HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Just wanted to wish all the mothers out there a blessed and Happy Mother's Day.

Hopefully you were able to spend some quality time with your own Mother on this beautiful day. The weather was gorgeous and perfect for an outdoor celebration. Mothers do so much for their children and they are constantly making sacrifices for them. So even if you weren't able to visit your mom today hopefully you called just to let her know you cared and how much she means to you.

I know I had a peaceful and relaxing day. The boys and my husband bought me some fresh flowers for Mother's Day and then they planted them beside our walkway. I think they did a really great job and I just love looking at them. 

 

PRADA CANDY FLORALE - NOW AVAILABLE

Prada Candy Florale will be launching in May. For those who can't wait Sephora already has this fragrance available online (check out the link below). I believe this is the third fragrance from the Prada Candy line to be released and so far it has already garnered mixed reviews. Many are unhappy with the release of another floral fragrance in what is already described as an overabundance of floral scents - been there done that multiple times over. Now while you may feel the same way, personally I love floral scents and I am super excited to purchase it.

Here is the link: PRADA CANDY FLORALE

PRADA Candy Floral currently retails for $68.00 USD for 1.7 oz and $88.00 USD for 2.7 oz. It contains notes of: Sparkling Cedrat, Bouquet Of Cosmos, Benzoin, Caramel, White Musk.

Candy declares her love for flowers. She takes on a new flirtatious game, where sensuality is pushed to the fullest. The delicately sweet smell of Candy meets a new, refined bouquet of sparkling cedrat (a fragrant citrus fruit - "Persian Apple") and blooming cosmos that intermingle with her elegant softness. Candy is blossoming.

ADELAIDE AND ORGASM NARS ILLUMINATOR - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Even though I like the Nars Multiples I really LOVE the Nars illuminator. They are so easy to apply and it takes less than a pea-sized amount to highlight and illuminate the face. There are several different shades to choose from. Sephora has four listed on their website and Nars has six on theirs and I believe they just released one or two more new shades as well. So there are plenty to compliment just about any skintone. The Nars illuminator currently retails for $30.00 USD and they contain 1.1 oz of product.

I purchased Adelaide from the Nordstrom website and I purchased Orgasm during the Sephora VIB Rouge Spring Social event so I could get the extra 15% off. Just as a side note - while in attendance at the Sephora event the MUA / SA asked what products I would like to try / test and the Nars Orgasm was one of my items. I had already made a list of stuff I wanted to look at and the MUA / SA went around the store gathering up all the items and then tried each of them on me. It was so much fun! Seriously! If you ever get the chance to attend a Sephora event you really must go. It was so much fun and everyone was just so friendly and so helpful! Anyway, back to my review - I love mixing products together and trying to come up with different ways to get the most use out of my makeup. So I decided to mix Adelaide and Orgasm together to create a pinkish coral illuminator. This color combo will look fantastic come summer! Honestly, I don't mind paying a little more for a product when it is this versatile! Now keep in mind they both contain a fair amount of sparkle so there may be minor fall out but they both can easily be buffed down to contain some of the glitter-mess, LOL.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL! May your day be filled with joy, laughter, happiness and many blessings. Take the time to let someone know just how special they are to you. Whether it is a loved one, a coworker, or your next door neighbor - share the gift of love with them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2013 / HAPPY HOLIDAYS / HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone many blessings during this joyous time. Hopefully you get to spend time with your family, friends or significant other during this holiday season. Our families like to get together during this time to watch movies, play games, and all sorts of fun stuff. Here are just a few pics from our holiday season here in Charlotte.

CYBER MONDAY SAVINGS / DEALS

"Joining Ebates is always free - you'll never pay them any fees or memberships. Four times a year or more, Ebates will mail you a Big Fat Check, or transfer the money you have earned to your PayPal account if you'd prefer. They can even send the money to your favorite charity. All 100% free. Ready to join then sign up here: Ebates.com

People often ask: "This sounds too good to be true, how are they able to do it?" It really is quite simple. Just like almost every other online shopping center, they get a commission from the stores when you make a purchase. Instead of keeping that money - like almost all other sites do - they share it with you!

So, as long as 1,600+ of the world's top online stores are happy to pay a bonus to attract the new, valuable customers they send their way, Ebates is going to continue to send Big Fat Checks to satisfied customers across the globe."

For the skeptics out there I will even share with you exactly how much I have earned through Ebates just for shopping online:

Yes, I have actually earned a little over $400 and counting. Anytime I place an online order I always make sure to go through Ebates first. Another added bonus to using Ebates are the coupons and discount codes that are available as well. As long as I use Ebates I know that I am getting the best deal possible.

