Mamma Likey: $1 false lashes

I still don't understand how me of all people, THE "Bargain Blonde", had never ever heard of the e.l.f. beauty line before I started blogging.  Please don't revoke my bargain blogging privileges! 

If you are out of the loop like I was, e.l.f. (stands for "Eyes Lips Face") is a cosmetics line that sells products at $1, $3 and $5 price points.  I recently boasted about my love for this $3 e.l.f. eye shadow brush, and since I had such a strong love connection with the brush, I decided to test out their falsies. 

I mean, I had nothing to lose since they were only $1.  I didn't have high expectations because you just never know, so I tried them randomly recently just for kicks and guess what??  Mamma likey!!  This is the exact kit I used:

e.l.f. Essential Natural Lash Kit

The lashes are REUSABLE. The set includes: Contour tray, lashes and a tube of lash adhesive gel

The e.l.f. Web site claims these falsies will help "achieve those batty lashes that will make any guy swoon."  I don't know about all that because no dudes were "swooning", but they are definitely pretty amaze.  And cheap.  One dollar make ya holla! 

I only wear falsies for special events and until a few years ago, I didn't know how to apply them myself so I only wore them when I got my make-up done at MAC (only place that does my make-up how I like).  So here I am in MAC lashes, which used to be my fave:

My friend taught me a trick, which has completely simplified the fake eye lash application process.  They are fairly easy to apply once you know what you are doing.  I'll do a step-by-step tutorial on applying lashes using the trick IF I can figure out how to properly describe it.  We'll see, so don't get your hopes up. 

HOWEVER, if I'm "keepin' it real" as my girl Raven says...

I do have one complaint about the e.l.f. lashes and I don't know if I was having a blonde moment, but I could not get ANY glue to come out of the tube that came with the kit.  I had eye lash glue on hand from Sally's, so I just used that.  Maybe I just got a faulty tube?  Anyway, the glue I use is Adell LashGrip Adhesive for Strip Lashes in dark (dries clear).

So I'm sure you're scrolling down waiting to see these bad boys in action, but I've got some bad, truly tragic news ... I am an idiot and forgot to take a picture of me wearing them that night, so just close your eyes and imagine that my eyes looked like they did in the pictures above. They really make my eyes pop, right?

Home Tour Week 3: Living Room!

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It's Week 3 of my "Home Tour" series, and this week I'm featuring my living room, which is where I spend the majority of my time lounging and being a certified bum.

When I got the keys to my first apartment after I graduated (Umm, just realized that was almost 5 years ago ... barf.), I basically owned nothing because all of the apartments I lived in during college were fully furnished.  I had my clothes and bedding, but I didn't even have a bed.  It was a pitiful sight.

I had to be extremely patient because I'm the kind of person that when I want something done I want it done yesterday.  I still haven't done everything I've wanted to do with my place, but I've gotten as far as I have by furnishing and decorating ONE piece at a time.

My one decorating goal has always been to make my apt cozy and "homey".  I hope I've somewhat accomplished my goal.  You'll have to let me know what you think:

[FYI] I've had a few comments about my curtains and the window.  I know it's hard to tell from the pic, but the top of the window is supposed to be showing.  Their are 2 "French Doors" that my curtains cover and then above the doors are the uncovered windows meant to let light in.  Make sense?

I literally just finished this project Sunday afternoon and will post an entire blog about it later this week. 
I'm obsessed with how it turned out!

The lamp, mirror and vases are all from Kirklands. 
To the right of the hallway is my bathroom and to the left is my guest room/office and my bedroom.

A little unknown fact about me: I was editor-in-chief of my university's yearbook my junior and senior year.  Hence, why I have them displayed.  They are my little pride and joys, and I totally don't blame you for being jealous.

There you have it, now you've creeped my living room.  Next week you can show us your guest room, office or both (mine are the same room).

If you want everyone to creep your living room too, link up below:

These are my confessions ...

I haven't confessed in a while, so this should be good.  Well, we'll see.  I haven't really thought about what I'm going to confess so it could be really lame. 

Forgive me blog world, for I have sinned ...

I confess that I love compliments especially when they involve people telling me how much they love my hair like 3 times already this morning.  I'm totally kidding, but not really.  As y'all know I got my hair cut yesterday (LOVE it) and I'm sure everyone thinks they have the best hair stylist ever, but I really do.  I mean, he is the hair stylist for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.  Enough said. 

Too bad I don't walk out of the salon with their bodies too.  If you live in Dallas and want the best hair ever, let me know and I'll give you his information. 

All right, so I tried to take this really quick this morning in the work restroom.  So SKEEZEY, I know.  I didn't want anyone popping in on me as I took a self-portrait, so this is the best I could do.  Ugh, why am I so creepy?  I look weird, like a major chester.  p.s. this is slept on hair.

