Mini Rite Aid Sale Haul! Feb. 2013

Hello, Everyone!
Yesterday I saw on Budget Beautiful's YouTube Sunday Sale Alert that there was a great sale going on at Rite Aid. Click Here to watch her Sunday sale video. As you may have guessed, I love a good deal! So, later that day I went over to Rite Aid and got a few things.  Wet-n-Wild blushes are on sale for $1.79 and the Julie G nail polishes are BOGO half off. My grand total (including tax) was $19.94! Happy Shopping, Everyone and don't forget to check out Budget Beautiful's channel! (:

The Nail Polishes...

I picked up four of Julie G's nail polishes. When I got home I tried the lilac and peachy-coral color and both are so beautiful! I am wearing Fairytale (the lilac color) on my nails and Julie's Fave on my toes. I will be doing a review on these polishes soon.  

 Blushers...
I also picked up two Wet-n-Wild blushes and both are (no surprise) crazy pigmented. There are four colors in the color icon blush line and I already had Heather Silk and Pearlescent  Pink. Honestly, I really had no desire getting these, but because they were 40% off, I figured I would give 'em a try. I am wearing Berry Shimmer today and it is so pretty! I lightly tapped my brush in and wiped the excess off on the back of my hand and then applied to my cheeks. I still needed to buff the color out a little because it was way too dark on my fair skin, but the end result was stunning!

 

♥♥♥

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• It has been raining like mad for the past few days! I am so ready so pretty weather again!
• I finally finished The Grapes of Wrath this morning! Ah, it was amazing! Hands down, the best book I've read in a while!
• Ross' mom sent us some Valentine's goodies! Hopefully Ross won't eat all of the puppy chow before I can get some. Lol

What Julie G nail polishes would you recommend?

Why I haven't blogged in a while...

Hello, Friends!
I know I blogged a few NOTD posts the other day, but other than that I've been completely M.I.A. in the blogging world! Last semester I was crazy busy with classes. As some of you know, I was taking two literature classes (yeah, that was stressful!) so I didn't have a life and had no free time to blog. Whenever Christmas Break rolled away a few months ago I told myself that I would catch up on some reviews that I've been meaning to do for ages- obviously  that didn't happen. I really wanted to spend time with family and my boyfriend before school started again. Plus, we were gone a lot, too. It seemed like over my break, we traveled around so much visiting my family and then going to Iowa to see his family. This semester should be better and I should be blogging more than last semester if all goes according to plan.

In other non-beauty/fashion related news, Ross and I went ring shopping for the final time! I have been uber picky/confused about what I want. I mean, this is literally going to be a piece of jewelry I wear for the rest of my life. I fell in love with two rings: a Tiffany inspired 1.27 carat round solitaire in yellow gold and a 1.2? round solitaire with pave and a thin band in yellow gold- a girl can dream, right?!
Eeek! I can't wait until he pops the question and we plan an amazing wedding...and obviously spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams!

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I went to Ulta today in hopes of getting some new NYX products and they were sold out of everything I wanted. Boooo! I do, however, pick up a foundation. I re-purchased the Revlon Colorstay in Buff. I used to use this foundation all through high school and then randomly stopped.
• Ross is working late tonight- sad face! But, I am cooking for him. We will be having baked chicken, brown rice and veggies. Remember, we're on a "get healthy" kick. Yeah, I am not a fan. I love healthy food, but I would do just about anything for a cookie about right now. Lol
• I think I'm about to start on my online homework. I've done a terrific job of putting it off and it due on Sunday, but I want to spend the weekend with my main squeeze! 

NOTD: Salon Perfect Snow Flurry

Can y'all tell I've been really into nail polish lately? I've seriously posted like 3 or 4 NOTDs pretty much back to back.

I was in Wal-Mart today picking up a few things and noticed that there was a random nail polish box in the cosmetics department. I stumbled across some Salon Perfect nail polishes in there for $3.98! My Wal-Mart doesn't have a Salon Perfect display so maybe it's a random fluke it was there. Anyways, this gorgeous icy, pearly white nail polish caught my eye...there were some other colors too, but none that tickled my fancy like this one! As I've mentioned, I love a good neutral, but I am typically not into white polishes. I am very pale so white or white-based polishes just look odd, like there isn't any contrast between my skin tone and the color of the polish. Anyways, this color is amazing and I wish I would have seen it a while ago. I looked it up online and found out that this was Limited Edition for the winter so hopefully you can still get your hands on it. This polish was opaque in two coats, but I did three, just in case. Overall, I really like this color and the formula, but I am not a fan of the brush. It looks like a traditional brush but it seemed like the base of the brush was too thin and the bottom was a little thicker so it felt weird while applying.  

