20 Awesome Eyeliner Tricks

This article on Eyeliner Tricks is the cat's pajamas and very helpful- check it out!

Beauty Box 5 Tricks Of The Trade almost made me dump them and why I reconsidered, realizing I was being a spoiled baby

 In October 2012, I came very close to cancelling my BeautyBox 5 subscription because I received this box. I'm the first to say that samplers are all about that- sampling products and finding things you just can't live without or would have never thought to try, but this one just seemed SO skeebly that I couldn't even be sure that I'd actually even gotten my $12 worth. I bet I did just barely.

When my yearly sub ran out, I should have taken advantage of the huge price break that you get for a yearly sub- only $8.25 a month. There's no way to NOT get your money's worth then! I think we've all gotten so spoiled by samplers giving us huge amounts of near free stuff that when it actually hits the financial nail pretty close we feel ripped off. If I had gotten this a few years ago, I would have been a lot happier- there are so many subscription services out there now that you really have to raise the bar to keep up. Do something unique and innovative, really follow through, really keep people's attention. 

One complaint that I've heard about BB5 is that they tend to have repeats of brands. I think that a lot of people don't realize that they are actually at the mercy of the companies providing the products. No, the sampler doesn't purchase them to then sell to us, they're given by the company to promote their product. They hope that we'll fall in love and buy more. What we're paying for is the service provided- scouting these companies out and getting these samples to us. I hear all the time "but I could get that sample at Sephora". yeah, and you'd have to buy something to get it. luckily, they seem to have really stepped up their game since this box (notice I said ALMOST cancelled- I'm still a subscriber.) 

I think what sank the presentation on this one was that 3 of the samples were flat items giving the impression of  those skeebly packette samples. In actuality, the products included in and of themselves were worthwhile items more or less, and despite the lack of flash, BB5 usually gives me a box where I can use every single item in it. 

So kvetching aside, here's what I thought of the actual products. 

Lash card 2 pack - well I'll be a monkey's uncle. They actually WORK! Isn't that what samplers are for? I would have never thought to buy these, but I'm glad I got to find out how cool they are! You place them behind your lashes while applying mascara and you magically don't get clumps, your lashes are more defined, and you don't get little eyelid dots like I tend to get. You can use them a few times before tossing them.

Furlesse elevens
Like the concept, but these are for wrinkles at the bridge of the nose between the eyes, which thankfully I don't have (yet), so these went into my mom's Christmas box.

Showstoppers ROCK! They aren't your standard double stick tape- they're made specifically for this purpose. They're very durable and don't leave an adhesive residue on your clothing. You can fix a hem, close a gap, avoid a nip slip, hide a bra strap...... Also very portable, I keep a few in my makeup bag just in case. I love these for when I realize that a button hole is loose and my shirts wants to come unbuttoned all day. I get leered at at work enough without the girls randomly whipping themselves out.... Look at all these celebs who've used Showstoppers!

City Lips lip plumper in one word? OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!

No kidding, I actually came very near to tears. I asked a friend of mine to try it to see if it was just me, and apparently it isn't. I'm guessing this based on the fact that she called me a bitch and threw a sofa cushion at me. It DID plump up my lips a ton, but no thanks. I had to wash my lips with facial cleanser and then slather moisturizer on them to make them stop burning.

Luckily, the lip balm from Goat Haus Dairy came to my rescue. This is one of the best lip balms I've EVER used. I have to say, I'm honestly stunned by how good it feels on your lips. Soft, creamy, smooth, moist, nourishing..... I could go on and on with the adjectives. Goat Haus Dairy is a family operated business in Bryan, Texas. Happy, well loved free range goats are the source for their superb products (their bath melts are also divine) And you can tell they put a lot of care into making their products. Oh! And the balm smells like vanilla sugar, too! It's pretty cool to be able to look on a company's web site and see their source in action :-)

Babybees!

Margania pure Organic Argan oil is just that. Nothing but straight, organic argan oil. No fillers, no synthetics, no silicone. If you've never used argan oil do yourself a favor and get some NOW. This extremely nourishing oil is a miracle worker for skin, hair, eczema, wrinkles, scars, acne, cuticles and on and on. In your hair it makes for intense shine as well as a wonderful scalp treatment. On your skin it delivers intense vitamin E. What I like about the Margania line is that not only is it organic and pure, but it's also wildly less expensive than many other lines. 

So see? Despite my whining, I actually liked almost all of the products, I had just fallen into the trap of ridiculous sampler expectations. Plus- as you can see by my reviews of more recent BB5's, they've really upped their game.

giveaways to watch out for!

Coming up soon we'll be having giveaways from:

Overall Minerals


Gingerbread Cupboard


e.l.f.


Stylemint


and Mirenesse

Just Fab Summer Clearance ends at midnight- shoes starting at $9.99!!!

Check it out!

Last day to get a Klutch Box for a dollar

CODE ZZSIDEWALKSALE  



Here's what you can expect!

Max Studio Deals (Plus My Amazon Deal Pick of the day)

Super Dress Sale


 I have the dresses below, and was TOTALLY hyped to see most of them still on sale! MaxStudio has some truly stunning clothes, and while regular prices are high, you can find some real deals in their sale section.










 Normally $128!!! On sale for THIRTY EIGHT DOLLARS!!!

