It has been 6 days since my last post...

Wow!  Time flies when you are having some holiday fun with the family!  It's been a busy 6 days, that's for sure.  I did sort of take the day of yesterday but today was Operation Clean Up Christmas.  Vacuuming up pine needles wasn't an option anymore as I had to rid the front room of our tree!

I sat in the front room on the Eve of Christmas Eve just taking in the lights and reflecting on this past year.  For one, it went by so fast!  Where does the time go?  And it doesn't seem to be slowing down either.  2012 is going to be filled with wonderful surprises, a new job for me... perhaps :),  my little sister's wedding and then a late summer vacation at  my brother's lake house and then fall and the kids are back at school... 

It was nice to just take that moment to reflect on the past year and what will come in the new year!

December Birchbox

So this month, I am officially disappointed with Birchbox.  As a loyal subscriber since March I believe, it really has gotten worse every month.  That being said, since I am a loyal Taurus, I am having a difficult time actually cancelling.  That being said, this month probably sealed the deal for me.

First off, it was late.  No big deal, they sent a very apologetic email explaining why, a little too late I may add.  I get it, holiday madness at the post office, every delivery takes extra time.  Well, for one, they could have sent the email sooner.  They tried to make amends, but $20 off a $75 purchase coupon is not good enough for me.  Maybe a $20 off $50 purchase or if they happened to send more "deluxe" samples to make up for it, but there hasn't been any "deluxe" samples in a long time.  A single energy powder pack, 2 double side stick tapes, and perfume samples that you get for free anywhere does not constitute $10/month.

I think what really made me disappointed is that I peeked at what others had received, which I try not to do, and was excited to receive Benefit's Primed and Poreless and got dry shampoo and some glitter oil instead.  Total bummer.

It's my own fault really.  I get samples like this every day.  Well maybe not the Jouer Birchbox Pink Lip gloss every day but perfumes, energy packets, etc...  Heck I even got a John Freida Go Blonder travel set that I've seen in Walgreens for $11.99 and L'OREAL mascara which retails for $8 or $9 for free in the mail last week!

So why am I paying $10 a month for samples I already get?  I'm not sure.  Again, it is no one's fault but mine.  I'm owning up to it!  I keep saying, one more month, one more month...  But this is the same company that sent me a full size Stila eyeshadow in Cloud which I love love love and a full size Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten blush that I use as a cheek highlight almost every day.

Since March I have invested $100 into this company and I've gotten back a $18 Stila Eyeshadow and a $28 blush.  Both high end that I wouldn't have purchased myself, but I probably should have.  It would have saved me $46.  YIKES!!!  That's not very savvy, totally not my style. 

To be fair I have received 3 small ZOYA nail polish, some face washes, tons of hand creams and body lotions, a couple mascara samples.  It is free shipping, well figure it into the cost, $2-$4 to ship out those boxes?  I don't know.  I think I just wasted a $100.  UGH!

They must be loosing money, hence the lack of "good stuff" and now the market is saturated with other sample boxes so the competition is fierce! 

But drop the price or offer more incentives dear Birchbox.  Just do something because you are just going to lose well lost another subscriber unfortunately.

CVS Shoppin'!

So I'm supposed to be spending all my $$ at Rite Aid to get to Gold Status but I've come to the realization that it "ain't" happenin.'  10% off is good enough for me all of next year and you bet your bottom dollar I will be trying again all next year for the 20% off!  Next year I won't take the summer off from shopping.  lol

I had $8 in ECB's to kill and a $5 off $30 purchase and free Essence of Beauty hand lotion coupon so I thought, "What the hay?" and waltzed into CVS with 3 kids in tow.  This wasn't the brightest of ideas but nonetheless, I walked out of their with some good stuff and that good stuff for cheap.  The Essence of Beauty lotion was out of stock but I will be going back tomorrow to check.

If you don't know how to shop at CVS here's a quick lesson.  The absolute best way to shop at CVS and other drugstores is to combine store coupons with manufacturer's coupons and store rewards ie +up rewards at RA, ECBs at CVS and RR's at Walgreens.  If you want to save, you have to be patient and organized.  And remember this one piece of advice...  There will always be a sale.  No need to hoard people!

At CVS for example, look through the weekly ad and pick out the items you want to try/buy that generate ECBs or Extra Care Bucks.  Make sure you have an Extra Care Card and if you are not enrolled in the Beauty Club, there are tear off pads in the cosmetic section that will tell you how to get started.  Basically for every $50 you spend, you get back $5 in ECBs.  It adds up fast and furious and before long, you are getting products for free/heavily discounted.

