Accumulating or Using Nail Polish? (Part IV)

As I look back on the other posts in this nail polish series, I notice that I've been wearing a LOT of blue polish! I just can't help it; it can be so pretty! This particular one might just be my favorite as it is Sally Hansen in "Pacific Blue (420)." Sally Hansen recently changed its formulas on many of the colors in its Xtreme Wear line, and this is the one that caused the most uproar in the polish community. Yes, there is a rather large polish community! I wouldn't say I'm part of it as I'm more of a sporadic observer, but I do follow a few people on Instagram to know that this was a travesty. The newer version (yes, they kept the same name) is not as pretty and supposedly the formula itself is goopy and harder to use. Weeks after the news was reported, I ended up finding the original bottle at both of my CVS stores, so I snagged a bottle. It was absolutely worth the $3.49 price. 

I decided to actually do an accent nail, which I've never done before. Though I enjoy looking at nail art, I don't have the creativity or patience to even attempt it. An accent nail is the best I can do at making a regular manicure a bit more interesting. On my ring finger, I used Funky Fingers "Sand & Stilettos." This glitter completely covered my nail in just 3 coats. It was actually rather covered in 2, but I did another to cover a few more spots. I anticipate using this as an accent nail rather often! 

I thought I would have trouble removing it, but I just needed to leave the remover-soaked cotton ball on my nail a little longer than normal and also do it twice for it to completely come off. I also left this particular manicure on for the full week, which is when I took the picture above. That's why there are already chips and noticeable tip wear. Plus, you can see a larger gap between the blue and the cuticle. I leave a gap when I do my nails anyway, but when the space gets bigger, I know it's time to change the color.

The glitter polish was from Five Below, which is a store I love visiting as the merchandise changes every so often. The Funky Fingers and Fresh Paint line is mainly 3 for $5 (other than the color changing solar polishes that they have now also, which are 2 for $5). I know I will get good use out of the $1.67!

Mail Time!

Yay for freebies in the mail! The latest PinchMe box came today with all the items I chose. Getting the shampoo samples in the package isn't too big of a deal, but I like that they put all 3 Garnier samples in each box. I like that I can try the exfoliator without having to purchase it. I'm loving the St. Ives scrubs lately (the pink grapefruit one and the green tea one!), and know I won't buy the Neutrogena pink grapefruit anymore because it's so drying. If I had the opportunity to try St. Ives sooner, I might not have bought the Neutrogena  scrubs all those times.

The Tom's deodorant is a nice full-size, and it'll be nice to try that too. I used to use Secret when I was younger before I tried Dove and loved it so much more. This will also give me the opportunity to test out a new brand especially one that seems to be better for you with nothing artificial in it according to the packaging. 

Of course, the thing I'm most excited about is the Sinful Colors nail polish! I've mentioned before that the formula is usually a little thinner than what I like, but I'm not one to pass up free polish especially in colors I don't already have. Strangely, I really should only have 3 from PinchMe. The third one was in my box even though I only had the option to pick the Skinny Girl bar, which was amazingly tasty by the way. I have no problems with the random bottle in the box!

So far I've only used Ablaze, but I will use the others also when I'm in the mood. I don't think I've ever worn an orange color before. The most recent one I chose was Tantalize because I don't have any silvery gray. We'll see how it looks on my skin tone.

It's so much fun getting stuff in the mail! Speaking of getting stuff in the mail, I really have to get better with mailing cards out to people just to say hello or that I'm missing them. Hopefully, I can make a bunch of cards that are fairly simple so that I can have them throughout the year. Okay, gonna get on that instead of continuing this nail polish chatter!

Accumulating or Using Nail Polish? (Part III)

In the past, I used to think that it didn't matter what season it was when choosing a nail polish. I still don't think it's that important, but I really do enjoy the fact that bright colors really work for warmer weather especially since I wear flip-flops in the summer. This is the color that I had on my fingers and toes during our church summer retreat.

