12/11 Money Monday

I received a total of $53.32 in different rebates, all of which went into savings.  Those little bits add up.  It's a good thing, because college is expensive!

I cashed out my TopCash acct, choosing an Amazon GC for a slight bump up in my total.

I hit up Target's special $20 off $100 today, purchasing health & beauty products for the closet, all of which had GC with purchase deals.  My total was just over $90, but I'm getting $30 back in GC and a small percentage back at Shop at Home, so that's pretty good in my book.

I also hit the $10 off $50 toy sale, purchasing my nephews' super fun Christmas gifts, which will be sent directly to them.  I saved some money, I'm not paying to ship, they will LOVE their gifts, and their mom will not. I will get to be the cool aunt so, no, I don't care what she thinks. ;)  A solid win all the way around!

I used cheaptextbooks.com to find the best book option for my son's winter class.  Free shipping and a bit back on ebates helped ease the sting a bit, but college is expensive! lol

10/27 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Rimmel Stay Matte liquid lip  This isn't drying, which I love.  I hate matte lip products that make your lips feel like a desert and then crack when you smile.  This liquid doesn't.  It lasts for hours, too.  Color Be My Baby is a very good MLBB, so a new fave for daily use.
*Roc Daily Resurfacing Disks  LOVE these!  My skin *feels* good and I swear it looks smoother after just a couple of days.

Finals
*Herbal Essences argon oil shampoo  Smells amazing, makes my hair soft, adds a bit of volume.  This is a good daily shampoo that I will repurchase.
*Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama mascara  This doesn't add volume, but it's very black and adds a lot of length.  I loved it as a top coat over a volumizing mascara and will rebuy....when I run out of my mascara stash.

Faves
*Rimmel lip, Roc disks

10/23 Money Monday

I received a $5 rebate, which went into savings.

We sold our no longer needed sofa table on OfferUp.  I was going to list it at $50 and hope for the best.  Husband actually listed it and he priced it at $75, thinking he would come down.  Just a few hours after listing, a couple wanted it and paid $75.  Glad he posted this one!

Daughter wanted to be Corpse Bride for Halloween.  The costume at Party City is $30.  Nope.  I suggested she be 'inspired by', rather than try to imitate.  We hit Goodwill and found a dress for $6 that will work perfectly AND can be reworn as a church dress after the big day.  I already had glittery tulle that we're fashioning into a veil and we found roses with spiders at Dollar Tree.  For under $10, she's happy.  Creativity over overpaying for the win!  And, let's face it, it's mostly about the sugary loot and hanging out with your friends anyway. ;)

10/9 Money Monday

Received a $20 rebate, so deposited it into savings.

Used BP Rewards to lower my cost per gallon on a fillup.

10/6 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Dove Intensive Repair shampoo and conditioner  Not too bad, hair was soft and shiny.

Finals
*elf Shadow Lock eyelid primer  This is a miss.  It was too dry and did not improve shadow time.
*Essence get BIG lashes! mascara  Yeah, I didn't. :(  It was okay, but not BIG lashes.

Flops
*elf eye primer

10/2 Money Monday

I took my younger two to the zoo for one of the final days of the stingray exhibit.  STL Zoo is free....mostly.  Admission is free, but parking is $15, visiting the stingrays is $3/person, etc.  It's good to know that the exhibits/areas that have a charge are free during the first hour of the day.  Naturally, we always go first thing in the morning.  We parked on the street instead of the lot.  Yes, we walked a bit (maybe 1/4 mile) farther, but FREE.  We got there during the first hour the zoo was open, so the stingrays were FREE.  I did pay $1 for a cup of fish for my son to feed the stingrays, because that is just super cool to do. lol  We strolled the gift shops and each smashed a penny, which is a tradition.  All in all, we spent $2.02 and had a very lovely 3 hours together, making memories.  After our zoo time, we stopped at QuikTrip for pretzels for each of us and a big soda for each of them.  I had a coupon for one free soda, so our bill was just under $7.  For under 10 bucks, I am calling this outing a very solid win.

9/25 Money Monday

I received a $3 rebate, which went to savings.

I cashed in several birthday rewards from various companies: $10 at Kohls, free makeup at Ulta and Sephora, free pastry at Panera, and free coffee at Starbucks

I used a combo of sales, online coupon codes, rewards certificates, and Old Navy cash to get a pile of new fall clothes for about $10 cash.  I, of course, shopped through ebates and got part of that $10 back.

I used Office Depot Rewards to order batteries.  The batteries had a Rewards offer that makes them only a penny each pack after Rewards.

I used a combo of sale, coupon, and rebate to score a free bottle of vitamins for my daughter.

I sold a craft kit on OfferUp.  She paid with a $5 bill, so I fed the $5 Tin.

9/22 Firsts and Finals

We have been super busy here and it's been a bit since I did a roundup:

Firsts
*Chapstick total hydration in blood orange  First, I was disappointed to discover that it's clear.  Each scent/flavor has a colored stripe that I thought was the color of the balm.  Nope, it's clear.  It is super hydrating and doesn't have that waxy original Chapstick feeling.  I just wish it was colored.

*Clinique Moisture Surge lotion  I really like this.  It's moisturizing, but not greasy and absorbs quickly.  Fortunately, a recent Clinique splurge scored me two deluxe samples, so I'm set for a while.

*Curls Blueberry Bliss leave in conditioner  My hair loves this!  It's soft and my waves are more pronounced, without frizzing.

*elf Lip Plumping Gloss There is a tingle upon application, but not too strong.  The color I tried is Sparkling Rose which is pretty in the tube, but almost invisible on the lip.  There's a shine, but sadly the color vanishes.  It's also super sticky, even hours later.  This is a miss for me.

*elf shadow/liner stick in black/smoke  The shadow is a dark charcoal and the liner is true black.  I love this for a quick look and you can't beat the price.

*L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara This is an obvious Too Faced dupe.  Even down to the tube color.  The wand is the same, but I think the L'Oreal formula is ever so slightly better.  It's not as wet and isn't clumpy.  It gives the curl, length, and volume and is less than half the price.  L'Oreal for the win!

*lush Elbow Grease  This is a HG status cult fave.  I finally got my hands on one and the hype is real.  It smells amazing!  It's moisturizing, without being greasy.  Works wonders on my always dry elbows AND my tat looks fresher.  I hope they never stop making this one.

*Mario Badescu facial spray with aloe, cucumber, green tea  I already love the rose version, so I had to try this one, too.  This would be wonderful during summer, at the pool or beach.  It's hydrating and refreshing, smells fantastic.

*Maybelline Colossal Big Shot in Poppin' Purple  I've already tried the Big Shot in black.  It's okay, not very dramatic, but works for day.  I was excited to see the purple version because it's fun to change things up now and then.  Sadly, the formula's not the same.  This did nothing for my lashes, not length or volume.  Three coats to see the purple and still small lashes.  Totally bummed.

*Pro Foot Heel Rescue  YES!  This is magic in a bottle.

*Wella Perfect Me balm  This hair product feels more like a face lotion, so I didn't have much hope.  However, it held down frizz on super humid days, made my ends hydrated and soft, added shine without looking greasy.

