The Healthy Deodorant

There's a lot talk about harmful ingredients in body products these days, so I decided to switch my deodorant to a more natural alternative. In the past I've tried the crystal salt rocks and they've been a complete failure. You have to get the rock wet and it is just weird.

I almost gave up trying when I heard about Lavanila Laboratories. They call themselves "The Healthy Deodorant," and is 100% natural with no aluminum and no parabens.  It contains essential oils, anti-oxidants and "beta glucagon technology."

I'm not sure what all those things are, but I sent my husband to Sephora to buy it for me. He smelled all the different scents and said they all smelled good.

I'm very happy with this product because it's not only more natural, but it smells great and works just like regular deodorant! All of the scents combine vanilla with some other scent. I chose the vanilla passion fruit thinking it would smell like a tropical drink (I know it's weird wanting to have my underarms smell like that), but it just smells fresh without any hint of vanilla sweetness.

All in all, I love that it doesn't leave a residue on your underarms or clothing. The deodorant works, and if you are interested in a natural alternative like I am, definitely give this one a try.

A Taste of Luxury

Do you like receiving packages in the mail? I love it! A couple years ago my husband paid for a Birchbox subscription for me because he knows how much I love receiving packages in the mail. For $10/month, you get 4-5 high-end beauty samples ranging from makeup, body products, lotion, perfume, hair accessories, nail polish, skincare and a lifestyle extra (candy, breath mints, tea, snacks).

To start your subscription you go to birchbox.com and request an invite. Once you are invited, you fill out a brief questionnaire about yourself and what kind of items you would like to receive. I don't always like the items that arrive in my box, but often discover new products and brands that I would have never tried or bought on my own.

Here is what I received this month:

• Stila Lip Glaze - 1.5 ml
• Supergoop!® City Sunscreen Serum
• Mighty Leaf Tea - Tea Pouches
• Agave Healing Oil Treatment - 2 oz.
• Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion
• Ghirardelli Intense Dark Cherry Tango

I really like the lip glaze a lot and am looking forward to trying the sunscreen--great size for my purse. I will also enjoy the teas and my husband or son will have the chocolate.  I'm not sure about the agave oil treatment, but it might turn out to be a great product. The lotion smells fine--I wish it smelled better--and will see how it leaves my skin.

Overall, I'm happy with this box.  Usually they are great to good, but sometimes I only end up liking 1 or 2 things. For $10 it's not too much of a gamble considering you might fall in love with a few things and at the very least, you'll get the excitement of opening your box each month!

Chanel Within Reach

When most people think of Chanel, the first thing they think is "Expensive" or "Out of reach." And expensive doesn't always mean better. But I have always loved Chanel. Of course, most of the Chanel line (especially the clothes) are not anywhere near affordable. But Chanel has other products that are a lot more affordable, like their beauty and perfume products. Here are some of the products that I have tried (also some lip products that I didn't include in the photo).

The Vitalumière Aqua Foundation is expensive. $45 expensive. And in general, I think many cosmetics are obviously over priced and not necessarily worth the splurge. But the Vitalumière Aqua Foundation is absolutely an exception! It is the best foundation I have ever tried. Of course, foundation favorites are very personal since we all have different skin types, issues, needs and color. I have pretty oily, sensitive skin. For me, this foundation is perfect. It has a light feel, but always covers just enough. Though it retails for $45, which is a lot considering you can buy foundation for as little as $5, but it lasts a very long time (around 1 year for me--I know, I probably shouldn't keep it this long), has good ingredients, and it makes me happy every time I reach for the pretty black Chanel top. I think it's definitely worthy of a splurge!  As I'm getting older, I don't mind investing in quality products that are applied to my face. I don't really like the eye shadows, blushes or pencils to the point of being worth the splurge. There's definitely better products for a lot less.

I also own 2 Chanel Brushes that are definitely nice and I enjoy using. But I'm not in a hurry to go buy a bunch more. I do really like the lip glosses. Again, it's one of those products that make me feel a little glamorous when I apply it. Sometimes small, insignificant things like this can make you feel just a bit happier.

