Showing posts with label march. Show all posts
Showing posts with label march. Show all posts
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Beauty Haul March 2014 at CVS Using Coupons Rewards
Beauty Haul March 2014 at CVS Using Coupons Rewards
You all know that I coupon a bit, right? Well last week, there were a ton of coupons and great deals at CVS, so I picked up a few things! I figured I would share some thoughts on couponing, rewards in general and trying new products.
I dont believe in using coupons for the sake of a deal. I coupon to save money on items I already plan to spend money on, thus, actually saving money!
If you decide to start couponing, the most important thing to remember is that you dont buy something just because you have a coupon for it. There are a few times to break these rules, like when you are interested in trying out something new, or if you dont buy brand specific items. Or, maybe there is a fantastic deal on a pack of toothbrushes, where you end up paying $1.00. That is a great item to pick up to make care packages or donate to a local shelter!
I am very picky about the brands I use and I am the type of shopper that once I find out what I like and what works, I buy it for the rest of my life. For example, toilet paper. Did you know you can be allergic to toilet paper? I didnt either, until I went through puberty and learned that I am ridiculously allergic to Quilted Northern toilet paper. Im also allergic to Dove soap. Olay products make my skin burn.
Needless to say, when I try a new product, I expect a disaster and I try not to pay one penny more than I have too. Also, when I try something new and I dont break out in hives, small red bumps, feel like my skin is on fire or have a weird tingling feeling? Im stoked.
Even beauty products, I have to be careful with. My eyes are seriously sensitive and I cannot tell you how many times mascara has gotten into my eye and all of a sudden my eye ball is beet red, watery, itchy and swollen.
Case in point, the new Bombshell lash mascara. Im allergic to it. You want to know how I found out?
Sometimes, when I go to sleep at night, Ill wash my face but not my eyes. Yeah I know, blah blah blah. Im tired yo! Well, one night I fell asleep and when I woke up, my eyes were crusted shut and swollen. I was freaking out. I cleaned it all with warm water and opened my eyes to red, super gunky eyes. No bueno. The day before that I had worn fake eyelashes (that I had taken off) and Bombshell mascara. I figured out later it was the mascara and not the eyelash glue. It was awful, yall.
However, my overwhelming fear of having a bad reaction to a make-up product is vastly lower than my desire to try out every single beauty product I can get my hands on. I love trying new things and sure, its a risk but to me, its worth it.
Except the toilet paper thing. I only buy the purple Cottonelle and that is ALL I will buy. Cause that just aint a body part you gamble with. You get what Im sayin?
Back to my point, I like coupons. I do not buy anything just because of a coupon. I get excited when something I actually buy has a coupon. I also get excited when something I already want to try has a coupon.
Which brings me to CVS and my coupon experience this last week. Ive been wanting to try a few new things, specifically foundations. Typically, I dont like buying my foundations at the drugstore when Target sells them because Target is always $3-4 less than CVS and Rite-Aid, but Target has been out of my shade. I didnt really have a choice, but I was going to make sure I got enough bang for my buck. Armed with coupons, I hit up the CVS right by my house and purchased the following:
First Transaction:
I had a Almay $5 off two products manufacturer coupon, plus CVS was running $6 extrabucks for two Almay eye products. I picked up the Intense i-color Volumizing Mascara in Mocha and the Intense i-color Shadow Stick for brown eyes.
Cost Breakdown: $5.99 + 5.99 - $5.00 (man. coupon) = $6.98 (+6.00 extrabucks)
I had a Maybelline CVS $2 off $10 plus, I got $3 back in extracare bucks on any eyes, lips or nail products, so I picked up the Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe and Color Show nail polish in Pretty in Peach.
Cost Breakdown: $6.99 + 4.39 - $2.00 (cvs coupon) = $9.38 (+$3.00 extrabucks)
I had a $1.00 Wet n Wild product manufacturer coupon, which I used on the Megalast Lipstick in 907 Mauve.
Cost Breakdown: $1.99 - $1 (man. coupon) = $.99.
Original Total: $27.26
Paid: $19.25
Saved: $8.01
Second Transaction:
I had a $2.00 off Revlon purchase of over $12.00, plus CVS was running a Buy One, Get one 50%, plus I had a $6.00 coupon from the previous transaction. I grabbed the Revlon ColorStay foundation for Combination skin in Sand Beige and a Revlon duel-ended Eyeliner and Highlighter in Emerald.
Cost Breakdown: $13.49 + $9.79 - $4.90 (sale) - $6.00 (extrabucks) - $2.00 (man. coupon) = $10.38
Original Total: $19.76
Paid: $11.76
Saved: $8.00
Third Transaction:
I had a $3.00 off any two Covergirl eyes, lip or nail manufacturer coupon so I picked up two lipsticks, in Honeyed and Delicious.