Finals
*eyeko liquid eyeliner  Sad to finish this, as it's a fave.  It's jet black and doesn't budge, even when tight-lining.  Definitely will replace.

*L'Oreal Hydra Genius lotion  It was okay, not great.  Not a repurchase, but I would use another sample if it came my way.

*Suave Moroccan Infusion lotion  This was my second bottle, so I will be replacing.  This is my favorite leg lotion.  It softens, leaves a bit of a gleam, but isn't greasy.  Love this!

*Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara  Not sad, because I have a ^ Lash Paradise.

Faves
*eyeko liner, Lash Paradise, Elbow Grease, MB spray, Heel Rescue

Flops
*elf gloss, purple mascara

9/8 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Zero shampoo & conditioner  This smells great and my hair felt sleek and soft, almost like it had a light coating of oil.  The package says 'zero silicone', but they've replaced it with something my hair apparently does not like.  About an hour after drying, it frizzed up rather badly.  No, it wasn't a humid day.  I won't be repurchasing this.

*Masque Bar Hydrating peel off mask  This mask took forever to dry completely and then didn't peel off easily.  It did make my skin very hydrated and soft.

*Ulta Beauty Matte Lip Crayon  It's matte, but not drying, which is huge!  The shade 'soiree' is a deep brick, very fall.  It lasts for hours without touch up.

Finals
*Maybelline Colossal Big Shot mascara  It's a decent every day mascara.  The packaging is gorgeous.

*No. 4 Restore & Repair Hair Oil  I loved this stuff.  Lightweight, but effective, moisturized the ends without greasing out, and it smells amazing.  Definitely will look to repurchase.

Faves
*No. 4 hair oil

Flops
*Zero S/C

8/28 Money Monday

Received $11.33 in rebate checks, which went straight to savings.

My Ibotta account got over $20, so I cashed out $20, leaving the rest as a head start on the next payout.  I sent that money to Paypal.

I found Smirnoff Churro flavored vodka for $6.  Ibotta had a $3 rebate on any flavor, making this bottle very cheap.

8/21 Money Monday

I sold a 3/4 size guitar that is no longer used here as my only guitarist is man-sized now.  The buyer was thrilled to get a deal on one for his kid.  He paid in $5s, making the $5 Tin a bit fatter.

I sold two mascaras that I decided I truly didn't need.  They were still NIP, but my mascara box wouldn't close so I let them go.  She paid in $5s and the $5 Tin had another snack.

I scored $2 gelato at Target.  Not a 'big' deal, but one that made everyone here pretty happy. lol  Splurges for cheap for the win.

I was unhappy with a product a few weeks ago.  The box had a 'tell us what you think' address, so I did.  They sent me an apology letter and 2 coupons for free products of my choice from their line.  Great customer service.

The Scotch tape monster had a lovely meal apparently.  I went to use some tape and the roll was empty, not even a smidge left.  Annoyed that it hadn't been replaced, I went to the place where new rolls are stored and it was empty! GAH!  When you take the last of something, let Mom know, people!!!  So, I hopped on Office Depot, ordered another 12 rolls, used my Rewards Certificates and had them delivered in 2 days, all for free.  Now to find a new place to hide the rolls....

8/18 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Chapstick Total Hydration Lip Scrub  This is surprisingly good.  The peppermint is there, but not overpowering, and the scrub is just the right amount of abrasive.  I love Lush scrubs, but this price is much better.
*Grace Cole body mist in Vanilla Blush & Peony  I needed something to meet an Ulta threshold, so I tossed this in the cart.  It's very nice, light, flowery without being too much.  Sadly it doesn't last long.  Even for a body mist, it wears off quickly.
*Sally Hansen Miracle Gel and Top Coat  This stuff is amazing, lasts and lasts.  The color Malibu Peach is perfect with a tan, too.
*Sephora instant moisturizer  Solid 'meh'.  It's okay, not awful, but not great.  I have others I prefer.

Finals
*fresh Rose Face Mask  I stretched this sample until it squeaked, but it's gone.  The more I used it, the more I liked it.  I will buy when I find a sale.
*Mario Badescu seaweed night cream  This cream dried out quickly in the jar.  I didn't love it, but I am now hunting for polish in that gorgeous color.

Faves
*Chapstick scrub, Sally Hansen top coat

8/14 Money Monday

Received a $12 rebate check, which went straight to savings.

Target is running one of my favorite promos 'spend $20, get $5' on health/personal care.  I always take advantage of this, stocking the bathroom with toothpaste, toothbrushes, cotton balls, etc.  This time I had a $5 GC from the promo for spending $20 on kid clothes, so I spent $15 OOP, restocked needed supplies and have a $5 GC for later.

Our local trampoline park had a promo 'bring in a backpack with school supplies and get 2 hrs free jumping'.  I bought a backpack on sale from Walgreens, which is decent quality and passed the 'cute' test from my daughter.  We shopped our stash of supplies, which were all high quality bought on deep sales, and filled it up.  I told daughter's bestie's mom about the promo, so both girls helped other people AND get to spend time together at one of their favorite places and on the cheap.  Win-win!

One of our dance stores had a 20% off entire store sale.  Pointe shoes are expensive!  20% off helped a bit.  Daughter's bestie met us there, so we shopped with friends, saved a bit of money, and hit Chipotle for lunch with free kid meal passes from the library's summer reading program.

Yankee had a promo 'buy 1 medium, get 2 free'.  I got 3 candles for the price of 1 and checked 3 gifts off the Christmas List.  :)

7/31 Money Monday

Received a rebate check and put it in savings.  It was just $5.69, but every little bit adds up.  College books are expensive!

Target is doing away with the Perks program, which makes me sad.  I love shopping for free!  I had a $10 off $10 grocery purchase sitting in my account.  I used it to buy Annie's mac & cheese, which was on sale for $1/box.  I prefer real cheese over powder, but my daughter likes the powder stuff.  Annie's is our compromise.  Ten boxes for free?  Yes, please.

Scored 12 uni-ball gel pens from Office Depot for $1.13.  Gel pens are the preferred ink around here, so everyone was thrilled with that find.  I also picked up some cheap barrel pens.  My oldest says he always keeps a few in his backpack.  He uses gels, but if someone asks to borrow a pen, he hands them a cheap one 'so my good ones don't walk away'.  Smart kid!

7/17 Money Monday

I received my check from Checkout51.  $22.70 added to the savings account.

I was at Target and strolled through the men's clearance section.  I found a pair of jeans for my son for $7.48.  Score!  Sadly, only the one pair and none for my other son, but men's jeans for under $8, I'm in.

I also found clearanced Dove chocolate squares.  And used the 25% off coupon.  AND there was a Cartwheel on Dove.  So, really cheap chocolate, especially for Dove.  The bag is the 'red/white/blue 4th of July' wrappers, but not one person in this house cares one little bit about that.  Chocolate is chocolate no matter how it's dressed.

7/10 Money Monday

I received my check from Shop at Home.  $23.53 added to the savings account.

