Product Review: L'oreal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm

Since this blog is all about beautiful things on a budget, I figured I'd jump into my first beauty product review!

Hey, Hair. Let's have a chat. What is the deal with you? You are frizzy. You are dry. The hubs gives me super weirded out looks because he catches me inspecting your split ends.

If he only knew that I was trying to converse with my hair.

I don't know what exactly happened to you, poor mop of mine. It could have been this last pregnancy (I spent many pregnant months horrified by an increase in hair fall), post partum hormones, or my stylist dying you a dark, dark, brown when it was supposed to be a sandy blond. Add in the two highlight appointments to get you back to a shade I could grow out? Le sigh. You are channeling Albert Einstein's 'do over here, Hair. I'll try to take better care of you of you...I promise.

So what does any modern day woman do when trying to fix a hair crisis? Hit up Pinterest and YouTube, of course!

Many beauty gurus and bloggers gush about the L'oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm. It looks like so....

This deep conditioning mask claims to repair up to one year of damage by fighting split ends and weak, rough, dull, dehydrated hair. I fully realize that no product will repair split ends, but the rest of the description was right up my sad little hair alley.

It is so thick that it feels like a body butter instead of a deep conditioner. The smell is very sweet and strong but leaves behind a soft, pleasant scent. And instead of applying for the directed 3-5 minutes, I slather it on for 30 minutes once a week to really give it a chance to sink in.

Overall, this is a yes! Especially at only $5.99. Serious deal, folks. After only a few weeks, my hair shines from root to tip (yes, even the gross, dry tips!) and feels super soft. My ends are less crunchy and the mop isn't as poofy after it air-dries. This little baby is my favorite deep conditioner lately and will be staying in the hair care rotation!

Do you have any miracle hair repair secrets or holy grail products?

Entryway Makeover: Dresser

I have had an issue with our entryway since the day we bought our house. Our entryway storage consists of a weird, tiny corner closet with a total of 6 coat hooks. We end up smashing too many jackets in there and one or two usually end up on the floor with a giant pile of our shoes. I'd been mulling over the idea of finding a storage bench or chest of drawers so we could at least hide all of the shoe craziness.

Then I ran across this little baby at a neighbor's garage sale and was instantly inspired.

I won't think too hard about the fact that it used to be a strange man's college dresser. Still, it was a steal at $15.

Shoes? Gloves? Hats? Sunscreen? Sure!

The hubs was not impressed with my find. I know, I know. This chest of drawers is nothing fancy. It's made of particle board and apparently used to be a lovely shade of 1990's Dreamsicle Orange. Let me reiterate...$15! If we hate it (or I screw it up), then my little experiment won't cost us much. I am convinced I can go all Dr. Frankenstein on this bad boy and bring it back to life.  

Now on to paint! 

Kitchen Mini Command Center: Getting Organized

I'm not going to lie; we have an issue with paper clutter in this house. Can I blame this lovely downfall on genetics? When I was a kid, my Dad's place at the table was always buried in paper! We'd have to shift piles around so that he could eat with us (sorry Dad!) .

I have spent months drooling over some amazing, ginormous Command Centers on Pinterest. Those Moms must have their act together! Surely one of these fancy pantsy Command Centers would help in my quest to get organized, right?? Probably not, but a mama can hope.

 

One Creative Housewife 

Better Homes & Garden

Home Heart Harmony

Despite having grandiose dreams, I fully realize that my family does not actually need that many organizational aids. Babies don't have many important engagements to keep track of (unless my toddler happens to be Prince George...which he's not). A calendar and one spot for bills, mail, and important papers will do just fine at this stage in our family life. Then the light bulb went off when I saw this ingenious idea from Rachael at Lovely Crafty Home.

So simple but just what I needed! I am ridiculously pleased with my new Mini Command Center!

I snagged the same mobile file holder as Rachael since it matches the brushed nickel accents in my kitchen. Attaching the calendar to the front of the file holder is great since we don't have a central location to hang one. Then all I had to do was scrounge up some file folders from my office before my Mini Command Center was complete! This little guy is now living on our kitchen desk since that is our dumping ground for mail, diaper bags, keys, etc.

File Holder - Target, $10.99
Calendar - Target, $5.99
Used file folders and binder clips from college days - $0.00 

Total Investment: $16.98

I already feel like I am benefiting from this method! What tools and ideas do you use to keep your family organized? I'd love to hear!