SHOPPING SPREE - ULTA 20% OFF HAUL

Recently Ulta had a 20% off sale and I was fortunate enough to be able to splurge a little on some items that I had been dying to try. I had considered splurging on makeup but there weren't many makeup items that I really wanted from Ulta. However there were a lot of face, body, and haircare items that I really needed so it was a pretty easy decision as to what I was going to spend my money on.

Now on to my purchases....

Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes (makeup wipes!) - 

Normally I buy these at my local Target but the last few times Target has been sold out of them. So when I made my online shopping trip to Ulta the other day this was the first item on my list. There are several different kinds of the Neutrogena wipes but I like to buy the night calming ones. I use these right before I go to bed because they do a good job of soothing my tired skin and they work really well at getting any dirt left behind from my makeup too!

These are currently on sale for $6.36 for one pack.

Neutrogena micro mist airbrush sunless tan - 

This next product I had seen advertised and reviewed in a recent magazine article (I think it was Allure or People Style Watch) and according to the writer this is the new "MUST HAVE" product for the summer; a spray tan in a can. I honestly have no clue how well this works or if it will even work. I just bought it as an alternative to sunbathing or forking out the money for a professional spray tan. The latter of which I have seen some really horrible orange looking spray tans. So good or bad I will be sure to follow this up with a review about my thoughts on this product after I have had time to use it.

This is currently on sale for $9.76.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45 -

I bought this because a common problem that I encounter when applying sunblock is how messy it is. It is hard to apply and once you have finished it is even harder to get the greasy mess off your hands. Which is why I wanted to try this to see if the hands free formula is just as good as the messy stuff! I will be sure to follow up with a review on this product too!

This is currently on sale for $8.49.  

John Freida Brilliant Brunette Color Glaze -

I've used this product in the past and really liked it but then I stopped seeing it in the stores. I honestly had thought it was discontinued so I was pleasantly surprised to find it at Ulta. What makes this product so special is that it helps to extend the life and/or color of brunette color treated hair. First you shampoo your hair, next you will need to use a conditioner, and then you apply the color glaze leaving it on for about five minutes after which you will need to really rinse it out of your hair. The color glaze can be messy but the results are totally worth it.

The cost for this is $9.99 however Ulta usually has John Freida BOGO 1/2 off promos quite frequently so you might get it even cheaper than the current price.

Essie Midnight Cami Nail Polish -

If you follow me on Twitter then you know that I have raved about this polish and how much I love the color. Why the obsession? It all started back when the reality TV show "The Hills" was being aired and the actress Lauren Conrad was sporting a bluish, almost black, colored polish on her nails in one of the episodes. I loved the way it looked on her short nails and I just had to have it. I never could figure out what color it was that she wore in that episode but I think this color seems to be as close to it as I can find.

The cost for this is $8.00 per bottle but Ulta is running a buy two get the third free promo so it will be even less if you take advantage of the current offer that is advertised right now.

Don't forget to subscribe to my blog for the latest updates and reviews! 

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY ♥

I hope everybody had a wonderful Easter and was able to share this day with their loved ones. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all on this most joyous occasion.

On a more personal note:

While my children are a little old for the traditional Easter egg hunt they still enjoy getting candy and this year was no different. Nestle crunch, Snickers, Skittles, Reese cups, etc, (you get the idea) were overflowing in their Easter baskets and the end of Spring Break was foremost in their minds. So to help ease the transition back to getting up early in the mornings for school (as opposed to the all-nighters they had over Spring break) I decided to cook them one of their favorite meals. Also, given the holiday celebration I felt it entirely appropriate to cook something special.

Here are some pictures of our meal: 

 

I cooked the ham with potatoes, onions, and carrots and served dinner rolls to complete everything. This dish is extremely easy to make, it is very healthy, and it took no time to cook. 

