Hair

Hi guys!

I am sorry I haven't posted in a few months. So much has gone on and changed, that sometimes you just forget and neglect the things you love most.  But I'm not here to bore you with some lame excuse but rather to tell you about a few new products I feel have really helped improve the quality of my hair.

Below are my four staple hair care products.

The first, is the one you see above.  I never used nor did I understand the importance of a leave-in-conditioner until I realized how harmful it was to leave regular conditioner in my hair for days.  Instead of helping my hair it was causing more damage by drying my hair out.  Leave-in-conditioners are made with ingredients that will help nourish and maintain your hair's health.

The leave-in-conditioner I am currently loving is the Paul Mitchell Full Circle Leave-In-Treatment.  This product is especially designed to protect curly hair.  It's a frizz-free curl therapy that not only controls but adds shine and softness to my curls.  This product claims to hydrate, detangle, tame and protect hair against damage. A 6.8 fl oz. bottle retails for about $18.00.  I would highly recommend this product to any girl looking for a quality leave-in-conditioner.

The second product I use is also from the Paul Mitchell line.  It is the Smoothing Super Skinny Serum.  This product adds both shine and moisture to my hair wether curly or straight.  When I choose to wear my hair curly, I use about a quarter size amount and it helps to tame my hair without that greasy residue other serums produce, while giving my curls that extra shine.  When my hair is straight I use less than a pea sized amount to obtain the same results.  This product is 5.1 fl oz. and retails for about $16.95.

The last two products you see above are geared more towards curly hair and they are amazing.  They are both from the brand Motions.  The first one is the Hydrate My Curls Hair Pudding.  This product is 8 fl oz. and retails for $6.00.  I love to use this in my hair verses gels and any hardening products.  This pudding adds shine and moisture while keeping the bounce in my hair.  It is formulated with Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and Avocado Oil to ensure my hair is getting the proper nutrients during the day while elongating my curls and reducing frizz.

The final product of the bunch is the Motions Shine Enhancing Pomade.  This product is nothing like I've ever used before and boy does it do what it says!  It is 3.5 oz. and retails for $3.49.  The jar itself has a funny feel to it and vibrates when you tap it.  At first glance you'd think it's a texture product that will stiffen your hair but that is not the case.  I like to work it into my fingers before applying it to my hair to ensure the shiniest and best results.

I am very much in love with each of these products and hope that this will help some of you in selecting what products are beneficial for your hair regime.

Thanks a buch for taking time to read my post!

What hair products are you loving right now?  Leave your comments below!


Big thanks to Jay for your encouragement and support.  If you haven't checked out her blog please do!

Xo Mia

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The claim behind the name.

So after giving this little thought (I tend to be spontaneous at times)  I decided that after my intro post I would explain why I chose ‘Mia’s beauty addiction’ as the name for my blog.

As you probably already know my name is Mia so that explains the first part but what you are about to learn is that I am a firm believer that you can find beauty in almost every thing you see. A makeup product that’s never been touched, your favorite item of clothing, a quote you happened to scroll upon while checking out your instagram feed, that piece of jewelry you only wear on special occasions or how about that smile from loved ones that just steals your heart away?

There is beauty all around us and that is one of my greatest addictions; finding it, embracing it and sharing it with others.

Life can be so short at times and even when blessed with many years it means nothing if we aren’t able to enjoy the beauty that lies within it. 

I hope this post will help and encourage someone to appreciate all things in life.  If you’re having a bad day, then this post is for you… no matter what the weather (unless there is a blizzard) go out for a walk; sunshine, moonlight or rain and just take it all in.  Find something beautiful I know you’ll smile when you do :) and if you are having a good day do the same.  Find something that inspires you. Go out and enjoy this moment.   You’ll never get it back!

Feel free to leave me a comment with some of your favorite moments or something you find beauty in.  I'd love to hear from you!

.xoxo Mia