A Mini Christmas Haul: B&BW and Forever 21 :)

Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week before Thanksgiving. I am loving this cold weather I hope it stays nothing ruins a cold holiday more than warm weather :p Anyways I went to mobile to do a little Christmas shopping because they're were so many good deals going on I didn't want to pass it up! Bath and Body works has an amazing sale going on right now, buy three get three free with the signature collections, 3 for $10 mini signatures (great stocking stuffers) $5 small candles, 5 for $5 pocket bac hand sanitizers and  they also are handing out good coupons, $10 off any $30 or more purchase and free item of choice with any $15 purchase or more up to a $13 value (helloo free triple body moisture cream) so they have a lot of great deals going on and coming up! I also went to Forever 21 and they still had their veterans day sale so I got a few things from there as well so lets just get started! :)

I decided to make goodie baskets for my besties, here's what I got them (im hiding this post from them so I dont spoil their surprise)

Mini signatures in the scent of Paris, to me its not an overwhelming smell and it smells really good, perfect scent for a gift. They were 3 for $10 so I got 6 for $20 not bad!

I also got them a small candle in the frosted cranberry because I wanted them to be able to use it after the holidays if they wanted to you can never go wrong with a fruity scent for a candle as a gift it gives them the option to use it after the holidays because the scent doesn't scream holiday. Small candles 2 for $10.

 As many of you know I love these little things I can never have too many I just switch out the scents so I dont get bored lol They were 5 for $5 so I got two for my besties, two for my brother in law's daughters and one for me, pretty good :)

 I lovee these socks! They are so soft and have shea in them to keep your feet soft. These werent on promotion they were $7.50 each but I know how much my girls love socks so I splurged :)

 Not from B&BW but I know how much my girls love Victoria's Secret lip gloss so I got them each one of the minty kiss ones in peppermint, 2 for $15 (splurged a little)

With all the savings I got I was able to get the Forever Red body spray which is a regular $22 for free basically because the lady helping was so nice she took the time to split up my transactions so I could use my coupons with my purchases I love her for doing that and I love this scent!

 I was also able to get this free because she split up my transactions its the pink sugarplum triple body moisture cream and I love it but I might use it as a gift or a mini giveaway I haven't decided yet I might do something else as a giveaway but you will know in my next blog post so stay tuned! :)

these are obviously not from B&BW but I thought it would be a cute idea to put mini bottles of their favorite wine in there goodie baskets, they lovee wine lol

What's a goodie basket without candy?!! Target had a 3 for $10 deal on the good kind of candy so of course I took advantage of that :)

here's a preview of what they will look like I still have a few other things to put in it but i'm pretty excited about them :)

I also stopped by Forever and picked up a few things like this over sized cream colored sweater it was a little bit of a splurge ($22) but I have been looking for one like this for months so I thought it was appropriate.

I lovee this dress I was going to get it last time i was there but I decided to put it back twice because it was just too much but this time I found it in the wrong section three times while I was looking around so I tried it on for the third time loved it and figured it was fate. its not even on the website any more so happy I got it! ($24)

And last but not least I got this emerald rhinestone dress i thought it would be so cute for a holiday get together or layered with tights I cant wait to wear it! $24 I know I know another splurge :/

Well that concludes this haul! I hope you enjoyed it I wasnt going to post it because of the forever haul it wasnt exactly a budget haul but oh well lol Thank you so much for reading and I hope you are having a great night wherever you are! xoxo Em

UPCOMING POSTS:

Yummy Easy Desserts for Thanksgiving.

 Great Christmas Gift Ideas From Your Favorite Stores under $40

Stay Tuned!! :)

How I Pack Smart for a Weekend Getaway

Hey Everyone! I recently went on another mini getaway with the folks to the Wind Creek Casino. I just got back today and I have been non stop cleaning ever since so I haven't had a chance to post until now. Any who I was in the middle of packing and got the idea to make a post about it and the little tips and tricks I use when I pack so I thought I'd share some with you and just the basic process of how I pack for a weekend away so here they are! :)

So this is the bag that I use when I'm only staying for a weekend or less its the 

weekender from Michael Kors in the color Luggage I love it and I use it all the time!

