Mixed Up Monday: Recent Purchases

Happy Halloween!  I'm lazy and boring and didn't do anything for Halloween nor am I dressing up.  Husband has too much studying to do to break away.  And I just hate to spend money on a costume, and I'm too lazy to make one.

Saturday I had a facial from my best friend.  She's an Esthetician, and owns a spa in our hometown.  My skin has been looking so dull lately no matter how many times I exfoliate.  Plus, it has been a year since I had one.  

Then afterward I tagged along with a friend while she shopped and we ate sushi for lunch.  We spent 6 hours shopping!  It was so fun though.  By the time I came home at 7 that night I was exhausted.

I did pick up a few things on Saturday.  I really wanted to take advantage of the 20% off coupon from Ulta since there were no exclusions.  There were some things I knew I would buy eventually.  So why not stock up when you can get it on sale?  I also went to Loft because they were having a 40% off everything sale.

So here's what I picked up:

LOFT: 40% OFF ENTIRE STORE

Loft skinny patent belt

Loft Boatneck Cable Poncho

Loft Striped Long Sleeve Scoop Neck Tee

ULTA: USED 20% OFF ENTIRE ORDER COUPON
A lot of these items were things I wouldn't normally buy all at once being the frugal person that I am.  But they were all things I've had on my wish list for a long time.  And since the Ulta coupon was a one-time thing, and you can normally not use their coupons on any of this stuff... I figured this was the best time to buy everything- while I can get it cheaper.  I can either buy things later when I need them or buy things before I need them at a discount.  I follow the same rule for my groceries and household products... "Buy at the lowest price possible if you are going to use it."

 

Philosophy Microdelivery & Philosophy Great Skin Is In Kit

I've been needing and wanting a new skin care set lately.  Normally I use a drugstore brand, usually Olay because I always have coupons.  But some of the drugstore brands can be pretty pricey when you add up an entire line of products.  Since I really needed everything I figured I'd give this kit a try, and I added in the microdermabrasion cleanser also .  I wouldn't have normally bought it or paid full price for it.  I really just tried it because of the coupon.  But I've been using it since Saturday night and I love it.  But I also just had a facial so we'll see how long that lasts. 
 

Benefit High Beam

I've been dying to try this for a while.  I tried ELF's version, the shimmering facial whip in lilac petal.  But I really didn't care for the consistency of it.  It was EXTREMELY runny.  I made a mess every time I used it.  Since ELF's is only $1 I bought 2 different bottles of it.  Because I thought maybe the first one I bought was old.  But they both did it.  I think that's the first ELF product I didn't really like!
 

Benefit They're Real Mascara

This stuff is AH-Mazing!  I've been on a crazy mascara kick lately.  My sister actually bought this stuff and I tried it.  I had to have it.  I was going to wait until I ran out of ELF Mineral Infused Mascara to buy some more.  But I figured I could either buy it in a month or two or buy it now for 20% less. 
 

Naked Palette

I already have one of these and I'm completely obsessed.  But I picked this one up for my mom.  She tried mine a few weeks ago and fell in love.  Is there anyone out there that doesn't like this thing?!

KOHL'S

I've been dying for some skinny black pants that I can wear to work.  I have black jeans, but I can't wear jeans.  And I'm funny about leggings so I won't wear leggings to work.  I found these at Kohl's.  They are the material of sleeping pants.  But they aren't too tight and have pockets in the back.  So they look like regular pants.  They are great quality.  These were originally $48.  But the Daisy Fuentes brand was 40% off and I had a 15% off coupon I printed.  So I think I paid about $26 with tax.

Daisy Fuentes Skinny Ponte Pants

source

Anyone else do any shopping this weekend? 

XO-Heather

weekend shopping

weekend shopping by hbaham featuring a stripe t shirt

LOFT poncho top
$70 - loft.com

LOFT stripe t shirt
$25 - loft.com

Belt
$17 - bardot.com.au

FRUGAL FRIDAY: CHEAP DATE NIGHT

Happy Friday everyone! 
So since this week was our anniversary I thought it would be fun to share some quick tips for cheap date nights.  I'm really easy to please when it comes to going out to dinner or a date night.  I don't like expensive restaurants because it's not worth it to me, and I'm 100% ok with pizza and beer for a date night!
So here's my tips for cheap dates:

1. Sign up for restaurants' email lists.
1. I put this #1 because it is the best tip I have.  For our anniversary we got a coupon for a free dinner at Texas de Brazil (at $50 value), a free pizza at Rotolos, a free appetizer at Lone Star Steakhouse, free chocolate covered strawberries at The Melting Pot, and a few other offers.  A lot of restaurants will send you an initial offer and something on your b-day and/or anniversary.  Use these coupons!  We are saving the Texas de Brazil because it's good until November.  But last Saturday night we went to Rotolos, ordered a pizza, drank and hung out for a few hours for $15!!!
2. Sign up for daily deals sites
1. They always have great offers for things to do in every area.  I always buy the Fandango tickets when they are like $12 for 2.  If you go to the movies it is $18.  So that is a $6 savings.  I keep the codes in my email.  Then when we have nothing to do I check out the movie times and use one of my codes for Fandango I already bought!
2. My top sites are: google offers, groupon, daily deals, screamin' daily deals, & living social
3. Use restaurants.com
1. You can do a search for restaurants in your area and buy $25 gift certificates for $2!!!!
2. Read the fine print and make sure there are no restrictions.
4. Hip2Save.com does a Weekend Restaurant Round-up every Friday to let everyone know of the deals at restaurants for the weekend.
1. She also does a weekend retail round-up for shopping
5. Go to a restaurant a little early for happy hour to get cheap drinks and appetizers
6. Check out local wineries and breweries.  
1. Sometimes they give free tours and samples
7. Cook at home together
1. I put this last because I cook during the week everyday so it's not my ideal thing to do for a fun night.  Plus, my kitchen is small so it's hard for us to do this.  But other people may enjoy this!