My Ibotta account had a balance of $20+ after last week's rebates went in.  You can only cash out when your account is $20, so I took out $20 and left the rest as a head start on the next cash out.  That goes to our Paypal account.

My son's laptop died.  I had a coupon for a free diagnostic at Office Depot.  It's the hard drive and was going to be $310 to fix it.  No, thank you.  My husband went on eBay to buy a new hard drive that he will install himself.  After eBay bucks sitting in the account from a previous purchase and $20 in Paypal from Ibotta, the new hard drive was under $10 cash out of pocket.  That is a MUCH better price.

Our AC unit also died.  Specifically the capacitor died on July 4th.  I was planning on a huge bill.  I wasn't happy about that, but it's HOT here and no AC was a NO go zone.  When the repair guy came, he called the company and verified that the part was still under warrant so the repair cost was under $200. Yay!  Not cheap, but cheaper than planned, and considered a necessary splurge right now.

I cashed in some MyPoints points for Barnes and Noble GCs, which I used to purchase a book for my daughter's birthday.  I love shopping for free!

7/3 Money Monday

We have a bin in the kitchen that all loose change goes into.  Every couple of months I take it to the bank and cash it in.  I deposited $16.58 this time.  All those coins add up!  This money goes into our savings account and usually is right around $100 each year.  Better in the bank than in a drawer, I think.

I purchased two items that had 'Try Me FREE' rebates on them.  I made sure to check them out separately so I received two receipts.  I filled out the forms as soon as I got home, stamped the envelopes, and put them in the mailbox.  In my experience, that is the key to rebates work -- fill out the form and mail it in ASAP.

6/26 Money Monday

We received a bill from my son's doctor.  There was a charge that I thought was wrong.  I called the office and they took that charge off the bill.  It wasn't a big charge, but every bit counts.  Yes, we have good insurance, but I don't think my insurance company should have to pay for an erroneous charge either.

When at Target I always check the clearance end caps.  This time I found a Toblerone bar for $1.  My eldest loves Toblerone so I picked it up for him.  'No reason, just love you' gifts don't have to be big or expensive.  He was happy with his candy bar and I was happy to get it for 1/3 retail.

6/23 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
* L'Oreal Boost It Air-blown Texture Mist  This stuff is amazing!  It pops my waves into a cute 'I meant it' messy beachy look, BUT doesn't make my hair feel gross or crunchy.
*NYX Gotcha Covered concealer  This is thick.  If you want a FULL coverage concealer, this is a good cheap choice.  For me, it was too much.

Finals
*bareMinerals Skinlongevity This is a serum that absorbs into skin instantly.  I liked it, but didn't love it more than others that are at a cheaper price point.

Faves
*Boost It

Flops
* NYX concealer

6/19 Money Monday

The van repair is complete.  Yikes!  Gotta buckle down and get that savings account back up!

With a combo of sale price, Target Cartwheel, manufacturer's coupons, and Ibotta rebate, I bought 4 boxes of a Big Brand cereal for $1/box.  I rarely buy Big Brand anything because I hate paying that price, but this price was even cheaper than Aldi.  I also bought each of the kids and hubby a Snickers bar for 18 cents for all 4.  Spoiling for cheap?  I'm in!

6/16 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
* Schwarzkopf essence ultime diamond color & radiance shampoo  This is a new favorite.  My hair was puffy and soft for days.

Finals
* Dr Teal's Foaming Bath with Epsom salt Soothe & Sleep  I love this stuff and have already ordered a replacement.  It's so soothing!

Faves
* Schwarzkopf shampoo, Dr Teal's bubble bath

6/12 Money Monday

So, we came back from vacation and the AC in my van had retired.  That's why I save, so we have a savings account when big stuff happens.  I'm not happy about spending the cash, but I'm happy it's in the bank.

I deposited a small rebate check.  Every little bit helps.  It did make me chuckle sadly that I was depositing $3 when being told the van repair would be $1800.  But Save the Bits! lol

6/9 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Shea Moisture Kukui Youth-Infusing Face & Neck Creme  As a moisturizer, it was okay.  It is a 'creme', so it's a little thick for day use for me.

Finals
*elf smudge pot in Cruisin' Chic  Love this as a basic cream shadow that doubles as an eye primer.  Definitely will replace.
*Essence gel liner  This is a cheap, but very good gel liner.  I'll be replacing.
*Juice Organics volumizing shampoo  There was definitely some added volume and my hair was so soft!  Unfortunately, this smells like over-ripened fruit. blech

Faves
*elf pot, Essence liner

Flops
* Juice shampoo

6/5 Money Monday

We've been on vacation, which was very nice.  I emptied the $5 tin and took that cash to use for dinner out one night on our trip.  It was a tidy little sum already this year.  In fact, it was enough for the dinner out including tip, tips at the kennel today, AND some bills going back into the tin.  And it was all $5 bills that weren't missed in regular life.

While on vacation, we had a full kitchen, so we could eat as many meals 'at home' as possible.  We shopped at Kroger, which is no longer in my area.  They had signs up all over the store with sale prices, but the sales were 'with a Kroger card' that I, of course, do not have.  However, at check out the clerk asked 'do you have a card?' and I replied with the magic words 'no, I'm from out of state' and we got the sale prices.  I have found in touristy areas that those words will get the cashier to push an override button and give you the sales without the card.  Not always, but often enough that it's worth a try.  In this instance it saved us almost $25.

With the above said, we were on vacation and did do some splurging. haha  That's why I save as much as I can where and when I can, so when we want to splurge it won't break the bank.  Lemonade is $4? GAH!  Sure, we'll take five because....vacation. ;)

5/19 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Clinique Happy in Bloom  I received this for Mother's Day and I love it.  I already had Happy in my rotation, this is a slightly sweeter floral version.

Faves
*Happy in Bloom

5/15 Money Monday

Low key weekend here.  We had our moms over to celebrate them on Mother's Day.  It's more relaxing at home rather than a crowded restaurant AND it's cheaper than taking nine out for brunch.

I deposited our most recent Ebates check.

5/12 First and Finals

Firsts
*you are AMAZING lotion in grapefruit  This lotion is creamy and absorbs instantly.  The grapefruit scent is fresh, but not overpowering.  I love the messaging on the tube, as well!

Finals
*FAB Ultra Repair Cream  Really moisturizing and not very greasy.  This is a great, odorless hand cream.
*Sephora green tea sleeping mask  I love the rose version, so I tried the green tea 'mattifying' version.  I don't like it at all.  It's a gel and I can feel it on my face.  At times it was almost itchy.  I'll stick with the rose variety.

Faves
*you are AMAZING lotion

Flops
*Sephora green tea mask

5/8 Money Monday

Husband installed the new windows in the basement, changing out the builder grade egress windows for vinyl windows that fully open AND match the rest of the windows on the house.  The windows weren't cheap, but we purchased at Menards and he installed them himself, which saved us some.  They look so nice and will improve sale-ability.  The extra ventilation will be good, too, as we still haven't turned our AC on.  I'm hoping to make it through this week, but the forecast is upper 80s, so we'll see.  Our parents are coming over next Sunday and we will have to turn the AC on then.  They all keep their homes in the 60s, so our current high 70s would have them melting. :)

5/5 First and Finals

Firsts
*Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb  First, let's just say it, the name is stupid.  But the product is awesome!  It absorbs very quickly, doesn't sit on the face, doesn't feel sticky, but makes my skin feel moisturized all day.  Perfect for summer!
*Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lip Color in Sunset  Gorgeous color, this glides on like a dream.  It's shiny, but not sticky.

