Amaze facial masque. I die.

I've kind of been obsessed with skincare lately.  Mostly because I'm petrified of wrinkles and am convinced I need Botox already at the ripe old age of 26.  Obviously, I'm not getting Botox (yet).  Thus, I must try less extreme measures like facial masks to help liven up my skin.  

Remember that DIY facial mask I told y'all about?  While it did tighten up my skin, it has NOTHING on my latest discovery.  I mean, nothing.  Not to mention the DIY one was so messy and hard to apply.  And if I'm being completely honest, the smell of it kinda made me gag a little. 

Soooo, allow me to introduce you to the ...

Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque that I got this weekend from Sally's Beauty Supply:

I washed my face, then used my fingers to blend the masque.  It was a breeze to apply and it tingled a little at first (good tingle).  I thought the "mud" would smell creepy, but it had a very floral scent to it and here is it how it looks as it starts to dry:

About 10 minutes after application, I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe how much it was opening up my pores.  This is gross, but I think it's worth showing so you can see how well it cleanses your skin.  I cannot believe I'm posting this picture to the world. Please still love me. 

See what I mean?  Opens your pores up like woah!

I just want you to know that after using this mask my skin was refreshed and tighter, my pores seemed smaller and my skin felt super smooth. 

Don't walk, but run to Sally's.  Sorry about that oatmeal DIY recommendation.  I had no idea something like this existed.  Smooches bargainistas. XOXO.

Outside the box affordable storage ideas

How creative is this paper towel turned bracelet holder?  I would have never thought of this, so I'm glad someone else did.  What a fun and easy way to display your bracelets on your bathroom counter or dresser.  I'm totally stealing this idea.

via, but I first saw on Sierra's blog!

Similar paper towel holder from Bed, Bath & Beyond for $9.99:

via

I like this option from Wal-Mart too.  Only $5.97:

via

This is an Ikea plastic bag dispenser for $1.99 ...

via

... that I attached to the cabinet door under the sink next to my toilet (yummy) to use as an extra toilet paper holder.  It's so convienent, you have no idea.

Here's something for your kitchen.  Uhhh, genius!  And the rail holding the lids is only $1.99 from Ikea.  Say no more.  I'm sold.

via

 You could totally hang necklaces or earrings from this rail too, I've seen it done before:

via

And last but not least, a straw dispenser turned ribbon holder.   I need.

via


All you need is an old fashioned straw dispenser.  Here's one from Bed Bath and Beyond for $14.99.  As always, be sure to use a 20% off coupon.  I have a huge stash of their coupons in my car so that I always have some handy at all times.  God forbid I'm without a BBB coupon.

via



It's official, I'm doing some organizing this weekend now.  

I'll be starting my adventure off at Ikea. 

Sooo ... ummm ... Mom, can I borrow your check card by chance?

And I may need to do a little shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond too. 

And possibly Target. 

And most likely Wal-Mart. 

Cool? 

After all, my birthday is only a few weeks away. 

Wink.

What are your outside the box organizing solutions? 

[P.S. For any fairly new readers of my bloggity blog, I posted a lot of my bargain organization a while back.  Be sure to check out my "Tidy" section if you're interested in my make-up, nail polish, Tupperware, travel and closet organization ideas on the chiz-eap.]

Christmas came early! [e.l.f. haul]

Most of you already know this by now, but I recently discovered the Eyes Lips Face (e.l.f.) beauty line and fell in love and lust with not only their prices, but their products too.

So, imagine my delight when I was contacted by a representative of e.l.f. and asked if I would like to be sent products to review and all I had to do was give my honest opinion about what I thought of them? Umm, where do I sign-up? Christmas came early, y’all!

This post is all about my favorites of the bunch because these particular products have taken up permanent residence in my make-up bag. Like it’s getting ridiculous how much e.l.f. I wear and the fact that I never heard of them until a few months ago still blows my mind.

In no particular order, here are 5 of the e.l.f. products I can’t live without now, so obviously, neither should you.

1. e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer –

$6 - [BUY]

Oh, hello “miss I’m going make it 10 times to easier to blend your foundation” miracle in a bottle. Life changing. I’ve never, ever used a primer before because I honestly (& mistakenly) thought they were pointless. Big mistake. Big. Huge. (Name that movie. And if you don’t know, we’re no longer friends.)