The Chanel skin care products are fantastic and my favorite part of the Chanel line. I have had the Le Blanc Foam Cleanser for over a year and I have noticed that my skin stays nice and clear. It's supposed to lighten your skin, but I have not noticed any difference. With a pea sized amount that foams up nicely you can cleanse your whole face. It retails for $60 and worth it, in my opinion.

I also absolutely LOVE every Chanel moisturizer! They smell fantastic and do improve the look and feel of my skin, but these are extremely expensive ($87-$390) for how little they last. I also have a toner, but since I usually don't have time to put it on, I will not repurchase it. If you do use a toner, the ones from Chanel smell fantastic, like everything from Chanel, and feel great on your skin.

Lastly, fragrance. This of course is up to personal taste, but Chanel Chance ($120 for 3.4 oz, young floral notes merge with sensual, sweet and spicy elements) is one of my favorites and I want to purchase Chance Eau Tendre ($120 for 5 oz, delicate and airy vibrant notes with an intoxicatingly light, fruity trail).

Every wonder what the difference between Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum is? They are the same smell, the only difference is that Eau de Parfum is more concentrated and lasts longer on your skin than Eau de Toilette. Chance Eau Tendre is only available as Eau de Toilette whereas Chance comes in both Eau do Toilette and Eau de Parfum.

Finally, I would also love to have someone explain why Chanel #5 is still in existence and why anyone aside from old ladies who have lost their since of smell would buy it. It's a complete mystery to me!

In general, I think the Chanel skincare products are some of the best ever and I know that they do spend a lot of time and money on research. If you want to pamper your skin (and nose), give Chanel a try. The makeup, in my opinion, is good but more of a luxury that can boost your mood than a truly great product.

Get 100 photo prints for just $3

I recently discovered GrooveBook while watching Shark Tank. It's a monthly subscription service that allows you to pick up to 100 photos from your phone or iPad to be printed and bound in a tear sheet book for $2.99 (including shopping, and that is not a typo)!

GrooveBook is very simple to use. First you download the app, then select your pictures by clicking on them and then hit the upload button. In a couple of weeks you will receive your book in the mail.

What I like so much about it, is that you have all of the pictures neatly bound in a book ready to be torn out to put in frames, give to friends, or scrapbook with. Usually when I have photos printed from stores like Target or anywhere, I only print around 20 photos at a time because it's not cheap at $0.20 per print. At Target, $3 will buy you 15 photos. At GrooveBook, $3 will buy you 100 photos.

With GrooveBook, you can just flip through to find what you are looking for. The quality of the photo paper is not the best, I don't think it is archive quality like you would find at Target.  Also since you are printing photos from your phone, they are sometimes not the sharpest images. Although, this might have to do more with the fact that I'm not the best phone photographer rather than it being a poor service.

I love receiving things in the mail, so for $2.99, it's a great  service to look forward to every month. It's always fun to flip through 100 photos of my 2 kids and adorable Pom. I definitely would recommend you give it a try, and if you are not satisfied it's really easy to cancel. If you are interested, here is a coupon code for a free book: RENTERIA38. Here is there website for more info: www.GrooveBook.com

Light as Air Peanut Butter

I never really liked peanut butter until I was recovering from my C-section. During recovery I was only allowed a few crackers, peanut butter and small sips of water. I hadn't had any food the whole day, so I devoured the crackers and couldn't get enough peanut butter.

When I came home, I had my husband buy me peanut butter so I could keep indulging in my new obsession. The weird thing was that I still didn't really like peanut butter, but like Proust's madeleine cookies from "In Search of Lost Time," it takes me back to the first days of my baby's life.

I recently discovered Jif Whips, literally fluffy peanut butter and it's amazing! Beyond light as air peanut butter that doesn't stick to your knife while spreading, it also doesn't stick to the roof of your mouth! If I were a peanut butter lover, I think it might even make a good substitute for frosting. Imagine a fluffy cupcake topped with jet puffed peanut butter. Yummmmm. If you have any fondness for peanut butter, you should give this a try and report your findings.