Want to know how it works then keep reading:

Below are just a few of the cash back deals that are available!
Click on the referral link here to see them all!

SEPHORA BEAUTY INSIDER CHIC WEEK EVENT - (VIB starts APR 11th) APR 12th to APR 22nd, 2013

Every year Sephora gives back to their Beauty Insider members with a 15% off event and this year it starts April 12th. For those who are VIB's (Very Important Beauty Insiders) you get to start shopping a day early - April 11th.

The VIB festivities usually start around 6PM on Thursday and typically wrap up around 8PM later that night. Although my Northlake Mall location has been known to keep the party going until well past closing time depending on the turnout. 

Normally I don't make VIB status for the next year (2014) until much later in the current year (2013) and it's around October / November time frame. However this year I have been on a hot-streak (shopping spree extravaganza) and I have already managed to rack up enough dollars / points to cover me for VIB status through 2014. Now, if only I could use the rest of my dollars / points to earn VIB status for 2015 I would have it made! LOL

Anyway, I already have a shopping list of items that I really, really want. A few of those items are makeup brushes, skincare products, and maybe an eyeshadow palette or two...maybe three.... I might get a couple of the higher end nailpolishes as well. It all depends on what is available and if I can fit it all in my budget.

To see the details (the rules and regulations) continue reading below...

SAVE THE DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 11TH - CHIC WEEK 15% OFF EARLY ACCESS STORE EVENT*

You're invited to an exclusive VIB in-store event to celebrate Sephora's Chic Week. Bring a friend and share your savings, get makeovers, take home free samples, and more.**

* Online, use promo code VIBCHIC. VALID APRIL 11 THROUGH APRIL 22, 2013, AT 11:59 PM PDT for VIBs only. May be used in Sephora stores and sephora.com on any merchandise purchase. Offer not valid online in Canadian checkout. Offer limited to Sephora VIBs only. Voucher must be presented at time of redemption when used in store. No minimum purchase required. May not be combined with any other promotions or employee discounts. Not valid on previous purchases or purchases of gift cards. May not be sold or otherwise transferred. Return of discounted merchandise will be for the price actually paid. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Not responsible for lost or stolen promotion codes. This offer is subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time. Not valid for Sephora employees. Learn more about the Beauty Insider program at any Sephora store or online at Sephora.com/VIB.

** Select stores will have different hours; check your local store for exact times. Free tote and sample gift bag valid only during the in-store event on Thursday, April 11, 2013 or while supplies last, with any merchandise purchase. Sample bag contains one-time use samples from Algenist, Shiseido, Ole Henriksen, NUDE skincare, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Bumble and bumble, Smashbox, Josie Maran and D&G or Gucci. Must be a VIB to redeem. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of gift cards. This offer is subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 2013

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! Here's hoping that your day is filled with lots of love, beautiful laughter, huge smiles, bundles of sunshine and wet sloppy kisses. My plan for the evening after work is to relax with my family. We will probably watch a movie seeing as how I recently purchased "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" after watching it in the theaters and loving it. Do you have any big plans for the day or will you wait for the weekend to celebrate? 

Happy Valentine's Day Beautiful ♥♥♥ Stay safe and eat lots of CHOCOLATE ♥♥♥

HAPPY NEW YEAR: WELCOME & RING IN 2013

Welcome and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my friends and family - new and old. This past year has been filled with so much excitement and I know that many great things are yet to come. With the coming year, I plan on blogging more, eating healthier and just trying to enjoy life more. I wouldn't call these resolutions, because we all know that majority of the people will fail miserably at those! I would call these more like "New Year's Declarations"!!!! Ha Ha!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and I hope the coming year brings many blessings to you and your family.

FAMILY HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Every year my husband and I decorate the outside of our house with blue lights for Christmas. When I was a little girl my family couldn't afford to decorate our house for Christmas. So we would drive around our local neighborhoods in West Virginia to look at Christmas lights. There was one house in particular that I loved to see each year. It was decorated all in blue, with a nativity scene out front and music would play softly in the background. It was really beautiful and I always dreamed of one day decorating my house just like that one. Now while my house isn't as elaborately decorated as the one from my childhood, we still manage to be creative in our own way.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and that you all have a blessed Holiday season.

Our three boys waiting to see Santa to get their picture
taken with him - you're never to young for Santa Claus!

Our Christmas Eve Turkey

Our Christmas Eve Dinner

Our two nieces enjoying the holiday meal with us.

Here are some more pictures of the decorations around our house and a few more of the outside of the house as well. Please be safe and enjoy the Holiday Season!