1. First you line the bottom of your pan with tinfoil, This helps hold in the juices better for the potatoes, onions and carrots plus it makes clean up so much easier. Also, go ahead and preheat the oven at 325 degrees.  
2. Next you place the ham (I used an uncooked butt ham) flat side upright and add 1 cup of water to the pan. Tightly cover the top of the pan with tinfoil, put the lid on the pot, and then place it in the oven for an hour. Be sure to use a meat thermometer so you know that is reaches the proper temperature and will be safe to eat when it finishes cooking.
3. While the ham is cooking you will need to wash and cut up the potatoes and onions into cubes or chunks. It all depends on how big you prefer the portion sizes. 
4. After the ham has cooked for an hour take it out of the oven. This next part is kinda tricky and the potential to get burned is great (trust me...I burned my arm doing this next step). Uncover the pan and flip the ham so that its flat side is now on the bottom. 
5. Now place a few (about a 1/4 of the amount you are going to cook) of the potatoes around the ham and then add the carrots (however many you want to eat) and finally add the remaining potatoes and onions making sure they cover the carrots completely. This helps to ensure the carrots are cooked all the way through and will be soft. You will need to add an additional 2 cups of water to the pan too.
6. The seasonings are optional and really up to the individual. I like to make my meals as healthy as possible so I used a little bit of butter buds, a pinch of sea salt, and a dash of Mrs Dash Garlic seasonings on everything except the ham. 
7. Be sure to cover everything and cook for an additional 2 1/2 hours.
8. Once the food has finished cooking uncover the pan and let it sit for 15 minutes. During this time you can add a glaze to the ham. I added honey to mine and it was D-E-L-I-S-H!

Hope you enjoyed this recipe and be sure to subscribe to my blog for future posts!

SALES / DEALS: CVS 25% OFF SPRING SAVINGS A HOP AWAY!

Just hop over to CVS.com^®. They will give you 25% off the nonprescription items in your order now through Sunday, 4/24.* Saving is easy!

At Checkout, enter coupon code APRIL25EC to receive the 25% off savings.*

SALES / DEALS: LAURA MERCIER FREE SHIP W/ ANY $25 PURCHASE

A few minutes ago I checked my e-mail and I had a special notice from the Laura Mercier website that they have a special promotion starting today.

You are invited to enjoy FREE SHIPPING with any $25 Purchase on lauramercier.com.

Dates: Monday, 4/18 - Friday, 4/21

Restrictions: Valid for U.S. residents only.

SHOP ONLINE NOW

Happy Shopping,

The Laura Mercier Online Team

Plus, select 3 FREE Deluxe Samples with every order. Samples are available while supplies last and are subject to change.

No promo code is needed so head on over and get your SHOP ON!!!!

FREEBIES: MY TARGET BEAUTY BAG REVIEW

I love a good deal especially when the good deal ends up being a freebie offer. A couple of weeks ago Target was offering a free beauty bag on their website. The only requirement was to fill out a short survey and then sign up for their e-mail alerts which was optional of course. When I first heard about the offer my first thought was this must be a scam. You know, one of those offers where you have to fill out a bunch of surveys and you never receive the gift. So I was pleasantly surprised when this actually turned out to be legit. The items that I received were trial / sample sized items which are typically big enough for you to try but small enough to leave you wanting for more which make these perfect for travel! The only thing that worried me about this offer was on the Target website one of the disclosures stated that due to demand not all beauty bags will have the same items enclosed. Hmmm, interesting! So I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Anyway, I made it a point to share this offer with my co-workers so we could compare our items.

Here is a picture of the items that I received in my Target Beauty bag..

And here is a picture of the items that my co-worker received in her Target Beauty bag...

I have listed the names of the items here for you in no particular order:

• Sonia Kashuk makeup bag
• Nivea Express Hydration Daily Lotion
• Pantene Color Preserve Shine Shampoo
• Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo
• Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturizing Conditioner
• Neutrogena Naturals lip balm
• Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss
• Coupon booklet with over approx. $25 in savings

After my co-workers and I compared our Beauty bags that we received in the mail from Target we realized that everything was exactly the same - same items and same coupons! Pretty cool!