I confess that I always use handicap restrooms and handicap changing rooms because I like that they are roomier.  So rude, I know.

I confess that I'm secretly nervous a crew from Hoarders is going to bust into my apartment any day now.  I am living in squalor, and I have to clean my apartment this weekend if it's the last thing I do.  Yes, that's a Miller Lite can on my bathroom counter. 


Grandma and Mom, I swear this is not normal.

 I confess that I have wanted a gay husband for the longest and I FINALLY found mine.  His name is Robert (hi, Robert), he's amazing and we met the night of my friend Kristi's bachelorette party.  My BFF Liz is so jealous it's not even funny.  Any available gay hubs out there?  She's taking applications. 

I confess that as a child, I was an aspiring cat mystery writer.  My mom dug these up for me and I'm pretty sure you're going to want to order copies of both ASAP.

I confess that I am not Betty Crocker.  I had a slight issue baking a Memorial Day cake for the river.  Who can't properly bake a boxed cake?  Apparently me. I think the issue was that I tried to take it out of the pan before it had cooled off all the way.  It was nothing a little icing and sprinkles couldn't fix:

All right ladies, I confessed and now it's your turn. What secrets are you keeping? Spill.

My favorite summer polish combo

Call me boring, but I basically do 2 things with my nails, which is dictated by seasons.  In the fall and winter I stick to cherry or deep reds, and at the first sign of warmer weather, I switch immediately to light pink pastels on my fingers and fluorescent hot pink on my toes very similar to a combo like so:

OPI "Pink-a-Doodle" and China Glaze "Flip Flop Fantasy"

I once painted my nails what I call "goth" and I hated it.  Goth (in my book) = black or dark purple.  Yes, I know this was "in", but I just couldn't.  I felt like I should be jamming out to the Pandora Marilyn Manson station and applying a fresh coat of black lip liner on my lunch break.  Never again.

Occasionally I'll put a hot pink on my nails (I did a coral shade on Monday), but typically I stick to the pastel/fluorescent pink combo and it makes me very happy. It really is the little things.

In the spirit of my summer polish combo making it's long awaited return, I present to you my splurge and steal polish picks for the 2011 summer season. 

NAILS

 [STEAL]
$1 - e.l.f. "Bubble Gum Pink"

[SPLURGE]
$8 - essie "French Affair"

TOES

[STEAL]
$1 - e.l.f. "Passion Pink"

[SPLURGE]
$8 - essie "Knockout Pout"

 So now I pose the very important question, what is YOUR favorite summer polish combo? Are you digging what I'm digging? 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

It's been a few weeks since I linked up with Jamie and posted a WILW, and I don't like it one bit. After a little hiatus, I’m back to share what I’m loving this week.

1. I am loving that I survived the tornadoes that touched down in Dallas last week. It’s a bit daunting when your TV goes out and all you hear are emergency weather sirens blasting outside.

It was touch and go there for a while, so I had to hide in my bathtub and sip on some Skinnygirl to calm my nerves. If that tornado was going to take me out, I was going to at least get a buzz. 

I recorded a Vlog while I was bored and hiding out in the tub, so I'll have to post it once I figure out how to upload it

2. I am loving the recent coupons and sales at New York & Company. I got 3 shirts and a brown linen pencil skirt for work for less than $60 this week. I never shopped at NY&Co until recently because I was mistakenly under the assumption they had fug, out of style clothes.  Beth still refuses to shop there.  Maybe this will convince her to go.

Sign up for NY&Co coupons on the bottom of the home page of their Web site.

3. I know this is old news, but I am loving Blake and Miranda's wedding and now I want to get married where they got married (in my Grandma's town btw)! I thought everything about their day was so down-to-earth and perfect for them. I especially loved Miranda's short Priscilla of Boston reception dress and white cowboy boots. Don't you die? 

[via]

4. I am loving that after almost 6 months to the day, I'm finally getting my hair trimmed tomorrow.  I used to have major meltdowns after getting my hair cut until I found my current fab hair stylist over 4 years ago.  We're talking I'd cry in the chair, cry all the way home, lock myself in my room and refuse to take phone call meltdowns.  When it comes to my hair, I don't play.  

I can't wait to get it cut and styled.  My hair is way too long and a hot ragged mess right now.  My hurr on NYE the very last time I got it cut.  Please excuse my creeper look, I'm not really sure what face I'm making here:

5. I am loving that my nephew refused to take his batman mask off for Church on Sunday. I love even more that he was talking in third person to his Mom that whole day. "Mom, Batman wants gum."  Seriously, could he be more perfect?