Hi, my name is Sara, and I have a shopping addiction

Yup, I have hit an all time low.

I knew I had a problem when I had to beg my roomie to go shopping with me because I just HAD to spend $20 or else I would go crazy, but yesterday when I got a Julep Maven box in the mail and didn't even know I ordered it, I knew I had a problem!

Now I like goodies in the mail, but like I said in a previous post, $20 for two nail polish and some extras is just a bit much to rationalize. While I'm airing out my dirty laundry, might as well admit to purchasing the US Glossybox, yet another monthly subcription beauty box, and making an impromptu Clarisonic   purchase......arghhh I am out of control.

BUT there is a silver lining here, I think. Being an avid online bargain shopper I have come across some fabulous websites that actually save me money, case in point ebates.com.

If it wasn't for ebates, in the past two years I would have spent an excess of $150 on products I purchased online. WOWSER! So how does it work? You sign up for free, click on link to store you want to  shop at and BAM get a certain percent back.

EXAMPLE: I went on ebates, saw drugstore.com was giving double back, so 12% in stead of 6%. Clicked on the link added what I wanted to my virtual shopping cart, added some coupan codes from retailmenot.com (another MUST for online shopping) and checked out. In the end, I ended up saving a whopping $52!!!!

So get to it my fellow shoppers, click onto ebates and shop away guilt free (or a little less guilty anyways)   Happy shopping :)

Below is a referral link if  u are interested in ebates, and NO I AM NOT being sponsored, just wanted to share the awesome savings :)

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=ffrFOYg%2F7pAer6R4rybKRw%3D%3D

Seche Vite Anyone???

If you read my post "Confessions of a Nail Polish Junkie" then you know I have a serious nail polish addiction :) And  while I know this addiction is harmful both to my wallet and my poor roommate who has to smell the stench of polish almost daily, I just can't help it.

So while rummaging through my rainbow of colors  trying  to find the color of the day, I came upon Seche Vite, the over-hyped, over priced, fast  drying top coat that some manicurists swear by. So is it worth it???? Read on :)

Packaging: Clear nail polish top coat looking bottle with a normal sized brush.

Price: $7-$20 USD depending on where you buy it. OUCH!

Product/Application:

PROS:

• After applying nail polish and all the bejeweling details you want, apply one coat of this sucker and VOILA! Dry in less than twenty seconds. No joke!
• Bottle lasts a while depending on how much of a nail polish junkie you are :)
• DRIES SUPER FAST
• DRIES SUPER FAST
• DRIES SUPER FAST

CONS

• Price is crazy
• Smell is HORENDOUS!!! It takes a while to get used to the  lacquer smell
• Doesn't really help MY nail  polish last longer, and instead of chipping it does more of a peeling affect which is fun to remove like a sticker :)

Overall:

I REAALLLLYYY like this product. I think it does exactly what it says and who doesn't want dry nails within seconds :) However because it is pricey I hesitate to recommend it to my budget conscious beauties who read this  blog and are just looking for cheap, readily accessible beauty products. BUT if you want dry nails ASAP, got some extra bucks for a great top coat, then go for it.

As for me, I think after I finish my bottle I might hold off on  buying another because I change my nail polish SOOOO much, that putting on such an expensive top coat just is not worth it to me.

MY FIRST JULEP MAVEN BOX!

I'm a sucker for nail products especially nail polish. So after reading about all the lovely ladies subscribed to the Julep Maven box, I  just had to get in on it.....Oh did I forget to mention it only cost me 1 penny!!!! what!!! Yup!!!!

Meet my Julep Maven Box....shes so sleek :)

Do not tell me there are goodies inside a box and  then expect me to patiently open it. NOPE I tore the box open and look what came out :)

This is the Julep glycolic hand scrub. Think St. Ives Apricot Scrub but more citrusy smell. it left my hands feeling very soft and slightly hydrated

Now to the nail polish!! On the online test, I tested as BOHO GLAM. While the words sound exactly like me, I wasn't too in love with the nail colors, but I am so glad I stuck to the BOHO colors because I really really  love one of the colors.

The grey is called "Meryl" and  it is a very nice creamy grey. While I like the muted color, I already have a grey that is an exact match for this.

The yellow one is called "Blake" and I love Blake :) Normally  I love crazy vibrant colors on my nails, but this the PERFECT buttery yellow to make me turn towards pastels

OVERALL: For a penny I love what I got! I mean how can you complain when you literally paid nothing. However would I become a monthly subcriber.......for $2o/month probably not. Ouch, I know. I love nail varnish but I mean come on I can go to the drugstore and pick up polish for like a buck, so sorry Julep Maven, although your introductory offer is AWESOME, I just can not see myself paying that much each moth for nail polish and hand products.

TO GET IN ON THE DEAL TYPE IN COLOR2012 when you check out!!!!

Friday the 13th CURSEEEEE!!!

It wasn't me....I swear! I clicked reply and BOOOM all my comments are gone :( Must have been the evil blog ghost preying on amateur bloggers who have no idea what they are doing, darn!

I am new to the blogging world so still trying to get the hang of it, but just quickly wanted to say thank u and welcome to all my new beauty divas, I hope you find some fun and helpful insights on my blog :)

And for the ladies who commented on my blogs, I am so sorry if you did not receive my responses, I did write them, but then like a turd face I deleted them all by accident, so please feel free to leave the comments again and I will respond :) 

Have a great weekend!!!

An oldie, but a goodie : Tresseme Heat Tamer

So, today I woke up and decided I wanted to look "fancy" (say it in a snobby French accent). So off I went on a mission to straighten my hair. Having avoided my straighter for the past two months, it wasn't a total surprise that I burnt my arm, scalded my ear and almost fried my eyelashes....Yup.

Half way through my mission, I smelled burning hair and I thought "Damn! I  forget the heat protector thingy!" Hence my reason for writing this blog today.

For those of that don't already know, some sort of heat protection is essential when working with hot  tools on the hair. Not only does it help your hair from totally frying and becoming a burnt mess, but it also makes the tool work more effectively because the tool can glide more smoothly.

The product I choose to use is the Tresseme heat Tamer Protective Spray.

Packaging: The product comes in a spray bottle form. This not only makes it easier to use but also more efficient  since the nozzle allows for a huge burst of spray that covers a greater  area. As a bonus there is small latch that you can push which prevents the spray bottle from spraying itself (excellent for when traveling)

Product: Typical heat tamer spray, but it smells awesome! Comparing it to other heat protectant sprays the reason I love this one is because it doesn't leave residue or heavy feeling. All I do is section my hair into four parts, spray once on each section and comb through  to distribute the product. Not only does it leave my hair feeling soft, but I've noticed less split ends when I continuously use heat on my hair over long periods of time.

Pricing: Usually around $5 USD

Overall: By now, most people either have this product or at least heard of it, hence my title. It's simple, easy, and gets the job done. The only complaint I have ever heard is that it leaves the hair feeling greasy, but that's only when too much product is used. Therefore ladies, don't get over zealous with the pretty smell, spray spray, done!

:) :) :) :) :)