I'm Back!

Hey guys! 

I've been away from this blog for way too long! 

I missed writing about all the fun stuff I've been seeing recently and sharing my thoughts on it all. 

I hope to get back into the blogging groove soon.

~Kay

Influenster

If you've read my blog for a while, you'd know that last year I was accepted as a member of Influenster.  As a member, they send you boxes full of goodies to review.  I've received a couple of boxes and can I say that I've loved it?! Well, I just did! The best part? It's free to join! All you need is an invite from a current member.

So you're wondering, what's the point? Well, the point is to review and participate in this community. The more you participate, the more "influence" you are perceived to have. It's a nifty idea, though the whole points thing isn't my favorite. Some people already are influential in their own right. They've worked for a long time on establishing their brand, and their influence is rightfully so. But some know someone else who is influential in the same right and got a mention on their social media channel and therefore are more "popular" and more desirable within the program even if they didn't really do much for it. This is where my issue lies.

I don't write here or at my other space for subscribers. I'd like others to read my posts for their comments.  I yearn to have discussions on here sometimes, too! While my numbers are still low, I am so far enjoying what has been said. For this, I will continue to write, and if I'm selected for a box of goodies, awesome!  If not, that's ok too.

OK, that went in a whole other direction. LOL! It's alright. It's what I do. :D

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eyeshadow - Tough as Taupe - Review

Hey guys!  I know I've been out for a bit and I apologize for that. I've been trying to get things settled in my apartment.  It's hard to believe how long it's taken me to unpack from this last move, but doing it slowly and correct is better than quickly and messily.

But anyways...

The internet has been abuzz with these Color Tattoos by Maybelline. Resist as I may, I couldn't resist any longer, so here we are.  I know I'm quite late to the game, but I didn't think much of them when they first came out.  I just thought to myself that I had plenty of cream eye shadows   I ended up picking one up in the color Tough as Taupe.  It's a grayish purplish taupe color with very slight shimmer.

HAHA! I couldn't help myself and dipped my fingers in before taking pics.

So far I think it's fantastic! It doesn't crease on me and makes for a quick daytime look. It looks great on my tan skin, too!

See? And this is just one sheer swatch! It's easy to build up, too.  I have picked up the limited edition ones, the neutral Fashion Week 2012 collection and those will be swatched soon!

FTC: I paid for this item with my own money. All opinions expressed herein is my own.

Retail Therapy - Lots of Revlon!

I decided to do some shopping after all the insanity that has been going on this summer.  I love shopping, have I mentioned that?  I love a good deal even more!  I have been embracing doing a bit of couponing and enjoying getting things for free, or almost free.

Two weeks ago, I picked up some foundations.  The Revlon ColorStay Whipped Foundation to be exact.  It was on sale at CVS.  Something else on sale at CVS was the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain.  Even better was that they had ExtraCare Bucks and I had $2 Revlon coupons!  They also had a deal at CVS where if I bought $10 worth of Physicians Formula, I would also get ExtraCare Bucks back.  Seriously?  How could I resist?  So I came home with 2 foundations, 2 lip stains and 2 packages of eye liners.  They jumped in my cart!  I swear!

Walgreens had nail polish on sale as well, and after my $2 coupons and Register Rewards, they came out for free.  I didn't exploit that much.  I just picked up the Revlon ColorStay base coat, top coat, and a color polish.  I'm hoping the base and top coats are as good as I keep hearing.  Mom picked up some essentials as well.  You can never go wrong with vitamins!

This past week CVS had the same nail polish deal, so I picked up six more polishes for virtually nothing.  They also had my holy grail lipstick for virtually free after coupons and ExtraCare Bucks.  I also picked up a couple more Revlon Balm Stains.  It was a cycling reward on almost all of it, so I couldn't resist.

This is an example of what I have been doing recently.  It's been keeping my mind off of the stresses of the summer.  It's also been keeping my family off of my back as I'm not buying anything, per se.  And whatever I don't use goes to people overseas in need.  It becomes a win/win situation for everyone.

I hope you enjoy this post.  It's a little update of what I've been up to.  For the things that I have picked up, I will write reviews for you all.  I have seen many mixed reviews on the foundations and even on the stains.

FTC: All items mentioned were purchased by myself with my own money, coupons, and rewards earned from my purchases.  All opinions are my own.

My feelings on Hauls...





We all shop. That is a fact. We window shop, we food shop, we clothes shop, car shop...  You get my drift.  I enjoy shopping, sometimes more than others.  I'm a HUGE fan of window shopping especially.  There is something so creatively inspiring by looking at displays and patterns.  I have been even inspired by a sheet of scrapbooking paper.  It can come from anywhere. 

And when you do as much looking as I do, you're bound to buy things.  This causes a bit of conflict, because I like to share some of what I pick up.  I've been thinking about how to write about it. 