This primer is the bomb dot com. I loves it and will not be putting foundation on without it. I use my toner, moisturizer and then about 2 squirts of the primer. It’s very light gel texture and makes your foundation just blend in smoothly and effortlessly. GET. IT. No one likes a girl with streaky foundation.




2. e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer 

$3 - [BUY]

Something else I’ve never used in my life before, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why not. This is the perfect solution for when you don’t have time or are too lazy to put a full face of make-up on before running errands on the weekend or what not.

You need. It dries semi-matte, but is a little dewy. Basically it’s like lotion that lightly evens your skin tone out. Plus it has SPF 20 to prevent against dreaded wrinkles. Other than ending up on Dateline, my biggest fear in life is looking old and haggard before I’m supposed to. This should help.




3. e.l.f. Studio Single Eyeshadow in Coffee Bean

$3 - [BUY]

I have been using this color on its own at work every day for about two weeks and wanted to make sure the color would hold up all day long before I gave it the thumbs up. I’m happy to report it does (even in the Texas heat with my oily skin) and I really, really like the color for every day. It’s not too shimmery, but it has a pretty sparkle to it as you can see from the picture.




 4. e.l.f. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

$3 - [BUY]

I have very fair skin. The fairest. And by fair, I mean ghastly pale, so I use sunless tanners a lot. Sometimes I’m tanned and sometimes I’m au naturel, which means I have to keep two shades of foundation around.

Since I’m all about finding ways to simplify my life, I don’t want to have to keep up with the two different shades of powders too. This is where translucent powder comes in.

For the longest I’ve used Clinique Invisible Matte Sheer Pressed Powder, so I was skeptical to try e.l.f.’s version out.  Why fix what isn’t broke, right?  But, if I could find something cheaper that worked just as well, it was worth the shot.

I’m glad I tried it because it works just the same! The only thing is that the e.l.f. compact is considerably smaller in size, but at $3 a pop, a few of these is still cheaper than one Clinique powder. I’m sold and the switch is official.

5. e.l.f. Professional Total  Face Brush 

$1 - [BUY]

We already knew e.l.f. has THE best brushes, and you can read about my other elf brush loves here and here. This is just my latest and greatest e.l.f. brush obsession. I have been using it for the translucent powder and for my bronzer every day since it was in my possession. I think I need to just buy an entire brush kit, e.l.f. brushes can do no wrong in my eyes.

There you have it! My first official “haul” ever. There are several other products I tested out, which I will be reviewing in the future.  I figured I’d start out with my faves, then reveal the rest later. 

*When I've posted about e.l.f. in the past, I've received several questions about where to purchase e.l.f.  Target (although not all) carries e.l.f.   However, their biggest selection is online, which is where I ordered everything I reviewed in this post.  Obvi, I don't like shipping costs and I'm sure neither do you.  Lucky for us, until August 1, use the code SHIP25 at checkout and get free shipping!  You're welcome.

Have any of you tried any of these and what did you think?  Also, are there any e.l.f. products you’ve wanted to try but haven’t? Maybe I did!

Lotion for your limbs and hairspray for your locks

Happy Monday bargainistas!  I hope you all had a fantastical weekend.  I literally took a nap until 6 p.m. yesterday.  Yes, I spent my Sunday as a SLOTH.  I was a hot mess until I finally made myself get up and shower. Oh, and brush my teeth. 

[via]

Before I showered, I rolled out of bed to go to CVS with a list of lotions to test out.   I wrote down all of your recommendations from this post and took them with me.  You bargainistas did not disappoint, thank you so much for your feedback! You 'da best. 

The Cocoa Butter lotion was probably the most recommend, but I did not like how it smelled.  At all.  I smelled all the lotions first before I tested them out.  I also didn't like the Aveeno because it was scentless.  I like a lotion with a light scent to make me feel girly.  I ended up narrowing your recommendations down to the following three:

St. Ives ended up being my favorite, but now I want to go back and get the Vaseline Aloe and Cucumber too.  It was so cooling when I put it on.  Similar to what that mint lotion does.   The Jergen's was really moisturizing but it was a bit more expensive, so naturally I got the St. Ives.  It was a good decision.

At CVS I also picked up this coveted hairspray called Elnett by L'Oreal that was recommended to me by my girl Natalie who said it is the ONLY thing that tames her locks.  It was on sale for $14.99, but it's about $12.99 at Target or Wal-Mart. 

This hairspray is pretty magical.  I bought the extra strong hold UV filter version, and the best part about it is that you can run your hands through your hair after you use it.   Literally, if you brush through your hair after spraying, it just bounces back. It holds my bangs in place without making them look shellacked and crunchy. 

