Why I Coupon

Combos, Playtex Tampons, Brawny Paper Towels, Finesse Shampoo and Conditioner, Lady SpeedStick, Sally Hansen Insta-Dry and Complete Salon Manicure, M&M's, Reese's Mini's, Softsoap Hand Soap, Irish Spring Body Wash, Softsoap Body Wash.

I thought instead of the usual weekly breakdown on my haul, I would use this opportunity to talk about why I still coupon. Some people I encounter give me that "Girl, you crazy" look when I tell them I coupon. There was a time when the hubby and I had to coupon. When we first moved to Kentucky, we had some serious budgetary issues and money had to be saved. Now that the hubby has a great job, I think people assumed I would stop couponing. Nope.

I had some minor complications with my haul this weekend, and I was seriously bent out of shape. First of all, I was seriously disorganized. I hadn't cleaned out my binders or cut up my coupons from last week. I put my list together hastily. At Rite Aid, my coupons had expired the day before. At CVS, I made a math error when putting my list together. I tend to be one of those people who gets seriously bothered when things don't go perfectly. Which is often in life. So after the drug stores, I was feeling crummy and inadequate. I was still feeling bummed about my haul until this morning, when I sat down to crunch some numbers on the haul.

For this week's haul, I paid $27.73. The total value of the products was $78.29, which means the total percentage of savings on my haul was 65%. That's really not that bad, and not an unrealistic percentage of savings. Unbeknownst to you all, I buy a lot more when I shop than what I picture. What I picture are items that I bought with coupons. It's rare to get coupons for fresh veggies and fresh meat, and veggies are the bulk of what I buy at the grocery store. Another fact that I don't talk about- my weekly maximum budget is $100. I almost always try to spend less than that, because any money leftover in my budget goes into the coupon savings account. I also transfer any money saved from coupons and/or sales into my coupon savings account. Most stores will list on their receipt how much money you saved with sales and coupons. So, as an example, I spent $83.16 last week. I got to transfer $16.84 plus the $69.70 that I saved with coupons/sales into my savings account. For a crummy week, that's still a good amount of money. It all adds up.

To put all this in perspective, let's go back in time about 7 years. I was working crazy hours, I was at work more than I was home. I didn't do any kind of sales planning. I just made a quick list of meals I would make for the week, and then buy what I needed. Willy nilly. Most weeks, I spent $150-$175 on groceries. For 2 people! I want to bawl like a baby sometimes, when I think about all the money I threw away. And that didn't even include my personal items for the month (shampoo, conditioner, makeup, etc.). If you add up all that money over a year- that's about $7200 in groceries. Not to mention, another probably $100 a month for cosmetics ($1200 a year!). That's $8400. Yowsa. If you took what I spent this week (and said I spent that every week) that would be $3,991.68. That's a serious, serious difference. A $4,408.32 difference, to be exact. So, it really wasn't that bad of a week after all.

The hubby and I have benefitted greatly from couponing. Since starting a savings account to keep track of our savings last year, we were able to make such a large down payment on our brand new appliances that we are making our last payment on those next month! We've also been able to build our couponing account back up to over $2000 already. We are hoping to pay cash to fence in our backyard next summer, and I think that goal is completely do-able.

So for me, the whole couponing thing is not about getting a lot of junk for free. It's not even about being a cheapskate. It all comes down to good common sense. I used to fork over that $4,408.32 that I now save to stores. These days, I keep it for myself.

Product Review: CoverGirl Tone Rehab Foundation and More

How I like to wear my makeup is an ever-evolving affair. For most of my young adult life, my attitude towards makeup was 'the more the merrier'. I liked a very dark, smoky eye, lots of eyeliner and mascara, perfect skin with a thick layer of foundation, and no chance of an oil-slick with pasty powder. Somewhere along the crazy ride, my tastes have changed. I like my skin to look like I'm not wearing foundation or powder, and I like my face to be a bit dewy. I'm very into a natural eye, wearing a shimmery skin-colored eyeshadow, smoky liner, and a thin coat of mascara. I like to leave a lip stain on my lips for 10 minutes and then rub it off, and wear chapstick the rest of the day. I really like a fresh look in the dead of summer, which it definitely is here in Kentucky (it is 7 am and 75º already!). My point? The products I'm reviewing today probably wouldn't have floated my boat 10 years ago. They do now though :)