Finals
*Fresh Soy Face Cleanser  This is pretty good, makes my skin soft.  I don't care for the smell, though.
*Hask Macadamia Oil  LOVE this and already had a back up for it.

Faves
*Hask oil, Moisture Bomb, Revlon gel lip

5/1 Money Monday

In a case of splurging to save, we changed all the lightbulbs in the house to LEDs.  I found a great deal at Home Depot, which is no longer available.  Cases of LEDs were on sale for about 1/3 the regular price.  We counted bulbs, I placed an order with free shipping.  We did not throw out the bulbs we removed that were still working.  If we do decide to move, we'll put them back in and take our LEDs with us.  Now to watch our electric bill to see if it improves....

4/28 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Acure pore clarifying facial scrub  I like this scrub.  My face feels very clean, but not tight/dry.
*essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume mascara  I do, but this mascara doesn't bring it.  It is very dark and it gives great length.  Volume?  Not so much.
*essence lipliner in cute pink  As most lip pencils, this one is pretty dry.  The color is just a bit pinker than my natural lip, so it's great to line and fill in, then layer a color on top.
*Maybelline baby lips crayon in blush burst  The color is a great, everyday soft pink.  The formula is super hydrating.  It only lasts a few hours, but it smells like frosting so I don't mind reapplying.
*Murad eye lift firming treatment  Wow!  This is a new favorite.  I didn't think my undereyes were very puffy until I used this.  What a difference!  I would definitely use this before a big event because the before/after is dramatic.
*Rimmel #InstaFlawless skin tint  This doesn't add a lot color, but improves the appearance of my skin.  Great for every day around the house.
*wet n wild liquid catsuit in rebel rose  I love the color and it lasts all day.  But this formula is so drying!  I have to add a gloss or balm on top.

Finals
*Hask argan oil repairing deep conditioner  I love Hask and this mask is no exception.  I will definitely be repurchasing this mask.
*Shea Moisture youth-infusing cream cleanser  This is very creamy and was hard to rinse off.  Will not be purchasing.

Faves
*baby lips crayon, Hask mask, Murad eye treatment, Rimmel skin tint

Flops
* Shea Moisture cleanser

4/24 Money Monday

I avoided the Sephora sale this weekend.  I almost caved, had stuff in my cart...then I closed the tab and didn't go back.

We're replacing the windows in the basement.  Husband picked them up from Menards, came home, handed me the rebate form, and I immediately filled it out and mailed it in.  I'll take my 11% back, thank you very much.

4/21 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*eb5 Exfoliating Cleanser  It was okay.  My face felt smooth and not tight, but it wasn't revolutionary.
*Hello Extra Whitening Pure Mint Fluoride toothpaste  It's not very minty, which is suprising since 'pure mint' is part of its name.  It has a baking soda aftertaste, which I don't hate, but it's not the minty flavor I was expecting.
*Juice Organics volumizing shampoo and conditioner  There was definitely some added volume and my hair was so soft!  Unfortunately, this smells like over-ripened fruit. blech
*Raw Sugar Lemon Sugar body wash  Smells amazing!!!
*Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara  It's good, but that name is a big claim. lol  The formula is very wet (insert obvious teenager joke here) and tends to clump, but it is lengthening (another joke) and volumizing.  I just don't think it lives up to its name. ;)

Finals
*Balance Me Radiance Face Mask  After removing, my face felt tight.  After about an hour after removing, it felt amazing.  Definitely one to use earlier in the day, not right before you head out at night.
*Sephora Rose sleeping mask  Sadly, finished this favorite.  I will definitely pick up a few more.  This mask smells fantastic and I look so rested in the morning.  Love this!

Faves
*  Raw Sugar Lemon Sugar wash, Sephora rose mask

4/17 Money Monday

I completed a survey a couple of weeks ago and received the $10 payment over the weekend.  I had actually forgotten about it, so the $10 was a nice surprise.

My grocery store was out of our favorite ham, but I got a rain-check so I will get one in a few weeks at the 'Easter weekend' sale price.

I was going to get a new dress for myself for Easter, but decided the more prudent thing would be to wear something I already own and save that money.  Nobody seemed to care. ;)  They were all too busy admiring the cute kids in all their Easter finery.

4/14 First and Finals

Firsts
*Colgate Radiant Optic White toothpaste  I don't know about 'optic white', but it tastes good and leaves my teeth feeling very clean.  There's a baking soda aftertaste, if that's not your thing you won't like this.
*Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment from John Frieda  I really like this conditioner.  It works very well after my hair freaks out on the Soapbox in the next section. lol
*Mario Badescu Orange Tonic Mask  This smells amazing, but I notice zero difference in my skin.
*Rimmel Stay Matte foundation  Nope.  This is obviously for oilier skin than mine because it caked and dried my skin.  Not for me.
*Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultra Moisture  This is the second type of their shampoo I've tried.  This one was pretty good.  My hair feels soft, but did seem to get dirty faster.
*Skinfix Foaming Oil Cleanser  It's coconut based, so it's very moisturizing.  It felt very good after a day in that ^ Rimmel foundation.

Finals
*Derma e Microdermabrasian Scrub  I'm sad this is gone and will definitely be watching for a sale.
*Dove Nutrium Moisture in Sweet Cream with Peony  This is very moisturizing and smells amazing.  I will rebuy this in colder months when my skin's thirsty.
*Soapbox Bamboo Shampoo & Conditioner  I like the smell and I love the 'buy one, give one' business model.  However, my hair hates this stuff and frizzes like crazy when I use it.  So I won't be repurchasing.
*tarte tarteist mascara  So not my favorite and not my favorite tarte mascara.  It is dark, but it adds zero volume and very little length.  I'm glad I tried it for free because it's been on my radar for a while and I would have been very disappointed to have paid $25 for this lackluster product.

Faves
*Frizz Ease daily, Skinfix cleanser

Flops
*Rimmel matte, Soapbox shampoo, tarteist

4/10 Money Monday

Last week was a bit of a slow week here.