Three Coats (no top coat)

♥

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I am over the moon thrilled that the Ravens won the Super Bowl last night. I went to school with Courtney Upshaw and he is the nicest guy you'll ever meet. So, that's two pros from Eufaula, AL that have gone to the Super Bowl and won. #EufaulaPride
• I am half way finished with The Grapes of Wrath. I am so in love with the book and the characters. So glad we are having to read such an incredible American classic.
• Today starts day one of my diet. Well, it's not really a diet. Ross and I have just decided to make better choices when it comes to food. I will admit, though, I'd love some french fries about right now. Lol

What Salon Perfect nail polishes would you recommend?

NOTD: Hard Candy Beetle

Seriously, where has this color been all my life?!

Truth be told, I am pretty boring with my nail polish selections. I love a good neutral and not-too-crazy-colors, but when I saw this nail polish by Hard Candy, I just knew I had to have it! This is a duo-chrome polish with pinky-purple and green. There seems to be a bit of gold in the mix, too, but I think that's more of a golden-ish sheen. The formula can be tricky to work with- can get a little patchy on the first two coats- but I think the final result is totally worth it! This nail polish is an exact dupe of Orly's Space Cadet and MAC's Mean & Green! Whoohoo for a good deal! Click here to see how Beetle compares to Space Cadet. Click here see how Space Cadet compares to Mean & Green. I don't own the Orly nor the MAC ones, but I've seen many pictures online and I can't tell them apart. As far as Orly and MAC's formula, I can't say if they're easier to work with or not because I don't own them, but I don't mind applying an extra coat of Bettle to even everything out. In comparing the prices, the Hard Candy one is $4 at Wal-Mart and I've seen the Orly one at CVS for around $8 or 9. Because this is a "sometimes" color, I prefer the $4 or 5 dollar savings.

Tip:
I found that allowing this polish to completely dry makes for a better finish. The first time I applied, I allowed it to partially dry before adding on more coats, then applied my Sally Hanson Quick Dry Top Coat. The top coat is supposed to make nails dry after 30 seconds. I like to wait a complete minute or so before doing anything, though. For some reason, the Sally Hanson top coat didn't make this nail polish dry in the 30 seconds...maybe it's the formula of this duo-chrome polish?! Even after several minutes of allowing it to try, I got smudges and had to completely start over.
Also, I found that I could get away with three coats if my nails were shorter, but when I stepped outside in natural light, my tips were a bit sheer so I needed a fourth coat. 

Let's see the progress...

One Coat.

Two Coats.

Three Coats.

Four Coats (with top coat).

UPDATE on Feb. 4, 2013: This nail polish is a bitch to remove! Save your sanity and use the foil method...makes it much easier! Click here to watch a tutorial using the foil method. 

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• Ross and I have had a study date all afternoon. I've been reading The Grapes of Wrath for my Western Lit. class and he's been getting some work done. Life of a college student! Come on, May! (:
• We're going to look at rings (again) this afternoon. I've decided on a setting, but I'm still trying to decide on the center stone. The setting is a solitaire with side sides down the pave and I'm thinking either a round, cushion or oval as the center stone!
• I can't wait until Drew Barrymore Flower line comes to my Wal-Mart! I think EmilyNoel83 (from BeautyBroadcast) has a Review coming up tomorrow! I will be watching to get a peek at the new line's beauty goodies!  

 ♥

What do you think of the Beetle nail polish? What Hard Candy polishes have you tried?

NOTD/Review: NYC Water Street Blue

Can y'all tell I am ready for summer? 
Yesterday was a beautiful, warm day in Alabama and it's been nice outside today, too. So, I've decided to bring a little spring/summer color in my life! I love NYC'S nail polish in Water Street Blue, #296. I wore this color so many times last year and I'm sure I will be doing the same this year. 

About the color...

• It's very blue. I wouldn't call it a neon, but it is a bright color that will get noticed.
• Opaque in two coats.
• I really like the formula. It's not too thick, not too thin.
• As the name implies, it is a quick drying formula. 
• The brush is a good size...not too large, not too small.