1. CoverGirl Tone Rehab Foundation

I've really been impressed by CoverGirl products over the last couple of years. When I was first discovering cosmetics, CoverGirl was easily one of the most affordable lines for a teenager. It was a line that showed little quality, though. I tried their eyeshadows, lip glosses, foundations, mascaras, powders, etc. I hated everything. I stuck to Revlon, Maybelline, and L'Oreal in my younger days. Recently however, I've been foraying back into CoverGirl. I like some of their primers, foundations, eyeshadows, and nail polish. I really like this foundation. It reminds me a lot of CoverGirl's NatureLuxe foundation, which I really liked as well. The foundation itself is creamy, smells fresh, and is nicely pigmented. I've applied this with my hands, and also with cosmetic sponges, and both techniques result in a nice finish. This foundation really covers any random redness, or flaw that my skin might have, but still looks and feels like my skin. The formula is pretty long-wearing, although I usually need a touch-up mid-day. Some online reviews have stated that this foundation clogs pores immediately, but I haven't had any problems with that. None. And I have really acne-prone skin. The verdict? I would purchase this again. I've got 3-4 go-to foundations, and I would make this one of them.

2. CoverGirl Flamed Out Eye Pencil in Melted Caramel

It's all about the taupe, baby. Seriously. You might be disturbed by the amount of taupe eye products I have in my collection. Way more than I have any business having, that's for sure! I'll get right to the point, which is I. Love. This. Pencil. Love it. There is nothing not to love about this pencil. It's a wonderful, shimmery light-colored taupe. The color looks like my skin, but dewier. I've worn this over concealer on my lids, over eyeshadow primer, over MAC primer, and under powder eyeshadow. It's all good. The formula slides on creamy, blends easily before it sets, and does not move. I love that the glitter doesn't travel. I love that this shadow looks creamy all day, and doesn't crease. I've come back to the mirror after 10-12 hours to find my eyeshadow perfectly pigmented, in place, and uncreased. I like this pencil so much I've already bought the white and pink colors to test out as well. My only complaint about this pencil is that you have to use a manual pencil sharpener to sharpen it. I only complain about this because all my pencils are self-sharpening, and I didn't own a manual pencil sharpener previous to this product. The verdict? Love, love, love this! I would buy this again, and I may be purchasing even more colors soon.

3. Revlon PhotoReady Foundation

I bought this foundation after doing some pretty specific research. I'm still searching for my Holy Grail drugstore foundation. I can't seem to find one that's perfect. I purchased this after reading several reviews on the Internet that said this foundation was a dupe for Make Up For Ever's HD foundation. Ummm people, this is not a MUFE HD dupe. No, no, no. I love Make Up For Ever's HD foundation, it's probably my favorite of all time. It's really, really expensive however, and I just can't justify buying it anymore. It was my perfect foundation. The coverage was sheer, but seemed to cover everything. It made my skin look flawless. I loved that you couldn't see makeup pooled in my pores. So I jumped on this Revlon version. I was sorely disappointed. The coverage is medium to heavy, I would say, definitely not sheer. The formula also has full-on glitter in it. I hate that. People end up looking a disco-ball, or one of the Cullen's from "Twilight" in direct sunlight. Not the look I go for. Another aspect I was disappointed was the length of time needed before a touch-up, which I'd say is short. It was only 2 hours before oil starting accumulating on my face, and I needed more powder. I don't even have a particularly oily face! The verdict? Needless to say, I was highly disheartened by this product. I will not be re-purchasing.

Have a great weekend everyone!

25 Things You May Not Know About Me- Take 2!

1. I'm a speedy reader. I read Catching Fire in 7 hours.

Image source: Wikipedia

2. I watch at least 2 hours a day of Friends. Well, I might not be completely watching it, but it's on in the background for at least 2 hours a day.
3. I didn't eat eggs until I was 16, or clam chowder till I was 20.
4. I've got a girl-crush on Jennifer Lawrence.
5. I'm addicted to online shopping. And Pinterest.
6. Sephora is my favorite store to shop in, with Victoria's Secret and American Eagle coming in close second and third.

Image source: simplychicxox.blogspot.com

7. Gone with the Wind is my favorite book and movie.
8. I wish I could have hedgehogs as pets.

Image source: rosecityhedgehogs.com

9. I hate the Patriots.
10. I love the Steelers.
11. My dream job would involve working with dogs in some manner.
12. At one point, I had braces, glasses, and a perm. All at the same time. Yikes.
13. I love living in the country, even though I never thought I would growing up.
14. I don't wear my engagement ring all the time, because I'm scared to death I'm going to lose it.

15. I carry at least 2-3 lip balms with me at all times.
16. I don't feel supportive of Paula Deen. The n-word tops my list of words you don't say, along with the r-word and the f-word (and I don't mean the f-word that rhymes with luck).
17. HBO and Showtime shows drive me crazy. Why do they only do 10 episode seasons once a year? True Blood, Homeland, Dexter, and Game of Thrones all make me want scream when they wrap up a season.
18. I think Game of Thrones is the best show on TV right now.

