After Christmas sale alert: Lifeway Christian Store

Lifeway Christian Store had some really good before Christmas sales and I was in there several times to pick up some  books and a new Bible.

I really wanted this Christmas decoration and almost bought it, but talked myself into waiting until after Christmas.

All Christmas items are now 50% off and a coupon for an extra 35% off  that price.

The $30 picture was $9.75.

Scripture Sunday

Scripture Sunday

Throwing last minute party at home

 

The quickest, easiest and most stress free way to throw a party for the women's group at church.

 

The night before the party:

 

• Sweep and steam mop the kitchen and livingroom floor
• Clean dining room table, find a simple centerpiece, and put kitchen towels out for the pot luck dishes that will be arriving
• Clean off a spot for everyone's bag and coat. My spot is the back stairs.
• Find the same scent candle and station a few around the house, my favorite... marshmallow fireside
• That is it!

 



Im linked here 

 

 

 

 

I'm linked here

 

 

 

Target Beauty Box: my first one

 

 

 

 

This is whats new with me....

 

Target has a beauty box (order here), and its $7.

 

This was my first one, and I LOVE it.

 

I can not believe there is SO much in this box!

 

A full size Loreal  mascara!  A full size Revlon Lipstick! A full size Covergirl eyeshadow quad! A full size chap stick!

 

Impress,

 



Bath and Body Works candle sale: the damage

So, who doesn't know that every year I wait for the once a year $8 candle sale at Bath and Body Works? and I pair it with a coupon? and I really stock up?

This year...

$5.84 a candle.

The absolute cheapest I've ever found the Bath and Body Works candle.

I would have liked to have stocked up more, but for the first time in sale history, I didn't get to the store until after 7 PM and it was almost completely sold out! Seriously! Almost all gone!

I felt lucky to get 9 and almost danced in the store to find two of my favorite.... Marshmallow Fireside.

Scripture Sunday

My favorite smoothie in the Nutri-Ninja

I was really on the fence about the nutria-ninja. I've been using a blender to make my favorite smoothies, so why do I really need a little smoothie machine?

I've used it three times in the last five days and feel like I can knowledgeably  review.

Definitely, a good purchase.  Smoothies have never come from my kitchen so smooth, creamy and well blended.

I feel like I'm having a smoothie from a fancy smoothie place and not in my own kitchen.

Christmas shopping deals I am watching

Bath and Body Works will have a specific sale each day until Christmas. There is only one day a year that they put the 3 wick candles  on sale for the lowest price of the year. Its coming.  Start looking.

Twice a year, Ulta has  a 20% off coupon that works on absolutely everything they sell (there usual coupons do not apply to high end makeup). Its going on now until Christmas Eve. Google and find yourself a coupon.

Julep has a daily deal/sale, they call it the 12 days of gifting.

Looking for a nice bag or wallet? Dooney & Bourke has 12 days of Dooney,  a new sale every day.

I get a lot of work clothes from the limited  and they now have 6 days of gifting, with different sales each day.

sephora haul

 

 

  

In my defense....

I had a coupon and I have been waiting for a sale or coupon to try the Sephora nail polish X system, and I already know I love Josie Maran Argan oil, and needed more, and the makeup forever was my birthday present from the Sephora club.

So.... Its not as bad as it seems..... so I keep telling myself.

Scripture Sunday

Makeup organization in my bathroom

 

 

 

This is where the new organizational trays from Wal-Mart were put to use, holding makeup in one of the bathroom drawers. Three large drawers and two small ones fit in perfectly. They were $3.97 each.

Most of these glass containers sitting in another drawer are either toothbrush holders or empty candles jars.  Most are cut glass and look like crystal and were pretty enough to sit on the counter, but made the countertop too cluttered. Playing around with them, I accidentally found they sit in this drawer perfectly and  now that is where they live, separating various makeup things.