*I resisted the Ulta sale again, which was SO hard since my beloved Perversion was half-price.  I almost bought it, then remembered I have...ummm, a few still new mascaras to go through.  The sale will come around again, right?
*I'm one of the lucky ones that is receiving a month of free bagels from Panera.  They do this for members a few times a year and April is my lucky month.  I don't run out to get my free bagel, but if I'm out already I'll swing by.  My kids are enjoying the random chocolate chip bagels.
*On Wed I took my daughter to the Lego store for a free mini build.  While at the mall, I bought a big jar candle from Yankee for $28.  Not cheap, but that big jar lasts a long time and the new lemon scent is so fresh and clean smelling that I gave in.  Then I woke up on Thurs to an email with a BOGO coupon. ARGH  Seriously?  I had already promised my son I would take him to the other mall on Fri so he could spend a VStock GC, so I put my new candle in a bag and took it with me.  I 'returned' the one and 'bought' two, making that $28 go twice as far.  Yay for coupons!
*While out with just the one kid, I took him to Chik-fil-a for lunch.  That's not a cheap lunch out, but it is good and that $15 or so scored me an hour and major points with said son, making it well worth it in my book!  And I didn't buy during the Ulta sale, so I think I still came out ahead. ;)

3/31 First and Finals

Firsts
*Buxom full-on lip polish in Dolly  Great color as a top coat!  A little tingle when you put it on, but in a good way. ;)  I didn't notice any plumping action, but it isn't sticky, which is a big plus.
*Dermdoctor Kakadu C intensive Vitamin C peel pad    I could see a difference when I used it, my face looked bright and fresh.  It's not drying, it doesn't burn, I like everything but the price.I will watch for a sale on these, definitely.
*elf HD under eye setting powder  This is okay, very take it or leave it for me.  It does set concealer, but I don't think it does any better than just regular powder.  It's only $3, so it's a good item to throw in if you need to hit a threshold at Ulta, imo.
*Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer  This is a gradual self-tanner you use after the shower, before drying off.  The color was not good on me, it was orangey, which is never a good look.
*YSL Glossy Stain  The color was dark in the pot, but super sheer on.  I used two coats and still could barely see it.  And it was sticky like molasses.  ALL day!  The color faded, but my lips were still sticky.  Hard pass on this!

Finals
*GlamGlow Powermud dual cleanse treatment  This has an odd smell to it, almost like not-quite-gone-bad produce.  It's not awful, but it's not good, either.  It goes on creamy, then dries in about 10 minutes like a clay mask.  When you rinse it off, it turns into an oily cleanser.  It leaves my face very soft and refreshed looking.
*Mario Badescu products  The company had an offer a few weeks back, complete a survey and they would send you samples of products tailored to you.  I haven't been without a bottle of the rosewater spray for years, so I decided to try a few more of the product line.  The samples were quite generous and I've used these for almost a week.
-Almond & Honey Face Scrub  Very gentle.  I'm not sure you can call it a 'scrub' when it has no scrubbing action.  The company even calls it 'non-abrasive'?  It is moisturizing.
-Aloe Lotion  I really liked this toner and would use it again.
-Buttermilk Moisturizer  Really feels good on the face.  It's a gorgeous blue color, which was a little surprising.  The smell is fresh and very light.  I liked this a lot.
-Dermonectin Eye Cream  This was also blue.  It absorbed very fast and didn't sting my eyes at all.  It was good at night, but too greasy for a day eye cream.
-Orange Cleansing Soap  Very creamy and gentle cleanser.
-Seaweed Night Cream  This was a gorgeous sea foam color.  Not the gross slimy green of actual seaweed, but more of a Disney-fied version.  It smells fresh, too.  I wouldn't call it a night 'cream', though.  This feels more like a night 'mask'.  It's not greasy, but it's thick and I can feel it on my face.  It did make me look like I got more sleep, which is good.  I think this would be a good product for winter for me, but not during the summer.  I do think it would be great for someone with dry skin, though.

Faves
* Buxom Dolly, Dermdoctor pads

Flops
* Jergens after shower tanner, YSL stain

3/27 Money Monday

I redeemed a few Mobisave rebates and cashed out my Ibotta account, adding to the money currently parked at Paypal.

I resisted the Ulta sale this week, although $10 tarte mascara was hard to leave on the table!

3/24 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Almay Healthy Glow makeup + gradual self tan  I like the makeup, it's full coverage without feeling cakey.  I haven't used it enough to judge the gradual self tan, though.
*Maybelline The Colossal Big Shot Volum'Express mascara  First, I love that gold tube.  Gorgeous!  The mascara is better than average, but won't steal my heart from Perversion. ;)  It's good for everyday, though.
*theBalm The Manizer Sisters  I had this on my radar for a while, and finally snapped it up when BirchBox had it on sale.  The bronze is too shimmery for me to use as a bronzer, but it's a beautiful eye shadow.  The champagne and rose colors are both lovely highlighters.  I'm happy to have this and *very* happy to have paid less than half-price.
*Tocca perfume in Florence  This is lovely, bergamot, violet, iris, and blonde wood.  It's feminine, but not girly, has depth to it.

Finals
*Givenchy Dahlia Divin  This perfume was very nice.
*Tocca hand cream in Giulietta  Hand cream is okay, fairly average, but the smell is fantastic, pink tulip and green apple.  One of my favorite scents from Tocca, it's fresh but not precious.
*up & up Premium cotton rounds  I'm happy with the 'regular' version.  The premium version costs more and fell apart if it got too wet.  I'll stick with the cheaper kind.

Faves
*The Manizer Sisters

Flops
*up & up cotton rounds

3/20 Monday Money

I sold a couple of stamp sets for $20.  The best part of that sale is that it happened on 3/13, so that $20 paid for 2 Papa Murphy's on Pi Day. :)  Convenient that Pi Day fell on $10 Tuesday this year and *super* convenient I made $20 the day before. haha

I sold some science books for $15, making a little space on the bookshelf and adding to the $5 Tin.

I redeemed a few Mobisave rebates, adding to the money sitting at Paypal for hubby to shop with.

I sold a preschool learning lot for $10.

3/17 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*MAC Lipglass in Short and Snappy  I'm not a big lip gloss user, but a friend recommended this.  It.Is.NOT.Sticky!  As a long haired girl, I can't stand sticky lip gloss because my hair gets stuck in it. Gross.  The lipglass is so very shiny, but not at all sticky.  I love this and it now appears to be unavailable. lol  The color is a beautiful bright pink for spring.  I have a feeling I'm going to wear this a lot in the next month or so.
*MISSHA Time Revolution First Treatment Essence Intensive  This is a liquid essence and my face just drinks it up.  It's pricey, but there's a GC with purchase right now.
*StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream  I can feel the tightening, not sure I see a difference.  At $95/jar I won't be purchasing.

Finals
*benefit they're Real! push-up liner  I've now tried 2 different samples of this product.  I thought the first one was dried out before I opened it.  After trying the second one, it wasn't.  This is a gel liner, but it doesn't glide.  You have to almost press it in.  It has a little plug that you put back in to help it not dry out, but I found it was completely dry in just a few days.  I'm no novice with eyeliner and I would much rather use one of the many other options.  I would never buy this.
*elf Smudge Pot in Brownie Points  This was a beautiful copper cream eye shadow.  It lasted all day with no fade or smudging.  At $3 each, I will buy this again at some point because the formula is excellent.
*philosophy miracle worker overnight  Very nice night cream.  I would rebuy, on sale.
*philosophy renewed hope in a jar  I like this, but didn't notice any difference from the original formula (which I already love).

