Shopping

2015 Unique Gift Guide plus a free HOLIDAY Organizer

| Rene'

http://www.hubspeanuts.com/chocolate-peanuts.html

These are so good. I ordered about 15 cans of these this year. They are budget friendly and seriously delicious! Grown and made in Virginia. 

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Cuisinart AMB-14PP Chef’s Classic Nonstick Bakeware 14-Inch Pizza Pan

These pizza pans are the BEST. If you struggle with soggy bottom pizza, this is the solution. They really do the job well! Combine a pizza pan with your favorite marinara and good pepperoni for a unique gift.

Stitched Pendant
Hue Low Cut No Show Sock liners

These cotton socks are so great. Breathable but still keep your feet warm when wearing flats in the cold.

Birthstone Bangle, Stackable Bangle Bracelet $9

 

Snap-On 870930 LED Pocket Sticklight $6
Craftsman Quick Release Tear Drop Ratchet $15.99

My husband owns both of these items. The Craftsman ratchet “is the best designed tool ever” according to my husband. And the flashlight is perfect for storing in a glove box or in a nightstand for power outages.

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Paint Your Own Porcelain Vases

Pompom Throw $16

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3D Globe Puzzle

 

And if you need help getting organized this month go over to Day Designer to download a free gift organizer. I used it this year which hopefully means I didn’t forget any gifts like I did last year :(

click here for the free Holiday Gift Organizer

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Retail Therapy: The Fringe Hours

| Rene'

I read(listened to) A LOT of books this summer. Fifteen to be exact. And this is one of the top two.

Yes, yes, yes to everything in this book. If you are a woman and you live life, you need to read this book.

So so so refreshing!

I have been a long time admirer of Jessica at themomcreative.com, but just got around to reading her book.

She has 3 children, works full-time, runs an amazing crafting blog, and writes for (in)courage.me.

And yet she still finds time for herself.

If you have ever had a hard time saying no to others to the extent that you are stressed out and exhausted, you need to read this book!

This is one (like For the Love) that I will be reading at least twice.

Are you convinced yet?

Go here to purchase the book on Amazon.

This post contains affiliate links to help with the costs associated with this blog. 

3 Months of Bad Hair

| Rene'

At the beginning of this year I was in dire need of some help.

Hair help.

This is how my hair is supposed to look.

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Unfortunately, my hair did not look like the examples above.

I know I was going through some crazy hormonal stuff at the time which sometimes causes my hair to be extra oily.

But the build-up/oil in my hair was beyond some basic PMS symptoms.

I was not using extra hair products, conditioning, or excessive washing.

I just could NOT get my hair clean.

It was strange and disheartening.

In the past when I had a mild problem of hair product build-up, I had used the old stand-by.

click photo for affiliate link

And I still love this Neutrogena Shampoo.

It’s just not for extreme cases of hair funk.

Anyway, I went to my hair dresser and told her my problem.

She washed my hair and was SHOCKED at how dirty it looked even after a deep shampoo and blow out.

So she said, ” Go buy cheap Suave Natural Clarifying Shampoo and use it for every wash.”

click photo for affliate link

I have to say I was a little skeptical, but I did as she said.

And after two weeks my hair funk was cured.

I still only wash my hair every 2-3 days, but the oily build-up is gone.

And I am so thankful to have my normal hair back.

Thanks, Rebecca!!!!

Retail Therapy: A Trip to Goodwill

| Rene'

 I get asked occasionally how I put my home together from so many thrift and consignment store finds.

My brain is weird number one and my style is eclectic so that helps, but I also put together vignettes in my head to help me a picture how something will look with the other items that I own.

And sometimes I go so far as to put stuff together in the store to see how I like it together so I can determine if the said item is really a good buy.

Because a $10 chair is a great deal but if you bring a $10 chair home and you can’t use it you wasted your money regardless of how good a deal it was.

