November Glam Bag – Beauty Blast

I loved the April Beautifully Bohemian bag but I think a new favorite has rocketed into my world this month! This colorful little bag is just too much fun.

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The first shining star I pulled out of the bag was the Deluxe Pointed Crease Brush by Crown. First impression – it is so soft – and I mean soft. I absolutely love it! Good brushes can be hard to find but I think the Crown brush is out of this world! It retails at $12.38 but I found it for 60% off on crownbrush.us for $4.95.

The Luxie Beauty – Matte Eyeshadow Pan No. 290 (0.05 oz.) is 100% cruelty-free. They hooked me right there, but then there’s the color – Aubergine (eggplant) I cannot get enough of this color. When I saw it my eyes lit up like shooting stars and once on, it did not disappoint. This size retails on luxiebeauty.com for $6.

Previously, Smashbox has impressed me – I  loved the Smashbox face primer so I had a feeling their Full Exposure Mascara (3 mL) would be out of this world. I’ve been using it every day since i received my little pink bag and it’s amazing! Keeps my lashes looking full and the application is stellar. The 11.4 mL retails for $20 on smashbox.com so this size blasts in at $5.26.

Model Co is another brand that has continued to impress me. Their Highlighting Trio (3 x 0.04 oz. = 0.12 oz.) in colors – Champagne, Peach Bellini, Bronze Shimmer – not only sound delightfully delicious, they are gorgeous on the eyes too. Modelcocosmetics.com retails this size at $22.

I truly enjoyed the Coolway sea salt spray I received a few Glam Bags back, so it does not surprise me that I love their holding spray as well. The Coolway Stronghold Spray (0.5 oz.) keeps my hair from orbiting outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. The 3.3 oz. size retails for $19.95 on coolwayhair.com. This smaller size is an astronomical deal at $3.02.

Not only did I get a couple of full-sized items but I only had to pay $10. I feel like I’m rocketing into some great deals. My total this November would have been $41.23 had I bought these at full-price. Keep up the heavenly work ipsy – you’ve outshined yourself this month.

My Alter Ego – October Glam Bag

happy halloween feet_edited-1Muahahahahaha!

Oh, sorry…I mean, Happy Halloween!

My October Glam Bag was ghoulishly delightful and I’m pretty excited to see what kind of character I can turn into with the help of all my new goodies.

The first treat came from theBalm Cosmetics – Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade: Committed (a pinky nude). Love the color. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I am not a lipstick person. But, this month is “Alter Ego” so maybe it’s time I try something bold. After all, it is October – Halloween month – let’s get spooky!

thebalm.com sells their 0.25 oz. bottle at $17 (0.25 oz.) so this smaller size (0.04 oz.) rang in at a nice $2.72.

I fell in love with Aromachology a few months ago so I was pretty stoked to see another bottle arrive. Their Exotic & Spicy Eau de Parfum boasts hints of nutmeg, honeysuckle and blossoming peonies.

This is one of the most sophisticated perfumes I’ve had the pleasure of sniffing. I put some on my wrists and neck this morning and was ready to take on the world!

On myaromachology.com, it came in at $70 (1.7 oz.). This smaller size was a sweet deal at $4.94(0.12 oz.).

I’m all a-buzz for the Hey Honey collection, so their Come Clean: Propolis & Minerals Facial Scrub was a treat to find in my bag.  I loved the Hey Honey Serum – I’m guessing the facial scrub won’t disappoint me either. The website, heyhoney.com sells the 2.2 oz. for $23 (2.2 oz.), making this 0.5 oz. only $5.22.October glam bag

Perfect timing – my old mascara has run its course. IT Cosmetics – Hello Lashes Clinically Proven 5-in-1 Mascara (0.16 oz.) is paraben-free, fragrance-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free. It almost feels like I’m getting it for free with all the great deals I’ve received so far in my bag this month. Ulta.com sells the bigger size for$24 (0.33 fl. oz.). At almost half the size it was less than half the price = $11.63. I can’t wait to see how this lives up to its 5-in-1 promise.

My last treat was the Touch in Sol – Mini Browza Super Proof Gel Brow Pencil (0.02 oz.) in the shade: Mink Wink (a medium to dark brown).

I’m not one for brow pencils. Heck, I barely pluck the stray hairs in that area, but once again, it’s Alter Ego month. Time to continue branching out of my comfort zone. Bring on fuller, darker brows!

On Sephora.com this size (0.017 oz.) is $19.

Total would have been $43.51 at full price and size. Thanks again, Glam Bag! I’m still getting a boo-tiful deal at $10.

50 Happy Things in My World

Edited Nebraska rainbow pic_edited-1So I’m almost certain if I wanted to I could come up with much more than 50 things in my small little world that make me happy, but for today I’m going to start with 50 – in no particular order.