Cost Breakdown: $8.29 + $8.29 - $3.00 (man. coupon) - 3.00 (extrabucks) = $10.58
Original Total: $17.83
Paid: $11.82
Saved: $6.01
Total Cost Summary:
Original Total: $64.85
Paid: $42.83
Saved: $22.02
Remember, these were all things I wanted but werent a necessity. Well, other than the foundation. I did need that. The other things I figured I would wait until I have coupons or saw sales on the things Id like to have because I want to save as much as possible. With the coupons, sales and extrabucks, I was able to save a little over 30% of the total cost!
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Tuesday, November 22, 2016
March Recap and April Challenge Oops Im Late
March Recap and April Challenge Oops Im Late
Not the pregnant kind of late. I realized last week that I never did a March recap and I also havent posted my April challenge. Bad blogger!
In March, I tried to focus on healthier eating and specifically, cooking at home. We definitely did a LOT better, but still not anywhere near acceptable. I havent quite worked out the kinks of stocking a fridge and eating it all.
via
Even with a meal plan, Im stumped. Ive switched from stocking the fridge up all the way to just going week by week... maybe two weeks with one grocery trip. But more often than not we wont have a plan for dinner and instead of making do well opt to grab town food.
This does not help my quest for health, my waistline OR the pocketbook. You know what Im saying?
I do feel that we are transitioning. A few nights Bryan and I didnt have a plan for dinner and he quickly defrosted some of the frozen hamburger patties or taco meat that I had previously made. With the leftovers from that, plus cooking fresh meals, we ate at home a lot more often. However, until the scale has tipped to eating at home every night and eating town food rarely, I wont consider it a win. Habits still need to be adjusted and formed.
Which brings us to April. All this month I will be working on my stress levels and how to relax, how to cope and how to survive my anxiety and work through it. Ive been really stressed out because we have a lot coming up. There is just so much on my plate and Ive freaked out a few times on Bryan because it seems impossible to do everything. I need to channel my stress and focus on the tasks at hand. Not just bombard my brain with all the lists of things that need to be accomplished.
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This is going to be hard. Most people have no idea because Im pretty good at living with stress. Living with stress and COPING with stress are two different things. Most of the time I just stuff everything stressful way down deep in my soul and it explodes into a huge debilitating migraine. Im tired of feeling bounded by stress. Im ready to break through it.
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How am I going to do it? So far I have been breathing deeply throughout the day. Ive been stretching on my breaks and taking quick walks outside when I need to clear my head. Shepherd has learned how to "dance" so Ive been dancing with him which is probably the best thing in the world. Ive been going to bed on time and waking up earlier.
Ive downloaded the Couch to 5k app, because I really want to start running. I feel like by training myself to run I will be able to clear my mind, have a sense of freedom and give my body the activity it crazy in one fell swoop.
Of course, I have no desire to run in any kind of marathon, but the concept of getting off the couch and running is what I need. Attending the conference and planning Shepherds birthday has really messed up my workout schedule, so Ill be hitting it hard the next two weeks. I have a lot of make up for in the losing weight front but since Im entering a very busy stage of life its a better time than any to start!
via
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Friday, November 18, 2016
Miscellaneous March
Miscellaneous March
As my birthday approached, Lily asked me if we were going to have cake on my birthday. At first I said, No, Mommy doesnt really need any birthday cake.... but the look of complete and utter disappointment on her face reminded me that, for the kids, the whole POINT of someones birthday is so everyone can have cake.
So, the night before my birthday we ran to walmart to get a box of cake and some icing and the kiddos helped me bake my own birthday cake. Uh, it looked good enough to eat. So I did.
Lily had a friends birthday party at Chuck E Cheese.
Joel and I had a date night and went indoor rock climbing Bloomington. It was awesome. Mostly I just cant stop staring at that picture of my back. I. Look. Ripped.
We flew kites, again. It was a windy day but apparently not the right kind of windy day because we STRUGGLED to keep those kites in the air.
Random visit to the Yamaha dealer.
Date night #2. Yep, TWO date nights in one month! That NEVER happens! We went to dinner and then went to a pub downtown where we randomly met up with one of my coworkers. We proceeded to drink for a bit and then headed down the street to a "nightclub" in Columbus where we danced and danced and danced at the Farrells "after party" from that sessions 10-week awards banquet. AND THEN, we hit up Steak and Shake and didnt get home till 2am! What the what?!?! What a great time we had!
And then, we had to wake up early for the kids Easter program at the daycare. Doh. Lily sang her little heart out. Tyler acted like he could not believe he caught in this most embarrassing singing situation and barely bothered sing one word or make one motion.
