Bag of the Moment: JOY & IMAN Diamond Quilted Genuine Leather Satchel with RFID

Let's do a quick bag post. I'm on a roll today huh? LOL!

I picked this satchel from HSN. I felt like when I was Christmas shopping and got a gift for some, I also got something for myself. HA!

I got this when they had a Today's Special that was a crossbody bag. I saw this satchel and was sold on it. It was on sale for $79.95 when I picked it up. It's at the HSN price now which is not terrible and HSN sends out coupons and have promos all the time. It's the perfect everyday bag for me. It's like a small tote and holds everything I need from day to day during the week. I've been on the hunt for a quilted bag and the design of this one is quite nice.

Some of the reviews on this bag tickle me. People are complaining about the leather. For the price I feel like people need to calm down.  You're not going to get leather like Dooney & Bourke, Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, etc for this price. People also complained about the lining saying it cheaper. Again for the price you'll get a leather bag but accents and other aspects of the bag will be cheaper. I think the lining is fine and easy to clean if I spill something in my bag. It's a decent bag and I'm eyeing the price to see if it'll go on sale again and grab the Cognac. People are a trip want caviar at McDonald's prices. Have a seat. *ends rant* LOL! I've bought my share of pricey bags along with inexpensive ones. The pricey ones aren't always perfect and the cheaper weren't aren't always terrible.

I've been holding on to the box that is was shipped in just in case I was going to return it. I can throw the box out now ;) There some other quilted items in the line I'm eyeballing to see if they prices go back on sale again. I should have gotten them when I got the satchel. *shifty eyes*

Bag of the Moment - Vince Camuto "Cecil" Leather Slouchy Shoulder Bag

Hellllloooooo!

Let's talk about the Vince Camuto "Cecil" Leather Slouchy Shoulder Bag that I picked this bag up from HSN. I had my eye on this bag when it was a Today's Special but I couldn't makeup my mind about it. I saved it to my favorite items list. The favorite items list alerts you when something goes on sale, sells out, comes back in stock etc. I got an alert that the bag was on sale and I saw that it was on free shipping. Since I have been clearing out my bags, I noticed that I didn't have a go to black bag. So I ordered the Cecil bag in black to give it a whirl and I have really been enjoying it. It's a nice size for everyday. You can get a lot of stuff in the bag but it doesn't become too bulky. Also for a leather bag, it is lightweight with no items in it which is a plus. You don't want to start out with a heavy bag then add your stuff then it becomes super heavy. If you looking for a good hobo bag then check this one out. I was tempted to get another color but then one I was eyeing is sold out. So I think I'm good with just the black. See I'm making progress.

TTFN - ta ta for now!

2016 Handbag Favorites

I was going to include these in my top 10 for 2016 but decided to a quick post on my two handbag favorites for 2016.

Dooney & Bourke Multi Color Nylon North/South Triple Zip Crossbody

I mentioned this bag back in November 2015 and it has gotten a ton of use since. When it comes to a handbags the bigger the better! I'm a big bag girl. But I have enjoyed using this bag when I run errands, work travel, on the Metro or just when I don't want to carry a big bag. Even though it is small, you can fit a lot into it. I also love the color and the fabric. It's very neutral and goes with just about nothing. The fabric is nylon. It's very durable and easy to clean. Some options are available on ILoveDooney. This bag is available is in other versions besides nylon. If you're looking for a good crossbody bag then check this one out.

Emma Fox "Jutland" Leather Tote

I picked this tote up in Smoke/Black when I had a coupon. I got it home and carried it for a while and LOVED it! I turned around and got the Cognac/Black option when I had another coupon. This is a great everyday tote! With nothing in it, it's very lightweight. Once I added my items, it never felt super heavy. I like that it's a north/south tote vs east/west. It lays nicely against the body and it never feels like it's in the way or overwhelming. It's a workhorse bag. I carried this tote for a quite a while. I had to make myself switch out of it to go through some other bags I'm deciding on in my stash. I'm very tempted to get the Black/Cream Plaid option. If you're looking for an awesome tote bag, check this one out on HSN. It's currently on clearance and free shipping.

Less Stuff - 2016 Update

My last update was over a year ago. So I decided to check in.

Books - I recently donated six tote bags (various sizes) to my library. The bin was about a fourth of the way full. Once I was done it was more than halfway full! Whoops! LOL! I should have snapped a pic. This purge was my "let's get real" purge. I may do another small purge before the year is out. I'm making an effort to read some of the print books I haven't read. I've gotten so used to reading on ereaders and my phone that I don't like reading print books anymore *sigh*. Some books are so awkward to hold especially since I read on my bed,

Clothes - I think it was a few months ago I donated two huge trash bags of clothes. I also tossed items that needed to go. I plan on doing another once over in my closet before the weather gets cold. Now I'm to the point where I have items I do like but a lot of similar items. For instance I have quite a few maxi dresses. I like all the ones I have and the fit fine. But there are some I reach for more than others. So do I get rid of the ones that I do like and wear but not as much? Then I'm kind of at a transition work wise. Where I work now, I can pretty much wear whatever I want. I've been looking here and there for a new job. So I don't want to purge a lot of say my more business causal clothes, if I end up somewhere that I have to "dress up" more than I do now. Then I have some items that I wear for certain activities that I need to keep on hand even though I don't wear them often like suits and some dresses. For suits, I have always wanted a three piece grey suit for the longest time but have never gotten one. So I may look for one. If I find one I like then I may get rid of the other suits I have with maybe the exception of one green one I have. I may do the same for some dressier dresses I have. I may keep two or three and get rid of the rest.