Faves
*MAC Lipglass, MISSHA essence

Flops
*benefit liner

3/13 Monday Money

I booked our cabin for vacation (splurge).  I remembered to check Ebates and we got $10 back (bits).  That's probably my favorite thing about Ebates, how easy it is to get a percentage back on something I was going to purchase anyway!  Yes, it's only $10, but it's $10 more than I would have if I hadn't checked.

Our new mattress is wonderful, well worth the money to buy a new one.  I was super happy to find deep pocket, king sheets at Target regularly $60, but on sale for $40.  Then I checked our local Here Today.  There I found sheet sets for $20.  I bought two and returned the two sets I had purchased at Target.  Side by side, you couldn't tell which set was which so I am VERY happy with my $20 sets.

I sold a makeup lot for $15, which added a $5 to the $5 Tin.

3/10 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Chanel le Lift eye concentrate  Sadly, I love this.  'Sadly' because it's $115 for .5 oz.  That's just not in my budget....at all...not even close.  However, it IS fantastic, so if you can afford $200+/oz eye cream go for it!  It absorbs quickly, moisturizes, and does have a slight lifting action.  I'm stretching this sample until it squeaks. lol
*Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant  This is so unique.  It's a powder that you mix with a bit of water to form a paste that you then scrub your face with.  I tried the 'super' version thanks to the lady at Ulta.  It definitely exfoliates and cleanses your skin.  I will not use this daily, though, it's powerful.  My face feels clean, but tight after using.  I suspect the 'micro' version is less intense.  A little of the powder goes a long way, so this product will last quite a while.  Little side benefit, you can easily travel with this as it's in powder form.
*Dr. Jart+ Liftra contour cream  It absorbs quickly.  I don't notice any 'lifting' action, but my face does feel tighter.  For the price, though, I will not be repurchasing.
*Dove Refresh+Care dry shampoo  This was a great surprise.  It smells fantastic, works very well, and is cheaper than other favorites.  I will definitely repurchase.
*GRATiAE Replenishing Eye Cream  This smelled very chemically, which is not something I want around my eyes.  It didn't blend well, either.  At $245/oz, this is a very hard pass for me.
*Juice Beauty stem cellular CC cream   This CC cream was okay, not bad, not great.  It comes out of the tube *very* thick, but spreads and blends easily.  Surprisingly, considering how thick it is, this isn't full coverage.  I don't like mask-like full coverage, so I like the fact that my freckles show through.  If you prefer full coverage, this isn't for you.  It wears well, lasts all day.  I would repurchase, if it's 50% off, but not at full retail.  I do love the scent.  It reminds me of a scent that I used in jr high that was only available at a now gone department store, herbal and citrusy.  I would love a lotion in this scent!
*Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lip Shine  It might be moisturizing, but it's so sticky that I won't wear it enough to find out.  I got this in the last Target Beauty Box and was excited to see a lip color I would actually wear.  The color Radiant Rose is gorgeous in the tube, but invisible on me.  I've passed it to my super pale daughter who doesn't mind sticky gloss, so it's a win for her.
*NuFACE Prep n Glow dual-sided cloth  Nope.  The wet side was fine, but the 'textured' side felt like hard plastic rubbing across my face.  I'm sure it does exfoliate, but I very much disliked the process.
*Raw Sugar body wash in coconut mango  This smells like a beach vacation to me.  The wash itself is moisturizing.  At $7 for 25 oz, it's a good price, too.  I will repurchase at some point.
*Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream  This does help with puffy eyes first thing in the morning and does have a bit of a cooling sensation.  I would purchase at 50% off, but don't think it's worth full retail ($45 for .49 oz).  I didn't have enough of a sample to see a difference as far as dark circles or wrinkles.
*Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity Face Wash This is truly a morning face wash.  It smells so vibrant and wakes you up that I wouldn't use it at night.  It makes my face feel fresh and clean.
*tarte Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in WCW  This color is a very deep berry, so I don't actually use it as a gloss, I use it as a stain.  The application is tricky, it can be patchy so you have to be very precise.  As a gloss, it wears off in a couple of hours.  As a stain, it lasts more like 4-5 hours.  It's not my favorite, but I'm not going to throw it out.

Finals
*Julep Glycolic Hand Scrub  Billed as 'facial for hands', this scrub is supposed to cleanse and exfoliate.  It felt good to use and my hands felt soft after.  I've had it a long time as you only use a small amount.
*Julep Age Defying Hand Brightener  Lotion to use after Hand Scrub.  No better or worse than other hand lotions, nothing special.


Faves
*Dove dry shampoo, Raw Sugar body wash, Soap & Glory face wash

Flops
* GRATiAE eye cream, Neutrogena gloss, NuFACE cloth

3/6 Monday Money

This week I only have a $6 rebate to report.  It was sent to Paypal, where it will sit until the next online purchase.  My husband enjoys those little surprises, when he goes to pay for a purchase and there's money sitting in the Paypal account.

3/3 Firsts and Finals

LOTS this week!

Firsts
*benefit it's potent eye cream  It's just okay, not worth the price for me.  The sample came in the most adorable little 1" jar. Gah! I'm a sucker for cute packaging.
*Dolce & Gabbana light blue eau de toilette  It's okay, almost too powdery for my taste, but it's not bad for a light scent.
*L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Primer  This made a big difference.  I used it with a few lack luster mascaras and it definitely upped their game.  With a power hitter, it looked like I was wearing lashes.
*Michael Kors Wonderlust  I like the scent, just not on me.  I would love it in candle form.  It's my new van-freshener. ;)
*Pixi Nourishing Lip Polish  This is great at night, it removes all trace of any lip product, exfoliates and leaves a nourishing oil to treat lips overnight. Pixi is earning its keep with me!
*Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair shampoo and conditioner  This is for 'heavily damaged hair'.  My hair is highlighted, but in good condition.  This shampoo/conditioner made my hair so shiny and soft.  I imagine if your hair is damaged, you would *really* notice a difference.  The bottles are cool looking, too.  The conditioner bottle is 'upside down', which as a blind-without-my-glasses person I really appreciate!
*Sephora Rose Cleansing Wipes  These smell amazing and make my skin happy, so win win.
*Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment  Splurge, splurge, splurge.  $175! Wow that cost!  Sephora sent samples, I didn't purchase because yikes!  The smell is awful, but it does make my skin glowy.  But that cost!!! lol  I like this, but at just over $100/oz, I don't think I'll ever be able to justify a purchase, even to myself.
*Ulta Makeup Removing Towel Set  I've debated on buying these for months.  I needed a little something to reach a purchase threshold so I finally added these to my order and I'm so glad I did.  They are amazing!  They are so soft, but work like demons.  I often wear lip stain and I wear a lot of mascara.  This little cloth took it all off with just water and no scrubbing.  I was shocked.  I could travel with just these.  I won't, because I don't travel light, but I *could*.  I feel like buying these for all my friends.
*Ulta Sensitive Skin Facial Cleansing Towelettes  These are SO moist, I need to wipe my face after using the wipe.  They also were terrible at removing eye makeup.  These are a hard pass from me.
*Urban Decay Perversion  Love this mascara.  Super dark, lush, doesn't clump.  And over the Voluminous primer? WOW!  UD says you can reapply after work before heading out at night and it still won't clump.  I tried it, true.  So I put it to the ultimate test.  I applied several coats in the morning, another coat before heading out in the evening, then did not wash it off at night.  I know!  But science!  It still looked good in the morning, very minimal smudging.  Then I applied another coat, like 24 hours after the first coat.  No clumping!  HG status right here.