Image source: Fansided

19. I think Homeland is a close second.
20. I secretly wish I could pull off bright red hair.

Image source: Tumblr

21. My favorite color is purple, and has been since high school.
22. I wear yoga pants 90% of the time.
23. I've bought 872 songs on i-Tunes.
24. Sleeping is one of my favorite things to do, but it's also one of the hardest things for me to do.
25. I like to make up dance routines in my house when no one is home.

Polish Round-Up: Early Summer 2013

Deals on nail polish are abundant this time of year, and I love every second of it. I'm buying nail polish like it's going out of style right now. There are so many pretty colors out right now, I'm kind of plodding my way through testing them all out. I've found a couple of great-for-me shades, and a few "Wow, I will never buy this again!" shades. Oh, and one nail polish shade I will probably be buying until the end of time. Or they stop making it. I think we know which one of those will come first ;)

The color I've hated the most? Maybelline Color Show in Urban Turquoise.

It's a pretty color in concept, and I will think it would look good on people with a medium to darker complexion. Or tan people. I'm neither of these things. This color just ended up look kind of green on my pale complexion. It also seemed to bring out the blue in my veins which in turned made my feet look dead. I was not fond of the look, and it only lasted one day.

Colors I've disliked, but left them on for awhile? Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in So Much Fawn and Choco Latte.

The pink looked too dusty on my pale, bony fingers. The nude color is more of a khaki, but not a good khaki. I thought it just looked dirty. Also, I don't know why I continue to buy Complete Salon Manicure, they have the worst brush in the history of brushes. I hate them. Still, I continue to buy them. Sigh. Brush-hatred is so easily forgotten when you are standing in the store contemplating polish colors.

Colors I've been impressed with? Covergirl Outlast in Bronze Beauty, Reliable Red, Eternal Oceans.

I continue to be impressed with Covergirl's Outlast nail polish. I love the brush, it is the easiest to use in my collection. The polish formulas are smooth, and so pigmented that most of the time I only have to do one coat. The bronze is more of a gold glitter, but the glitter is subtle and even my 30-year old ass can pull it off. The red is much more hot pink than red, but it works well even with my light complexion. It's so summery, too. Purple's are usually a difficult polish to work with, I find most formulas tend to be clumpy. Not the case with Covergirl's, although you do need to use two coats with this one.

My favorite shade out of all the colors I've tried this summer (so far)? Covergirl Outlast in Smokey Taupe.

Holy cow, this shade has been a revelation for me! It's the perfect shade of taupe that's got a little tint of pink to it. It's perfect for my complexion. It's everything I wanted Sally Hansen's Commander in Chic to be, and wasn't. This color may not look like much in the bottle, but it's amazing on. I really hope they keep making this, because nail polish is not one of those things you can stock-up on and hoard forever. The formula goes awry with time. In any case, this is my new go-to nail color. Love, love, love it!

Next up for testing? Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in Resurrection and Maybelline Color Show in Sandstorm.

We'll see. I'm expecting to like the nude Maybelline and not expecting to like the blue Sally Hansen. But you never know!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

Product Review: Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Eyes

Ok, everyone. This is not your typical drugstore product that I usually review. This is a higher-end product with a higher-end price tag to match. I got this a couple of weeks ago from Ulta when they were having a big sale (I got a huge sampler bag and a Vichy face wash for free with purchase!). I typically don't spend that kind of money on just one product, but I thought I would give it a shot because it was such a good deal.

Just to let you all know, I've tried just about every eye treatment out there. I've been using eye cream religiously since I was 21 (I really, really fear the wrinkles), so I've got a good idea of what makes a good eye cream. For me. My favorite eye treatments are Olay's Age Defying Revitalizing Eye Gel in the morning, and Olay's Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream at night. I've always had good results with Olay, they're a very good brand for the price. The eye gel always de-puffs my eyes in the morning, and the night cream is very moisturizing. As I creep into my 30's more though, I'm discovering I need a little extra help with the fine lines. Help in the way of retinol...

Previously, I'd been using Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream. It's so-so. While it didn't do anything bad to me, I didn't really notice much of a difference. Enter this Vichy cream. Holy mackerel! I noticed a difference after a couple of days worth of use, which highly unusual for an anti-aging cream. It usually takes about 2 weeks for me to notice a difference. I got up one morning and stared in the mirror, puzzled, for a little while. What was different? Something looked gooood! That's when I realized it was my eyes. No dark circles. The under-eye area was super-smooth. Little, tiny blue veins diminished. I was baffled. What have I been doing all this time?? Why was I wasting my time (and money) with other products?