Handbags - *gasp* I know right lol! I've always pulled some to give to family and friends. I was watching one of my favorite YouTubers Jennifer Wan and she mentioned that she was going to sell some stuff to thredUP. I was said bwah?? So I went over to their site and they accept clothing items and accessories from various brands. I've mentioned before that I don't have the patience to try and sell stuff through eBay or Craigslist. So I checked the brands they accept and Dooney & Bourke is on the list. They also send you a packing envelope to mail your items. So I have some bags and accessory pieces pulled aside to send to them. Less expensive bags I'm planning to sent to Change Purse. They accept purses and their efforts help raise awareness and help victims of human trafficking which I think is a totally awesome concept.

Nail polish - I had post a video on Instagram Stories of some of my nail polishes and had gotten a couple of comments from a couple people that I know that really irritated me. I deleted the video. They go away after 24 hours but I didn't want to be bothered by other's comments. One said I should be embarrassed. I know she was "joking" but I didn't find it funny. Anywho. I don't know what to do with nail polish I'm ready to let go of. Most places will not accept used nail polishes. I've given more than enough away to family and friends. So I'm drawing a blank. I know I could just toss them. I may check and see if it's ok with my hairdresser if I bring some to my next appointment and just leave them in her shop and ladies can take what they want and she can trash what no one takes. *shrugs*.

Makeup - this is forever ongoing *sigh*. I think I was watching one Jennifer Wan's vlogs and she was mentioned how she was seriously going through her makeup collection and blog selling items that did not absolutely love. Now she's a totally makeup /shopping girl so I know her actions were not on decluttering or downsizing her stash. So I got inspired to go through mine. I got rid of a TON of lippies. Then while Google searching on what to do with used makeup, I came across the site Glambot. I remember Jennifer mentioning that she sent some makeup to them and from what I remember her experience with them was good. I did search on some reviews for Glambot. The "bad" ones I ran across were from people mad about the amount they got. They felt it should have been more. One review I ran across was sensible and was like look keep an open mind. They are providing you with a service and you're not going to get "full price" for an item. Which makes sense and I'm fine with that. I just want stuff gone and if I can get a little something for it then cool. They provide you with a shipping label which I like. Whatever they give you for the makeup first comes as a credit to use with them to shop and I believe after 14 days you can get the cash. If you're not satisfied with their offer then you can get your stuff back.

So I'm still chugging along. I'm happy with the progress that I have made but still have a ways to go. Hopefully I've given you some ideas on what to do with items that you're ready to part with. I'll follow up on my experiences with thredUP and Glambot.

Onward and upward!

Bag of the Moment - Danielle Nicole Savannah Tote

I ordered this from HSN in Cognac but as you can see it's two toned. I've be on a MAJOR inexpensive bag kick lately. I got this on sale and the shipping was free. It's currently showing as waitlist on HSN but you might be able to find it elsewhere. I  did a quick Google search and I did see it available from other retailers online. This is good all purpose tote for everyday or travel. It can hold a lot but it's not overly huge to the point that it's in the way or hitting things when you carry it. I love the light lining on the inside so you can see what's in your bag. It comes with pouch which is a nice added bonus. There's a zip pocket and two slip pockets. This is my second Danielle Nicole bag. It probably won't be my last.

Bag of the Moment - Snob Essentials Embossed Tote with Tassel

I got this bag from HSN on sale and with free shipping. I got it in gray which is still available. It's also available in blue. I also wanted the pink croco but it's sold out. This is a nice everyday bag. It's lightweight to start out with which is always nice. There's a lot of room on the inside but it's not big and bulky like some totes can be. I may travel with this bag this year. I like that the chain detail is silver. I'm typically turned off by gray bags with gold hardware. The Drew tote which is similar is also available on sale with free shipping. I'm tempted to pick up this on up in brown. We shall see. *shifty eyes* Check out the video presentations for more details!

2015 Top 10

This post *insert long deep sigh*. I didn't know how I wanted to go about doing this post then I was sick and THEN this doggone massive snow storm decided to show up! I had wanted to get this up earlier in the month.

I started thinking about this post back in November. At first I wasn't going to this with the categories like I did in 2013 and 2014. I thought about doing a Top 10 post for 2015 to keep in with the theme for 2015. I started my post with the categories and just wasn't feeling it. I had some standout favorites in some of the categories. In some of the others, I was listing something kinda for the sake of having something in that particular category.

So I left that post and started this post. I just started listing items that I constantly reached for, enjoyed using and were just hands down awesome products that I "obsessed" over. Plus I'll throw in a couple of brand mentions towards the end. Sound good?

So here we go!

L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray

I picked this up as a potential alternative to Urban Decay's DeSlick. It's pricey for drugstore but you can always catch a deal, use coupons, reward dollars, etc. I lucked up got two when I ordered two Target Beauty boxes and there were only $5 each. This sets my makeup, takes anyway the powdery look and helps my makeup stay in place all day. Even with everyday use, it lasts a long time.

Philosophy The Present

When I first got this I liked it. I thought it was good but I was kinda nonchalant about it and had no intentions on repurchasing it. The more I used it with or without makeup, the more I really, REALLY liked it! I got it on sale via Philosophy's website. It went on sale again and I missed out on it. This product is witchy magic. It smooths and mattifies the skin. It just makes your skin look good. I've worn this a bunch of times alone over my moisturizer. Using this as a primer for foundation *pauses* it's so doggone good. I'm hoping I can catch another deal but regardless, I plan on picking up another tube.

MAC Raizin Blush

Every time I reach for the blush, it's all I want to use. It looks good on and it goes with just about makeup look. Whenever I use it, I have to force myself to put it away. If for some reason, something happened to all of my blushes and I had to rebuild my blush stash, Raizin would be the first one I repurchase. This definitely is in my top 3 for blushes.

Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha Q835

I've raved about this doggone foundation since I think March of last year. I never thought I would find a drugstore foundation that I would enjoy. Better yet, that would work for my skin tone! I can't get enough of this foundation. I've traveled with it for work, used it on days when I needed something to last on my all day, just whenever I want my foundation application to look GOOD! I originally picked up at Walgreens. After that purchase, I ordered it online from Target and I order two bottles at a time. It blends nicely into skin, has good coverage and staying power. What more can you ask from a foundation? Lol!

Black Radiance Soft Focus True Complexion Soft Focus Finishing Powder

Just like with the Covergirl foundation, I never thought I would find a face powder that I could use at the drugstore. I ended up getting all three shades. My favorite is the Milk Chocolate Finish, It pairs beautifully with the Covergirl foundation. It evens everything out and just makes my foundation application flawless.

Eyeko Visual Eyes Liquid Eyeliner

I don't know what it is about this liquid liner. Of the ones I've tried, it's super easy to use, gives you a nice dark line and it lasts all day. You can do a thin line, a thick line or a cat eye with ease. I have three shades in Ebony, Mocha and Marine. Mocha is my absolute favorite. I have a backup of it on hand. I'm hoping there's another Hautelook sale, so that I can scoop up a couple more. It's the perfect dark brown shade.

Colour Pop Lip Liners

If you've been following me along, then you know that I pretty much have stuck to a brown lip liner only. I've looked and purchased some other colors from various brands. I feel that they were never deep enough to give the definition I like when I use a brown lip liner. I had look at some from MAC and was going to get some but then I stumbled on to Colour Pop. Their lip liners are $5, pigmented, smooth and last all day. I have 5 (Pitch, Ellarie, Leather, BFF3 and Nevermind). My absolute favorite and most used is Ellarie (blackened violet) which should be surprising since I like berry and darker red lippies. It pairs with those shades nicely. I'll need to purchase another one soon.

Wen 613 Eau de Toilette

I got this fragrance in June and I wore it non-stop. I even took it with me on my work trip to Philly. The notes of vanilla, rosemary and lemon blend well together. It's not too strong of a fragrance but it's not a wimpy one either. It lasts on me all day. This is another product that I kept using and had to make myself put it away. If you saw my fragrance stash then you would know why lol.

Formula X Polish in Beyond

I don't know what is it with this polish. I got it at Sephora in JcPenney and was stuck on it. It was hands down my most used polish of the year. It's a d ark teal shade but it's not too dark that you couldn't wear it in the spring/summer. It's a pretty year round shade. I love formula. You can get an opaque application in one coat.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple

I've used Purity off and on for years. This year I got reacquainted with it and really enjoyed using it. I remember someone saying in a video that it's gentle to the point of being boring, I was like what? It's gentle yes, but I don't think it's boring. It does was a cleanser is supposed to do. It cleans your face without stripping it. It removes makeup nicely and my skin feel so soft after using. So yea not boring at all. A definite keeper in my skincare arsenal.

So you know I would somehow go over 10 right? And since this isn't a beauty product, it's totally acceptable LOL!

My favorite handbag for 2015 was Aimee Kestenberg's Leather Soho Satchel. I picked this up on Gold Distressed when it was a Today's Special Value on QVC. I carried this bag for a while and didn't want to switch it out. It's a good everyday bag that holds all my stuff. I love the long strap that turns into a shoulder bag. I like that on me it came to my hip with the long strap. Some complained that it wasn't long enough to crossbody but I'm fine with it. This isn't the kind of bag I think make a good crossbody bag since it's larger. I would like it in another color *shifty eyes*

Now for some brand favorites!

I purposely didn't mention a palette because I knew I would kind of cheat lol. I've mentioned before that Urban Decay is one of my favorite brands when it comes to eyeshadows. I purchased 3 palettes from them in 2015 (Naked Smoky, Vice 4 and Gwen Stefani) and I love all three and they were my favorites for the year. I also tried out their new blushes in 2015 and they are awesome. I tried some samples of thier lipsticks and they were nice and the one gloss I picked up was nice too. So Urban Decay was tops for me in 2015.

Tarte has been another brand that has impressed me in 2015. The items I've picked up this year have been from sets available from QVC and they have just been awesome. Tarte is another brand that's a eyeshadow and blush favorite. I played around more with their lip products this year and they are really nice. I purchased two of their matte lipsurgence from Ulta. Their lipsurgence gloss in Exquisite was a go to shade for me in 2015.

And there you have it! I tried to keep it short and sweet. Let's see what 2016 brings. I already have some ideas for my 2016 favorites post *insert evil laugh*

Stay tuned...

November 2015 Top 5

I feel like this is the work travel edition of my top 5. These were some of the items that I took with me to Florida and continued using once I got back.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

In my November Product Play post, I mentioned that I was thinking about taking the Naked 2 palette with me to Florida. I did take it along with the Naked Smoky palette. I reached for the Naked 2 palette more so. Of all the Naked palettes, this one doesn't get a lot of love but it's really easy to use. This was good for quick and simple looks. The two shades I wore a lot on their own are Tease and Busted. They are very pretty one shadows looks. Urban Decay is another brand that I've been impressed with this year.

NYX Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand

I picked this up during some sale at Ulta in Nutmeg. I swatched it against Bare Mineral Stroke of Light and the shades matched. So I was happy there. The consistency of this is thicker since it's a concealer and Stroke of Light is an eye brightener with a thinner consistency. I've used this for a while and I really do like it. It has nice coverage and blends out nicely. I would definitely repurchase this concealer and you can't beat the price. Its funny one morning after doing my face makeup (primer, foundation, concealer and powder), I realized each item I used was a drugstore product. I never thought there would be a day when I would be able to do my face makeup with drugstore products. So shout out to the drugstore for increasing their shade ranges. They can still so better but they're getting there.