I didn't have barely any manufacturer's coupons to combine with my CVS coupon or ECB's which was a bummer but that's okay.  I first picked up the 2 Revlon lip butters. They were generating $4 ECB with a limit of 2 per card.  So I broke my shopping trip up into 2 transactions.  I used my $8 in ECBs that I brought into the store to pay for the 2 lip butters.

First transaction:

2 lip butters $6.99 each subtotal $13.98 minus $8 ECB equals $5.98 plus tax OOP.  Then I got back $8 ECBs for the purchase of the 2 lipbutters.  Free lip butters.  Yeah buddy.

Second Transaction

2 Pantene Beautiful Lengths Shampoo, clearance 50% off 3.14 each  I had $3/2 MC.  The conditioner is also on clearance but I've decided to splurge on "good" conditioner for now on since my purple hair/highlight fiasco.
L'OREAL Infallible Bronzed Taupe $7.79
10 Professional Nail Polish 75% off $1.07
L'OREAL Infalliable Lipstick in 730 Grenadine 50% off $5.89 (that's expensive full priced lipstick!)

This came up to $21.03 before coupons.  I had to get my total purchase price up to $30 to use my $5 CVS coupon that I sent to my card.  When I scanned my card I got $1 off 2 M&Ms.  I also had a $1/2 MC.  So they were on sale for 2 for $5 and I had the $1 CVS and $1 MC making them $1.50 each.

I also grabbed 2 boxes of Kleenix tissue on sale for 99 cents each.  And added some random Gold Emblem candy to my shopping basket for our Gingerbread House that we will be decorating today!  That brought my subtotal up to $31.01 I believe.

Coupons that were used:

$5/$30 purchase
$1/2 CVS M&M's
$1/2 MC M&M's
$3/2 MC Patene
$8 ECB

I paid $13.01 plus tax OOP.  I am also getting back another $5 in ECB for the CVS Beauty Club.  The total amount saved from both transactions was $41.60.

It's not free which I really like, but I got 3 new products that I wanted to try and why not get them for a discounted price?

If I bought the lip butter and the shadow by themselves, no deals, no coupons it would be roughly $21 plus tax OOP.  I got them and then a lot more for $20 OOP.

Another way to earn ECBs is to buy a Green Bag Tag.  Attach this to a reusable bag and scan it every time you shop.  You will earn yourself $1 ECB every 4 scans and save the environment of one less plastic bag.

So do your research, save up your coupons and do yourself a favor and save some money!!!

Like I said earlier I am going back for the Essence of Beauty hand cream for free but also last week I scanned my Extra Care Card and a $2 off $10 Milani coupon printed out.  I want to use this and my $5 ECB on some Milani that is BOGO 50% off this week.  So that's $7 off a $10 purchase or the potential for 2 Milani items for $3!!!  I do have a slim chance of finding 2 items that add up to exactly $10, but I'm up for the challenge!

How do you shop the drugstores?  Savvy or full price???

Last minute sales!!!

The etailers are really stepping up their game to grab your last minutes holiday funds!!!  So if you have waited until the last minutes, you are going to save a lot of $$$ which is a good thing.  Sometimes the early bird missed out on the sale... er worm?  Today is the last day for Overnight shipping!!!  6pm seems like the cut off time today December 22nd.

And a lot of retails are offering it for free with samples so check your fave stores on-line!  This is just a sampling of all the offers below but there are some really great deals out there!

Currently you can save 50% at Yves Rocher and Coldwater Creek:

1.  Yves Rocher:  www.yvesrocherusa.com I've reviewed countless products from the site from shampoo to clay face masks.
 
2.  Coldwater Creek:  www.coldwatercreek.com  I've gotten many nice things from this site.  Clothes and jewelry.(though I've seen items for even lower so if you can wait for the 40% off outlet sale)

3.  Ties.com which have the absolute best customer service ever!  and a deal of the day, $1.95 for a cute snowman bowtie!

Ann Taylor Loft http://www.loft.com/ 40% site wide TAKE40

MAC www.maccosmetics.com is offering free overnight shipping and free gift wrap! TMR and add Gift Wrap at checkout.  I might just order, finally, face and body!

Origins.com free overnight shipping 1DAYFREE


30% off  already reduced up to 50% prices at Banana Republic  http://bananarepublic.gap.com/  BRWINTER
30% off sweater dresses at VictoriasSecret.com DRESSY30
30% off at the ChildrensPlace.com SANTA  this is on-line and in-store

CherryCulture.com is having a "Sale on Sale"  25% off sale items SNS25 through December 27th

Payless.com 20% off through December 25th 63943
DSW is offering triple points through December 27th with TRIPLELOVE

Bath and Body works has sent out a coupon by email for 40% off in-store purchase so check your spam folder for that one!