It's been about 3 weeks of using the product, and the results are not a fluke. I love that makeup looks so much better under my eyes, not caked in the fine lines. The cream doesn't appear to exacerbate breakouts, and I haven't had to deal with any redness caused by the product. Deeply moisturizing without being greasy. I've found the holy grail.

At $42 per 0.51 ounces, this ain't cheap. At all. However, the tiniest amount is moisturizing enough for both eyes. This little bottle should last months. And, as the hubby pointed out, it is cheaper than Botox :)

I highly, highly recommend.

Focus On: Co Washing

I've had a flirtation with co washing for about a year now. I say flirtation because I'm not exclusive with the co washing. I still use shampoo on occasion, especially if I'm going to straighten my hair.

Co washing is the process of using only conditioner when you wash your hair, no shampoo. Almost all women look at me like I'm insane when I tell them I co wash. Here some reasons why I can co wash, and get away with it:

1. My hair is not oily (ever).

2. My hair is coarse, dry, damaged, frizzy, etc.

3. My hair is naturally curly.

Co washing is definitely a commitment. It is the belief that your hair will become healthier, and your curls will have better definition the longer you don't use shampoo. Can this be true, you ask? My hair is healthier. My hair is softer. My curls do have better shape. My hair is not frizzy and fuzzy with oddly-shaped waves when I let it air-dry now.

You might be thinking "But my hair will be dirty if I don't shampoo!". I don't buy into this. I really work my scalp with just water before I use conditioner, for a good minute or two. Really stimulate the scalp. I leave the conditioner on for a couple of minutes while I finish up, and then really work my scalp again while I'm rinsing it out. I never feel like I have dirty hair. My hair never looks greasy or oily. My curls have a great shape, and they are soft. So soft. I never thought I would be able to have hair that soft without a crapload copious amount of leave-in conditioner and a good blow-out. Now I scrunch in some shine serum, spritz all over with some salt-spray, and let my hair air-dry. Most days I leave it as is. If I'm going out for the evening, I use my 1/2" curling iron to touch up any curls that are badly formed.

I'm loving it. I've been fighting my natural texture for years, and while straightening is fun once in awhile, man alive does it do a number on your hair! Blowdrying it straight can take 30 minutes, and then running a straightening iron through it can take another 15-20 minutes. Imagine the heat damage. And I had been followed that routine since I was 16. You can see why my hair is dry, damaged, frizzy, fuzzy, etc. Obviously, I'm saving a ton of time too. And that's more time I can spend baking...er, blogging.

My conditioner of choice at the moment is Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle. That could be because that's just what I'm using right now, but I really do think it's making my hair even softer. It's also extremely affordable.

And so my curly-haired friends, if you are flirting with the idea of co washing, or researching co washing, or in general just have hair the same texture as a horse (I do! Beauticians have told me that!), I recommend giving this a shot. You just might find what you've been looking for 30 years. Well, 30 years in my case :)

Product Review: Dermasilk Flawless Erase Wrinkles and More

I've been trying so many products lately, it's hard to keep them all straight. And find the time to review them! I've found some real winners, and unfortunately today, I have a big-time loser. La-HOO-s-HER. That's my best Ace Ventura impression for you. Ahem. Moving on!

1. Dermasilk Flawless Erase Wrinkles

I wanted to like this product. I really, really wanted to like this product. Instead, I hate it. Thank goodness I only paid $4 for it! When I first bought this, I brought it home from the store thinking it was going to be a moisturizer. Just a good, ol-fashioned, nighttime wrinkle-moisturizer. Not the case, I discovered after reading the box. The box has a couple of ways that you can use the product, however I have deduced that this product is little more than a primer. I've tried it many ways. I tried it (as the box directs) over my liquid foundation. Not matter how lightly I patted this is, it still rubbed my foundation off in spots, and left my with a blotchy, shiny look. I then tried it before my foundation. The makeup went on unevenly post-application, and even worse, looked cake-y and thick in some spots. I spend a lot of days without makeup (after a long workout, for example) so I thought I would try this alone, just on top of my clean, moisturized skin. It did provide a matte look, but it made my skin look parched. Dry skin is not an attractive look. This product also does zilch for reducing redness. My regular primer (Revlon PhotoShop) makes my skin look smooth and even, doesn't dry it out, and reduces the appearance of redness.  And to be honest, I didn't even notice a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. I don't know what I'm going to do with this, because I'm not going to use the rest of the product. The verdict? Do not waste your money on this. I've rendered this as completely unusable.

