Where have you been!?

Wow, I haven't touched this blog since my birthday in October. I feel so bad. Unfortunately, life became so complicated and on top of that, I didn't have a functioning computer to work with. I'm going to try to make an honest effort to restart what I started at the end of 2010. To be honest, in light of everything that's been going on in my life and in the world during the past few months, it's like I've had a revelation. Life is just too short and precious to lead such an average life. I am, without a doubt, a homebody. I LOVE to stay at home with my family and just relax on my days off from work, with the occasional getting together with my friends. I will forever be a homebody but I would like to make an honest effort to get out more and just enjoy life. I read something somewhere, I can't really recall where I read it, but it was something like "I wanna be able to look back at my life and say I can't believe I did that...not I wish I had done that." You won't be young forever and you live life once..so, you only have one chance to make it a great one. So, I've completed college and I have a career at the age of 23. College is over, but there's so much to do and to experience. So I vowed to myself to be more open to life experiences...For the rest of the year I vow to (1) re-kindle friendships that have suffered due to my going away to college, (2) meet new people, (3) travel, travel, travel!, (4) work on this blog (even if it's just for myself to look back on in the future) and (5) to be happy. So I will restart this within the next week. I have done a "little" shopping so I have A LOT to share (not to brag about)...So stay tuned!

Rite Aid: Glam Camp Bag

It's been awhile since my last post but I do have some goodies to share within the next few posts. I went to Sephora and used my $30 gift card that I got from one of my close friends for graduation and bought a Too Faced Beauty in a Box set and I got my Sephora birthday present as well. Hopefully, I can get those pictures up soon. But for now, I wanted to share my Rite Aid Glam Camp Bag. It was free, as part of a promotional deal when you buy I think $10 worth of a variety of beauty products. I got mine because of the Maybelline products I purchased in August. I had higher expectations but hey, it was free so I can't complain.

The bag came with 4 samples:
1) Shick razor
2) Elasta QP conditioning shining gel
3) Dickinson's daily facial towelette
4) Jane eyeshadow quad

Like I said, I had higher expectations, but this girl is NOT complaining ... why? Because I didn't pay for it. haha

RiteAid Haul: Part II

Purchase #4:
1. Maybelline colorsensational lipstick in Pink Please ($7.19) - $4.31
total with tax: $4.69

coupons used:
$3 UP rewards
$1 Maybelline coupon
total paid: $0.69

Purchase #5:
1. Maybelline moisture extreme lipstick in Roseberry ($5.19) - $3.11
2. Playtex 18ct tampons ($5.29) - $4.00
total with tax: $7.74

coupons used:
$2 off Maybelline colorsensational lip product coupon
$2 off Playtex coupon
$1 UP rewards
total paid: $2.74

UP rewards:
$3 UP rewards for Playtex purchase

For the week of Sept. 19-25th, RiteAid had 40% off all Neutrogena products, BOGOfree Sally Hansen nail polishes and BOGOfree NYC cosmetics. I had to take advantage of their deals because I've been wanting to try the Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover.  And of course, I can never have enough nail polishes to add to my collection. lol Unfortunately, I didn't get to take pictures of the Sally Hansen nail polishes. I got them in Wet Cement and Purple Potion.

Purchase #6:
1. Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover x3 ($7.99) - $4.79
2. Neutrogena lip moisture SPF15 ($3.29) - $1.97
total with tax: $17.62

coupons used:
$3 UP rewards
total paid: $14.62

UP rewards:
$5 UP reward for $15 of neutrogena

RiteAid Haul: Part I

This is going to be a fairly long post and part 1 of a 2 part series. About 2 weeks ago (Sept. 12-18), Rite Aid had a 40% off all Maybelline cosmetics deal. I also found a couple of printable manufacturer coupons online, as well as Rite Aid video value coupons. 