How to Dry Your Hair 80% Faster Than Normal

I decided to grow my hair out several months ago. Now that it is longer, I am afraid of the damage that blow-drying causes since it takes so long to dry. I tried multiple products to speed up the process, and here are two of my favorites.

I found an odd looking brush from Goody at the drugstore called the Quickstyle Paddle Brush ($6.99 on Amazon). What makes it different is that this brush has microfiber stuffed between the bristles to absorb excess water. The brush claims to remove 30% percent of water from your hair. At first I was skeptical, but then I decided that it was inexpensive and worth a try. The brush is not amazing, but it works.








What really works great and is amazing is KMS Quick Blow Drying Spray ($15.50 on Amazon)! The spray dramatically speeds up the time it takes your hair to dry.  I usually use it when I'm going to use a hair dryer, but sometimes I use it just when letting my hair air dry.  The spray claims to speed up drying time by up to 50% (I definitely agree), provide heat protection and condition lightly. Another plus is the great smell.

I recommend the spray if you have longer hair or if you are like me and get cold from having wet hair hanging on your back. Combine the spray with the brush and you will spend minimal time using the blow dryer and save your hair from unnecessary heat damage.

Miracle Balm

You will never guess what I discovered for my chapped lips. Nipple balm. Yes, nipple balm!!! When it comes to makeup, I've never been one to stockpile, but where lip products are concerned, I do tend to have some hoarding tendencies.

I recently gave birth to my daughter and at the hospital I was given a very small tube of Lansinoh HPA Lanolin (1.41 oz - $9.48). Lanolin is just a fancy term for wool grease (yes, like sweater wool). It is supposed to soothe and protect sore, cracked nipples. So I figured it would be great as a Chapstick, right?!  I tried it and immediately fell in love!  It works better than any Chapstick I've ever used before.

Unlike other Chapsticks I've tried, more than just moisturizing my lips, it actually heals them.

Apparently I am not the first person to figure this out. A month later, in my Birch Box (more about that in a future post) I received Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips (0.5 oz - $14.50). It says it's 100% natural. It's great because it has no odor & is a multi-purpose miracle balm for everything from your lips, cuticles, feet, and even your nipples.

In the end, all things equal, since Dr Lipp and regular Lanolin are exactly the same thing, just go to the baby aisle of any grocery store and save yourself a few bucks.

Scrub scrub baby

I don't know about you, but I'm obsessed with exfoliating! I have very oily, acne prone skin, and exfoliating is a lifesaver. Whether you have oily, dry or combination skin, it is really beneficial to exfoliate. Exfoliating helps improve your skin texture and tone, reveals healthier & smoother skin, and improves the ability for your beauty products to do their job.

There are 3 main types of exfoliators:

1. Scrubs which contain grainy particles to physically remove dead skin cells
2. Chemicals which contain alpha-hydroxy acids dissolve the dead skin cells
3. Enzymes that often come from pineapple and papaya also dissolve the dead cells, but tend to be the gentler solution for sensitive skin

Depending on your skin and the product you choose, you should exfoliate at least once a week and sometimes up to 3 times. Here are a few general guidelines. Always start with clean skin, avoid scrubbing too hard or tugging your skin and always finish your exfoliation with a moisturizer.

Over the years, I've tried several products and find that the chemical exfoliators are too harsh and enzymes are too gentle. However I find that scrubs are the perfect fit for my skin. It's so satisfying to scrub away dead skin cells and be left with really smooth skin.

As I age, I want to make sure I take care of my skin and that my skin is prepped for the various creams and treatments that I invest in. I have tried many products over the years, I'd like to tell you about just a few.

Arcona's Cranberry Gommage ($44 for 3.4oz) is one of my all-time favorites and was the winner of Allure magazine's 2011 'Best of Beauty' award for Best Natural Exfoliant. It smells amazing. It doesn't smell like cranberry, it kind of smells like artificial grape candy in the best possible way. When you use it, you can feel it decongesting your pores. It is supposed to even minimize pores with cranberry and raspberry enzymes, and I noticed smaller pores myself.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion ($120 for 3.5oz) is a lot more expensive than the Gommage, but another one of my favorites and smells more lemony clean. The thing I like best about it is that your skin feels so fresh afterwards.