The outfits I put together for both nights; Friday's outfit: cream free people blazer, leopard top from Tjmaxx and black Jessica Simpson jeggings Saturday's outfit: labeless nude lace dress from Tjmaxx and a black dress coat from Charlotte Russe (not pictured)

 The first thing I do is put together the outfits I want to wear during my stay. Depending on where I'm going, I will factor in how many days I'm staying and how many activities I'll be doing so for example I went to the Wind Creek Casino where I stayed two nights, I arrived Friday evening and left Sunday afternoon so I needed an arrival outfit (something comfy in the car) a dinner outfit for Friday night (something dressy and warm) a dinner outfit for Saturday night (again dressy) and a departure outfit for the ride home (another comfy outfit). So I needed a total of four outfits.

One thing I hate about shoes is how much room they take up in a suitcase or in my case a weekender. No matter what way you put them in or how many times you try to position them in the bag they just cant help but take up space! So one thing I do to save room is limit myself to two pairs (a sexy pair and a casual/comfy pair) at least when its only a weekend stay or less, a week long trip is a whole different story lol Anyways I decided to go with my dark nude peep toe Vince Camuto's because the color complemented both outfits I chose.You can never go wrong with a nude or black pump they go with everything.

Another trick I use is one to keep me from packing more clothes than I need. Above is my arrival outfit and my going home outfit as well a the pair of comfy shoes I chose to bring. On the ride there I wore one of my favorite v necks from Ross (its so comfy and perfect for a car ride) which I paired with my BCBG leggings and these adorable flats from forever. For the ride home I wore the exact same thing just a different top (see what I did there? :). Choosing a basic piece like black leggings is a great way to keep yourself from over packing and you can get two different outfits for the capacity of one! lol

This is another great one I use to save room, you know those little samples of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion etc they supply to you at hotels? Well turns out they work great for storing your own beauty products as well! I know I know blew my mind too xD but seriously I have a whole bag of these that I have cleaned out and saved for when I go on trips because shampoo bottles and lotion bottles can really take up a lot of space that you could be using for something more important like oh I dont know being able to zip up your bag?? lol just kidding.

I also packed a smaller bag for dinner and walking around the casino because sometimes my handbag is just too big and heavy to carry around up into the wee hours of the morning lol This is just a simple little bag I found at Tjmaxx I fell in love with the quilted detailing very Chanel.

my Victoria's Secret make up bag that my bestie bought me!

 Now onto beauty! This is probably the hardest thing for me to pack smart for but there's really no point in bringing your whole make up collection on a two nights stay unless its for a make up convention then by oh means pack it all like your house is going to be set on fire lol

Any ways since I wasnt going to a make up convention I packed what I knew I would use and nothing else. Above shows the brushes I use mostly; foundation brush, handy buki for applying powder, contour brush for applying bronzer, bluch brush, brow brush, toothbrush I use for my eyebrows and my Sonia Kashuk portable eye kit. And then I always carry some nail polish and tweezers because I might need it.

And heres what in the bottom part; Estee Lauder loose powder, Clinique super balanced make up and VS bronzer are the most used products in my beauty regimen.

 The next thing I do is make a list of all the essentials I need or that I know I will use for sure and I was able to pack all this because I used those little tricks I told you about; sleep shirt, extra bra, underwear (of course), curling wand,  Dove dry shampoo and heat protectant, S shine serum, eye mask (mandatory if I want to get any sleep) make up bag and small handbag.

Now we're ready to pack! I find that folding my clothes as flat as I can, really helps me save space. Some people like to roll their clothes but that never works for me because it takes up more space than the method I use. Also I like to occupy every inch of the bag's corners and it not only gives me more room but it just looks prettier when its all zipped up lol For my heels I placed them in sole up (to prevent puncturing my bag) with one on either side of the bag, that seems to work for me. I honestly had to rearrange some things because of my small handbag but I did get everything to fit and my weekender zipped with ease ;)

 And wala! all packed up with everything I need and ready to go!

I realize this post was a little silly but hey some people might find it helpful after all there is a Wikipedia page on how to pack a suitcase so someone must be wondering lol

Thank you so much for reading as always I really appreciated it and I hope you enjoyed it.  I hope everyone has a great week and Happy Veterans day! xoxo Em

Eat your Way to Clearer Skin!