And when you thrift or consignment shop you don’t have the luxury of going home to measure or really taking much time at all to decide because  when you come back the item is almost always is gone…

Because of the Goodwill vultures! Hang on to your treasures while you are in the store. Finders keepers!

So last week I quickly put together an arrangement with

canvas art $25,

gold book ends $5,

a bronze lamp $8,

yellow wing back chair $80,

and a turquoise ottoman $12.

PS. If you saw a red head putting room arrangements together in a Goodwill store last Friday that was me. I got lots of crazy stares.

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These bookends would probably get spray painted white if they came home with me.

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 And I would buy a bright white drum lamp shade to replace the grody cream one.

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Tips for Goodwill Shopping

 

I love how this little reading nook came together in 15 minutes for under $150. That’s chic cheap!

Retail Therapy: It’s All About the Pants and a GIVEAWAY (Winners Announced)

| Rene'

Winners randomly selected by random.org:

Landerlm and Jamie.

Ladies, I will email you this week for your selection, color, size and address.

Thanks for reading! 

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

I have found some great pants recently that I just had to share.

First of all it you are taller and/or thinner these probably won’t be the best finds ever because I am going to assume that finding pants that fit is not as uncommon than finding a four leaf clover. (√got in my St. Patrick’s Day reference)

But I have a really hard time finding pants that fit and don’t make me feel like a sausage in a casing that is too tight.

Great mental picture right?

I own at least 2 pairs of each of these pants.

I know I have blogged about the leggings before but you all: THEY ARE THE BEST. I have them in every color.

Old Navy just stocked their linen blend pants for the spring. You need these pants. They even come in petite. They fit every shape and size plus as long as you pull them out of the dryer quickly you don’t even have to iron them. They are perfect office-y pants if you have to wear office-y clothes during the (HUMID) southern summer months. Bless our (sweating) hearts.

The workout capri pants were a desparate purchase because I was so tired of washing my workout pants multiple times a week.

But thankfully I actually love them and purchase 2 more. They are light weight but not see through which I love.

Pants

1, 2, 3

Now to the fun part: THE GIVEAWAY.

Giveaway

Two winners will receive a pair of the above pants, your size and choice of color.

Giveaway is over.

To enter: just leave a comment below with your favorite season.

For three additional entries share on facebook, instagram or twitter and then leave a comment below that you did.

A winner will be picked on Tuesday, March 3rd PM via random.org.

International entries welcome.

Happy (almost) Spring!

Retail Therapy: It’s All About the Pants and a GIVEAWAY

| Rene'

Winners are:

Landerlm and Jamie. Ladies I will email you this week for your selection, color, size and address.

Thanks for reading! 

I have found some great pants recently that I just had to share.

First of all it you are taller and/or thinner these probably won’t be the best finds ever because I am going to assume that finding pants that fit is not as uncommon than finding a four leaf clover. (√got in my St. Patrick’s Day reference)

But I have a really hard time finding pants that fit and don’t make me feel like a sausage in a casing that is too tight.

Great mental picture right?

I own at least 2 pairs of each of these pants.

I know I have blogged about the leggings before but you all: THEY ARE THE BEST. I have them in every color.

Old Navy just stocked their linen blend pants for the spring. You need these pants. They even come in petite. They fit every shape and size plus as long as you pull them out of the dryer quickly you don’t even have to iron them. They are perfect office-y pants if you have to wear office-y clothes during the (HUMID) southern summer months. Bless our (sweating) hearts.

The workout capri pants were a desparate purchase because I was so tired of washing my workout pants multiple times a week.

But thankfully I actually love them and purchase 2 more. They are light weight but not see through which I love.

Pants

1, 2, 3

Now to the fun part: THE GIVEAWAY.

Giveaway

Two winners will receive a pair of the above pants, your size and choice of color.

Giveaway is over.

To enter: just leave a comment below with your favorite season.

For three additional entries share on facebook, instagram or twitter and then leave a comment below that you did.

A winner will be picked on Tuesday, March 3rd PM via random.org.

International entries welcome.

Happy (almost) Spring!

