Ulta and Department store Haul

    I got my Ulta rewords last week and I finally got to the level of five, cross your fingers that some day I will reach level six for the free perfume!  And while I was out I ran by my local Macy's for one of my favorite foundations.

    So for my level five I got blowpro's mane tame soft pomade, it's like a finishing cream.  Its full size and very thick.  I have not seen much difference when I use it but I'm going to try it a little longer before I give up on it (for a return).   A $22 value.

    Along with that purchase they had a promo running that was "buy any blowpro product and get the blow weather girl, free".  So this full size item was also free.  It works as a frizz control and it seems to work really well, when paired with the mane tame.  Separately, I don't see much deference but together they are like magic.  Silky smooth hair all day long!   Again, a $22 value.

    I also had some returns to make, a NYX lip gloss, that the color just did not work on me and the KMS California hair stay dry Xtreme hairspray (in the travel size, a $7 value).   This hair spray has a very strong long lasting smell.  I personally did not like the smell, at all.  It also left my hair feeling very brittle and had no hold to it.  Not worth the money at all.

    So with my return money (plus a few extra pennies) I picked up the Euro Centrale collection from OPI in the mini bottles.  This set included the colors (from left to right) Can't find my czechbook, Suzi's hungary AGAIN!, You're such a budapest and OY-another polish joke!

(Upcoming swatches tomorrow Suzi's hungary AGAIN! )

Suzi's hungary AGAIN! swatch here.

    And last but very much not least.  At the mall I picked up this amazing silk creme foundation by Laura Mercier in the color Soft Ivory (the lightest color they make, lol).  It is a high end brand but the air brushed finish it gives is total worth the money.  It retails for $43.  Now I do want to say that I have oily skin so I have had a problem with this product staying on longer then six hours in my T zone.  But I am really trying to find a solution because I do love this foundation that much!  You could say I'm a little obsessed, lol.

(Aww bad picture, sorry guys!)

    I have to say that with sample hunting being a favorite past time of mine, the Laura Mercier counter is the nicest group of girls to get samples from.  They never do what I call "make you dance for it" (spend 15 to 20 min BS-ing before they are even willing to cough up a teeny tiny sample) and they never make you feel bad, like your taking advantage of the situation.  If you want me to buy your products then let me try them in comfort of my own home at the appropriate time.  Like after I wash my face for the night, when said moisturizer is meant to be applied (for example).  So with that little tid-bit out of the way.  I also picked up these two samples of Laura Mercier's oil free and mineral primers, hoping that one of these would help the staying power problem.

     If you have and question or comments leave them below.

February 2013 Birchbox

This months theme is "Red Carpet Ready"

    Let me start by saying I did not get my box until the 20th. Now I know that the blizzard had something to do with the shipping delay. But the service team assured me that my box would only be three days late tops. This is way more then three day. But besides the normal shipping head ache this box is pretty good. With very nice size samples, a full size (if you can call it full size) head band and nail polish the one thing everyone loves getting.

Color Club, Nail polish in Wild Cactus Full-size $8
Lancome, Bi-Facil Eye and Makeup remover Full-size $28
SKIN&Co Roma, Cleansing Body Gel Full-size $17.50
twistband, Thick Headband Set of 6 $20
Treat:
Ghirardelli, Milk chocolate & Caramel Square

Box total: $24.47

To get your own Birchbox go to: https://www.birchbox.com?raf=lnlgl

More free stuff from Influenster

I don't know why I got this one but still I'm happy! 

    If you remember back in October of last year I received a Palmolive Voxbox from Influenster (linked here) and then in January of this year I received what I call the Bonus box from Influenster and Palmolive (linked here). It is given to a select few that put in the extra work and get top ratings for there completed surveys, social media promotes and blogs reviews on the Voxbox they where sent. Well I have received another Bonus box from Influenster and Palmolive.  I'm not sure if it's for the original Palmolive Voxbox reviews or if it for the Bonus box reviews that I did (which you are not required to do). But regardless I'm thankful for the gifts! I received a Palmolive brand kitchen towel and a very nice heavy duty oven mitt.

So thanks again to Influenster and Palmolive you guys are AMAZING!

I received all products complimentary for testing and reviewing purposes from Influenster.

Big Fat Check from Ebates

    Last night I received my very first Big Fat Check from Ebates.com! How it works is you go to Ebates.com and threw there website you can find online rebates and coupon for over 1,500 stores. Plus every 3 months you get money just for shopping with Ebates.com. And when you do it looks like this! 

    YAY! Happy dance time! But seriously people this is real I couldn't believe it when I got this in the mail. Getting paid for shopping online, AMAZING! So if you haven't heard of it or signed up yet, go check it out and sit back and wait for you Big Fat Check to come in the mail!


Ebates.com did not pay me to write this blog, this is my personal experience.

The Taste: Tuesday at 8|7c on ABC

    Today is about something a little different, the ABC show “The Taste” is a very interesting cooking competition show. It has a combination of “top Chef” with the cook off aspect but the season starts out with a twist that resembles the singing show “The Voice”. Where the competitors are blindly judged and chosen by a group of four professionals that include Nigella Lawson who is a British food star, Ludo Lefebvre who is a chef and author, Brian Malarkey who is a restaurateur and Anthony Bourdain chef and TV host. They will compete against each other on teams to stay in the competition and win.

    The show starts off with a combination of competitors from professional chefs to home cooks. This show has everything a good show’s needs; it is funny and at time sweet, plus informational and very mouthwatering. In my opinion this show is a hit! I think between the sweetness of Nigella and the sourness of Anthony they make the show, hands down! At the end of the first episode we are left with 16 competitors that will compete on teams.

    Nigella’s team includes Renatta Lindsey, Lauren Scott, Huda Mu’min and Erika Monroe Williams.  Ludo’s team includes Sarah Schiear, Paul Caravell, Shawn Davis and Gregg Drusinsky.  Brian’s team includes Khristiane Uy, Jeff Mahin, Adam Pecha and Micah Kasman.  Anthony’s team includes Mia Morgenstern, Ninamarie Bojekian, Diane Dimeo and Uno Immanivong.  Competitors will be blindly judges at the end of each episode by all of the judges, so the judges do not know who they will be sending home. They could send home someone from their own team. So be sure to tune in to ABC every Tuesday at 8/7c to see who goes home and who will win “The Taste”. 

http://abc.tv/Z3jimp
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