Colour Pop Ellarie Lip Liner

For the girl who has used brown lip pencils 100% of the time, has found a new favorite in the Ellarie lip pencil from Colour Pop! Ellarie is described as blackened violet. I've seen people say it's a dupe for MAC's Nightmoth. It pairs nicely with so many different shades! I've worn it with reds, berries, mauve, purple and pinks. I should try it when different shades of brown. It's just bomb. It gives so much definition to whatever color you pair it with. It's even nice on its own. I'll be due for a replacement soon. Shoot I may order two. It's that good. Colour Pop lip liners in general are SO GOOD and only $5! I can't even. I just can't.

Black Radiance Soft Focus Finishing Powder in Milk Chocolate Finish 

I thought I had talked about this powder a lot more. I mentioned it back in February but I promise you I have gushed about this powder to others lol! It's just good stuff and it pairs beautifully with the Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless foundation. It has about 8 claims listed on the back and I swear all of them hold true. It evens out the foundation, gives you a hint more coverage, mattifies your skin, it sets everything and it makes my skin look FLAWLESS! FLLLLLAAWWWLESSSS! I do have it in the two lighter shades and they are nice to play around with to under my eyes. You can see that I've made a nice dent in the powder. Pan is near! That's it. I'll stop here. I'll keep on gushing about this doggone powder lol! Another great drugstore find for me this year.

Dooney & Bourke Multi Color Nylon North/South Triple Zip Crossbody

I took this bag with me to Florida. I usually try to take a smaller bag with me on work trips. I never took this bag with me because I couldn't fit my wallet in it. Which really was stupid because I carry a larger wallet. I do have a smaller wallet that I carry from time to time for work travel but haven't used it in a while. This bag has three compartments and I love it. I used the smallest compartment as my "wallet". It held my ID, debit card and cash. The middle compartment held my room key, hand sanitizer, hand cream and things like that. The main big compartment held my cell phone, tissues and lip product of the day. While travelling it held my boarding pass, shuttle pass and even my Kindle fit. It's a small bag but it holds the essentials that you need while travelling. Also it was never too heavy, no matter how much I packed in it. The crossbody strap on the bag is nice. Usually they are short on me and the bag hits me at an awkward position. I also used the bag when I ran quick errands and did not necessarily need my everyday bag when I got back from Florida. I'm definitely keeping this bag nearby, so I can grab it when I need it. I got it from QVC. It's no longer available but I'm sure you can find this similar style elsewhere

And there you have it. Short and sweet.

On to December. I can't believe it! Seriously where did 2015 go??!

Bag of the Moment - June by June Ambrose "Milla" Croco-embossed Satchel

I haven't done one of these posts in a while. I wanted to get this up while the bag is still available. My inexpensive handbag kick continues! I scooped this bag up from HSN. It's currently on sale and with free shipping! I mentioned a June Ambrose tote bag I picked up in two colors in my May Top 5 post. I have eyed this bag for a while but was patiently waiting to see if I could scoop it on sale and success! I got in the blue shade and it is another awesome bag from June Ambrose. It's not too big or too small. The interior is nice with a zip pocket, two slip pockets and there's a large pocket on the back of the bag. The flap portion doesn't always catch on the magnet but that's not a huge deal breaker for me. For the price I won't complain. I usually leave it open any way like I do with most of my bags. The shoulder strap is removable but I like leaving it on the bag. It's a well made bag. To me this bag is a cross between the Celine Luggage bag and Hermes Birkin. Well at least in my mind. Please ignore the scratch on the lock. I haven't tried to see if I can buff it out. I plan on picking up black. I haven't decided on nude, but for the price I just might get it. I tweeted June and said she needs to add grey and a chocolate brown to the shade offerings lol! So if this sparks your interest then I highly recommend that you go ahead and scoop it up now before it sells out.

May 2015 Top 5

Well May has come and gone. This was a fun play around with stuff month. Again I had a LONG list of items that I listed throughout the month and then had to go back and narrow down to five, Oye. So far, so good on sticking with five items. Even though I kind "cheat" here and there lol! Here is my top five for May!

June Ambrose Tote with Lock

I haven't talked about bags in a while and I have picked up quite a few in the past few months. All have been relatively inexpensive and all have come from HSN. Maybe I'll do a post. Anywho...I purchased these two of the June Ambrose Totes when they were on clearance on HSN in February. I picked up tan and black. It was also available in red. I could have mentioned this bag in a Top 5 post by now but I kept forgetting. I carried the black for a while and then finally carried the tan in April. At the end of April when I was figuring out what I was taking with me on my work trip, I had a tough time deciding what bag to take on the plane. I usually have a book bag that I stow in the compartment above my seat and then whatever handbag. Of course I usually take something larger. I had my mind set on another bag that I picked up from HSN by Big Buddha (Grayson Hobo). But then this bag popped in my head. It might not look that big but it holds A LOT like a tote but it doesn't look like your traditional tote. I can carry it on my shoulder with ease. It's also easy to get in and out of which is a big plus. You can just about see everything in your bag even though the lining of the bag is black. This was an inexpensive bag but the quality is fantastic. I carry a lot of stuff and it has held up well. I was in Safeway one morning and while I was in line, a lady in front on me went nuts over my bag lol! It was pretty funny. June Ambrose has another bag that I have my eye on but I'm waiting on the price to go down.