Retail Therapy: My Sensitive Skin Make-up Solution

| Rene'

I am so glad I have gotten over the stage in life that requires me to be shallow or vain about my looks (insert sarcastic tone).

Quite a few weeks ago I put a question out on the blog facebook page asking about make-up for sensitive skin.

I had once again developed eczema on my eye lids from make-up, and I was at my wits-end for a solution.

At that point I had switched make-up three times and nothing was working.

Thankfully several people mentioned Physician’s Formula to me as an alternative.

And do you know what?

It worked.

I have been using it over a month and not one breakout.

Who knew that drugstore makeup would be the solution?

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 Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer

Under eye and Blemish Concealer

Eyeliner  – this also happens to be the best eyeliner I have ever used!!!

Eye Shadow Pack

I did not switch my mascara because I love my old standby too much.

But I did try a new method to improve the look of my lashes. And I think it is actually working. (click on the photo for the full details)

⇓

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What is your preferred make-up brand?

Retail Therapy: Wedges, Maxis, and Earrings

| Rene'

While I have not been doing much shopping in the last few months, I have purchased a few things to get me through the summer.

I found this dress online through Target and I can’t get over how cute it is.

Mossimo® Women’s Strapless Maxi – Black/White Stripe

It definitely runs large so size down, and if you are short like me you will have to hem it.

I also love this dress which I also should have purchased but didn’t.

Merona® Women’s Knit Striped Henley Dress
Dangle Earrings – Gold/Coral $7.99
Earrings Cluster Drop – Gold/Blue $7.99

I bought both of these pairs of earrings. They dress up any sun dress, and I love the color combos.

FACTORY 7″ CHINO SHORT $21.00

I kept reading about these JCrew chino shorts online, but didn’t believe the hype. Well that and the fact that I have not purchased shorts since 2007.

But I took the plunge and tried them out in the 7″ inseam. I LOVE them. And they actually fit. I went up a size so that they would be a little roomy.

Tight shorts + thunder thighs = not a good look

Right now they have all the colors in all the inseams in stock on the JCrew Factory Outlet site. Totally worth $21!

And last but not least I purchased these fun wedge sandals that should also be a good transition shoe into the Fall.

Minnetonka Ashley

Have a happy 4th of July!

 

 

Retail Therapy: How I Save Up To 35% On Household Products (without coupons)

| Rene'

Amazon Subscribe and Save

While I will always be a faithful Publix and Trader Joe customer when it comes to everyday food items and BOGO deals, I just had to make a change in my buying habits on big dollar necessary evils.

Paper Towels

Toilet Paper

Dish Detergent

Laundry Detergent

etc.

I don’t coupon much for three reasons.

#1 I don’t have enough time to dedicate to it to make it worth it (aka I would rather be blogging, working, cooking or really anything other than couponing).

#2 I don’t have patience (aka printing coupons makes me want to pull my hair out).

#3 I am not organized enough(aka couponing and menu planning at the same time is enough to make me go crazy, especially after a long work week).

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE a great deal, but I also value my free time.

So I started a subscription service through Amazon.

It’s called Subscribe and Save (they also have one specifically for diapers and baby products called Amazon Mom).

The gist of the programs is:

subscribe to receive specific products through the program (you choose how often),

get 5% discount off the already low bulk Amazon pricing,

order 5 or more items with the same delivery schedule and receive an additional 10% off you whole order

with free shipping.

So my order above includes brands and items I regularly buy at Target.

But this time I ordered them through the Subscribe and Save program.

I saved 35.6% off my order compared to regular Targets prices; I was shocked at the savings.

And I did’t have to wait for sales or look for coupons.

Best of all, all those products were waiting for me at my front door when I got off work last Wednesday.

I love knowing that I don’t have to remember to buy TP, dog treats or paper towels!

Yay for convenient cheap.

PS. if you are a Amazon Mom/Prime member you can even save an additional 5% off entire orders.

PSS. You can cancel or change your subscription at any time.

amazon