Finals
*Dessange Purifying Clay shampoo  This was interesting.  If I washed and immediately rinsed my hair, it just looked normal.  If I washed, left the suds on for the rest of my shower, then rinsed at the end, my hair had lots of volume.
*Exuviance Daily Antioxidant Peel pads  There was a little tingle to show it was working and my face felt tight the rest of the evening.  The next morning my skin looked fantastic, without makeup.  That price, though! sigh
*Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 104  I don't know when I've actually finished a lipstick before it dried out or I tired of it.  This has been my go-to MLBB, leave in the handbag lip for a very long time.  It's finally down to the metal cap.  RIP #104  I will be repurchasing.
*Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair unscented  This has a permanent spot on my nightstand.  It's perfect for nights when my skin feel extra dry.  It absorbs quickly, heals the dryness.

Faves
*L'Oreal primer, Perversion, Pixi lip polish, Rimmel 104, Schwarzkopf Gliss, Sephora rose wipes, Ulta towels, Vaseline lotion

Flops
* Ulta towelettes

2/27 Money Monday

1-We did our taxes. And Son1's taxes.  And they're all done! lol  I hate tax time, but I do it because #American.

2-We ordered a new mattress.  As we have a King, that's a splurge, but in this case a necessary one.

3-Our new mattress is deeper than our old one.  Which means I now have to buy not just $$ King sized sheets, but $$$ 'deep pocket' King sized sheets. sigh  A splurge I'm not super happy about, so off to find a sale, I am!

4-Husband DID go through ebates on the mattress purchase, scoring us $9 back, which is going towards those $$$ new sheets.

5-I sold one of Diva's dresses on Offer Up.  I also had several 'I want it, when I come pick up' messages on other items, then they didn't set a time or grrr set a time and didn't show.  Why are people so flaky?

Cents of Style Grab Bags

Feel like playing a little Style Roulette?  Cents of Style has grab bags available.  Each bag will have 2 pieces of clothing and 1 accessory.  You do select your size for the clothing, but that's the only 'option' available to you.  Grab bags are normally $35, but 2/27 only, you can score one for $16.95 shipped!  Use code GRAB17.

Normally I would not purchase a fashion grab bag since there's a good chance I won't like what's in it.  However, two of my fave graphic Ts are from Cents of Style and they have several others I like as well.  If I get one of those, I'll consider this a win. lol  And if I don't, there's always Offer Up to get my money back.  I strongly suspect these bags are clearing warehouse space, so I did take a quick spin around the 'Last Chance' page.  I liked a lot of what I saw there, so I'm kind of excited to see what mystery items I'll get.  I will do a serious happy dance if I get that cute Coach Taylor Forever or Team Luke T.

Stay tuned....

2/24 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream  This smelled amazing, but seemed very thin to me.  I passed it to my daughter, who loves it.  The scent though!  There is a body lotion, so I may purchase that in the future.
*Beauty Brands Smile! Juicy Mango shower gel  Smells fantastic in the shower, but sadly doesn't linger on the skin.
*Davines Authentic Replenishing Butter  Oh I love this!  The scent is heavenly.  It rubs into skin immediately and my legs felt soft all day.  This will be a splurge, but well worth it.  I have tried and love their Cleansing Nectar, also.  Together would make a great gift! ;)
*DevaCurl Wave Maker Touchable Texture Whip  I have a love/hate with this product.  My hair naturally has a bit of wave in it.  I apply a nickel-sized amount of product to damp hair, then let it air dry, scrunching now and then. My hair's natural wave is more pronounced, my hair is fuller and looks great in that totally fake 'I woke up like this' cute way.  I like that.  I don't like that it makes my hair so greasy the next morning that I *have* to wash it since I try not to wash my hair every day.  So I love it Day 1, but hate it on Day 2.
*Olay Ultra Moisture with Shea Butter Body Wash  LOVE!  So moisturizing.  It smells amazing, too.  The scent reminds me of the tanning oil we used to cook ourselves in the 80's. ;)
*philosopy Take a Deep Breath Oil-free Oxygenating Gel Cream  Very nice, absorbs quickly, left my face soft and glowy.
*W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Mascara  This is apparently for people who like a VERY natural look, as I could barely tell it was on after three coats.  For $20+, I should see some results!  I'm glad this was a sample and I didn't waste any money on it.

Finals
*Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion  It's not awful, but it's not my favorite Aveda product.  The lotion is very thin, but doesn't seem to absorb well.  Of course, it smells amazing!
*LilaGrace Fresh Lavender Bath Salts  We found these on clearance, so they were fortunately cheap.  They smelled great in the jar, but nothing in the bath itself.  I'll stick to Dr. Teal's.
*TonyMoly Delight Tony Tint  I finished up this lip tint sample, but I'm not sad because I already have a back up.  I first tried this about a year ago in a BirchBox, loved it, and immediately bought the full-size version.  You use so little that I just finished the sample, so that full tube is going to last a decade!  It is build-able.  You can go sheer, like you just ate a popsicle, or full on vamp.  It really does last all day.

Faves  Olay body wash, Davines butter

Flops  W3LL PEOPLE mascara was a complete flop

2/20 Money Monday

Last week I sold some outgrown clothes at Once Upon a Child.  As always, they were picky, but they did take some and gave me $21 for them.  Then Diva found a pair of brand new sandals in her size, so I gave OUAC $5 back.  We left with $16 and a new pair of sparkly sandals, so it was a pretty good outing.

After our trip to the resale shop, we stopped at Chipotle so Diva could cash in her 'free kids meal' coupon she earned at the library.  We got her meal to go because 1) that place is loud, and 2) I wasn't eating there, I had leftovers at home.

New sandals and Chipotle made Diva happy.  Free lunch for the kid, sandals on the cheap, and a few extra bucks in my pocket made me happy.  Since we left with $16, that $5 bill went in the $5 Tin, too.

I came home, pulled some of the clothes to pass down to my niece, some that won't fit her for Goodwill, and posted the church dresses on Offer Up.

2/17 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Olay makeup remover wipes  Label says it removes waterproof mascara.  I would say it doesn't, since it doesn't completely remove regular mascara.  It's good on other makeup, though, and is moisturizing.
*Pixi Glow Tonic  Why did I wait so long to get this?  I love this tonic so much.  My skin feels so refreshed after using it.  Definitely HGS for me.  The bottle is even cute, with a retro feel to it.

Finals
*FlowerByKenzoL'Elixir  SAD face!  I finished off this perfume.  It's floral, but not precious, has a sexy edge to it.  I get compliments every time I wear it.  It's pricey, but I love it and will definitely repurchase at some point.
*Laneige Water Sleeping Mask  This is an overnight mask.  It goes on like a gel, then quickly dries.  I can't feel it 'with' my face, but I can feel it with my fingers 'on' my face, if that makes sense.  The next morning you rinse it off.  It does make my skin feel soft and look like I got more sleep than I did.