2. Physician's Formula Matchmaker pH Powered Lip Gloss

Sheesh, where do companies come up with names of these products? Whatever happened to simple? I might complain about this mouth-full of a name for this lip gloss, but I love it! It reminds me of Smashbox's O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss, which came out 4-5 years ago. It has the same concept, being that it adjusts to everyone's individual perfect color once applied. Technology has come a long way though, because there are a couple of points about this product that make me like this lip gloss sooooo much better. First of all, this product doesn't turn as pink on me. It looks like a blush has enhanced my lips, instead of having florescent pink goop smeared across them. Second, the formula has a hint of shimmer to it, but it's not full-on stripper glitter. The shimmer is flattering. Third, this product has staining capability! I've been putting this on, and long after the gloss has worn off (I still noticed color after 6 hours), I've still got a pretty flush on my lips. This product looks so pretty after its worn down. The verdict? I'm really hoping this is not a limited edition item, because I will be buying more. Granted, I have a lot of lip gloss in my arsenal, but this one goes toward the top of the list. A+ in my book.

3. Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen

I'm really bad at applying liquid eyeliner. Really, really bad. Having liquid liner in a pen form is pretty much the only way to ensure I can apply it. As far as pen's go, this one is easy to use, very precise, and the durability is comparable to other ColorStay products. I've been obsessed with doing a natural cat-eye lately, or just a teeny-tiny wing. The first 2 weeks I used this, the formula was great. It seems with time that this pen dried up, however. I kept the lid tightly sealed after each use, so I don't think that was the problem. Once the pen dried up, completing a winged look was virtually impossible. The pen did not go on creamy enough, catching on my skin as I drug it across my eye. It began skipping over my eye, leaving weird looking little jumps in the line. I'm not sure if this was an anomaly, or if this happens with all these pens. I would be willing to try this product again to see if I could get a longer shelf life. Before the pen dried up, the look was that good. The verdict? It remains to be seen, as the effect was good enough for me to try this product again, but keep in mind, the pen might just dry up.

Coupon Haul: 5/12/13

Pantene Shampoo, Kashi Go Lean Cereal, Crest Toothpaste, Pantene Conditioner, Venus Razors,  Mentos UP2U Gum, Physician's Formula Eyeliner and Lipgloss, Revlon PhotoReady Primer.

I've been busy, busy, busy. Not with anything particularly important, its just that the hubby had the last 4 days off. We had a very lazy weekend, watched movies, ate indulgently, and drank even more indulgently. To say I'm feeling sluggish today would be an understatement. Ugh.

I did have a very good weekend couponing. I got some expensive product for very little dinero. I don't know if Kroger has changed their coupon policy lately, but I'm noticing e-coupons go through even when I have a manufacturer coupon. It's very strange, it means I got a few things for free! I went with it. I also completely ran out of my primer, I was so lucky to find a good deal on it. Here's my breakdown for the week:

CVS-

Revlon PhotoReady Primer, $13.29 (Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off)
-used (2) $2 off Revlon Face Products manufacturer coupon, a $3 off any $10 Revlon purchase CVS store coupon, and a $3 off any $12 makeup purchase CVS store coupon.
Mentos UP2U gum, $1.57

-used $10 in ECB's from last week, paid $1.50 out of pocket, and received $5 in ECB's from the Magic Coupon Machine.

Rite Aid-

*Physician's Formula Cosmetics- Spend $15, Receive $10 in UP's*

Physician's Formula pH balanced lip gloss, $6.96
Physician's Forumla Felt-Tip Marker eyeliner, $9.95

-used $10 in UP's from last week, paid $6.91 out of pocket, and made $10 in UP's.

Kroger-

Venus Disposable Razors, $5.99
-used a Buy 1, Get 1 Free Venus disposable razors coupon
Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner, $2.59
-used a $3 off 2 Pantene manufacturer coupon, and a $3 off 2 Pantene e-coupon (free!)
Crest Toothpaste, $1.99
-used a $1 off Crest manufacturer coupon, and a $1 off Crest e-coupon (free!)

-paid $5.99

Total Spent- $14.40 on $75.20 worth of product. Savings of 81%.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Fashion Post: Swimwear 2013

Ah yes, it is time for a fashion post. If you are adverse to my consumerism-lovin' ways (ahem, Dad), you may want to refrain from reading this post. And, since I'm just covering my favorite swimsuit trends this summer for women, this may not be the post for you.

All right, fair warning.

There are so many cute swimsuit trends this season, I don't know what I want to do. I want 5 million suits, but let's face it. Bikini's are expensive! It's so ridiculous that so little fabric costs more than a pair of shoes. Or jeans. Or a dress. I, like most of us on a budget, will probably have to pick one. Balderdash. Here's some of my favorites:

1. Boho prints

Image source: Athleta

I'm a sucker for a cute, boho print. Actually, a few of my other trends are decidedly hippie-ish as well...