Toys R Us stores are open 24 hours through Christmas Eve.

And don't forget E-Gift Certificates for your long distance friends, family and loved ones!

So are we all done with our holiday shopping?? Hmmmmmmmm........

L'OREAL Infallible Test

So my oily lids are the ultimate test for any eyeshadow.  When a company develops and markets a product designed to last "24 hours," it really doesn't apply to me.  I don't and can't fail products because of it.  I can just praise the ones that hold up.  Even with a primer, eyeshadows do not last on my eyes at all except for Urban Decay and Wet n Wild.  Oh and I have one Stila shade in Cloud that lasts forever.


Today was my first test run with the the L'OREAL infallible eyeshadow product.  Like I said the other day when I swatched them, the shadows are a nice buttery consistency which I love!  They are supposed dupes of Giorgio Armani's Eyes to Kill.  Now I do not have GA to compare them to, but they are nicely pigmented and gorgeous colors and in that drugstore price range that are quite affordable.

I did my makeup around 1pm and it is now after midnight.  Today was cool, around 60 degrees, 0 humidity.

I used a light sweep of Continuous cocoa on my lid and then started off with Golden sage in the crease but ended up all over my lid as well because it was really pretty over the brown! I applied with my finger as I was in a hurry, as usual  :)  I took the Golden Sage down in my lower lid to smudge out a black PF liner.

I actually forgot to put on a primer.  I did sweep some left over undereye concealer on my lid.   But this is a true test to how "infallible" these shadows really are and  to see how long they would last.

After about 7 hours I saw a subtle crease starting to form.  That is really good on my lids.  Any other shadow, 2 hours tops without a good primer.   Except UD and WnW as I mentioned previously.

The picture below was taken ten minutes ago, at quarter after 12.  The fallout below my eye is definitely from my mascara.  It was a bit dried out when I put it on earlier.  Just trying to use it one more time before I pitch it.

If you didn't read my last post this is the Continuous Cocoa.

This is the Golden Sage.

So I think that this was a good test run of the product.  It lasted 7 hours without a primer which is amazing on my lids.  If you have drier lids, this will last you 12+ for sure.

Tomorrow, well later on this morning, I will remember a primer and see how long they last with a little help.  I am definitely picking up some more.  I paid $7.50 at CVS before coupons and ECB's.  This week they are BOGO 1/2 off I believe and I have $8 in ECBs dedicated to another 2.  Bronzed Taupe looked really nice as well as the blue.

Have you tried them yet?  What do you think?

Secret Santa

So I've been dying to receive my Secret Santa goodies!  I didn't have time to check the mail box yesterday so I swung on by this afternoon on my way off base.  And there it was from Ireland, the Motherland!  Yay!

But when I held it, I felt impending doom.  The boxes contained in the padded envelope were just jostling around in a very unsecured fashion.  Bummer!

There was another Maybelline blush/bronzer that was smashed to bits that unfortunately didn't make the trip overseas.

And some MAC pigments that are definitely fakes but pretty...   

From left to right, Golden Olive, Yellow Gold, Copper Sparkle and Frozen White.

 

Thank you so much!  There was no card/identifying info/return address so I don't know who you are...  But my gift arrived in the States in time for Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

L'OREAL 24-Hour Lash Boosting Power System

I spent 1.5 hours between 2 different Rite Aids this afternoon looking for ways to get some more points to reach gold status... Fun times.  lol

The first Rite Aid did not have the products I needed in stock so I quickly headed out to the second and then proceeded to walk up and down every aisle.  I was kid free!  So much easier to shop and think.  What a difference.  :)

I got some pretty boring stuff, Clorox Green cleaners, Pampers baby wipes, Finish dish detergent, Oxyclean, Taster's choice instant coffee sticks etc...

I was trying desperately to stay away from the cosmetics aisle.  I did pretty well until I saw the yellow 75% off stickers! But honestly, it was easy to walk on by.  However, when I spotted the L'OREAL double extend mascara with a yellow 75% off sticker...

I checked it twice to make sure and went digging through my coupon binder in the RA section and found the $5 off RA coupon from facebook.  So regular price $24.95, 75% off price $6.23 (that may include my 10% silver discount) and then after $5 RA facebook coupon, $1.23.  Nice.

I have wanted to try this for a long time now but never found a good enough price in which to try it.  $1.23 is a pretty good price for me!  It hasn't gotten the best reviews but I won't feel bad about pitching it when it turns out a total fail...