For those on a tight budget, don't fret! For many years I used St. Ives Apricot Scrub ($2.99 for 6oz) and really enjoyed it. This is also a great option because you can easily find it at any drug store. However, I have to say that after going with the higher end exfoliators, I would not go back.









For an newbie at exfoliation, it can definitely seem like a splurge and hard to justify spending the money for, but I assure you that they are worth every penny!  You might not realize it until you try them, but you only need a pea sized amount and only use an exfoliator a couple times a week so usually even a small bottle will last you a very long time (for me, it's about a year)!

So whether you want to invest in the most economical option or go for the splurge, I think you will definitely be glad you are taking care of your skin and taking a few minutes to relax and pamper yourself.

Easy Dutch Oven Pancakes

What is the tastiest breakfast you can make with 1 apple, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup milk? If you said Dutch Oven Pancakes, you are right!

These pancakes are way simpler than they look, they are made to impress, but take very little prep time and taste fantastic. I base it on the Betty Crocker Cookbook: Bridal Edition recipe. That book is my bible for cooking, easy recipes with simple ingredients that always come out great.

The recipe for Dutch Oven Pancakes in that book is good, but not great. It has one note that let me make a few modifications to put the simple recipe over the top. It mentioned that Dutch Oven Pancakes are a lot like popovers. Popovers are another simple delight that use just a bit of eggs and flower and milk, but Melissa d'Arabian has some killer tips to make the perfect popover in the video she has of making popovers.

These three modifications to Betty Crocker's recipe make the perfect Dutch Oven Pancake:

1. Use a large non-stick pan with high sides instead of a pie pan
2. Pre-heat the pan in the oven with 2 tablespoons of butter for 8-10 minutes before putting the batter in the pan (most important tip, getting the pan hot before putting the batter in creates the best final pancake that won't deflate)
3. Pre-cook the apple slices for 5-10 minutes on low with butter and sugar and cinnamon before putting them in the pan with the batter to the oven

Without further ado, here is the recipe:

• 1 Apple (Red Delicious is great, but any will do)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 Tablespoons Compacted Brown Sugar
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 2 More Tablespoons Butter
• Sprinkle of Powdered Sugar

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a large pan in the oven with butter.

First, peel and thinly slice the apple. Put it in a small sauce pan with butter, sugar, and cinnamon on medium heat for 5-10 minutes (until they are soft but not cooked through yet).

While the apples are cooking, beat the eggs and then add all the flour and half the milk and mix until smooth but not over-beaten. Add the rest of the milk and mix again until smooth but not over-beaten. When making pancakes of any kind, mixing the ingredients with half of the liquids first will always be easier than mixing all the ingredients together at the same time. It avoids the flour from clumping.

Take the hot pan out of the oven, add the batter and then place the apple slices on the batter and put it back in the oven for 30-35 minutes.

These spectacular delights are best within minutes of the oven, so have everyone seated and ready ahead of time and get ready for the compliments!

I Dream of Paris

“The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.” -- Coco Chanel 

Hello, my name is Madeline! I'm starting a blog to talk about fashion, beauty, DIY, travel and all things beautiful.

Let me tell you a little about myself. More than anything, I love to spend time with my amazing husband and two beautiful children. We love to travel, go on adventures and watch T.V. in bed. As my blog title hints at, I am obsessed with the French! Paris is my favorite place to be and I dream of moving there.

Also, anyone that really knows me will tell you that I adore free things and treasures that are almost free. I make treasure hunting into a game to see how much I can get for very little & few things make me as happy as scoring a great deal.

On the other hand, I believe in the importance of investing in quality items that you will enjoy for a long time to come. So yes, Ms. Chanel nailed it, “the best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.”  I invite you to come along on my adventures of treasure hunting on the cheap and enjoying the little, and not so little, luxuries that life has to offer.  In the meantime, let's dream of Paris!