Final thoughts...

1. I love makeup bags and truly believe you can never have enough of them. They are very useful for holding all sorts of items other than makeup too! The Sonia Kashuk makeup bag that the items were packaged in is very nice. The quality of the bag is exceptional, extra roomy and can hold a lot of stuff.
2. The Nivea lotion however has a slight perfume-y scent which according to the bottle is Sea minerals and Lotus Flower. Although the scent is not strong or overpowering it doesn't add to the quality of the product. It actually would have been nice if a more neutral scent had been used instead. But overall the lotion did make my skin feel soft and smooth.
3. I have my hair colored / dyed on a regular basis and in the past I have found that certain shampoos tend to make the color fade much faster. So I have to be careful when using new products. I have had great success with Pantene's Restore Beautiful lengths conditioner so I wasn't to worried about their shampoo. The Pantene shampoo that was sent has a nice clean fragrance (scent) and manages to really clean my hair. In regards to color fading, I didn't notice any which is always a plus but multiple washes is really needed to truly judge whether or not the product speeds up color fading.
4. Even though you should try to wash your hair every other day, I am one of those people who has to wash their hair everyday due to an oily scalp. So when I saw that I had received a sample of Fekkai shampoo and conditioner I immediately put it in my giveaway pile. I have used this product in the past and did not have good results. For me it enhanced the appearance of an oily scalp and I felt that it didn't wash as well as it should. 
5. I love the Neutrogena Naturals lip balm that was included in this freebie. I had never tried this brand or product before so it was a nice change from what I currently use and love - NIVEA A KISS OF product line. 
6. I am not a fan of the packaging for the Revlon Colorburst lipgloss sample because it is hard to actually use the product without making a mess. I found it was easiest to use a q-tip to swatch the product on my lips and even then there wasn't much product to work with. I guess that is why it is considered a sample...ha ha! I would have preferred that the Revlon Colorburst lipgloss sample had come in a mini lipgloss tube like so many other companies package their lipgloss samples. Anyway, overall the lipgloss itself was really nice and not to sticky.
7. The coupon booklet was an added bonus for me because the coupons don't expire until the end of July and there were some products listed in the coupon booklet that I had never tried before. So this gives me plenty of time to try some of them and at a discount as well.

Here is a list of the coupons that I received in my Beauty bag
• $1 on 1 Revlon item (Custom Eyes mascara or Top Speed Nail color or ColorBurst Lip Gloss) (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 CoverGirl Cosmetics item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 Olay Facial Care item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $0.75 off 1 Suave Professionals hair care item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 Neutrogena facial care item (excludes cleansing bars and trial/travel size)
• $1 off 1 Nivea Skin Care item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 2 Hair care items: Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, Aussie (excludes trial / travel size)
• $2 off 1 L’Oreal hair color item 
• $5 off 1 John Frieda Precision Foam Colour hair color item
• $3 off 2 John Frieda Full Repair hair care items (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 TRESemme hair color item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 Aveeno body care item: Skin or Sun (excludes trial / travel size)
• $3 off 1 Nivea body care itemGood-bye cellulite serum (2.5 oz.)
  Sun-Kissed Beautiful Legs moisturizer (6.7 oz.)
  Good-bye Cellulite gel-cream (6.7 oz.)
  Sun-Kissed Radiant Skin (8.4 oz.)
  Skin Firming Moisturizer (13.5 oz.)

• $1 off 1 Burt’s Bees Lotion (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1.50 off 1 Pond’s facial care item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 Neutrogena cosmetics item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 Maybelline FitMe cosmetics item (excludes trial / travel size)
• $1 off 1 Sally Hansen nail item: Color or Care (excludes trial / travel size)

So overall this was an excellent promotion from Target. Would I be more likely to shop there in the future for my beauty items? You bet I would! When a store takes the time to get to know their customers and offer them a chance to try brands / products for free it is most definitely a WIN in my book!