Purchase #1:

1. Maybelline dream matte powder ($7.85) - $4.71
2. Maybelline colossal ($7.39) - $4.43
3. Maybelline mineral concealer ($7.89) - $4.73
4. Crest 3d white vivid toothpaste ($3.79) - $2.99
5. Playtex 18ct tampons ($5.29) - $4.00
total with tax: $22.00

coupons used:
$4/$20 RiteAid VV coupon
$2 off Maybelline cosmetics RiteAid VV coupon
$1 off Maybelline mascara coupon
$2 off Playtex coupon
$1 UP rewards
total paid: $12.00

UP rewards:
$1 UP reward for Maybelline mascara purchase
$3 UP reward for Playtex purchase
$1.50 UP reward for Crest purchase

Purchase #2:
1. Maybelline colorsensational lipstick in warm me up ($7.19) - $4.31
total with tax: $4.69

coupons used:
$3 UP rewards
$1 Maybelline coupon
total paid: $0.69

Purchase #3:
1. Maybelline dream smooth mousse foundation ($9.39) - $5.63
2. Maybelline colorsensational lipstick in Plaza Pink ($7.19) - $4.31
3. Nivea creme tins x2 ($0.99) - BOGO50%off - $1.48
total with tax: $12.43

coupons used:
$2 off Maybelline colorsensational lip product coupon
$2 off Maybelline smooth mousse foundation coupon
$1.50 UP rewards
total paid: $6.93

UP rewards:
$2 UP rewards for nivea purchase

NOTD: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color - Purple Potion

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Purple Potion

I purchased the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Purple Potion. I absolutely LOVE this color for the fall. In the picture above, it looks more purple (I don't know if it has anything to do with my purple walls lol), but in person, it looks more blue (at least it does to me). Maybe, this is one of those purple/blue colors that changes color based on the person looking at it. It's in a pearly (?) finish and it takes about 1-2 coats to reach true opacity, depending on how thick you put it on. I find that Sally Hansen nail polishes dry fairly quickly, and I love that - especially when you're in a hurry or just don't want to wait that long for your nails to dry. If you still don't own this color, RiteAid has a BOGOfree deal on all Sally Hansen nail polishes until tonight (Saturday, September 25th) in the East.

Funny Face Beauty Contest

So my laptop is still broken and I'm still in the process of figuring out if I want to: (1) spend the money to get the screen fixed (~$500 for a new screen, taxes and labor) or (2) buy the Macbook Pro that I've been wanting to get all summer. I guess it will all depend on whether or not I can somehow get a job within the month of October. I hope I can figure this out soon because borrowing my sister's laptop is a hassle for both of us. lol

Anyway, I wanted to post about FunnyFace Beauty's 300 subscriber giveaway. I'm a fairly new subscriber, but let me tell you, ever since I found her blog, I've read through ALL her posts. I stayed up until about 4/5am one evening just click, clicking away from one post to the next. My favorite parts of her blog (besides the haul posts, of course) are the monthly favorites and dare to wear challenges. I would love to try one of her dare to wear challenges, but I'm NOT very good with a makeup brush. I get by each day just by dabbing a little eyeshadow here and some eyeliner there and I'm good to go. lol

So, enough blabbering. Unfortunately, I don't have any readers, but if anyone happens to fall upon my page, I highly encourage you to subscribe to Alicia at FunnyFace Beauty. Don't forget to enter her 300 subscriber giveaway! The prizes include Mac, Urban Decay Naked Pallette, a super cute makeup case from Plaid Poni Designs and more. Good luck to all and thank you to Alicia for hosting such an awesome giveaway!

RiteAid Haul Series

I'm itching to post about my recent drugstore purchases, but unfortunately, my laptop screen broke =( I would love to dedicate this next series of posts to the lovely ladies over at Drugstore Divas. They have a WONDERFUL blog dedicated to shopping on a budget. These days, there's nothing wrong with being frugal and even before the whole recession hit, I've always been a penny pincher.

So, I got this post idea from the ladies of Drugstore Divas. I would love to share all the goodies I purchased the past two weeks at RiteAid. RiteAid has amazing deals and the UP rewards system is GENIUS (but sometimes, I feel like it's a death trap lol). The savings are even better if you take the time to search for manufacturer coupons and pair them with RiteAid VV coupons and UP rewards.

I'm so satisfied with my purchases; especially since I saved ALOT of money. I'm talking about $110 worth of stuff for about $35. I made multiple trips/purchases at various RiteAids around my house to take advantage of all the coupons and UP rewards. I don't know how long it will take me to put up the posts, but I will put them up as soon as I can.