It's the Revlon Colorstay in "Coastal Surf (170)." It was pretty easy to apply. I do think I've used it before in the past when I first got it at CVS. It does have a flat brush, so it doesn't take as long to cover the nail. Plus, the polish is a good consistency so I don't have to worry about it running the way I do when I use my free Sinful Colors polishes. I took the photo with the bottle after retreat, so if you actually look at it closely, I have cracks and tip wear, but it's nice that even though it cracked quite a lot, it wasn't flaking off.

When I change my nail color, I like to use one that's completely different. Typically, I'd go to a pink or something like that, but I was feeling purple. I also really wanted to use a Sally Hansen one since for me, they apply so easily. This is Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Deep Purple (170)." Haha, I just realized both of these polishes are 170! 

Though the bottle looks full, it's actually about a quarter empty. This is one of the first nail polishes I bought when I initially went to CVS in search of colors! I purchased a bunch of Sally Hansen ones with an ExtraBucks deal even before I started couponing, so I actually used this one quite a few times. Though it's not seen in the photo, there's actually really fine blue shimmer in it. The first coat was a little patchy on some nails, but the second coat evened it out. I think mine got a little thicker because I didn't put the cap on as tightly, but I was still able to work with it.

Personally, I don't need to have a perfect manicure. As long as the color stays on for almost a week without noticeable chipping, I'm fine. Nail polish is the only way that I "accessorize" since I don't wear jewelry, and it does make me feel happy when I see the colors!

Accumulating or Using Nail Polish? (Part II)

These were the last two colors I've used recently. The first one is an NYC New York Color polish called "Prospect Park Pink." I was really in the mood for a brighter pink without being too light or neon, and this one definitely fit the bill. These polishes are only $1.99, but the color actually lasted a pretty long time on my nails. There wasn't much chipping at all as the week came to an end.

Every time I use an inexpensive drugstore polish that lasts, I'm still amazed by it. When I first started buying polishes, I asked my friends a question on Instagram because I wanted to know what brands they liked that lasted. I knew that there were a ton of Essie fans, but I just couldn't see myself spending that much on ONE bottle. In the same way that I'd rather spend the amount of money that others would use to buy one designer bag on a bunch to have options, I do the same with nail polish. Of course, it has to last and be worth even the $0.99 or $1.99 though! I would definitely get more of these NYC "In a New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish." That's a mouthful!

The following week, I still chose a pink color because I was going to the 8th grade graduation. I had taught them when they were in 6th and 7th grade, so it was important for me to see them on that special day. I used Sinful Colors "Ablaze" on my hands and my toes. It was definitely darker than the polish used the previous week, and I liked how it was eye-catching without having to use an actual red polish. This is the bottle that I got in my PinchMe box, which is basically a service that sends out freebies if you can snag them in time. This is the second time I've been able to get nail polish in my box. If I didn't get this for free, I don't think I'd purchase it. I personally am not as big of a fan of Sinful Colors. Though they have a wide selection of colors, I found it too thin for me to work with comfortably. I know it's supposed to be 2-3 thin layers, but I'm used to using polishes that are a bit thicker. Maybe I just don't have patience and want the polish to be opaque a bit faster. Some of my nails required the 3 layers. But because it was absolutely free, I still loved it because of the color!

 

By the way, even though I've been doing my nails more often, I haven't taken the time to take care of my cuticles, so that's why they're not moisturized and pushed back. It's okay though because I've gotten used to painting my nails and staying away from the cuticles, which is what you're apparently supposed to do anyway! It doesn't require any clean-up for me, and the removal process is much easier. For me, it's definitely a cleaner look by staying away from the sides.

Okay, I used pink colors two weeks in a row. I definitely need a blue or a green next!