Hey guys! So I dont know about you but I have really oily, acne prone skin. I dont just get the usual blackheads and annoying pimples, I get what they call subcutaneous acne where its like a hard cyst under the skin and I cant do anything to make it subside and they are so painful. I also have a lot of pimples under the skin making my face look bumpy and rough I hate it! But I will say ever since I've been incorporating these ten foods into my diet I havent had any of my subcutaneous acne pop up and I can see my skin getting clearer every day so I thought i'd share them with you guys in case youre having the same problems as I was :)

 

 One is Omega 3 fatty acids. Found mostly  in salmon, flax seed, and walnuts:  

Omega 3 fatty acids are great for our skin . They aid not only in reducing skin inflammation 

and keeping acne at bay but they also give you glowing skin as well. You can 

increase your omega 3's by eating two servings of fatty fish a week such as salmon, 

mackerel or sardines adding a tablespoon of flax-seed oil to something or 

adding walnuts to your salads, smoothies or just as a snack.

Foods rich in vitamin E such as almonds, leafy greens and eggs help heal the skin from 

acne scarring. Vitamin E is just one of the many antioxidants that help us generate 

healthy skin cells. I love unsalted almonds as a snack or in my salad. Try to eat the

 unsalted ones because less sodium in your diet also aids in having clear skin.

Melons, oranges and tomatoes are all vitamin C enriched foods. Although vitamin C 

doesnt directly help in getting rid of acne, it does boost your immune system and 

strengthen your cell walls and also help in reducing inflammation and scarring.

Another is foods enriched with selenium – Brazil nuts, Onion, Garlic, Whole grains: 

 Brazil nuts are the perfect source of selenium which is a very powerful antioxidant.

 It helps in controlling acne and preserves the skin’s elasticity. It also reduces 

inflammatory damage to the skin. One Brazil nut a day is power packed for a days’ 

supply of selenium. Follow selenium intake with Vitamin A and E to pack in more acne fighting punch.

High water content foods such as watermelon, Cucumber, and parsley 

will help you achieve clearer skin because youre increasing your water intake 

which in turn helps keep your systems free from toxins. Any dermatologist 

will tell you if you want clearer skin drink up and increase your water intake! 

Foods such as bananas, artichokes and brown rice are high in magnesium 

which aids in balancing the acne inducing hormones. I love all three of these especially bananas.

Foods such as carrots, cantaloupes, sweet potatoes and other colorful fruits 

and veggies are very high in beta carotene. Beta carotene helps by enhancing the benefits 

of selenium to the skin. Try introducing atleast 1/2 cup of these colorful fruits

 and veggies into your diet, I love bell peppers in soup or stir fry. 

Another great way to get clearer skin is by drinking Green tea which is easy for 

me because I love it! Green tea contains two very powerful antioxidants which helps reduce

 oxidation damage and also inhibits bacterial colonization and soothes inflammation. 

Try drinking atleast three cups a day if you can.

 

 Cut down on the salt. For some reason, iodine causes acne to flare up. So to avoid 

this watch your sodium intake in processed and artificially flavored foods. Tv dinners 

have a crap ton of sodium so before you decide to settle with that Marie calendar pot 

pie check the sodium on the label you'd be surprised how much is in that little pot pie. 

And last but definitely not least stay away from the white family! White bread, white sugar, 

french fries, white rice and even white refined flour pretty much anything with white 

refined sugar should be off limits. They all hurt the process of getting clear skin because 

processed sugar causes your insulin to spike into causing acne to flare up.

I hope this helps you get rid of your acne or atleast keep it at bay thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a great weekend talk to ya'll soon! <3Em

A very very late Saturday Shopping Haul!

Hey guys so I guess you have noticed I'm not really good at this blogging everyday thing and I'm thinking that my bright idea is more of a muted light lol But anyways I did get to do a little shopping Saturday and here are my finds from Hertha's, Yvonne's, Tjmaxx and Ross, sounds like a huge shopping spree but it really wasn't lol 

 I found this maxi at Tjmaxx it was a little pricey, $20 but I fell in love with it and it looks amazing on. I love maxi's for summer but I also wear them in the fall by pairing them with a chunky sweater and a belt so I decided to splurge because I can get a lot of use out this one.

I adore these neck tie tops! I found this one for $8 at another resale shop in my home town called Yvonne's and I really liked the detail on the front as well. I plan to wear it with a black high waist skirt, black opaque tights and mary jane pumps, so excited!

Found this top at good ol' Hertha's I think it was $10 I love the front it would be cute with black skinnies.