If you start signing up for all these email lists I would create a separate email account for them to go to.  This way it isn't clogging up your inbox.  Check it a few times a week or every other day.

And just for fun here are a few of my favorite pics from my wedding- since it is my anniversary week!!!  I had the easiest best experience planning my wedding.  We had a small wedding, and it was SO SO fun!

 Our venue. I love this! It's my background on my computer

 me & my youngest niece

me & my dad

clearly this isn't the most flattering picture but i love how happy i am!

ha!

me & my mom

me & my parents

me & my bridesmaids my sister is farthest to the right!

my big sis in my sorority sang while we lit the unity candle

my dad & i dancing to Hank Williams, Family Tradition!

Sorry about all the images! I just kept adding!!!! Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!
XO-Heather

Wardrobe Wednesday: eShakti Review

Sorry I've been M.I.A., guys! Life has been a little crazy.
I got the news on Friday that my grandfather passed away.  He had Alzheimer's disease.  He was 81 when he died.  My grandparents, along with most of my family, live in the middle of nowhere, Mississippi.  The husband had a weekend full of studying for his last CPA portion.  Then we headed to MS Sunday and came back Monday night.  The funeral was Monday.  I took the day off to recoup yesterday.
In the midst of the sadness we were supposed to find time and energy to celebrate our 2nd anniversary Monday.  We spent it at my grandfather's funeral.  Definitely not the ideal date.  But I was happy to be among my family that we don't see often.  We exchanged gifts on Friday and had a few cheap dates over the weekend to make up for it.
Husband got me a gorgeous Michael Kors watch (you can kinda see it below).  I got him some Bose earbuds and personalized autographed football from Jonathan Vilma.  Our company is considered the "Preferred Dental Office of the New Orleans Saints."  So we got him to do a promotion for the LSU school of dentistry with us.  So I had him sign an official NFL Saints Superbowl Champions football, "to Matt, Jonathan Vilma #51."  He almost died!  He absolutely loved it.  I was pretty proud!  Last year I did a boudoir photo session and made a book for him!  What the hell do I do next year to top both of those?!
So anyway, that's where I've been lately.  I felt so disconnected from the world although it was really nice to celebrate my grandfather's life with my family.
On to the reason for this post!

I was contacted by a rep from eShakti about a month ago asking if I would be interested in doing a review for them.  I had actually heard about the company on a few other blogs.  I loved their concept so I said yes immediately!
You can customize your items or order them by size.  You can change the neckline, the hem, the sleeves, etc... It's really a great idea!
I was totally overwhelmed because I wanted to pick something good!  They really have a lot to choose from.  And as a bargain shopper, their prices are very reasonable too.
I took my time picking my item.  Then I had husband measure me and I submitted my measurements on aa easy online form.  Then within 2 weeks I got an email stating that my product had shipped and I got it in 2 days.
I was so excited to get it.  I tried it on immediately.  It fit like a glove, the material is really soft, but durable.  I was pleasantly surprised because the dress is actually a lot dressier than it looked on the website.  But that is a good thing!  It came with a spaghetti strap on the other side.  But I wasn't crazy about it so I tucked it in.  But me being me... I had to add a belt.  And then I felt like it was perfect and very "me". 
I feel like this dress is perfect for a daytime dressy event, like a shower or daytime wedding.  Or even a casual night wedding.  There are so many vibrant colors in the dress too, which I love.  

dress- c/o eShakti 
shoes- Aldo
belt- F21
*Please excuse my messy hair.  I dunno what was going on there.

If you register for their emails they will send you a coupon code for $20 off your first order.  I am still trying to decide what to order with mine.  I'm thinking real hard about the sweetheart dress.  The whole process was easy and painless.  The dress is great and just as I wanted.  I highly recommend this company! 
XO-Heather

*I was not compensated for this review.  But eShakti did provide me with this dress.

Copy Cat- OOTD

So everyone has jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon, and I'm no different.  I found myself pinning or thinking about pinning things every time I see something I like.  I have an outfit ideas board that I pin outfits from other blogs or celebrities that I like. 
I decided to try a different approach to getting dressed for work today.  Usually I pick something out real quick in the mornings b/c my hair always causes me to run late.  And I revert to the same comfortable outfits and pieces all the time.  I have a closet full of clothes.  I need to use these clothes!  So last night I took my iPad in my bedroom, shut the door, pulled up Pinterest, and started brainstorming.  The picture below was something I pinned a long time ago.  I thought it was a good inspiration source since I had similar items.  This is the first real cold snap we've had so it was a perfect chance to pull out my tights.

couldn't find an image source

Here's my take:

tee- Walmart
cardi- Ann Taylor outlet
skirt- Loft
belt- F21
tights- Walmart
oxfords- Target

The outfit is pretty comfy too!  Next time I will change the belt.  I'm not crazy about it with this.
Do you plan your outfits ahead of time?  Do you use inspiration photos?
XO-Heather