Most people call them HAULS. 

I'm not a fan of the word "haul". It just sounds kind of brutal and rough...

Trying to figure out what to call it is a bit of a headache, and I still have no idea of a title.  I know I'm not the only person who is not fond of the word "haul". Kandee Johnson stated she wasn't a fan either in one of her videos. 

I may call them "Shopping Trip".  What do you think of that?  It gets the point across without sounding so brutish.  What would you call them instead?

Image above is from http://clipart.edigg.com.

Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot Cushions Review

These things are great!  I've been suffering from Autoimmune Urticaria and sometimes the mere act of walking aggravates the condition.  Even on kitten heels, these are great.  I remember when these came out years ago.  I put them in a pair of strappy high heel sandals and wore those sandals to death because they were SO comfortable. As I haven't been wearing many high heels in the last 5 or so years, I had forgotten about these.

The Dr. Scholl's website states that these have some great features.  They are:

• Helps prevent ball of foot pain
• Immediate Massaging Gel™ comfort for the ball of your foot
  
• Only ball of foot product made with unique FabuSTEP® gel
  
• Prevents toe scrunch
  
• Stays firmly in place
  
• Removable without damage to your shoes
  
• Discreetly fits all women's shoes
  

See the little squiggles in that exposed oval?  Those are what make these a dream.  I seriously don't think anyone could resist a pair of shoes with these on!

I would completely and 100% recommend these.  They were amazing then and they are amazing now. :)

You can find these at most drug stores, mass merchandise stores and food stores in the foot care aisle.

FTC Disclaimer: As mentioned above, these products were provided to be my Influenster for my review. As always, any opinions provided are honest and my own

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips Review

If there was one product for me to be reluctant about, it would have to be this one.  There is always one in each grouping.  I have heard many things about it from various sources.  Influenster says:

Don't Get Stuck With a Sticker!

Nothing feels or wears like real nail polish. Now Sally makes it easy to get Salon Effects anytime, any place using real nail polish – with no dry time! Don’t settle for plastic imitations that peel off. We’re the real thing. Just peel, apply & file! Learn more at www.sallyhansen.com

• No dry time
• Lasts up to 10 days
• Removes easily with nail polish remover
• 40 must-have styles

I put this one off as much as I could.  I set them aside always planning to put them on and then allowed things to come up.  Afterall, I just moved a month ago and had tons of unpacking and cleaning.  It's too hot to do anything!  Yep.  Excuses.

Something about that description seems too easy.  Did I mention that sometimes I am a klutz?  It's true.  I'm the worst ambidextrous person when it comes to being able to do tasks with both hands.  I can do some things as a lefty and some as a righty.  Nail polish isn't one of them.  These strips I didn't think would be either.

I finally got the courage to do it, though.  I googled for tips and I read the instructions multiple times just to make sure I didn't miss something.  I even looked on the Sally Hansen site for a how-to.  I prepared myself fully.  And then I opened the little box.

*GULP* "Not intimidating" I lied to myself.  I read those directions inside, too.  These came with two small packages of nail polish strips, a file and a cuticle stick.  Ok...

I took a deep breath and gathered the rest of the suggested materials: scissors, acetone/cottonball, some cuticle cream, a basecoat and topcoat, and a nail buffer.  I'm sure you are wondering why.  I had read that the strips show nail ridges, so I made sure to double check that my cuticles were extra groomed and that my nail beds.were smooth to the touch.  After all, I cook and clean, so who knows if I may have nicked my nail a little. 

I swiped my nails with acetone and proceeded to follow the instructions.  When I tried opening the first package of strips, this happened.

I had to break into the package.  I'm convinced there's a conspiracy!  As I applied the strips, I warmed them between my fingers for a few seconds to make them more pliable.  As time went on, I found the strips were easier to smooth if I cut the bulk of the excess once I placed the strips on the nail.  Somewhere I had read that using a basecoat made the strips stick better, so with a couple of nails, I did that too.  My little experiment, you could say.  After they were all on, I painted a nice thick topcoat over the strips to make sure they stayed on.  I wasn't convinced that they would otherwise.

So far they have held on, but I will say, it was a bit more difficult than the package let on.  I had problems with parts of the strip tearing as I was placing them on with a little stretch as the instructions said to do.  They also had points where they didn't want to stick onto the nail.  That one could have been my fault.  And as newly applied strips, they look as though there is tip wear.  I guess what this really means is that I need more practice.

These strips can be found at chain drug stores, food stores and mass merchandisers nationally.  The suggested retail price is $9.99.  You can find more information at http://www.sallyhansen.com.

FTC Disclaimer: As mentioned above, these products were provided to be my Influenster for my review. As always, any opinions provided are honest and my own.