After the singing, the kiddos had the annual Easter egg hunt. They came home with SO much candy!
The Easter Bunny was there and BOTH kids wanted to sit on his lap! Wasnt it just 4 months ago, when neither of them would have a THING to do with Santa? And that guy was going to give them presents!
Theres no such thing a miscellaneous post without a picture of the kids passed out in the car. (Lily loves her booster seat except for when she wants to take a nap in the car.)
The Easter Bunny was there and BOTH kids wanted to sit on his lap! Wasnt it just 4 months ago, when neither of them would have a THING to do with Santa? And that guy was going to give them presents!
Theres no such thing a miscellaneous post without a picture of the kids passed out in the car. (Lily loves her booster seat except for when she wants to take a nap in the car.)
Meme and Papaw (and Suki) came for a visit. The kids REALLY love that dog.
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Tuesday, November 15, 2016
1st March
1st March
Several years ago in work, I was given a wooden calendar in the shape of an owl, with wooden blocks to turn for changing the date and month. Since moving this from the lounge to the kitchen, Matthew has taken over the role of changing the date each morning (Louise and I used to forget), and hes been doing a great job remembering to change it every day.
This morning, I was expecting to come downstairs to see "31 April", as I wasnt sure Matthew would be aware that were in a new month, especially as some other months do have 31 days. I was impressed to discover the calendar was set to a new month when I came down - but found out from Louise that Matthew had originally changed it to "01 March". He knew it was May, but is obviously still used to reading the first part of the word and not the full word when hes unsure.
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Thursday, September 1, 2016
March 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Review Swatches Value
March 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Review Swatches Value
Yall know that in February I got my first Ipsy Glam Bag. Every month for $10 + tax I receive a cute make-up bag filled with four or five sample (or full size) make-up products from varying brands! It is so fun to get a little pink package in the mail every month!
Without further ado, here is what I received in the March 2014 Glam Bag!
Contents, Links and Values:
be a bombshell Bora Bora Eyeshadow Quad - $16.00 (Shadow names: Starlet, Bora Bora, Rock Bottom, Risky Business)bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready - $7.50 value (full size is $18.00)
Vita Liberata Luxury 2-3 Week Tan Lotion for Face and Body in Medium - $7.10 (full size is $54.00)
Chella Eyeliner Pen in Indigo Blue - $24.00
Total Value: $54.60
Right off the bat, I can tell you that Im not planning on using the Vita Liberata Tanning Lotion. Tanning lotion seriously scares the crap out of me. There are a few reasons why. 1. I dont feel that there is enough of a sample to adequately cover my face and body. 2. I dont want to pick one or the other because I dont want my face to be super light or darker than my body. Duh. 3. It doesnt come with a glove or a mitten or anything and this lady aint walking around with weird hands. MAYBE - only a maybe here, guys - will I attempt it on my legs. Ill have to wait and see other Ipsters results though, for real.
Luckily, that sample is not a big ticket item in the overall value of the bag, so I dont feel super horrible if I dont use it.
Here are the swatches in artificial and natural lighting:
As I type this, I still have all of those on my hand and there are already thoughts swirling in my head.
The Moxie is a really pretty color but definitely feels sticky on my hand which Im hoping wont be overly noticeable on the lips. The Indigo Blue eyeliner says its water-resistant, paraben free, smudge proof, no feathering, etc. Yup, I rubbed that sucker and there was only the tiniest bit of transfer. Im actually kind of stoked about this color. Ive been loving a really natural matte eye with a colored eyeliner wing and black eyeliner close to the lash line. Especially on days I dont want to get ready. As for water-resistant, eh. I totally licked my finger and ran it down the length of the swatch with a pretty quick swipe and there was definitely some smudge going on.
Last, but not least, the eyeshadow. Ive never had any Be a Bombshell products and three of the four colors are totally unimpressive to me. I had to rub vigorously and swatch them multiple times to get them to show up properly.
In my opinion, the only color worth its salt is the bottom left pan, Rock Bottom. The other three, Starlet, Bora Bora and Risky Business are okay. Maybe wet they would pack on more vibrant. If I had to list them in order of awesome it would be: Rock Bottom (bottom left), Risky Business, (bottom right), Starlet (top left) and Bora Bora (top right). Bora Bora just did not perform well for me at all.
The print of this make-up bag was selected from the works of San Francisco artist Klari Reis. It is super cute! Overall, Im still happy with my decision to sign up for Ipsy and think its a great value.
Now Im off to figure out how to apply that self tanner while avoiding an epic disaster! Ciao!
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For the Record: Ipsy doesnt know me. I pay for my bag just like errbody else. If you subscribe using my link, I do get some points! Yay! Id appreciate it. :)
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