Me loves, so get ya some.

Limbs and locks covered!  And I got to use $4 worth of CVS extra bucks towards my purchase ... cha-ching.

Who knew? Kohl's carries NCAA apparel.

And it's cute.  And cheap.  So of course, I had to share with y'all immed. 

If you don't know already, I'm a Texas Tech University (Guns Up!) alum.  This tank is only $14 and I need it in my life!

BUY

They have a lot of schools to choose from, click here to see if they have yours.  They even have my bestie Beth's South Carolina Gamecocks:

BUY

I love, love, love the VS PINK collegiate collection (I love anything VS PINK), but the Kohl's NCAA collection is definitely a cheaper alternative. 

EEEP!  This is just getting me in the mood for the Fall (my favorite season) when college football returns and the weather is perfecto!  If you're also from the South, you know how seriously we take football.  It's a religion.

Did you girls know Kohl's carried this stuff or have I been living under a rock?

Confession Session: The "Does that make me crazy?" edition

TGIF bargainistas.  It's Friday, which means it's time to confess.  I've been thinking about doing a "Does that make me crazy?" post for a while, but it's pretty similar to a Confession Session, so I've decided to just combine the two. 



So ... Our local Dallas morning radio show, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, does a "Does that make me crazy?" segment on the air and I laugh out loud listening to these people call in.  They make me feel better about my life.  The gist of the segment is people call in and dish on idiosyncrasies or OCD things they do in their life and then the morning show decides if that makes them crazy or not.

For instance, a woman called in on Monday and said any time she sneezes she has to slap her left leg then clap. HAHAHA!  I mean, what?

Then another lady called in and said any time a dog "relieves" itself outside, she has to lick her finger and touch her eyeball.  Again, WHAT?!

I also heard a lady call in once and say that when she washes dishes, she doesn't put the clean ones on top because she thinks all of her dishes need to be rotated.  She doesn't want any dishes to get their feelings hurt.  That's not normal.

All righty, so y'all get the idea.  I've always wondered if I called in, what would I say?  Well, here's what:

I confess that I sleep with a sleep mask on and the covers over my head.  Does that make me crazy?

via

I confess that if the air is not on in the car I feel like I'm suffocating and I cannot breathe.  Does that make me crazy?

via

I confess that I have started a wedding file with pictures of things I want for my wedding when if I get married. Does that make me crazy?  You know you have one too.

via

I confess that I have a closet full of baby clothes for my future baby.  Does that make me crazy?   OK, I'm totally 100 percent kidding about that one (I swear), but my friend knows someone that does that.  Now that is crazy!

via

So you knew this question was coming, what makes YOU crazy?  Don't hold back on me now. 

Help lotion me up

Not literally.  I don't like strangers touching me.  But I would like you to help me decide what to buy to lotion myself up with.  If you're thinking "Gross, why don't you use lotion?",  I'm going to get that.  Hold your side-eye for a sec. 

First of all, I have 3 favorite hand creams, but these won't do for ALL OVER body lotion. I love these and use at least one of them once a day for my hands only:

BUY #1 / BUY #2 / BUY #3

I would just use the body lotion version of these scents, but I can't afford to use B&BW or VS lotion for all-over lotion.  I'd go broke.

Also keep in mind I have a large and in charge body with lots of acreage needing lotion.  One little 14 dollar bottle isn't gonna cut it.  I need to find value sized lotion to use for every day from a drug store (CVS, Target, Wal-Mart, etc.). 

This is where you come in ...

There are aisles and many shelves of lotion at drug stores.  I've tried a few in the past, but was never blown away by anything.   In high school I swore by St. Ives Whipped Silk Lotion, but they stopped making it! Boo.

For the longest I've just been using Oil of Olay Creme Ribbons Body Wash, which is very moisturizing so I haven't needed lotion too.  Buttttt, it's hotter than Haiti in Texas and my skin is drying out. The last thing I need is reptile skin too.   

I knew y'all would be the ladies to turn to, not Google.  What do you use to keep your skin smooth?  I need to be able to buy the lotion at a Drug Store and prefer it is less than $10 bones.

What body lotions should I add to my basket and why? HELP.

via

Gag me with a spoon!

A few weeks ago during my Confession Session, I said I was going to a 80s party, but had nothing to wear (story of my life).  Well, I've been meaning to blog about my bargain 80s outfit, and since today is "Pop Into the 80s" Day at work, I thought what better time than now? 

