Millennial Momma

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Review: Sensationail by Nailene

Let me just start out by saying that this product is an A+. I highly recommend this product! Sensationail is a way to achieve gel nails at home and it really is as easy as it advertises.

Sensationail: Comes with the LED lamp :)

I have struggled with biting my nails for years. After becoming a Mom I found that my nail polish was always chipped and/or dented. There wasn't enough time for them to ever dry but Sensationail came to the rescue. I know I sound like I work for them right now but I can't say enough good things.

The Sensationail starter kit runs for $50 at Walmart. Although that seems pricey, a gel manicure will run you $25 at a salon. The starter kit says it will do 10 manicures. The starter kit I purchased came with a vibrant red. You can purchase other colors for about $10 a piece. The packaging states those will give you about $20 manicures.

The directions are easy and the results are a fast dried, hard-as-a-rock, nail. The finish on the nail is smooth and glossy. Now the only issue I had is that I am not the most skilled nail painter. Typically my fingers have as much polish on as my nail. The directions repeatedly say DO NOT GET ON YOUR CUTICLE. Well, I did in some areas because my nails are so short. I just used a cuticle V to cut it off.

I love the red polish!

Sensationail claims that this will last for up to 2 weeks. This is really important to me because I don't like to walk around with chipped polish (but I do). I am on day 2 and after washing dishes, prying open boxes, cleaning the bathroom, all nail polish is intact.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

VS Reward Card Shopping Trip

So today I decided to cash in my VS reward cards. I had two from prior purchases and 1 I earned free this morning from Facebook. Long story short I only ended up using two in the store and figured I'd use the 3rd another day but I came across a pretty good VS online deal. Here are my spending scenarios:
In-Store:
1st Transaction:

Sexy Little Things Noir Travel Size
Total after Rewards Card: $.60

2nd Transaction:

Very Voluptuous Lip Plumper in Baby Pink (This is my second one and I LOVE it. It doesn't really plump but it's a great gloss)
Total after Rewards Card: $9.??

Online- 3rd Transaction:

I went through Ebates for 2% cash back. I purchased a sleepwear item for $25.99. This qualified me for a perfume set. There was also a promo for any purchase you got a free lip gloss set. Lastly free shipping on orders over $25.
Total after Rewards Card: $15.99 (Sleepwear, 3 full size lip glosses, and perfume set)

Friday, December 9, 2011

Favorite Couponing Sites

Here is a list of my favorite couponing sites. I follow all of these on Facebook as well as on my Google RSS feed. On my Android device I use an app called Greed2 which shows me all the new posts from these websites.

My Frugal Adventures
Money Saving Mom
For the Mommas
Common Sense with Money
Passion for Savings
Mojo Savings

What I love about these sites is that they bring you the most up-to-date deals going on. Also, for specific stores they give you coupon scenarios so you can plan your coupon trip for the week. On a few of the sites you can search by store (i.e. Weis) and it will tell you the best deals and tell you what coupons to use and where you can find them. It makes couponing easy :)

In the near future I will be posting about coupong strategies. I have been slacking in the couponing area since I have been moving so much but I will be back at it in the new year!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Review: GVP Travel Flat Iron

As I mentioned in my Sally Beauty Haul I got a free GVP Travel Flat Iron . The GVP is supposed to be the knock off of the Chi flat iron. I had my doubts but this flat iron is AMAZING.
I used this flat iron on Ily's hair and not only did a great job at straightening her hair, it lasted into the next day. I have used the InStyler on her hair in the past but it didn't last and it was difficult to get around her face and ears. I don't own a good flat iron because I rarely need to use one. I am not going to buy one just for Ily's once a month need-to-have-straight-hair-or-I'm-going-to-die moment. So this FREE flat iron worked out great. A bonus is the travel size flat iron is the perfect size for Ily's little head :)

Consignment Store Haul

Let me start out by saying I was at my local consignment store for a total of 4 hours on Saturday. 4 hours is a long time but it was well worth it. I got rid of old stuff and replaced it with more sh*t :) On top of the great deals I got Ily made a new friend who just so happens to be going to her kindergarten next year.

Total amount spent: $5 credit...yes I made money (this is with store credit and a $10 punch card filled)

Purchases:

1 pair of Express jeans

2 pairs of AE jeans

1 pair of Aeropostal jeans

1 pair of skinny jeans for Ily

5 kids toys

The jeans are in EXCELLENT quality. I now can get rid of some of the old jeans I don't wear anymore since I have replacements.

The biggest steal was a Vtech Sit to Stand Alphabet Train. Currently on Amazon this item is priced at $39.99. My consignment store charged $14.95.

I asked the Ily's new friend if he thought this toy was fun. He said "yeah but my mom says I don't use it." haha. That is how a lot of toys purchased at Danny's age are. So I just don't see the purpose in spending money on toys that don't see the light of day.

Earlier I had ordered the Vtech Interactive Zoo Learn & Dance from Walmart for $10. I purchased one from the consignment store for $2.95. So far I have spent $0 on Danny for Christmas and he has 6 "new" toys.

Midnight Pumpkin Pie

I made this for a mini-Thanksgiving I had and it turned out fantastic!

Midnight Pumpkin Pie
Start to finish: 1 hour (10 minutes active)
Servings: 8
1 cup heavy cream
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bits
15-ounce can pumpkin puree
1⁄2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground dry ginger
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
1⁄2 teaspoon ground allspice
1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 prepared (raw) deep-dish pie crust
Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a small saucepan over medium-high, heat
the cream until just bubbling. Remove from
the heat and add the chocolate bits. Stir
until completely melted and smooth.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the pumpkin,
brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves,
allspice, nutmeg, salt and the chocolatecream
mixture. Add the eggs, whisking until
everything is thoroughly combined.
If it isn’t already, fit the pie crust into a 9-inch
deep pie pan. Pour the pumpkin mixture into
the crust. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until
the center is set and no longer jiggles.

Recipe from Alison Ladman, Associated
Press writer.

Nutritional information per serving
(values are rounded to the nearest whole
number): 390 calories; 210 calories from fat
(53 percent of total calories); 24 g fat (13 g
saturated; 0 g trans fats); 100 mg cholesterol;
43 g carbohydrate; 5 g protein; 3 g fi ber;
and 240 mg sodium.

Sally Beauty Haul

I have a hard time passing up a good sale. I try and ask myself, do I really need this? The answer is usually no. So I follow it up with, am I going to end up buying this and it won't be at this price? That usually is the deal breaker.

I had a $5 off coupon I needed to use at Sally's before the end of the month. The coupon was from renewing my Sally Club Membership. I was going to just buy a clarifying shampoo and Ily needed a new leave-in conditioner but then I saw it...Hot Shot Tools had a special going on. The special was buy any specialty tool and you get a free curling iron. I had been wanting the Hot Shot Titanium 1 1/4" Curing Iron. I purchased the Hot Shot Tourmaline Ceramic 1" a few months ago and it is by far the best curling iron I have ever used. My favorite part is how fast it heats up. I recently saw a Youtube video on the Hot Shot Tools Deep Waver. My hair doesn't hold enough wave just using sea salt sprays so I decided to purchase the Waver.

Upon cashing out I found out I also get a free GVP Travel Flat Iron. It is supposed to be the generic version of the Chi Flat Iron. Who turns down free stuff? Not me! I left Sallys paying $57 for the deep waver, travel flat iron, curling iron, leave-in conditioner, and clarifying shampoo. Overall I saved $65 (Membership price).