Thursday, January 30, 2014

My Julep Box arrived!


Become a JULEP MAVEN
(contains a referral link)

What you'll get

  • First access to the latest color trends
    & beauty innovations by Julep
  • Over $40 worth of polish & product
    for only $19.99/month
  • Exclusive benefits, like free shipping
    & 20% off
    at julep.com 

How it works

  • 1-Take our fun, fast quiz to find your Style Profile.
  • 2-Sign up to get your customized Welcome Box.
  • 3-Get excited! You can start enjoying your Maven perks right away.

Monthly Maven Reveal

Log into your account between the 20th-24th of every month to preview your box, try a new style, upgrade, add extras or send your box to a friend at no extra charge.

Here's my box this month--


 I got a 50% off code and there are always deals, sales, a little surprises on the site! I am going to keep my subscription for now. I NEED some of those nail polishes! Some of the colors are TO DIE FOR!

They also have other beauty supplies and lots of goodies to help you with your nails... check this out--

It's a better way to paint your nails! Fun, isn't it!?

Oh, and look at this mini set-

I seriously need these colors!!

So far I am loving this monthly Subscription Box!

No commitment, You can quit anytime! I think I like the deals they have on the site more than the actual monthly subscription! lol!

(that's my referral link)

Check them out on FB-

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Keep or Toss #2

For those new to my blog- KEEP OR TOSS is just a series of blog posts where I randomly review products that I use. I purchase these products on my own. These are more than likely beauty products, however, I won't always limit it to that!
Hope this helps someone!

 THE BEAUTY BLENDER!
Have you heard? It's the new way to apply makeup! :)

Price Point- Kind of Expensive for a makeup sponge! About $20 to $30 for a package of 2.

Beautyblender’s patent-pending elliptical shape makes application foolproof by allowing you to access hard-to-reach areas with stunning ease. Its suede texture is sensual to the touch and its unique curves fit the contours of your face, leaving your make up dazzling and undetectable. Beautyblender is latex free, non-allergenic and odor free.

You soak this in water and use with creamy, liquid foundation. I have tried this, and tried a "DUPE" for it. Seriously, it's worth the money. (as cheap as I am... I WILL shell out the money for this sponge!) The cheaper version is a disappointment. Nothing compares. (Don't make me sing the song to you!)




It's kind of hard to explain if you have never heard of it before. Here is a makeup GURU on You-tube to explain it-- (Watch the video, it will change the way you put on makeup)

 

Here is the Foundation I use--

I use the color 002. That blends into my neck flawlessly. (Why yes, I am pale!) For the summer I will probably go one shade darker. BTW- THIS FOUNDATION IS A KEEP!!!!! Combine this with the Beauty Blender and it's AMAZING!!!!

I put on one layer with the sponge, wait a minute and put another layer to two layers on. It seems like a lot, but it truly creates a flawless "face".

Price Point- Cheap- You can get it anywhere from $8 to $12.. check around and get a deal! I got mine at Wal-Mart


The Beauty Blender and the Revlon Photo Ready Foundation are in my "Holy Grail" of products I will use over and over!
---------------------

BATISTE Dry Shampoo-
I got this with my drugstore.com haul. I have heard mixed reviews.

Price Point- CHEAP- Anywhere from $7 to $9. You can find coupons and deals. Most drug store sells this!
This product is for Brunettes. It does deposit a little color with it, so you definitely don't want to use it on anything other than brunette hair. I wanted to try this because the Dry shampoo spray that I was using would give my hair a powdery cast. Not cool. This Dry Shampoo promised not to "show" in Brunette hair.

Here's a Quick Tutorial Video from Batiste on how to use the dry shampoo--


It's pretty cut and dry! You spray it in at the roots and kind of rub it in with your hands into the roots. When you do this with the Brown Dry shampoo, you are going to see that it leaves a little brown residue on your hands. No biggie, it washes right off. I would use this sparingly. Also, I like to use a blow dryer on a low heat setting and run it through my hair. This Batiste dry shampoo add MAD VOLUME to my hair. I love using it when I am putting my hair on top of my head in a bun. It does kind of get too dry (if you aren't careful) .. and makes it hard to style your hair and wear it down. So, use sparingly!

Over all, I would

It's benefits outweigh the bad. It took a couple of times to get used to the texture it gave my hair, and I had to figure out not to use too much! I really like it.
----------------------

SOOO..I tried a new Hairspray.

AUSSIE HAIRSPRAY

Price point- Cheap.

Let me get straight to the point-

It goes on heavy and stays wet too long. It can leave your hair crunchy. I hated it. Reminds me of a better smelling aquanet. Toss it!

I will stick to my "Holy Grail" of hairsprays--


I have bought this for YEARS and will continue to buy it. Use a little for light hold, or use a lot and your hair will literally freeze where it's at! It's a keeper!
------------------------

That's it for now! If anyone has anything they would like for me to review or anything they want to know, please ask! :)

Inspiration Post- Jan 29th

Ok, here's what has been inspiring me lately. I am constantly in awe of the talent of people! I wish that some would rub off on me!!!