Linked :
I feel Pretty here
between Naps on the Porch  here
keep it simple crafts here
nifty thrifty things here
jembellish  here
i should be mopping the floors here

walmart haul

Its been quite a while since I ran through Wal-Mart on my lunch hour and just threw interesting things in the buggy. Its been such a grey week, and I've been suffering with a sinus infection, and it was just a good week to treat myself to a random Wal-Mart run. 

By far, the very best deal was the Better Home and Garden's set of metal mixing bowls (with lids!), a set of  measuring cups, and measuring spoons and a one year subscription to the magazine.... all for $10.

Have you tried the Medijool Dates? They are delicious. Seriously. Like eating candy, and so nutritious.  I put them in smoothies as a sweetener, and sometimes eat one as dessert.

The heated feet mattress pad is a white elephant Christmas gift for the office.

This will be my official Christmas 2014 color.... Deep Fig, from one of my favorite nail polish, Sally Hansen Gel Polish (review here).

Some not so exciting things, drawer organizers for makeup in the bathroom, my favorite juice, and  Better Home and Garden Candles. The best cheap candle I have found.

Pinterest tested recipe: ministroni soup

 

 

 

Two thumbs- way up for this one.

 

Original recipe here.

Ipsy vs. Birchbox: November

Winner?  Again. Cant pick.

Instead, the things I was most excited to see:

Birchbox: 

• "When Life gives you lemons and you've misplaced your happy place" bubble bath. The name alone made me love it.  It smells like lemons but the bubbles didn't last long.
• Cindy-Lou manizer. I haven't come to an opinion yet. I'm still trying it out, but I've been wanting to try it and  happy to do in Birchbox.

Ipsy:

• Bye Bye Undereye by It Cosmetics. This is my current favorite concealer, so I already knew I love it.
• Bombshell eye shadow:  My favorite color for eyeshadow, a light simmery brown. 

A few things Im loving in November

This nail polish organizational rack from Amazon. Its a little ridiculous how happy it makes me.

Fage Greek Yogurt. I like it plain and eat it with berries and almonds or put it in smoothies.

Loreal facial oil. I use it on my fingernails too. Its not cheap but its half price of my favorite argan oil and still works.

Candles from Better Homes and Garden.  Bath and Body Works candles are my favorite, but even with a sale and a coupon, the cheapest I've ever found them is $8.50.  These are $6 at Walmart. And they are made in the USA. Best cheapest candle there is, and I've tried a lot to come to this conclusion.

Scripture Sunday

Scripture Sunday

Chocolate Pretzel Granola Bars: pinterest tested recipe

First, I cant find the exact recipe I followed on Pinterest, but there are hundreds of the same variations of this one.

I basically mixed rice krispies, oatmeal and broken pretzel pieces together with cocoa, chocolate chips. Then melted honey, butter, brown sugar and vanilla and mixed all together to make granola bars.

The bottom line.... I didn't like it. It failed for me. Not enough chocolate, too dry, rice krispies and oatmeal together is not appealing. I will not make it again.

Pinterest fail.

Scripture Sunday

Birchbox v. Ipsy: October

These were the contenders for the October monthly beauty box showdown:

October was not impressive.  

 Can I not pick a winner this month at all?

Pinterest tested recipe: roasted potatoes

It seems too much to call this a recipe. (Original here) I cut up some potatoes, greased a cookie sheet with bacon grease), salt and pepper, and put in the oven on very high temperature (425) until nice and brown and crunchy. Then drained them on a towel.

Mani-Monday: Sally Hansen Gel in Wine Stock 480

After finally getting the right polish (rundown on problems with this polish here), I can officially declare this Sally Hansen Gel Polish is my very favorite!   It does not chip for a week and it is so shiny!

and I love this dark fall color.

Scripture Sunday

things I regret buying: October edition

Loreal Revitalift: I keep thinking I can find some really good face cream at the drugstore. I can't.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream: I saw it recommended highly on youtube, but I found it to be drying and just not easy to wear.


Neutrogena extra gentle eye makeup remover pads: I did not find them to be gentle at all.

Naked Kale Blazer juice:  I love every other variety I've tried, but this kale one.... I just could not find a way to enjoy it, not even a little.