Overall thoughts...
I really like this nail polish. It's less than $2 at Wal-Mart (prices may vary by location) and is too gorgeous to pass up! 

 ♥

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I don't have class today- woohoo!- but I have to read the first 10 chapters of Grapes of Wrath by tomorrow so I will be a busy little bee today!
• I bought Hard Candy's Beetle yesterday and it is gorgeous! I've seen online that it's a dupe for Orly Space Cadet, which I have been wanting but refuse to spend $10 on a "sometimes" color. 
• I have been obsessed with Revlon's Coralberry. I got it yesterday, too, and I have to say, I'm in love! I am wearing it today! 

What are your favorite NYC nail polishes? 

NOTD: Classic Red with Accent Nail

Can you tell I'm ready for Valentine's Day? 
I bought this Milani polish before Christmas for an amazing price at CVS...it was on clearance for less than $3- What a deal! I really wanted to do something festive for the month of love and red is such a classic color.

I love the Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro polish in 375 Stiletto Red- cute name, right?! The formula is very creamy and dries relatively quickly. As I mentioned before, longevity isn't a big deal to me because I change my polish every few days, but I have wore this for about 4 days with little to no chipping.

Used two coats with top coat. 

Milani's One Coat Glitter in 521 Red Sparkle is gorgeous! I've been on the hunt for a fun glitter polish and this one is lovely. I don't think you can get away with one coat, as the brand claims, but two coats does the trick! This formula dries pretty quick, so you may need to work fast.

Used two coats with top coat. 

I like this nail look. I need to get a heart stencil because I think it would have been so cute to do two accents nails. One glitter and one gold heart on my index finger. Maybe I'll post that another time!

Glitter is a bitch to remove so use the foil method. Click here to see a tutorial of the foil method.

 ♥

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I had my first test of my last semester! I am pretty sure I made an A! woohoo!
• I had a lovely conversation with my sister tonight! So glad when we get a chance to chat!
• I gave blood today and ate my weight in Chinese food after to regain my strength...or at least that was the excuse I gave myself! 

What are your favorite festive polishes for Valentine's Day? 

Review: Milani Purple Gleam & Sale Alert

Just a heads up, CVS is having a clearance sale...50-75% select items! I saw the sale on Nouveau Cheap's blog. The link will be below. You might want to scan the sale items before you check out because some of the sale items on the list were not on sale at my CVS.

I ended up buying four Milani nail polishes, the Revlon Colorstay concealer in light and a backup of my favorite light, Wet-n-Wild's single shadow in Brulee. I got all this for $9.06 with $22.93 in savings.

Whenever I got home I decided to try Milani's One Coat Glitter in Purple Gleam. I have been obsessed with purples lately, literally cannot get enough!

The polish...

One Coat. 

I really wanted to put this polish to the test since it's called one coat. On my index and ring finger I'm only wearing one coat of the glitter polish. On my middle and pinky finger I'm wearing Wet-n-Wild's Disturbia (a deep purple) as a base and one coat of Purple Gleam, Honestly, one coat of Purple Gleam alone doesn't cut it for me. I do, however, like the purple base with the glitter over it. Hopefully it will be easier to get off because there isn't as much glitter on that nail. 

Two Coats.

I have two coats on all the nails and I think they all look the same. In the future, I will use the Disturbia as a base and only one coat of the glitter polish because I don't think it makes that big of a difference and I don't have an extra layer of glitter to get off. 

Overall Thoughts...

I think this is a beautiful true purple glitter polish. Obviously the one coat claim isn't entirely true, but with either a base coat or two glitter coats, it's just perfect. I do reccommend this polish to anyone wanting to try it. It's gorgeous on the nails...and it's only $1.25 at CVS right now!

Glitter is tough to remove so use the foil method to remove this (or other glitter) polishes.

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I am overly excited about my wonderful deals from CVS!
• Ross' Christmas present came in today and the nail polish I ordered for myself came in too. What a pleasant surprise since it came a few days early! 
• I had a study session with a friend from class and I feel a little bit better about our final tomorrow. We met at Starbucks and I had the Gingerbread Latte (which is delicious), but since I don't drink things with caffeine, I'm a bit jittery. Lol

Click here to see the CVS clearance list on Nouveau Cheap's blog.