HOLY COW, loving this table make over! Don't pass over those "UGLY" tables people. Sometimes they can be turned into something GORGEOUS!


Step by step on how to create this AWESOME jewelry try! I am so loving this!


MIND BLOWN! What a creative way to add pizazz to your drawers!! I absolutely LOVE this!!


First of all, how great is this photo! Someone gets creative points on their staging!!! Great job! Ok, but more than that... homemade Liquid Soap from bar soap! Save lots of money! That's always a good thing!



This inspires me so much!!!  I see those ugly little chests at GoodWill all the time. Usually for a $1 or $2! I have never thought they were worth fooling with until now! Paint it white, change the knobs and you have a BEAUTIFUL place to store things! (I am thinking makeup/jewelry!!!)


DIY Bleach Gel- This is genius! This is going to save me so much money!

Friday, January 24, 2014

Winners!!!!


 
WINNER--
 Elizabeth Harrison
 
 

Keeping it Together Planner Kit & Giveaway!!!




The 2014 “Keeping it Together” Daily Planner is your everyday guide to living life to the fullest! This 2014 daily journal is a vibrant and uplifting tool that allows you to track ALL the aspects important in your daily life. The planner covers daily time management, goal setting, gratitude, physical activity, kindness and nutrition.
Additionally you will get sample work-outs, weekly meal planning space and fun “doodle” pages to spark your creativity.

Everything is designed with a positive and happy vibe – so you’ll look forward to logging in all the essentials and tracking your progress as you make 2014 a year filled with health, happiness, peace and productivity.

Each weekday has it's own page, where weekends share a page with meal planning for the week ahead!

Bonus Features:

Zipper pouch
Back Folder
Fun Stickers
Our Favorite Pen
Dry Erase Marker

*FREE fedex shipping applies only to all addresses provided in the US (no PO box, Alaska or Hawaii)
*$10.00 extra to ship to Canadian addresses 
-------------------

 I LOVE THIS PLANNER!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
 First, it's shipped for FREE via FedEx!
I couldn't wait to dig in!!


As you can see, it came with a lot of extras!




It's so colorful. You guys know how I love me some color!
The patterns and colors just make me so happy!

Look at these tabs!!! LOVE the tabs!


In the front of the Planner there's the whole year in a glance.
It is laminated, so you can mark important dates with the dry erase marker!


There is a handy little plastic zipper pouch to store handy little items such as your sticky notes, paper clips, etc.


Each month has a monthly calendar. Each month has a page for notes, and each day of the week has it's own page. The weekends have a special page too! This makes it easy to keep it all together!






On the daily pages there are tips, quotes and affirmations. I am SO INTO the affirmations! I need a pick me up or a little mojo to start my day

Let me share with you my favorite quote so far--

January 17th
"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." - AUDREY HEPBURN

My favorite FAB & FIT tip so far is--

January 3rd
Lemon Scrub:
Here is a great way to make use of some in-season Winter Citrus Fruit.

-5 Tbsp. sea salt
-1 Tbsp. olive oil
-1 lemon

Mix salt and oil then squeeze in lemon. Scrub away for a natural and refreshing exfoliate.
(source laurenconrad.com)


It also has a doodle page! A.DOODLE.PAGE!!!!



It comes with a pen and a dry erase marker. There is a place in the planner where you can use your dry erase marker! There are stickers! I am in love with this planner!

You also get sticky notes. TWO of them. I keep one in my purse and one in the planner!

Here is my page for today--

The Quote at the bottom is JUST what I needed today!

Visit KEEPING IT TOGETHER FACEBOOK page to see more details!
-----------------------------------

WANT TO BUY?
- LA LOVELY INK

WANT TO WIN?
Enter to win your VERY OWN Keeping it Together Kit!!
Enter using the Rafflecopter Below
18+


Saturday, January 18, 2014

Stella & Dot's 2014 Spring Collection!!!

It's here! Stella & Dot's 2014 Spring Collection has arrived! Featuring fresh colors and a dazzling amount of sparkle, If you're looking for a hint of sparkle to brighten up your wardrobe, then you are in luck, these new pieces are amazing! But wait, there's more!

It's a new year and is one of your resolutions to make a little extra $? Well with so much exciting new beauty to share, now is the perfect time to become a Stella & Dot Stylist For the month of January, Stella & Dot is offering a stylist signup bonus: If you sign up today, you will receive $450 in free accessories (instead of $350) for only $199, how cool is that!! For more information, visit: http://www.stelladot.com/stylist

Bark Box Review- JANUARY 2014

BARK BOX

Click HERE and get $5 off your first Bark Box!!!! 