Faves
Flower L'Elixir, Pixi Glow Tonic

2/13 Monday Money

Over the weekend, I sold a box of hair oil for $5 on Offer Up.  Yay, me, raking it in. lol  But that $5 is more than I had on Friday, right?  Because it was a $5 bill, it went into the $5 Tin.

Today I also deposited my recent Ebates check*.  $40+ back for online shopping I did over the past couple of months?  I'll take it!  Most of that was Christmas shopping.  My husband rolled his eyes at me when I first started reminding him 'Ebates or Shopathome' when he was shopping online.  All those little percentages add up, though.  He just made a $400 purchase at an outdoor store and we got $6+ back in our account.  Save the bits!


*Referral Link  If you sign up through my link, you and I both get a bonus.  Thank you!

2/10 Firsts and Finals

Firsts
*Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub This felt gritty, but wasn't too harsh.  It smells lemony, very nice first thing in the morning.  My skin feels so soft after using it.  It's pricey, but I will watch for a sale.

*it Cosmetics CC+ Cream  This smells terrific, which is odd to say about a CC cream.  It's quite fresh and lemony.  But the coverage was mask-like on me.  They say a little goes a long way, so I used a little and blended like a demon.  It was still too much.  It did last all day without fading.  I didn't like that I could feel it on my skin and it looked flat and unnatural.  The line was designed to cover redness and rosacea.  I think if you have those issues, it would work well for you.

*it Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye  This concealer is so thick!  I have heard to use a dot, warm it with your fingers, and blend well.  I tried.  By the time it was 'blended', my foundation was rubbed off.  It is definitely full coverage and lasted all day.

*MAC Zoom Lash Mascara  It's lengthening, but not volumizing.  The mascara formula gives a very natural lash look.  I got it in the color plum.  The color is very subtle on my dark lashes.  It's fun and cute, but it's not for me.  It's actually for my daughter and it looks fantastic on her light lashes and blue eyes.

Finals

*Dove Dry Oil Moisture body wash   Isn't 'dry oil moisture' an odd name for a body wash you use in the shower?  I normally like Dove body wash and was an early adopter of Moroccan oil, so I was looking forward to this.  It's a miss, though.  It is moisturizing, but it doesn't have that great Moroccan oil smell and it has tiny moisture beads which I do not like.  I will not be rebuying this.

*Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment  I think there's unicorn tears in here.  I used it only on my ends, but my hair had more volume and was softer all over.  I truly don't know how that happened.  It is rather pricey per ounce, but I will buy on sale.

*Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins skin refining oil  I love the cream and was excited to try the oil.  After using it for several nights, I don't see any reason to buy the oil in the future.  It's very thin, almost watery in consistency, and I notice zero difference after using it.  I don't hate it, but for $43 I think I should be able to tell I used it.

Faves

*Nudestix Intense Matte Lip+Cheek in Belle  Husband got me this for Christmas.  I love the color, it's a perfect MLBB shade.  I love how easy it is to put on, even on the go without a mirror.  I've worn it every day this week.  I'm going to have to rebuy this one.  It will be great in the summer because it won't melt, but I'm loving it so much this one won't make it that far.

Flops
Both it Cosmetics products I tried this week were a total miss for me.  I'm glad they were both samples, not retail. ;)

Subway $6 Footlongs

For the month of February, Subway is running a promo for $6 footlongs, any sandwich of your choice.  My kids love this promo!  Son1 is having friends over tonight for a study sess and this is a reasonable way to feed a few hungry college men.  A few subs will be perfect for the 10:30 pm study break munchies.

Cash in the coins

We have a bin in the kitchen that all loose change goes into.  Every couple of months I take it to the bank and cash it in.  I deposited $25.68 this time.  All those coins add up!  This money goes into our savings account and usually is right around $100 each year.  Better in the bank than in a drawer, I think.

Firsts, Finals, Faves

I just got a sizable order from Ulta.  As I started to put away my new goodies, I realized I have a LOT of sample products.  Because Ulta. and Sephora. and Target beauty boxes.  I'm not admitting I have a problem, just that I'm running out of space.  I'm going to start listing out products I use in an effort to force myself to not hoard.

Firsts

*Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser  I noticed smaller pores the very first time I used it.  After a week, my pores are almost invisible.  So it works and it works well.

*Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Pads  I got these in my last Ulta haul and they're still on sale, buy 1 get 1 40% off.  I have used Nip+Fab's glycolic pads in the past and liked them so I took a leap and ordered the Dragon's Blood version.  I'm so glad I did.  They make my skin feel and look refreshed.  Plus I admit that it feels pretty bad-ass to use 'dragon's blood' on my face.

*Grove Collaborative hand cream in Bergamot Orange  I love the smell of this cream.  Sadly, it's not very fast absorbing and my hands feel greasy for about an hour after I put it on.  It would be good for a night-time hand cream except the orange smells so fresh that it's energizing.  I will still use it, but not when I've got things to do.  This will be a 'reading in the afternoon' hand cream until I finish it up and I will not be repurchasing.

Finals

*Juice Organics repairing shampoo and conditioner.  I liked this okay, but did not love.  The shampoo smelled amazing.  If I skipped the conditioner, my normal-to-dry hair was happier.  If I used the conditioner, my hair looked greasy the next day.  I won't be buying, but would use more free samples if they came my way.

*it Confidence in a Cream  This I liked a lot.  I found that if I used it every day, it was too much and my skin would feel oily, but alternating it with Clinique every other day worked very well.  This one will find itself back in my routine in the future.

Faves
I'm definitely loving the Dr. Brandt and Dragon's Blood combo.  They're both going to stay around for a long time.

Check for unclaimed money

I just received a check from the MO Treasurer.  There was a news story recently that the new treasurer wanted people to check into lost money so the state could get the money to the rightful owners.  Honestly, this story goes around every few years, I always check my name, I'm never there.  This time I checked and I had an unclaimed rebate check waiting for me.  It only took me about 5 minutes to check and submit a claim for my money.  Now, full disclosure it's only $3, but it's $3 more than I had before I started the process.

Google your state and 'unclaimed money' and see if you have a few bucks waiting.

Ulta Haul

I spent a bit at Ulta.  But I saved big.  That's my economics, anyway.  There was a skin event last month.  And freebies with purchases abounded.  Plus freebies if you reached certain order totals.  It's been a while and those deals are over, so the details don't matter.  What does matter is that I spent just over $75 (including tax) and bought this:

(not pictured, a 2nd Nip+Fab and a BodyShop Tea Tree overnight lotion that a kid took before the photo)  The retail on what I purchased was $95.  So I'm already up $20, right?

And I got this free:

Why, yes, there are some full-sized products in there.  Including a full-size tarte blush that retails for $28 and a Smashbox liquid lipstick that retails for $24.

Since I went through ebates, I received $4.55 back.  Then my order was delayed by over a week and I to contact CS to track it down.  Ulta sent me a $20 GC to apologize.

My husband says 'your 'free' costs me money', but I'm calling this a solid win!