2. Fringe

Image source: Obaz

I'm loving fringe tops, also a pretty boho look. My favorites are the bandeau-style tops with fringe. Now, if I only looked Rihanna in a bikini, I'd be set :)

3. Flutter-kini's

Image source: Hush and Wonder

This is a trend that's newish, I haven't seen too many suits like this until this year. I like that it's a really different trend. And I'm loving these boyshort bottoms.

4. Nautical

Image source: Love My Bubbles

Nautical is actually a pretty classic choice, and looks good every year. I love the color-banding around the edges on this suit, though.

5. Bold Colors

Image source: All Things Stylish

Bold colors are in this season. Neons even. I love the back detail on this suit. Not something you see all the time!

6. Basic Black

Image source: Free People

Image source: Shop Style

Ok, ok, basic black is always in style. However, a corset top (via the 1st picture) is in this season, which makes it trendy. And the detail on the 2nd picture from the crocheting makes this suit very un-basic.

7. Cute One-Pieces

Image source: Obaz

So, the hubby would never let me buy a one-piece, but this suit is super cute! I'll just admire this one from afar. I don't think this one looks old-fashioned. Maybe some day.

Umm, this post has made me want to pull up a lawn chair by a pool... with a margarita in hand... sunning myself in a new bikini. Just need to find myself a pool! :)

Happy Thursday friends!

Product Review: VS Makeup Shimmer Eye Shadow in No Limits and More

I've got quite a few new products in my arsenal that I've tried recently, but these 3 today are the ones I'm most excited about. They're all Victoria Secret products, which I normally don't buy. Usually when I'm buying at Victoria Secret, many things take priority over their makeup. You know, skivvies, jammies, sweats, tanks, tees, etc. However, this time I couldn't resist. I had to try a few products. Plus, I had a couple of rewards cards and promotion codes to use, so I got these for a good price :)

1. VS Makeup Shimmer Eye Shadow in No Limits

It's really hard to pick out eyeshadow online! You can never tell if what looks taupe is actually copper, if what looks like shimmer is glitter with fall-out potential, or what the actual texture of the eyeshadow will be. I took a chance on this one, and I am pleased. This is a true taupe shadow, with fine shimmer, and a very blend-able texture. I'm a connoisseur of taupes, you could say. I hoard taupes like there is no tomorrow. In fact, if there were no tomorrow, I would have enough taupe to last someone for a couple of years. I get my hands on every version possible. My holy grail of taupe was previously from Urban Decay's Naked Palette, being "Side Car". The color was perfect, and it was the reason I kept wearing it. However, the glitter fall-out was huge. I just dealt with it. This VS eyeshadow just may take its place, though. It's just the right shade of brown (no coppery tones), the shimmer is pretty, and there is no fall-out. I love it. I always layer my shadow over a cream shadow, and I've noticed I can get 8-10 hours out of this shadow before it starts to fade. There's also no creasing, another bonus! The verdict? I will buy this shade again, and I would purchase this shadow in other colors.

2. VS Pro Lasting FX Eye Shadow Primer

I was a little nervous about trying this product, the reviews were hit and miss. Some people hated it, in fact. I decided to try it anyway. I'm quite pleased with this product. My main concern is longevity in my makeup, as the makeup I buy is quite pigmented. No complaints with the pigmentation of my products layered over this primer however, it's a great product for playing up the intensity of a product. What I was impressed with was how long my eyeshadow stays without fading or creasing. I loathe creasing. It's near the top of my list of makeup pet peeves, along with mascara goopies and foundation oxidizing to a color not found in nature. I judge all eyeshadows and primers by creasing. I have no creasing when I use this product, though. That aspect alone makes this product worth it for me. The verdict? Yes, I would purchase this again.

3. VS Makeup Hypergloss Eye Shimmer

Oh, I saved the best for last! I'm in love with this product. I bought this in "Soft Gold Lights" because the silver was on back-order. I was a little nervous to try it. I heard the word "gloss" in the product name, and kind of had this picture in my head of lip gloss on my eyelids. It was a gloopy, creasy, nightmare image. Luckily, actually using this product couldn't be further from that. The tube is pretty small, but you only need an amount the size of a pin head for each eye. The formula is extremely blend-able, which is why you only need the tiniest amount. It goes a long way. I applied mine over my shimmer eyeshadow, and it really does highlight the color of your eyeshadow (rather than turning your eyeshadow the color of the gloss). I took a step back after applying it, and looked at the effect in the mirror. It really does make your eyes look shiny, in a good way. The next thing I was worried about was, of course, creasing. Nope! I checked on my makeup every couple of hours, for about 10 hours. No creasing. No fading. I'm hooked! The verdict? I'm really hoping they don't discontinue this, because it's already become a staple in my makeup bag. I may have to stockpile it, just in case they do discontinue it.