Korres Wild Rose Radiant Skin 4-piece Collection

I know, I know more skin items! I told y'all I'm on a skin care kick! I got this set after my no buy when it was a Today's Special on HSN. I hadn't tried any skin items from Korres but I love their bath and body products. What got me about this set is the fact that it's all about brightening the complexion. I have a good mix of products that help with breakouts (which is one of my main issues). But I have been wanting something that helps with post acne marks and brightening the skin. This set is EVERYTHING! Just UGGGGGH! LOL! The set comes with Wild Rose Daily Brightening & Refinishing Buff Cleanser, Wild Rose Brightening 24-Hour Moisturizer, Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial and the Wild Rose Vitamin C Petal Peel 2-Step System. It wasn't available on auto ship when it was a Today's Special. I so wish it was. I've been stalking HSN to see if the set was on event price. I lucked up and ordered another set yesterday when the price of the set was lower. Woohoo!!!! It's rare that I end up liking all the items in a set. I like every single piece! The star of the set for me is the cleanser. I didn't take it with me when I went to San Diego and boy my skin was like ummmm NO! I got a HUGE breakout on my face and my skin just couldn't get back right. This set has not only helped brighten my complexion, it has also helped with the smoothness of my skin, breakouts and gradually fade post acne marks. Rose has so many skin care benefits for various skin types. Do a quick Google search and you'll see what I mean. Also the Wild Rose scent in amaze balls! I can't say enough good things about this set.

Liquid Lipsticks

Here I go cheating again lol! I have been on a liquid lipstick kick during May. I ended up getting three of the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks during the Sephora Beauty Insider sale in April. I picked up Lolita (dusty rose), L.U.V. (rich violet) and Bauhau5 (deep raspberry). I also picked up two more of the Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks that were restocked towards the end of April. I got Celebrity Skin (brown nude) and Unicorn Blood (dark dusty red). My two favorites would have to be Jeffree Star's Unicorn Blood which is and Kat Von D's Bauhau5 . I was also surprised by how much I liked Celebrity Skin. When I first put it on I was like ooooooohhhh!!! This is an AWESOME nude! It is very brown girl friendly! I can't even stand it lol! It's up there for me with Buxom's White Russian and ya'll know I loves me some White Russian. I like these lippies for days when I don't feel like "keeping up" with my lip color. I slap one of these on in the morning and don't have to worry about it until I ready to remove my makeup in the evening. I traveled with the Kat Von D ones and they were great since I had long days and couldn't really worry about touching up my makeup. Seems like everyone is coming out with their version of liquid lipsticks. I'm not really checking for any other brands. When and if I purchase more, they will be from Kat Von D or Jeffree Star.

Graze Snack Box

I found out about the Graze Snack Box via Facebook. It's inexpensive plus you can get your first and fifth box for free. I was like what the hey, I'll try it. I had thought about trying Nature Box but never looked into it. The snacks they have are so good! They are tasty and healthy. There have only been maybe two snacks so far that I didn't really care for. I have my box shipped to work and leave them there since I really don't snack a lot while I'm home. I even took some with me to San Diego. You can set up how often you want to receive your box and you can delay shipment if you're going to be out of town. You can also rate the snacks that you  receive and tell them what you would like to try from what they offer. They also offer special promo boxes and other special deals too. I highly recommend this snack box. Check them out today and get you a free box!

Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lip Gloss in Bittersweet

Purple lippie lovers you need this in your life! I can't say no to a purple lippie. Bittersweet is described as a bright purple. I'm so glad I got this. Urban Decay released some new lippies and blushes. I got 3 of the new blushes and they are er'thang! They are up there with Tarte blushes for me and Tarte blushes are in my Top 3 for blushes. Ok back to the gloss lol! I only got one gloss but now I want more. I love the formula. It's not super sticky and it's the wear time on my lips is fantastic. It leaves a nice stain on your lips. I also love the applicator, It's different. It's pointed so you can really get a precise application on your lips. I can't say enough good things about this gloss. I need to see the other colors in store before I picked up any others.

And Fin! This was a good month. Ok time to cool my heels on the spending and play around with I have lol! We'll see how that goes. On to June!

July 2014 Favorites

Lawd July has been a month! I have been out of town every weekend this month except the the last weekend out of the month. Phew! I'm still tired. Let's get into some favorites!

Eyes

Well in my palette post for July, I told y'all that I had NO CLUE on what I was going to use other than the Urban Decay Smoke palette for some weekend trips. I pulled out the Laura Mercier Artist Palette for my work trip that St. Louis. This is the first one that came out in 2012. I forgot how much I enjoyed this palette. It's an all in one palette where you don't need any additional shadows. You have highlight shades, blending shades, darker shades that you can use as eyeliner or to smoke out a look along with good everyday shades.

When it comes to neutral eyeshadows, warmer neutrals like gold and bronze kind of intimidate me. Sometimes I feel like they don't look "right" on me. If I do a warm shade on my lid, then I typically use a cooler toned shade to balance it out. My beauty pusha did a warm toned look on her channel with some warmer shades and I was like hmmmm. I took two Jane Cosmetics eyeshadows with me to St. Louis. The shades Sunset and Earth are warmer toned neutrals. I used them together and a little bit of Rich Coffee from the Laura Mercier Artist palette. But the look over all was warm toned. I really liked this look.

I almost forgot to mention Lancome's Bi-Facil. It's their double-action eye makeup remover. I've always wanted to try this but it's a pricey product. I got this in a Today's Special from HSN back in April or May. It's one that  you shake. This stuff is awesome. One pass and your eye makeup is pretty much gone. It also does not irritate my eyes. How can you have an eye makeup remover that's irritating? I mean really! I've really enjoyed this product and would purchase it outside of getting it in a set. I want to try Neutrogena's eye makeup remover. It's the one at the drugstore that I've heard the most good reviews about. I may get Lancome's again during Sephora's VIB sale in November.