(Read Part I of the series)

Accumulating or Using Nail Polish? (Part I)

After buying a bottle of blue nail polish to match the dress I wore to my brother's wedding and a bottle of red polish to match the dress I wore to my sister-in-law's wedding, the desire to have a TON of colors and options just magically appeared! Haha, I became one of those girls who was lured by beautiful colorful displays of nail polish at drug stores. Thankfully, the couponing side of me came out around the same time, so although I have quite a collection, I didn't pay retail value for it because that would be CRAZY! I also purchased many during the CVS beauty clearance and got inexpensive brands like Wet 'n Wild, NYC, and Sinful Colors.

During the end of my last school year, I changed colors every week, which made me happy since I don't accessorize outfits or anything like that. But then I stopped because I didn't take the time to paint them after I took the time to dry my hair. Well, it's about time I started again!

The manicure below was the one I did before our Disney World trip this past January. It's Wet n Wild Megalast "On a Trip" with Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots in "Clearly Spotted."

Since I was missing WDW today (as I do almost every day, haha), I decided to use the same polka dots again but just on a different color. Since I have a coral pink on my toes (Wet n Wild Wild Shine "Dreamy Poppy"), I decided to choose blue for my nails. Clearly, I really like the options from WnW because this is "Teal Slowly and See," which is from the Pop Art Craze collection from last summer that I bought as a reward for getting through jury duty! It was only $0.69, so it was a rather awesome price!

I know I'm jumping on the matte-glitter-bandwagon pretty late, but I love the speckled look without a glitter top coat changing the look of the color itself. Yay, I'm a happy girl!

Back To Where It All Began, CVS!

As a personal "rule," I don't usually like posting couponing updates in a row on my blog, but considering the deals were from this past week, I figured I'd do it now just in case any readers want to run to CVS or Target tomorrow. So yes, that means this will be on my blog once I'm done writing it AND I will write and schedule the post of my more recent Target haul tomorrow the moment it becomes Saturday!

I headed back to CVS after not going to the stores for so long, but they drew me in because they emailed a survey to me that gave me $5 ExtraBucks. My initial thought was I'd go use it to pay for the majority of another bottle of Tums Ultra Strength 1000 in Peppermint because those things are quite amazing for my reflux. I take it after having something like tomato sauce so that I can prevent feeling sick afterwards. Plus, who wouldn't want some more calcium? 

Well, that week I was going to use it, I started seeing this preview deal for Culturelle. This 30-ct box of probiotics is normally $23.99, but it was on sale for $10 with $10 ECB. With a $3 manufacturer's coupon I printed online with the $5 ECB from the survey, I only paid $2 out of pocket to get $10 ECB back! That's a pretty great deal because I knew I'd be able to use the ExtraBucks on things I needed and only have to pay a minimal amount out of pocket. I've been told to take probiotics or eat more yogurt after being sick, so now I have them for those moments. 

The perfect opportunity to roll those $10 ECB came this week! Even though I said I wouldn't take the time to deal with CVS like I used to, I couldn't just spend it knowing there was a way to get items for free and still have the money to spend on Tums afterwards.

The Nature Made gummies vitamins are originally $15.79 but were on sale for $5.99 with $4 ECB. I had a $2 CVS redbox coupon for vitamins and was able to print a $1 Nature Made manufacturer's coupon from the website. That made it a $1 moneymaker. 

The Almay Intense I-Color eyeliner was also a great way to roll ECBs. I can't stand the thought of having to buy eyeliner anywhere near full price, so when I can snag them like this, I don't pass at the chance. The original price of just one is $9.29, which is ridiculous when in reality, women don't NEED to wear makeup at all! The deal was that they were on sale for $5.99 with $6 ECB back when you buy 2. There was a $5 off 2 Almay product coupon on coupons.com that I was able to print out when it was reset because I missed it the first time not thinking I'd need it for anything. That means that it would be paying $6.98 out of pocket to get $6 back making each eyeliner only $0.49! Score!

Since I had the $10 ECB, I needed to spend all of it at once or it'd beep, so I added on two new nail polishes even though I clearly do not need them. The Wet n Wild brand was on sale buy 1 get 1 for 50%, and I had $1 manufacturer coupons. I got the Megalast in Club Havana for $1.99 and the Wild Shine in Caribbean Frost for half off at $0.50, so both polishes only cost $0.50 after the coupons, which is exactly what I needed to use my ECB.