MAC QUITE CUTE COLLECTION - MINI HAUL

Last week the latest MAC color collection to be released was the QUITE CUTE collection. Before it was even available Quite Cute was already being compared to the MAC SugarSweet collection that debuted sometime in March 2009. That collection offered an amazing range of pastels and the Quite Cute collection is no different. What, with Spring here and Easter is only a few weeks away it seems somewhat fitting that a color collection like this would make it's debut.

Be sure to read my final thoughts on this collection along with my haul pics at the end of this post

Here are the details for the MAC QUITE CUTE COLLECTION

“CUTE!” The most fanciful, fun and flattering compliment and young, modern trendsetter could ever want! Our version is the girliest kind of international glam possible, a style ride that combines postage-stamp-sized puppies with pixie swizzle-stick fashion and butterfly kisses for cute boys and even cuter shoes! Cupcake icing colors, vintage romance, an ATM card with Hello Kitty on it – and a way of life that says “yes!” to everything adorable! Come on, get happy, with the multi-culti cutie, from Tokyo to Toronto to Paris with love! Pastel shades for Eye Quads, Lipstick, Plushglass, and Nail Lacquer…And due to popular demand, we’re completely cute-ifying three favourite Lip Pencil shades from last season that will join the fun and frolic. Flash! You’ll love the Mineralize Blush with the sweet heart baked right into it. If it shines, shimmers and pops it’s completely, contagiously, cute!"

M·A·C QUITE CUTE

Say "yes!" to everything adorable, the girliest kind of international glam possible: a spring colour collection of pastel shades for Eyes, Lips and Nails. If it shines, shimmers and pops it's completely, contagiously, cute!

Snag four Quite Cute collectible pins when you spend $75 or more!

Lipstick $14.50 USD / $17.50 CDN

• Playing Koi – Creamy white peach pink (Satin)
• Saint Germain – Pastel pink (Amplified)
• Candy Yum-Yum – Neon pink (Matte)
• Quite Cute – Bright whitened lavender (Cremesheen)
• Play Time – Intense violet (Cremesheen)

Plushglass $18.50 USD / $22.00 CDN

• Fashion Fanatic – Creamy pale pink
• Bubble Tea – Creamy pale nude
• Girl ? Boy – Bright light blue pink
• I ? U – Creamy mid-tone purple

Lip Pencil $13.00 USD / $15.50 CDN

• In Synch – Bright yellow pink
• Naked Liner – Light neutral
• Boldly Bare – Mid-tone red brown

Eye shadow Quad Cutie $36.00 USD / $43.00 CDN

• Moshi! Moshi! – Pale white green gold (Frost)
• Goody Goody Gum Drop – Light white pink (Satin)
• Boycrazy – Pale lavender with silver pearlized pigments (Lustre)
• Azuki Bean – Mid-tone violet (Frost)

Mineralize Blush US.$23.00 / CDN $27.50

• Giggly – Light pink with a pearly plum heart (Frost)
• Sakura – Lavender with pearly deep magenta heart (Frost)
• Miss Behave – Light beige with a pearly mint green heart (Frost)

Nail Lacquer US $14.00/ CDN $17.00

• Ice Cream Cake – Creamy blue pink (Cream)
• Little Girl Type – Creamy pale lavender (Cream)
• Mischievous – Creamy pale blue mint (Cream)

Penultimate Eye Liner $17.50 USD / $21.00 CDN

• Rapidblack – True Black

Zoom Lash $14.00 USD / $17.00 CDN

• Zoomblack – Rich black

Loud Lash [Asia Only] $14.00 USD / $17.00 CDN

• Noisy Black – Black

False Lashes $14.00 USD / $17.00 CDN

• 7 Lash – Spikey, slightly seperated, high glam lash

Final thoughts..

Eyeshadow Quad:
I really liked this collection but I didn't love it. The eyeshadow quad seemed like so many other purple quads that MAC has released in the past that I felt safe in skipping it. What I mean by safe is that if I saw other Beauty addicts creating looks using this quad I am confident that I could easily find a dupe if I wanted to recreate the same look.    