I recycled the outfit for work, which was all found at Plato's Closet for around $50.  Sunglasses, purse, heels, leggings, skirt, tank and headband!  Holla.

Here is me and my hubby Robert (dressed as Boy George) at the Totally "Gay-ties" Party a few weeks ago:

I believe you need a close up of my heels, which were quite a hit at the party and today at work.  LOVE THEM and they WILL be making a Vegas appearance.  I just think they scream Vegas!

You most  certainly can't have a totally awesome 80s party without Pop Rocks:

The aftermath of getting 80s ready.  Where is that maid of mine?  Make-up and hair product explosion:

And lastly and in totally unrelated news, what do y'all think of this antique Italian candy dish I'm using as a candle holder on my bar?  I got it on Monday and it was only $12.99.  I really like it!

So girls, channel your inner eighties and tell me what you love most about this decade.  Granted, I was in diapers in the 80s, but I love the bright colors and big hair. 

Oh, did I mention I had to go to Target looking like this at 8 a.m. this morning?  I told the woman making my Starbucks, I swear I don't normally dress like this to which she replied, "Oh honey, I'm not judging!"  Sure you aren't.

Blender, oh how I've missed you

Back in the day I used to whip up a mean smoothie.  Then I went off to college and somehow my blender didn't make it past Freshman year in the dorms.  Poor thing. 

Since then I've been blender-less and I didn't realize how much I missed having one until I bought one on Friday at Target.  I actually went to Target to buy this, which I will tell you about later this week. It's going to change your life!

Once I scooped up the above item, I was making my usual rounds to the beauty aisles before checking out when I stumbled across this little display:

Not just any blender.  It was pink and on sale for $17.99.  Need I say more?  This little lady made her way into my cart and I put her to use this weekend by making Strawberry Banana Smoothies for the nephew and I on Sunday while babysitting.

But before smoothies, Aunt Lindsey whipped up a Cafe Mocha and Reese had waffles.  All right ... I might have had a waffle too. 

 

 The smoothie was perfect for a hot summer Sunday.

Ingredients:

1 cup ice cubes, crushed

10 oz fresh strawberries, stems removed

2 bananas

1 to 2 tbsp of honey or a splash of OJ for added sweetness

3/4 cup milk

Crush the ice in the blender first then add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.  Ta-da!  Fresh fruit smoothie for a low cal and refreshing treat. 

If you too are blender-less, go get yo'self a pink blender at Target!  It'll be the best $18 you'll ever spend.  What's your favorite thing to make in the blender?  Is there anything I must try?  I'm going to make Crystal Light Margs next.

Bargain Blonde under construction

UPDATE: New blog design/layout fully installed!  Happy Heart ♥

I'm so excited to unveil my new blog design created by my homie Jonalynn at Turn Up the Rad Creative.  Her design skill are ahhhmazing. 

Please excuse any blog issues while the layout is being installed.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT and I hope you will too! 

If I die from a heat stroke, tell Bradley Cooper I love him ...

I decided to check out weather dot com this morning to see what temps I was working with for the weekend, and I started sweating just reading our 10 day forecast:

Excuse me, 104 today?  Not cool.  Literally.  And these are just the temps before you factor in the heat index.  I've lived in Texas basically my entire life, so I'm used to this.  It doesn't mean I like it. 

I always wonder how people in the North survive the winters and blizzards, but I'm sure y'all wonder how we survive our sizzilin summers.  You just stay inside as much as possible and accept that you may pass out from a heat stroke at any time. 

In case you don't want to take out a loan to pay your summer electric bill, here are 5 ways to avoid a heat stroke on the cheap:

1. Cool your pulse. Wrap an ice cube in a towel and apply it to any of your body’s major pulse points (wrists, behind the knees and inside elbows) for a minute, then remove it for a minute—repeat until you feel sufficiently cool.  Pulse points are areas with the best circulation, so lowering your blood temperature in those spots will carry the cooling effect throughout the entire body.

How cute are heart shaped ice cubes?  I found this heart ice cube tray on Amazon for $6.99:

[BUY]

 2. Try a hint of mint. The menthol that's in mint creates a cooling effect. Chewing a piece of gum that contains menthol will trigger cold-sensitive nerves in your mouth, making a glass of water taste colder than it normally would.  Similarly, lotions and soaps that contain mint or menthol will lend your skin an icy sensation.