Lips

Orange and peach are colors that I love on my cheeks but I don't always care for them on my lips. How some people fear red, is how I fear orange and peach. One morning I had originally grabbed Miliani's Mai Tai lip gloss to wear. I know I had worn it previously and had originally liked it. I got it back in March when I got Raspberry Rush (mentioned Raspberry Rush in June's favorite. Mai Tai is pictured). Anyway, I threw it on and I was like oh no. I left it on while I finished getting ready thinking maybe I would warm up to it. Then I was like no ma'am! I took it off and grabbed a peachy gloss. Said no to that. Then I remember I had a Chanel Glossimer in #337 Calypso. This gloss is the perfect orange gloss for me. It gives a hint of orange but it's not full on color. I forgot how much I liked it. It's comfortable to wear and the shimmer in the gloss isn't too much. I believe this was limited edition which is a bummer. So I will keep this gloss in easy reach for the rest of the summer. This is the only Glossimer I own. May peruse the Chanel counter and check out some of their other brighter shades since I like how Calypso wears. Next on my "purge list" are lippies. So I will definitely go through the orange and peach lippies along with other bright lippies I have with a critical eye. Me and brights don't always get along. It has to be the "right" shade for my comfort level or I just won't wear it. There are certain brands that make brights "wearable" like Bobbi Brown. So from now on I'm sticking with those for future purchases.

I made my first trip to the CCO in July. I picked up 2 MAC lipsticks in Del Rio (muted plum-brown) and Viva Glam III (muted brownish-plum). I've paired both lipsticks with the Bare Minerals Gloss in Wow Factor (rose). Both for me are good everyday shades for my skin tone.

Face

My drugstore skincare kick continues. I picked up the Olay Foaming Face Wash for Combination/Oily Skin from Ulta when it was on sale. It's inexpensive anyway but it doesn't hurt to save a little more on a product. It reminds me of Bare Minerals Foaming Face Wash. It doesn't really foam. At least I don't think it does like other foam cleansers I've used. It's a really nice cream cleanser that I used at night when I first got it. On my various trips this month, it was the only cleanser I took with me and used it morning and night. I have really really enjoyed using this cleanser. I poked around on Ulta and Amazon reading reviews on it and people really like this cleanser. Several reviews were from people who have used the product for years. I'm still loving the Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub in the morning. Once I use it up (just bought another tube), I may stick with Olay. We shall see. I did get another small bottle of philosophy's Purity the last week of the month for giggles. I'm enjoying using it but not enough to get a full sized bottle.

I also picked up Clean and Clear's Persa gel-10. I went back and looked at the last skincare routine video that Nicole Guerriero posted on her channel. I knew she had mentioned an acne spot treatment product that she liked. I picked it up from Ulta. I tell you I'm in Ulta like once a week. Sad I know. Anywho back to the product. This is a really nice acne spot treatment. It's not overly drying which I like and it smooths into the skin nicely. It gets the job done without being too harsh. I will definitely keep this in my skincare arsenal.

I picked up The Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes by Garnier after hearing some rave reviews on YouTube. At first I did not like them. I thought the clothes were kind of dry. As I got into the pack, my feelings changed. They are very nice. Not sure if I would repurchase them again since I have other favorites. But if they went on sale or if I had to buy them again, I wouldn't mind using them.

Nails

I was in CVS and picked up some more Milani nails polishes that were on sale.Two glitter nail polishes that I picked up and got some serious use were Sugar Burst and Sugar Coated.

One of my favorite manis for the month was using Funky Fingers Highlighter and Milani's Sugar Coated. This was nice and bright that got noticed  by others lol!

Body

Nothing to report. Used various items that I enjoyed using but nothing that I really want to talk about *shrugs*

Random Stuff

I got new phone in June. My Droid RAZR Maxx was getting very sluggish and it needed to be replaced before it met the wall. I was waiting to see what in the hell Apple was going to do in terms of the iPhone 6. But I got tired of waiting and I honestly did not want to pay a bunch of money for a new phone. I ended up getting the Samsung Galaxy S4 for $1 from Best Buy. Yep $1 plus tax with the renewal of my contract. I researched between the S4 and the S5 and there weren't a whole lot of differences between the two. I also looked at the Galaxy Note. I've been enjoying the S4. Especially since my laptop is out of commission at the moment. I tell you chargers for electronics are worthless! When I get home in the evening, the last thing I want to do is sit at a desktop after being on the computer all day at work. I've watched YouTube videos, edited blog posts, placed online orders and everything on my S4. I love the screen size which I know people like to clown on Droid about. Nifty little thing.

Back in May, I picked up the GILI Leather Roma 2 Tote from QVC. I was leery in getting this due to some quality control issues with the bag. But my play auntie Lisa Robertson reassured everyone, saying that the issues with the previous version of the bag had been addressed. The GILI line on QVC, is her line that is inspired by pieces she owns or would like to own. This bag was inspired by a bag that she owns by Gucci. When I originally saw this bag in the Cream Snake, it spoke to me and I did order it before it aired as the TSV. *insert sigh* The day it aired, I ended up watching the last presentation of the day with Lisa. She got on her pedestal about the Natural Ostrich. Now y'all already know I loves me a tan bag and I was tempted when I first saw it but went with the Cream Snake. Let's just say that I ended up ordering the Natural Ostrich before the presentation was over. That damn Lisa can sell anyone anything! So yes I ended up ordering two bags.  When they came I was excited. When I got the boxes open and saw them both, I wasn't all that impressed with the Cream Snake. I said ok well let me carry it around and see if my feelings change. I carried it and still wasn't impressed. Long story short it went back. I gave the Natural Ostrich a whirl and was leery only because I was dissatisfied with the Cream Snake. That didn't last long and I love it! I have carried this joker and put it through it paces. I took it with me on my work trip to St. Louis, took on my weekend trips and used it as my daily bag for over a month. It's a great bag and I'm glad I kept it. I just switched out of it but I could seriously keep carrying it. Job well done aunt Lisa lol!!! I saw a sneak peek of some more of her bags coming for Fall. Trouble!!!!