In short, I used my $10 ECB to pay for my haul after coupons and only had to pay $0.52 out of pocket to get another $10 ECB back. The one thing I wanted to get was the vitamins, so I see it as paying $2.52 out of pocket for it if I include the cost of the Culturelle. Definitely worth it for us. 

I ended up stopping by the CVS near my mom's house too to check for clearance. The items at my store weren't marked down enough. The redbox was also out of order, so I couldn't scan to check the prices! I had to ask an employee if I could scan at self-checkout to check and then she had to void the order. I was most interested in the cereal because Howard and I go through phases where we eat a lot of cereal. I guess that's what happens when you have a small fridge/freezer and can't stock up on other breakfast items. Cereal will keep for quite some time! Plus, it's cheaper to be paying less than $2 for a box of cereal that will be many meals or snacks for the two of us. But alas, my CVS was still only 50% off. Can you believe that in NY, the cereal at CVS is close to $6 a box?! WHO WOULD BUY THAT?!

At my mom's CVS, I was successful in finding two boxes of Kashi Heart to Heart cereal for just $1.37. The Corn Chex was $2.64, so I wasn't going to get that. But then I thought about it. If I bought just the Kashi, I'd be paying $2.74 out of pocket. There was definitely a better way to do this especially since I also had the vitamins coupons to use on Howard's card.

I basically did the same vitamins deal as I did above, paying $2.99 out of pocket. Then I just ripped the $4 ECB from my receipt to use on cereal. I needed to use it all at once, so I did pick up the last box of Chex and a $0.60 manufacturer's coupon. That meant I only had to pay $0.78 for the second transaction. A total of $3.77 for a bottle of vitamins AND 3 boxes of cereal? Um, yes! That's just $1.03 more for the vitamins and Chex compared to just buying the Kashi out of pocket. 

And yes, as always, I paid for ALL three transactions with change. I know it's kind of ridiculous standing there feeding tons of pennies into the self-checkout machine, but I'm STILL using the change I had saved from years of years of tossing spare coins in my Keroppi bank and my Pochacco bank. It makes it feel as if I'm not really spending money at all because that money has been sitting in those banks for so long. If there's no one waiting on line for me to finish paying, I don't worry much even though I know the employees watch me, haha. 

I'm doing a pretty decent job with my more "casual" couponing for food and necessities these days, don't you think?

Friday Favorites

Time for an installment of "Friday Favorites"!  Here are just a few things that I've been loving lately.

Favorite #1: Bottomless Steak Fries from Red Robin

Red Robin is a new addition to our local mall.  The service is really hit or miss as we've had one server who was rarely around and another who was attentive and definitely earned herself a good tip.  The food is also not consistent, but the one thing that has been good each time is the bottomless steak fries!  I'm ADDICTED to fries; I used to purposely order meals if they came with a side of fries when I was a teenager before I realized you can just do a substitution.  Silly me.  Red Robin works out well because I sometimes prefer steak fries, and we all know that steak fries have delicious potato-y goodness inside.  It's not uncommon for me to focus on the fries instead of my meal since I tend to bring half my entree home anyway for the next day!

Our previous experience was a GREAT one as our server brought a basket of extra fries for each of us and included some Campfire Sauce.

If you read any of the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, you know that rather than writing "The family sat down and ate dinner," she would go into such detail about what was eaten and how.  I've never seen such descriptive food writing ever!  Can you imagine what she would have written if she were still alive and had a food blog?!  I'd be checking for updates every 15 minutes!