I lovee leopard! thought this would be cute with skinny jeans or black jeggings, $10 at Tjmaxx

I love zippers and i thought this was a cute sweater for the fall and you know me I love over-sized sweaters

found this at Hertha's for $5 its originally from Forever 21

 Found this cute little dress by Lush at Yvonne's for $10 I thought it'd be cute with black opaque tights and booties.

 I saw these at Tjmaxx they were only $8 and fit like a glove and they would be cute with a black or grey chunky sweater also.

I love these v necks so much, I bought one a while back and I wear it pretty much everytime i'm around the house relaxing so i went back and bought one in every color theyre so comfy and soft and only $5 a piece I got them from Ross.

And last not definitely not least my new Steve Madden bag! I lovee it saw it at Tjmaxx and had to have it! It was $30 plus I really needed a black bag.

See I told you, not as much damage as it sounded lol Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed this very late post and I hope you guys have a great week! Don't forget to vote tomorrow! Even though you're only one person, you make a huge difference so get out vote! love ya'll! Em

Finally a Friday Favorites!

 Hey Guys! So this is definitely a little later than i wanted to post but I got so freaking busy today the time just slipped away from me so fast. Anyways I promised you a Friday Favorites post earlier so here it is :)

Since its Fall and that seems to be my theme this week so I'm going to share with you my favorite products that I use in the fall, now some are old products that I've been using for years but some are new that I just came across recently.

Lets start with cosmetics! 

 This is one of my favorite lip colors for fall, its a great reddish brown and always makes a statement. It's Ginger Spice by L'Oreal.

 Another favorite lip color is this one also by L'Oreal called Pure Burgundy. Its such a rich gorgeous color and a great alternative to a bright red.

 Omg I lovee these lip glosses! Theyre only like $2 and come in all kinds of colors, I love this color for fall even though the name reminds me of summer lol Honey on the Hudson by NYC

One of my favorite nail polishes during the fall is Burgundy Flirt by Rimmel, its similiar to Sky fall by OPI but its a shade lighter it does however take at least two coats to get it this dark but it looks amazing and lasts a long time!

Oh my gosh I am OBSESSED with this color from Rimmel! I didnt find it my mom did but she doesnt like how thick it is so she gave to me I have no idea what shes talking about lol its perfect and you only need one coat for it to show up plus the name is perfect for fall, Hot Cocoa how appropriate!

Now onto body products! These are all from Bath and Body Works :)

 

My absolute FAVORITE holiday collection by them is Be Enchanted. I have the whole collection I love it so much lol The scent is so whimsical and fruity and just reminds me of the holiday season coming up which I also adore! By the way Bath and Body Works is having a special on the signature collections where you can buy 3 get 2 free which is a pretty good deal if youre like me and like to get all your Christmas shopping done early, find something for everyone and get a little something in return :)

I love this for a sweet scent, I usually hatee vanilla scents but I am seriously addicted to this one! I put it on before I go to bed I layer it with the body spray and it last until morning and even all day. Its a strong scent but not to where its overpowering btw its called Vanilla Bean Noel.

There Wickedly Hot Chocolate is absolutely delicious I also have the bubble bath version and it literally feels and smells like im bathing in a cup of hot chocolate they couldnt have made it more true to scent if they tried.

This one probably looks familiar because it is I showed it to you in my what's in my purse post so i'm not going to say much about it but it is one of my fall favorites.

This is obviously not a body product but its from B&BW and one of my fall favorites for a room scent. It's called Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and to me its the perfect combo for fall and these little things are pretty strong and last up to 8 weeks!

So I dont know if I've said this before but I LOVEE candles!! I go through them like I go through underwear ahaha and one of my favorite holiday candles is Winter it is the definition of Christmas time for me and everytime I burn it, it brings back every memory of Christmas. B&BW is having an awesome sale on the candles theyre usually $20 a piece but right now you can get 2 for the price of one so thats a really good deal!

And last but not least, I'm a hugee tea drinker especially as the weather gets colder and I love this one because its perfect for fall, the orange almost acts as pumpkin with the spice and its just a delicious combo i go through it like water lol

I have many more but these are pretty much my all time favorites/most used so I hope you enjoyed my first Friday favorites sorry it took until Saturday to post it haha but better late than never! thank you so much for reading and I hope ya'll have a great rest of the weekend, I'm not sure if I'll be posting a shopping haul it depends on if I go shopping today I'm kinda broke right now and trying to save up for Christmas so we'll see what happens wishing you guys a great day!<3 Em