Which Milani polishes do you like?! (:

Nail of the Day: Maybelline Sequins in 280 Sea-Quins

This is my first time trying Maybelline's Color Show line. I've seen a few colors in their permanent line that were pretty, but none that I had to have. Today, I was in Wal-Mart and saw the color Sea-Quins #820 from their Limited Edition Collection. This collection has been out for a while now, but this is the first time I saw this particular color. There are eight colors in the entire Sequins collection, but this is the only one that stood out to me. I believe I paid less than $3 for this at Wal-Mart- what a steal! (:
I wish I wouldn't have been so late on the bandwagon to try this line's nail polish because this one is great! I will be purchasing more from the Color Show line!

The polish is opaque in 2 coats. Even with a top coat, the glitter still feels rough and doesn't give the shinny finish I would like. Overall, I didn't have any problems with this color and formula. The color is an absolutely gorgeous teal glitter with some sapphire glitter bits in the polish. I paired this polish with Hard Candy's Mr. Right, a basic navy.

Use the foil method to remove stubborn glitter.

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• I am obsessed with this nail polish and will be getting a lot of use of it...thinking about buying a back-up.
• I took my first final yesterday. It was in Physical Anthropology and I got a 100 on the final and ended up with an A in the class. (:
• How gorgeous were the lovely ladies in the VS fashion show?!! 
• I ordered Ross' Christmas present last night...I think it should be here tomorrow! 

Have you tried Maybelline's Color Show line? What are your favorite colors?

Throwing Fireballs With Family!

Hello, Pretty People! 
I know it's been forever since my last blog, but school has been crazy...only two more weeks till Christmas break! A month or so ago I mentioned that my family and I would be throwing fireballs in the upcoming weeks and that I would be blogging about it.
I first want to start out by saying that it was so amazing to get together with my family. I had not seen some of them in over 10 years! So, yeah, I was basically re-meeting some of my family all over again.

About fireballs...
Throwing fireballs has been a family tradition for many generations. I asked my grandfather how the tradition started and he couldn't remember. All he could remember was his mother (my great-grandmother) sitting around with her sisters making them for Christmas. When my grandfather was growing up, they didn't have a lot of money for Christmas, so for their entertainment, they threw balls of fire back and forth. Yes, fireballs are literally on fire! Last year, my grandmother made all the fireballs for our family (about 10-12). At that time, only 8 people participated. This year, family I had not seen in over a decade came down, so we needed a bot more than 10-12. This year, we had 22 fireballs with about 15 people throwing.

Last Year (New Year's Eve 2011) 

This weekend (Dec. 1st, 2012)

Diclaimer: I am NOT to be responsible for anyone getting hurt playing with fireballs. My family has been doing this for many, many years so we know what we're doing. Do not attempt! 

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• It was so amazing seeing everyone last night! What a great way to start off the Holiday season! 
• I have my first final tomorrow! Wish me luck! 
• I think I will start Christmas shopping tomorrow! (:

Review: Maybelline Brow Pencil

Holy Grail Brow Pencil!
I have been using this brow pencil for several months now and I have to say, I love it! I don't plan on using any other kind because I am happy with this one! According to the packaging, this is the #1 brow and liner pencil in the U.S.

This is probably the only time you'll ever hear me say that I like this product because it isn't crazy pigmented. When it comes to brow pencils, I feel like less is more. I was so turned off by brow products for years because it was too creamy and too pigmented and my brows looked drawn on...not a cute look, ladies! This one by Maybelline has just enough to give a polished, natural look to your pretty face. When filing in your brows, remember, if you have blonde hair, use a brow pencil that's a shade or two darker than your hair color; if you're a brunette, use a brow pencil that's a shade or two lighter than your hair color. If you have black hair, dark brown looks more flattering and natural, as black can be way too harsh.

My shade is blonde because even though my hair is a light brown, using a brow pencil labeled "light brown" can be a bit harsh.

Daily Dose of Pretty...

• It's the day after the election which means... no more campaign ads! 
• My research paper is due in a week! I am kinda excited to just turn in the damn thing and be done with it. Lol
• I've been obsessively looking at engagement rings online. The "looking" process is so exciting!
• I have two reviews coming in the next week or so. I will be reviewing Suave Dry Shampoo and Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Anti-Chip Top Coat. Trust me, I will have some strong feelings during these reviews...stay tuned. 

Have you tried the Maybelline Brow Pencil or do you have a favorite one?