  1. My husband – Well, he probably truly is #1.
  2. Camping – We still tent camp & I love it.
  3. Writing – Duh.
  4. Nice people – Because mean people suck.
  5. Antiques
  6. Grilled food – But don’t ask me to grill…eek!
  7. Being on my grandparents’ farm
  8. Christmas cookies
  9. My dog – Most of the time.
  10. My cat – When he isn’t hacking up hairballs.
  11. Music
  12. The smell of a bonfire
  13. Penguins – Love it when the waddle.
  14. Wine/wineries – ‘Nough said.
  15. Beer/Breweries – Please see #14.
  16. Nebraska
  17. Taking pictures
  18. Fall – My favorite season.
  19. Bookstores – Especially used ones.
  20. The East Coast
  21. My hometown – Clarks, Nebraska.
  22. My house
  23. My craft time
  24. My sister
  25. Vacations – Anywhere…even a staycation is fantastic!
  26. Swimming pools
  27. Chocolate – That’s a given, especially dark chocolate.
  28. Reading
  29. A clean house – Wait…haha!
  30. German food
  31. Disney movies
  32. The smell of leaves/fresh cut grass
  33. Cruising – Either in a car or on a ship…doesn’t matter to me!
  34. My dad
  35. Coffee – If I could place a coffee IV in my arm I probably would.
  36. Green – Anything…unless it occurred by a bodily function.
  37. Ice cream – New York vanilla is best with all kinds of toppings
  38. Big Macs – Yup.
  39. Storm chasing
  40. My nieces & nephews
  41. Fudge
  42. The smell of cinnamon
  43. Baking
  44. Making my husband laugh or smile
  45. The county fair – Grew up with the Merrick & Boone county fairs.
  46. All natural products
  47. My favorite TV shows – Gilmore Girls, Reign, That ’70s Show, Friends…the list could go one
  48. My friends
  49. Thanksgiving dinner
  50. Memories of my mom

Fashion Face by Ipsy

edited new sept ipsyHello September Glam Bag! What treats you had in store for me.

With its cute little bow on the front clasp the NYX Cosmetics – Ipsy Eye Shadow Trio (0.03 oz.) had me instantly. Plus it didn’t hurt that the colors are perfect for Fall. Little sparkly gold and bronze and, of course a deep black for that perfect smoky eye. On nyxcosmetics.com, this baby sold regularly for $6, but was on sale for $3 most recently – either way, I’m getting a good deal. I love these colors.

The tre’Sti Que Mini Matte Lip Crayon (0.02 oz.) was a product I was truly looking forward to in this month’s bag. I’m usually more of a lip balm or lip gloss person but this Matte color intrigues me. I’m going to give it a whirl. On trestique.com, you can get a mini trio for $32 so one of these sweeties would be roughly $10.67.

Once again, this glam gal was excited for another product to help me fall into Fall. The Formula X Nail Color in Ignite (0.13 oz.) was on my nails almost before I had the bag unzipped. Ignite is almost a deep merlot color which makes it even more perfect for me, a wine lover! On Sephora.com, one 0.4 fl.oz. bottle is $10.50 so this smaller size would be about $3.41.

Finding a good cosmetic brush can be hard. So many times, I’ve bought one only to be disappointed with the roughness or the bristles falling out. So far, the Crown Brush – Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush (Wt.: 1 oz.) has been amazing. I hope it continues to live up to what I’ve come to expect in these last few weeks. Retail on crownbrush.us is$17.50 but their current sale price is $6.99, saving potential buyers 60%.

This last product – Eau Thermale Avène – Soothing Moisture Mask (0.16 fl. oz.) – is something I’m very much looking forward to trying out. These past few weeks have been particularly busy for me so I am hoping to get that soothing sensation this weekend.  I’ve always had dry skin and am hoping this moisture mask will help out the desert that is my face. On lovelyskin.com, the 1.7 fl. oz. tube retailed for $26. So this smaller size would be about $2.44.

This month has been one of the lower priced Glam Bags if you take into consideration only the five products I received in this adorably lux bag. They totaled $26.51. But I also received the Formula X hand crème after cashing in some of my Ipsy points. This rich crème with Kpangnan Butter retails at $16 on Sephora.com for the 3.4 fl. oz. bottle so my $10 bag is now worth around $42.51. Go Ipsy!

Can’t wait to see what you have in store for me next month!

My Back to School Glam Bag – Prep School

Well, it’s back to school season, which means soon it will be my favorite time of the year – FALL! I can’t wait for bonfires, S’mores, hoodies and football! I love it!

My August Glam Bag is just about perfect for fall too – starting with the Hikari Lip Gloss in Merlot. First of all, I love merlot…and not just during the fall. No surprise there. I initially I wasn’t sure if I was going to like such a deep red but I’ve tried it out the last couple of days and it’s really lovely. I think I’m just not used to myself wearing anything other than clear or pink lip gloss. Time to step outside the box. I received the full-size lip gloss (0.1 fl. oz.), which retails at $13 on www.hikaricostmetics.com. Already I’ve come out on top with my Ipsy bag. Woot woot!

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Then came the Doll 10 Beauty HydraGel Blush (“Flirt). I have never used blush like this before. It has been interesting trying to figure out the best way to apply it but so far I do like it. The 0.11 ounce container ($12.57) I got was not much smaller than the regular size of 0.14 oz. ($16) I found on their site – doll10.com.

I’m in love with night cream and the La Fresh Group’s Good Night. Night Cream (0.5 oz.) seems to be no different so far. Creamy and dreamy. The regular size (1.7 oz.) runs at $40 on lafreshgroup.com. But this one is a steal at $11.76.

Currently, I have a black eyeliner I am using so it may be a while before I get to use my Doucce Ultra Precision Eye Liner. If it’s as good as the reviews, I’m looking forward to it. This $22 0.03 fl. oz. eyeliner is ready and waiting for me.

And if I haven’t told you already, I’m a sucker for anything that is animal cruelty free (or just plan ol’ free for that matter) and 100% vegan! The Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) Leave-In Conditioner is just that…practically free dollar-wise when you think about it. The 2 fl. oz. bottle I received runs right around $2.34 compared to the full-size 8.5 fl. oz. for $9.95 on beautywithoutcruelty.com. But when you really break it down, I only paid $10 for $61.67 worth of product. So I’ll just say the BWC is a bonus! Woo!