Word searches were a favorite this month. During our last work meeting back in April, my coworker had a word search book. I said I would get one for our July meeting. I forgot how much I enjoyed this. I am truly my grandmother's child lol. Great way to clear your mind and de-stress.

Surprise Products of the Month

Wasn't surprised by anything this month. *shrugs again*

Meh Products of the Month

In June/July polish play, I mentioned that I had ordered two sets of Julie G nail polishes from Groupon. I was super excited to try these polishes based on folks saying that these are some of the best polishes at the drugstore. Well er ra ummmm.... The shades I got are really pretty, don't get me wrong. But I feel like they are just ok. After using them I'm not itching to run to Ride Aide to pick up more. Forsome of them, applying the first coat would have me going what the hell?!  By the second coat things would start to look better. A couple I did go in for a third coat. They were just too much work for me. So I'm kind of disappointed. But oh well.

I picked up the CVS Oil Free Acne Cleansing Towelettes on a whim. They are comparable to the Neutrogena Grapefruit ones. These are just ok. They're not very moist. When I used them to remove my eye makeup, they made my eyes water. I can't really say if they helped with my breakouts. They do a good job removing my face makeup. But I don't plan on repurchasing these when I use them up.

Not bad this month. I'm already thinking about how I want to do these posts for next year. Feel free to give me some suggestions. ☺

Here's a picture of part of  The Arch from the hotel we stayed at. I thought it was going to super hot but the weather was absolutely gorgeous the week we were in St. Louis.

On to August and another trip! Jeez! Headed to Nashville!

Bag of the Moment - Kenneth Cole Reaction Painted Lady Tote

Excuse my pillows :)

I got this in the mail today. It retails for $50 but I got it for $24.50. It's is gorg! When I ordered it online the color option said brown combo. Of course I was like huh?? It's taupe and faux leather. It doesn't have an odor like some faux leather bags tend to. There's a pocket on the front and one zip pocket inside the bag. The lining on the inside is light which you know I love. The one downside is that the lining is plasticy. But for the price I can over look that. It doesn't look like it'll tear easily. About to put my stuff in it and test this baby out!

Top 5 Favorite Handbags

Quick disclaimer - I'm not bragging by any means. I have what I have. If you're not interested then cool. Catch back up with me on the next post :D

This post randomly popped in my head while I was sitting on my bed lol!!! Don't know why I didn't think of it for October's Blogapalooza. I haven't done that many handbag posts BUT if you haven't guessed it by now, I am a handbag girl through and through. People who know me can vouch for that. My boss has commented to me several times that I should start a purse blog *shrugs*. Don't know what I would talk about. Anywho..when it comes to styles, my favorites are satchels and hobos. My favorite brand is none other than Dooney & Bourke. And I cannot stand a bag with dark/black lining! Drives me nuts!!! Of course I had to think on this for a minute. Let's see if I can stay within the "top 5" Here we go!

The Dooney & Bourke Leather Hobo with Logo Lock was an easy choice and my number one. I absolutely love this bag and have it two colors (Natural and Navy) and I want more. I'm eyeing the grey. I honestly could stick with this bag in various colors and be a happy girl. Like how some ladies have the Hermes bag in multiple colors. Just an FYI, on QVC Dooney Days are going on where I think all of their bags or the majority of them are on 4 easy pays or more. Easy pay is your friend but can be the devil too lol. All of my bags except for a few, I have purchased from QVC and via Easy Pay. Easy Pay is like reverse layaway. You can break up your payments over x amount of months but you get your item within 7-10 days (sometimes less) and you have 30 days to try it out. What's not to love right? Ok back to the bag....

This bag is the perfect size for me. It's not small and it can hold a lot. I have traveled with this bag without any issues. I can't do small bags. I've tried and failed. It fits over the shoulder comfortably, even if you are wearing a coat. I love the inside. There are various pockets to fit your things and it does have a zip pocket. The cool thing when you order a bag from QVC, sometimes they throw in accessories basically for free. This bag came with a key fob and a coin purse which is a pretty decent size.

The Dooney & Bourke Donegal Crest Satchel is another bag that I got via QVC. I have this bag is three colors. My favorite is the black.  The blue and brown ones I got before they started making the cell phone pockets larger in their bags to accommodate the larger smart phone. There are also two zipper pockets on this bag. The handles are generous enough to carry on your shoulder as well. This bag also came with a wristlet and key fob. Pardon the toe of my grey boot in the bottom corner.

I purchased the Fluevog Soprano Hobo from the Fluevog store when I was in Seattle for work. I still can't believe I bought it outright. It was pricey but I don't regret my purchase. I love the color(dark green/olive) and the shape of this bag. It has a fun blue lining. I also like that you can carry it two ways. Here's a better pic of it I found on Polyvore There was a grey color on their website that I was stalking. It went on sale but I didn't pick up before it sold out. There's a store now in my area but I haven't made my way over to it which is a good thing LOL!

I got the Gucci Joy Hearts Boston Bag (I think this is the name of the bag) pre-loved from one of my sorority sisters who was selling it. I love love this syle of satchel. It's a nice size and fits all my stuff. The one downside to it, is that it doesn't have a lot of organization on the inside. There's one small pocket. Still love it though.