Lipsticks:
Most of the lipsticks seemed to be a little on the sheer side and didn't really appeal to me. The only one that really grabbed my attention was Candy Yum Yum but I couldn't really see myself wearing that bright of a lipstick everyday. Also, I am not much for wearing lipstick and in the past, most if not all lipsticks have a tendency to dry out my lips so once again I knew I could easily skip these.

Plushglass:
I own a total of one MAC Plushglass and have vowed never to waste my money on this product again. I hate the taste of MAC plushglass and the things that this little tube of gloss does to my lips ain't pretty either. Enough said.

Nail Lacquer:
Again, another item that I can pass on. There are so many cheaper alternatives out there and I know that I can very easily find dupes for any of these polishes.

Mineralize blushes:
This was by far, my favorite part of the collection. I love the design of the little hearts in the middle and I am a sucker for pinks and purples. So as for buying these, it was a no-brainer! I bought both the Sakura and Giggly blushes and I am loving them!

Here are some pics of the blushes:

SAKURA SWATCH

GIGGLY SWATCH

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on my upcoming review of the MAC Sheen Supreme lipsticks...

LATEST ADDITION TO MY PURSE COLLECTION....

I love purses and for me buying a purse is as important as if I were buying a car.

When I find "the BAG" or a particular style that I like, then I take my time and shop around. I check prices on the internet, at department stores, and I check the sale ads as well. All in the hopes that I can get the best deal possible. Especially if the purse is a little on the expensive side. I don't always have a particular color in mind, but ease of use is always at the top of my list. How well does it carry, does it allow easy access if I am in a rush, and how much stuff can it hold are just a few of the questions I ponder over when trying to find the perfect bag.


Which brings me to my latest purchase my new Coach purse.

I had been lemming for the Carly style bag but once I had seen it I realized that it was way to small and not very practical. So I spent several hours and several different stores later I found this one and I instantly fell in love with it. I love the lilac satin interior of the bag, and I like how roomy it is. It expands easily as you add items inside it and I love the leather trim and detailing of the outside of the bag as well. Overall I am really pleased with this purchase! But before I go I will let you in on a little secret....The major selling point for me was the price. I only paid about $120 for the purse. I got such a sweet deal on this purse that I was able to also get a wallet to go with the purse.

Here are two pics of the wallet that I purchased:

 And yes, I got an excellent deal on the wallet too! I'm all about getting the best price possible!!!

SALE / DEALS - BOBBI BROWN FRIENDS AND FAMILY 2011 SALE

Okay everybody! It is time to get your shop on! Bobbi Brown is having their 20% Friends and Family Savings event on their website! The event starts today and ends on the 13th so hurry on over and get your SHOP ON!

For easier access here is a link to the website too: bobbibrown.com

Please note: No code is necessary for the 20% savings and free shipping is offered on all orders over $65.

SEPHORA CHIC WEEK - 8 STYLISH DAYS OF SAVINGS FOR V.I.B.'s

For the past couple of weeks I have been wanting to place a Sephora order for my every day staples but I kept procrastinating. However, it turns out that was actually a good thing for me because in today's mail I got the following from Sephora:

 

How FREAKING FANTASTIC is this! I am so very excited and have already started loading up my cart on the Sephora website in anticipation of all the AWESOME beauty products that I want / need to get. Another plus, is that I get paid on the 15th so I can really do some damage then...LOL. Just remember if there is anything that you really need you should try and buy it the day the code is activated because a lot of stuff sells out really fast. I know one item, Laura Mercier Hydrating foundation primer, always sells out within the first day or so and it is definitely on my must buy list. It is the perfect primer for really dry skin!

Any way happy shopping and enjoy!

Here are the exclusions:

So don't forget, the VIB event starts April 14th - 21st and Sephora is offering 15%  off on everything!!!!