JANUARY 2014


Once again, WE LOVE THE BARK BOX!
It never disappoints! I don't think we have ever received anything that we didn't approve of!
We opt to get the bark box sent to us each month because we live no where near a pet store (Oh the joys of rural living!).

I didn't even get to take another picture of the football! They took off with that right after I snapped the group picture of what came in the Box this month! lol

 Loving Pets
Barksters are great for snacking! Wheat and gluten free, they are low fat and great for pups!



 Grandma Bowser's
Made from all natural ingredients. No preservatives. These are Peanut butter treats that have Omega 3 and 6 acids added for a shiny coat and to fight inflammation! You can feel good about giving this treat to your pup!


 Think Dog!
Louisiana Alligator Jerky! The Pups love it! Great for Pups with allergies! No soy, corn or wheat!


Barkworthies!
No chemical or preservatives used!

We are able to try new products every month and have come across many items that we would order over and over again!

Friday, January 17, 2014

Keep or toss!!!





I have decided to start a "series" of blog posts reviewing RANDOM products and letting you all know whether or not I would keep them or toss them!

These will most likely be beauty products of some type. More than likely they will be INEXPENSIVE (I am sorry, I don't like spending money if I don't have to!!!! HA!) Maybe I can help you save money!
These are my honest opinions.
****These are products that I buy myself. I will still be reviewing other products such as clothes, pet stuff, jewelry, accessories, etc. for companies. I will NOT include those posts in my "Keep or Toss" series. This is strictly for the products I buy myself.****


NEUTROGENA Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask

You can pick this up at just about any drug store. I am sure that Walmart and Target carries this too. I got it from Drugstore.com because they had an awesome coupon code + free shipping. 

PRICE POINT- It's cheap.I have seen it go for $5 to $8. If you have a coupon or it's on sale you can get it for under $4 (like I did!).

I LOVE IT!!!! I will buy this OVER AND OVER AGAIN!


It works better than the expensive deep conditioners. I put some on my hands and ran it through my hair and it went through like butter! Girls, I am telling you.... this is one of my "Holy Grail" products. I won't be able to live without it anymore! I have very dry and damaged hair and this product is a miracle! 

Save yourself the money and just get this! It works!
---------------------------------


PLUS WHITE 5 minute teeth whitener system

PRICE POINT- CHEAP! You get this whole kit for around $10 to $16. I had a coupon (of course) so I got it for about $8. You all know how much a whitening system can cost!!! This is cheap!

This kit comes with the whitening gel, a tray, and stain guard rinse.

First, let me say, I have only used it once and I kept it on for about 18 minutes. The directions state 5 minutes daily for upkeep, however... you can use this twice a day for a couple of weeks for about 20 minutes if your teeth are really stained.
I am a coffee and tea drinker. My teeth aren't terrible, but I want them to bling!!!

Did it work? YES! Granted, it was a small change, but I am confident that using it every day for a couple of weeks is going to bling out my smile!


Warning- Take my word for it and stand in front of the sink while you do this. You are going to drool like a rabid dog! Seriously, that was the only downside!!! Once I get to the point where I am only using it for 5 minutes, I don't think this will be much of a problem. However, if you are using it for 20 minutes at a time... you just need to hover your mouth over the sink after about 10 minutes. You are going to produce a steady drool ..... Unless that's just me. Ha! It could be just me!
---------------------------

WET AND WILD makeup palettes

PRICE POINT- CHEAP! The big palette was about $4, the smaller ones are usually $2.99.

These have been compared to the Naked Palettes. We all know how expensive those are. I am not spending that much on makeup!

What did I think???

Holy pigmentation Batman!!!!! These suckers pack a punch!!! You only need a little to produce dramatic results. I was honestly shocked!!! They have staying power too.

If you don't have the money to try out the naked palettes, these are a great alternative! You can get every single palette and experiment to your hearts content without having to declare bankruptcy!!!

I think for every day use, my GO TO palette would be the "Walking on Eggshells" palette. LOVE IT!

I think I will have to do a blog post JUST about "Dupes" of expensive products that actually work!
The Wet and Wild line of eye shadows are so worth it!
------------------------------


e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder

PRICE POINT- It's a deal. It's only $6.

I have seen people rave about this product! I was so excited to get it. I got the white "translucent" powder.

What did I think? 

Seriously!  I may try it again.... maybe I did it wrong... but should powder be complicated?

It claims to add soft focus to your face while concealing fine lines... blah blah. It made my face have a ghostly sheen to it. I barely used any! I shook off excess before I put it on my face. I don't know... I don't think it's for me. Maybe the Shimmer or the Yellow corrective tone powder works better. I don't know. I won't buy it again.
-----------------

I just realized how many E.L.F. Products that I have bought recently. I think they need to have their own post to review them! Here's what I got in the mail the other day--


All that for only $37 and free shipping!!

Stay tuned for a review of some of the E.L.F. products I have tried! It will be worth the read!

Here are some random photos from last night after I tried out some of my new beauty products! lol!