Bath & Body Works carries a Mentha Body Vitamin Body Lotion for $14:

[via]

or Target has a Mint Mojito lotion for $5.99:

[via]

3. Go downstairs. It's true that heat rises: warm air is less dense, so it floats upwards. If you're in a house, head to the first floor or the basement to enjoy chillier temperatures. A good way to rid upstairs rooms of hot air is to place a fan in a window to suck the warm air out.

4. Slice up a cucumber or watermelon. On a hot day, eating fruits and vegetables with high water content will not only help keep you hydrated, the added fluids allow your body to release heat by thinning the blood.

Watermelon is so good in the summer!  I can't get enough of it.

[via]

5. Sit still. Though it's tempting to create a breeze by fanning yourself, excreting energy by moving around in the heat will actually end up making you feel even warmer. So stay calm—and stay put—to avoid raising your own body temperature.

Get a personalized fan instead like this pink personal air circulator for $19.99 from Target:

[via]

Stay cool this weekend bargainistas!  If you need me, I'll be in my apartment slathering on mint lotion, inhaling watermelon and taping ice cubes to my wrists.  TGIF.

Jealous much? Um, yes. Best wedding video ever!

Oh. Em. Gee. I literally just watched this and I immediately had to share with y'all Dallas, Texas' very own Candice Crawford and Tony Romo's amazing wedding video.  Ridic!  I mean, really, the word amazing doesn't even do justice. I was content being single until I watched this. It made me want to be in love and marry a NFL quarterback so I can have my dream wedding. FML. Just poured myself another glass of red.


UPDATE: the video's been removed, MAJOR BOOOOOOO! The company that made their video (Joe Simon Wedding Films) has similar wedding videos on their blog and  they are all BEYOND!  Like, I'm spending my weekend watching them. 

If I have to sell A kidney to get a video like this when I get married, I will.  Hopefully this guy will still be around in year 2050. 

This is my favorite of his videos so far.  It's long, but worth it. Grab a box of tissues:



Jenna & Travis's Wedding Film - Austin, Texas from Joe Simon Films on Vimeo.

Socially maxed out. Woe is me.

You know those people that are always on the go?  The type that can't stand to be at home by their lonely? I'm the complete opposite of that person.  There is nothing I look forward to more than zoning out on my couch watching shows like Flipping Out (Jeff Lewis = my hero) and painting my nails. 

Ironically enough, watching reality TV is my escape from reality.  It's my chance to indulge in mindless entertainment and not be bothered by anyone or anything.  Having nothing to do is THE best, and when my down time gets threatened, I get major anxiety.  That's exactly what's happening for the next 9 months of my life.  I get stressed out just thinking about it. 

Apparently most of my friends decided to get married, knocked up or were born at the same time because for the next 9 months, I'm booked.  For instance, here's this month:  

Granted, things like Wine Wednesday and Happy Hours aren't techincally "required", but whatevs.  My social calendar is only picking up after July.  Just when am I supposed to squeeze in Teen Mom, Big Brother, Toddlers & Tiaras, 20/20, Dateline, etc.?
 
August: Beth in Dallas, Megan's Baby Showers
Sept: Vegas for Kristina's Bachelorette Party
Oct: Courtney Bridal Shower, New Orleans with this girl
November: Las Vegas for Courtney's Bachelorette Party, Courtney Couple Shower
January: Court Wedding Dallas
February: Kristina Wedding Las Vegas

It probably seems like it, but I'm really not complaining.  It just freaks me out to have this many things coming up.  I'm not normal, but we already knew this.

There are definitely perks to going to Vegas 3 times in 6 months aside from the fact I get to go to my favorite city ever.  I get an excuse to shop, and since anything goes in Vegas, I can finally wear this dress that's been hanging in my closet FOREVER:

[via]

I really think it will accentuate my stomach rolls. 

Obviously I'm JOKING.  This is something a lady of the night would wear.  For serious now, don't you think these would be cute?

LuLus: $63 [via]



LuLu's: $36 [via]



LuLu's: $30 [via]

My body is in absolutely no codition for that third dress (or really any dress for that matter), so I guess in what little free time I have, I better start stepping up my gym game.  I go to the gym so often, they all know me by name.  Lieing.

There are clearly a lot worse things in life to be worried about.  Trust me, I know this.  I just thought I'd share some of my stressors with you lovely readers.  It's theraputic.  Try not to call me shallow because I swear I'm not.