In Farmer Boy, there's one particular scene where Almanzo and one of his sisters Alice were doing some chores outside when Manzo figures it must be dinner because he's famished.  Unfortunately for him, it's only mid-morning, so his father tells him to put a potato in the ashes to bake.  He makes two of them so that his sister can have one as well.  As he stands there waiting for it to cook, he suddenly hears a loud sound as one of the potatoes bursts and hits him in the face!  It's extremely painful for him, of course.  After his father makes sure that his eye is okay even though his eyelid and cheek are burned, he says that Alice should eat her potato since it was his that had burst.  Alice replies that Manzo should eat it instead because he's injured.  In the end, they decide to split the potato in half.  They stand there in the cold gnawing on half a potato, and Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote one of my favorite parts of ALL the books that I've ever read in my ENTIRE LIFE.

The potato was burned black outside, but the inside was white and mealy and a most delicious baked-potato smell steamed out of it. They let it cool a little, and then they gnawed the inside out of the black crust, and it was the best potato they had ever eaten.

Isn't that just the most beautiful excerpt of literature ever written?  That part has stuck with me since I first read this book in 3rd grade at school, and a good potato always makes me think of the word "mealy" even though it can sometimes be used with a negative connotation when describing food items.  However, when it's paired up with the word "potato," I see it as the highest compliment one could give ... to a potato.

Well, Red Robin's bottomless steak fries are definitely "white and mealy" in the same way that it was for Almanzo and Alice.   

Favorite #2: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Red Carpet

It's been months since I took the time to paint my nails.  I actually took the time to do my nails more often when I was busy with work during the last school year, so I thought that trend would continue.  Alas, I got a bit lazy with it.  In the past, I'd paint them at the end of the day before bed so that they'd have time to harden overnight, but because it's been so cold out, I've had to take the time to dry my hair completely instead.  I decided that it's about time I got back into doing my nails especially since I have quite a lot of polish from all the CVS sales and deals!

One of the more recent shades that I purchased was this Sally Hansen one in Red Carpet.  I have a bunch of this kind, and it works really well on me.  It lasts a good amount of time without chipping and maybe just minimal tip wear as with all polishes, but what I love about them is that I typically don't have an issue taking the color off whereas I might have to use a second piece of a remover-soaked cottonball to get other brands off my nails.

I decided to use this for my toenails because the purple I had on beforehand was almost completely gone!  I'm surprised that it did last for as long as it did.  Since I didn't do my nails for Christmas, I didn't get a chance to use this red.  It is SO pretty!  It has red sparkle in it so it reminds me of Dorothy's ruby red slippers in The Wizard of Oz.  I'd post a picture of it, but it's on my toes!  I don't think it's right to have a photo of bottomless fries above and then my feet below.  Besides, this is one of those polish colors that doesn't seem to be captured very well in swatches.  I just did a quick Google image search, and none of them look as nice as what it really looks like in real life.  This was the perfect color to use to get me back into loving all the different shades and choices!  Now it's time to find an opportunity to do a manicure and let it dry!

Favorite #3: Christmas Blanket

Howard and I got our new blanket this past Christmas Eve when we celebrated with my mom's side of the family.  My Aunt Daisy and Uncle Larry bought these super warm blankets for each of the married couples in my generation, so we got one as did my brother and his wife and my cousin and his wife.  It was really funny because my cousin Tyler wrapped them up and said we had to be together to open it, and we had to go in order.

We understood why after we started!  My cousin and his wife did theirs first, and then we saw that underneath, Tyler had run out of wrapping papers, so he stacked them up!  Ours was in the middle, so the top portion didn't have wrapping paper on it.  It was definitely a clever way to get three massive items wrapped up for Christmas, and we had such a laugh when we saw it!

The blanket was such an appropriate gift during this FREEZING COLD season especially since we don't seem to get much heat in our apartment this year as opposed to last year.  We actually have our duvet from IKEA on our bed (the green circles), our extra duvet cover (the black and gray), and now our new blanket all on our bed.  It is SO much warmer now because it has some weight to it so it traps the heat in without having to wrap ourselves in the blanket as if we were in a cocoon.

Ever since we started using it, we've been much happier at night, and it doesn't take me as long to fall asleep since I get warmer much faster.  Speaking of falling asleep, it's about time I do that now!  Hope you all had a happy Friday!