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Sunday Selects

Everyone has been doing a favorites post lately, so I thought I'd jump on the ol' bandwagon. Of course, everyone else got their posts in for "Friday Faves", while I did not. So you have "Sunday Selects". Voila :)

1. Spring!!!

I feel bad rubbing the fact that Spring is here in some of your faces' (ahem, Aunt Marilyn, who just got 10 new inches of snow in Minnesota). However, everything is starting to turn green here, flowers (ok, weeds) are popping up, and we've had some warm, sunny days. I'm not the only one loving it-

Ah, yes. That special time of year when one's dog loves to roll around in the grass, getting who knows what on him. 5 minutes after their bath's. Sigh.

2. The Americans

Image source: IMDB

If you haven't gotten into this fast-paced, highly fascinating show about Russian spies living in America during the Cold War starring former "Felicity" star, Keri Russell, you are missing out. One of the best parts of the show is to watch their (in today's standards, mind you) completely outdated technology. It's so crazy that this stuff was considered high tech just 30 years ago. Man alive, I'm old!

3. Brookside's Dark Chocolate

Image source: Facebook

I'm totally obsessed with these pieces of dark chocolate filled with pomegranate juice. The hubby is going to have to send me to dark chocolate rehab pretty soon :)

4. We've Got Spirit by James T. McElroy

Image source: Amazon

Here's what I'm reading right now, and here's why. This book was written about the cheerleading team where my hubby went to high school, and the county that I'm living in currently. They've won nationals many, many times. So many times, in fact, that someone decided to write a book about them. From what the hubby has told me, people around the county HATE this book, because they think it makes them look bad. I'm finding it pretty accurate so far, and it was written almost 15 years ago. Not my normal-type read, but a good historical account set in where I'm living.

5. Spring Time Baseball Games

Ok, so I've only been to 1 game. It was fantastic though! It was a sunny, 70º day in downtown Cincinnati, with hardly any wind from the river. We got free Red's fleece blankets, and drank beer for a couple of hours with friends in the sun. Does it really get any better than that? I also inhaled a plate of nachos that were piled high with BBQ pulled pork, salsa, jalapenos, cheese, and guacamole. Um, I'll be going back just for the nachos alone, thank you very much!

6. Buxom Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Amber

Image source: Sephora

Another of my latest obsessions. This slightly plumps your lips, has tons of sparkle, and just a hint of nude color. I'm already on my 2nd tube since October.

7. Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart"

Image source: Slack Time

This is currently my go-to workout song. Between the fast beat and Miranda's bad-ass-ness (yep, just made that up), this song really get's my Mojo going. I love, love, LOVE Miranda Lambert. Every song she does is perfect. I can't remember the last song that she released that I haven't bought. I really should just buy her albums :)

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Product Review: L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation and More

Time for some more product reviews! The makeup sales haven't been incredibely stellar lately, so I feel like I haven't been picking up as much stuff to try. Which sucks. But have no fear! We are getting close to that time of year when the cosmetics sales are good, and the coupons released for said-cosmetics are better. In the meantime, I do have a couple of new products that I've tested out :)

1. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation

Drugstore foundation is a tricky, not to mention touchy, subject. Not only are you usually dealing with inferior formulas (as compared to the high end products), you're also trying to pick out the correct shade without trying it on. I've tested many, many drugstore foundations and hated 95% of them. I go back to Revlon Colorstay every time. Every. Time. Much to my surprise, I like this foundation. It was inferred from the word "luminous" on the front of the bottle that this was not a matte foundation. I bought it with the intention of using it as a highlighter. Some people like the dewy look, but I'm not one of them. To me, my face just looks shiny. So I bought this product a shade lighter than my normal color. I've been using it under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, and in the center of my forehead and chin. The dispenser is a pump bottle, which perfectly dispenses the small amount I use. For a luminous foundation (which is drugstore lingo for "shimmer"), there's actually not a hideous amount of shimmer. The texture is very creamy, and seems to melt right into my skin. I use a slightly darker foundation on my cheeks, sides of nose, and around the outer edge of my face, and I've had no problem blending this product with my normal foundation. I like the highlighting effect that this gives me, and I've had no problem with the durability of the product. It can really hold on till the end of the day. The verdict? I would definitely buy this again. I think this one bottle is going to last me quite a long time, but I wouldn't be adverse to picking up more in the future.