I picked up the Wendy Williams Medium Leather Satchel from QVC when she launched her line. I picked it up in green and I honestly want the other 3 colors. If I had to pick one of the three then it would be cognac. I don't know why but I have lightweight obsessed with tan colored bags. When she presented the bag, she let is slip that she designed this with the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag in mind. You're not supposed to mention brand names like that during presentations but we all know that Wendy doesn't care lol! What I love about this bag, that is lacking in the LV bag is organization. This bag has pockets and organization galore! I love the color too. When I carry this I get a TON of compliments.

And there you have it. I stayed at 5 bags woohoo!!! I could probably list another 5. Part 2 perhaps? We shall see.

Bag of the Moment - Dooney & Bourke Leather Crescent Tote

I purchased this bag from none other than QVC. I hadn't reached for this bag in a while. I love the green shade. It's perfect for transitioning from summer to fall. The green isn't too bright but not super dark either. This is a nice size tote for everyday. But it's not too large to carry around on weekends and such.  It doesn't get "in the way" like some tote bags can. There's a zip pocket on the back of the bag and one on the inside. It also has two pockets on the front. I got this back when the cell phone pockets were smaller. But my phone fits in the one of the front pockets nicely. I'm kind of bummed that it's not longer available. Kind of wanted in another color. Like I really need another bag LOL!

Bag of the Moment - Dooney & Bouke Large Luna Bag

**Ok I had did this post probably a couple weeks ago but kept forgetting to take a pic of the bag *head palm* I just switched to another bag I want to test out to see if it'll do for an upcoming work trip. Any who here it is...excuse the mess in the background and my messed up work chair.

I still have the order confirmation for this bag lol! I bought this bag in 2010 from.....you guessed it QVC! The Luna bag is my second favorite silhouette after the satchel from Dooney and Burke. I have two other ones in croco (dark olive and red which is a little smaller). The one downside is the cell phone pocket. It is small and doesn't fit my phone. I think 2011 is when they started making the pockets larger to accommodate the large cell phones. How fun is the color? Great for spring and summer. I love the shoulder strap and how it fits perfectly under the arm. The lining is nice bright so you can find your items in your bag. I carry way too much stuff but I can still zip it up without issue.

Some Leopard Action

Just a quick post. I was out and about looking for some items for an upcoming work trip. And of course you can never find stuff when you're actually looking for it. I was in DSW in their clearance section and stumbled upon this bag.

I thought it was too cute and I got it for around $20. I don't have any leopard print bags and I've wanted one but I didn't want to spend a whole lot on it. It's by Kelly & Katie and similar in shape/style to their ostrich bag. Which is also cute but not on sale. Well at least online. I haven't been in DSW in forever. I'm going to take this bag for my work trip. I think it's a good size for me. I can't do really small bags and no one wants to fool with a big big bag while traveling. They had a bunch of cute things out that caught my eye. Both full price and sale items. So take a look if the mood strikes ya.

Bag of the Moment - Gucci Joy Hearts Boston Bag

I think this is the "official" name of the bag. I purchased it from one on my handbag loving Sorors. When I got it pretty much looked brand new. I love the shape. It's big enough to hold my junk and it has a light lining on the inside. One downside there's only one pocket on the inside. Not a big big deal. It's trimmed in dark brown and the body of the bag is the signature Gucci print. I like it a lot, a lot :) I've had my eye on the Sukey tote but highly doubt I'll get it any time soon lol. I know with the bags I have I could have bought a "big girl" bag but I do liking having the variety and changing it up every now and then :)

Bag of the Moment - Steven by Steve Madden Tote

I have a non-Dooney & Bourke bag! LOL! I got this bag from TJ Maxx last year I think. It's a north south tote style bag by Steven by Steve Madden. I want to say it was less than $50. There was a lighter grey color but I opted for the darker grey color. It has fun blue and white pinstripe lining, two side pockets and one zip pocket. This bag is huge but it doesn't get in the way like a traditional tote can at times. It has a latch inside where you can close the tote in a little more or make a it bigger. In the second pic you can see the latch and some of the lining. For me it's a good everyday bag since I carry a lot of crap :D It would also make a great bag for travel. I may use this for my work travel next year. We shall see.

Bag of the Moment - Dooney & Bourke Donegal Crest Domed Satchel

Here is another Dooney & Bourke bag that I purchased via QVC. I like this bag so much that I have it in 2 additional colors. Right now I'm carrying the brown. This is the Donegal Crest Domed Satchel. It came with a wristlet and key fob. I love just about everything with this bag. The only downside it that the cell phone pocket it small. I got this pre the larger smartphones era. No big deal though. The zip pocket on the inside is large enough to hold my phone and other stuff. It's a nice size everyday bag and I like the shoulder straps. I can get it on my should without any issues and with the colder weather coming I do have issues with it while wearing a coat or big sweater. I promise you I do have other non-Dooney bags. Stay tuned...

Bag of the Moment - Dooney & Bourke Coated Pop Novelty Duffel Bag

I have an upcoming work meeting and have gone back and forth on what bag to carry. I don't really have to travel travel for it so I guess that what's been my "dilemma". While switching out bags I realize I carry waaaaay tooooo much stuff! Anywho I opted for this Dooney & Bourke bag. Another fun one to carry during spring/summer and you can wear it with pretty much anything. When I first started carrying bags I was into hobos. Now I'm into satchels more.  Not the best pic but it holds a lot and has a pretty blue lining. I picked this up from QVC. It's not a available anymore but here's the link showing the bag in black. I have another Dooney bag that's all white and I wanted to carry before summer is over but don't think I will. There are a couple of marks I need to clean off but just haven't had the time.  So I think this bag will carry me through the end of summer.  Or at least until the end of August.