TIER LACE DRESS The intricate textures of tiered lace add a feminine sensibility to this tank dress. With an easy pullover design and flattering, slim silhouette that flares slightly at the hem, it’s the perfect throw-on-and-go piece for work, weekends and everything in-between. The soft cotton has a comfortable lightweight with a hint of stretch, making it an ideal piece to pack for warm weather getaways. Fits true to size.

 Available in green and white- I have the green. I wore this constantly this spring. Normal retail $158! That's $100 off, yo!



I have this one too! Check out the insanely awesome bodice!!!!!!! Originally $168- on sale for $98. Once people get a close look at it, they're always blown away. These clothes are SO cray cray well made.

WOOL JERSEY LONG SLEEVE DRESS This jersey is soft, it is stretchy and it fits so well it’s like a best friend! Wear now with bare legs and later with tights, boots and a chic raincoat. Use the arrow to zoom in and see the raw-edges ribbons adding texture to the bust with multi-knotted florets, twists and braids. The shirred sleeve has the braided detail and together it creates a folded self-cuff. The length is just-above-the knee, the fit is true and the medium-weight jersey is unlined and not see-through. Maxstudio.

Indie Love

Trillium Organics   

I am absolutely nuts about Trillium Organics Body Polish. Whenever I need an instant pick me up, I hop into the shower for a quick refreshing scrub, bringing my Trillium Organics Pink Grapefruit Organic Body Polish with me. This stuff is da bomb and is handmade in Wisconsin. Another great item to perk you up after a long day when you have more ahead of you, the pink grapefruit scent is invigorating and refreshing and returns you to a state of alertness and energy. Not only does it remove the day's debris from your skin, but safflower, soy and vitamin E oils leave you feeling so silky you don't need a body moisturizer. A plus- Grapefruit is a detoxifier AND reduces cellulite! They are also certified organic by the USDA!

Sweet Peanut Pie Sugar Scrub

 I got the honor of trying out a new product being developed by Sweet Peanut Pie, a peppermint sugar scrub. Super energizing and soothing and the perfect blend of smooth oils and scrubby sugar granules. It wasn't so oily that it made the tub floor slippery, but had enough that I didn't even need a body lotion afterward. The peppermint was zingy and gave a lovely tingling feel. My skin was soft and and rid of all dry spots. Yummy, and I can't wait until they start selling it- keep your eyes open, and in the meantime try out some of their adorable bath fizzies!

I've raved about Overall Beauty's mineral line before, but I wanted to revisit their awesomeness. 
I love that they have sampler packs that you can play around with, and the colors are generally pretty eye popping, especially if you do a wet application. They have a number of metallics that I'm quite fond of and they specialize in a lot of "gothy" colors that are really lovely. The minerals can be applied just about anywhere, even mixed with clear polish for nail color! Silly as it may seem, I like to use some of the blues and greens as lip shimmers when I feel like really standing out- though granted this is a look that I tend to not wear to work at the library.....A little goes a long way so they last forever- I have sample jars from them that lasted longer than some full sized pans. Go check out some of their awesome sparkly colors like Flash and Imagine! And let me reiterate, for $1.50 you can a generous sample jar of any color!

Sweet Tarts

To think, a few short years ago, I'd never even heard of scent tarts. I received some and thought they were soap samples! now I'm an addict and lucky for me, there's tons of folks out there making some good ones. It's a great way to support independent artisans without breaking the bank.

I like that I can have the type of scent dispersal as with a candle without worrying that I'm gonna set the house on fire. (I used to have a very curious kitty that was constantly singeing her whiskers on candle flames. Poor thing just never learned....) but these are much safer than candles as there's no actual flame and the wax melts at a much lower heat point so even if you spill some wax on you, it won't burn. As a matter of fact, I often dip my fingers into the wax pool to provide relief to the arthritis in my hands and love to rub the wax into rough patches on my skin for deep moisturizing. The warmed wax also makes for a terrific (and relaxing) massage. While most folks toss the wax after the scent is gone, I keep a little cup by my burner to pour it into to reuse for just such purposes.

So if you've never tried out anyone but Scentsy and don't know where to start, here's some good businesses who make great products to try out!

The Gingerbread Cupboard makes generously sized tarts and tends to throw in extras with your shipment as well. I always know I'm getting quality product with DIVINE smells! A jazillion scents to choose from, though I'm crazy for the apple scents....

Ugly Duckling Designs has a mind blowing assortment of items, not just tarts, but candles, decor, dolls, and just about anything country style primitive under the sun. You can even host an online candle party for your friends to get free products! There's monthly candle and tarts clubs too! Talk about your one stop shopping! Mmmmmmm, orange dreamsicle.......

 Don't you want to EAT these!?!?!?









Anam Cara Candles  specializes in triple scented tarts and candles, so they have a really good strong scent that lasts a long time. They will also make wickless candles for those with wickless candle burners. The bakery scents are my particular favorites, the husband often asks me what I've been cooking when I melt one of these!

Delightful Scents makes wonderful tarts and what I really love is that you can get sampler bags so you can mix and match your scents. (Guess what my friends got last Christmas?) They also offer e-parties with hostess gifts and unlike a lot of tart sellers, they have an absolutely ENORMOUS selection of warmers as well! There's always a good deal on whatever is the scent of the month, so be sure to see if that tickles your fancy.

This is just a tiny handful of the options out there, but for those of you new to the world of scent tarts, it should give you a good place to start.