2. CoverGirl Outlast Nail Polish in Smokey Taupe, 215

I'm in love with taupe nail polish at the moment. I just can't get enough! A couple of weeks ago, I picked this up for super-cheap during one of couponing excursions. My eye was drawn immediately to this shade. I scooped it up pretty quickly. I'm not huge on CoverGirl products, there are very few of their products that I like. But I like this polish. The brush is a good size, comparable to Maybelline's Color Show Nail Polish brushes. The formula goes on smoothly, with even coverage. 2 thin coats were sufficient to achieve a uniform appearance. I've been very pleased with the ability of this polish to resist chipping. I painted my toes with this color 2 weeks ago, and just today got my first chip. I'm actually thinking about painting my toes this color again, which if you know me, is highly unusual. I change my colors a lot. A lot, a lot, a lot (except for a phase in college where I did a French manicure on my toes for 2 years-straight). This is a perfect neutral in my mind, the color goes with just about everything. You'd be hard-pressed to find something to not match with this. The best part? It's a completely affordable nail polish. The verdict? Yes, please! I'll probably try more shades in the line as well. After I get this taupe out of my system, of course :)

3. L'Oreal Eversleek Humidity Defying Leave-In Creme

Leave-in conditioner is an absolute must for me. I've got what most people would call "horse hair". It's dry, prone to frizz, and feels rough to the touch. In all fairness, I do abuse my hair. Dry it, straighten it, curl it, etc. All on a daily basis. Not only do I use a leave-in conditioner after every shampooing, I also use a conditioning mask about twice a week. I'm actually almost to the bottom of this bottle, and I'm kind-of sad. I've had a good run with this product, but I've got countless new kinds of products to try out. The creme itself is fairly thick, but evens out nicely when you rub it between your hands for a few minutes before distributing throughout your hair. I've been using this product throughout the winter, so I can't comment on the humidity control, but it is a great winter product. It always leaves my hair a little bit softer. I wouldn't call this a miracle product, I've used many other brands that seem to work better, but it's a decent and affordable choice. The verdict? This creme wasn't outstanding enough for me to seek it out to buy again. I'd probably pick up some more if I got it for free, though.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Is It Spring Yet??

So, it's mid February. That time of year when it's still winter, but you are so close to spring you can't stand it. Clothing stores are bringing out their spring collections, with light fabrics and fun colors. Heavy winter clothes in muted colors, ski hats, and scarf's have become unbelievably tiresome. You can't wait to hurl them into the back of your closet until next year.

That's where I'm at. I'm ready for capri pants and t-shirts. Sandals and shorts. Self-tanner on my ghostly white skin. Warm weather. Due to my serious online shopping addiction, I'm coveting waaaay too many spring-y items. Here's what I'm really into for Spring:


1. Boho Bracelets-

How I love Boho. I find it so easy to pull off Boho in the Spring and Summer, and much more difficult in the winter. Bracelets are one of my go-to accessories, so I am considering just going ahead and ordering these. I'm having a hard time fathoming not having them. I'm also picturing all the outfits I could pull together with them. Argh.

2. Chambray Shirts-

Chambray is a huge trend right now, everybody's doing it :) I love this look. My favorite look of the moment is a chambray shirt with white shorts, and statement sandals. I'm also picturing a chambray shirt with capri pants, leggings, cowboy boots... The possibilities are endless. I like this long version from the Gap because, well, I like long shirts. I just do. Period.

3. Flat Sandals-

I love, love, LOVE the black sandals in the middle. I'm not huge into animal prints, but this shoe has just the right amount (minimal!). As a girl who used to exclusively wear heels, I've embraced the flat trend with open arms. Perhaps a bit too much, because my heels don't really get much use anymore... Flats are just soooo much more comfortable. I can already picture this sandal with the aforementioned chambray shirt and white shorts. That's hot. What? People don't say that anymore? Whatev's.

4. A Fun Handbag-

I'm still loving the stud trend. I think the black bag is super cute. I'm also loving fringe right now. I don't usually go with a lot of prints on my clothes, so sometimes a cute studded purse or something fringe-y can really punch up an outfit. I know I'm stuck in this chambray rut-moment, but once again, I can picture the fringe purse with the chambray shirt and white shorts. Maybe not with the animal print sandals, though. Perhaps with a cute pair of wedges or espadrilles? Yes.

5. Long T-Shirts-

Long shirts? Yes, please. Make it a graphic tee as well? Double yes please! There's nothing I love more than a cute t-shirt, but make it long and a little loose? You've got my go-to look for summer. I wear a lot of shorts in the summer, and I'm one of those girls that prescribes to the theory of only highlighting one part of the body, that part usually being some leg à la Angelina Jolie. I'm not going to be prancing around in short shorts with a tight, cropped camisole. It's just not going to happen people.

So, it Spring yet? It's still not time? Drat.

Happy Monday everyone!