Friday, August 29, 2014

August Birchbox Review

Wow, you guys are lucky...two posts in one day! =)

I'm back with my Birchbox review for August!


This months Birchbox was one I wasn't really excited to try...sometimes the boxes that come in aren't full of products that I'm really invested in trying. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised...and sometimes not so much!


I didn't like this Neil George shampoo and conditioner at all. It made my hair feel stringy and dry which is exactly what I try to avoid since my hair is naturally pretty dry. I wouldn't purchase these in full size and they are definitely something I wouldn't want to try again.


I usually am not a fan of perfume samples, but this Catherine Malandrino was an exception. I was surprised by how much I actually liked this perfume. At first it was very strong and I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but after wearing it I discovered that I actually did like it. I definitely won't be purchasing any full size since I still have so many full size perfumes to go through!


I thought this Model Co Bronzer would be too dark for my skin. It honestly looked a little scary dark but it worked nicely! I just used a very light hand when applying it and there is a little bit of shimmer which is great for a summer bronzer. I will definitely be using this!


The last product I received in my Birchbox was this BB cream that I've been using in lieu of my foundation which has been great especially since it contains SPF.


Have a great long weekend everybody!!!

Weekly Couponing Wrapup

I did a pretty small haul this week for couponing, only stopping at CVS. I do plan on completing a Rite Aid haul sometime before the sales change on Sunday which will be shared in next weeks wrap-up!


My first trip to CVS consisted of...

1 Stayfree Pads 18 count @ $2.99
used $1 coupon from the newspaper
Paid $1.99 and received $1 back in ECBs

1 Pack of Venus Razors @ $9.49
used $3 coupon from the newspaper
used $3 off $10 shaving CVS coupon 
Paid $6.49 

1 Burts Bees Chapstick @ $3.29

In addition to the coupons above, I used a $4 off $20 coupon, making my coupon total $11.

I paid $5.59 out of pocket and received $1 back in ECB. Not the best deal I've ever completed, but not bad considering I wanted to buy Burts Bees for my chapstick addiction!

My second trip to CVS was just to complete my razor deal so I didn't take a picture since the razors are the same ones that I purchased above.

1 Pack of Venus Razors @ $9.49
used $3 coupon from the newspaper
used $1 in ECBs
Paid $5.49

I paid $6.15 out of pocket and received $3 in ECBs to use for next time!

This week I saved $15 just using coupons! Not bad at all!

How much did you save this week?

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Project 365: Week 34

Another week gone. Another project 365 post!


Day 234: Another beach day!



Day 235, I did a pretty big shopping trip to get some new clothes for my new job.



Day 236, a beautiful day for a bridal shower! We celebrated Brittni's bridal shower and watched a gorgeous sunset!


Day 237 I spent the morning with my two college roomies. We walked around URI where we went to college and were amazed by how different everything was. There are so many new buildings...funny how things change.


Day 238 was my mom's birthday- I got to spend the day with her which was great!


Day 239 I spackled up the holes in my wall...there were quite a few!

Photo: Day 230 fun braided hair #project365

Day 240 was complete with a braided hairstyle! I love headband braids and playing around with different hairstyles...so much fun!


How was your week?

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Less Stuff, Less Stress: End of Summer Update

Hey everyone!

I think my last Less Stuff, Less Stress update was wayyyyyyy back in April! A lot has happened since then and I have quite the collection of items to get rid of. The best part? Since we're moving mid-September, my mom has gotten on board as well and together we have a huge collection of items.

So huge in fact that we are going to be holding a yard sale next weekend. Yikes.

What kind of items are we getting rid of?

Clothes, Jewelry, Childhood Toys, Books, Furniture, Decor, Holiday Items, Electronics, etc...etc...

I guess the better question would be, what are we not getting rid of...




We have stacked a ton of items in the basement and hopefully this weekend we will sell most if not all of them!

Although I'm not thrilled about moving (at all), it has been a great reason to go through all of my stuff and get rid of everything that I don't absolutely need and love. I want to let go of things I don't use so they don't take up precious space in my world! =)

There's still a ton of stuff to go through, and packing isn't exactly coming together easily. Here's the current state of my "to-be moved" items:


Just keeping it real folks!

Now I'm off to sort through some things, while waiting for the Safelite guy to come fix my windshield. (Yes, on top of everything else going on a rock flew up on the highway and cracked my windshield at the end of last week...Oh well, it's annoying but an easy, free fix!)

When you move do you declutter before you move all your stuff? Or do you just box everything up and hope for the best?

Have a great day!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Things I'm Loving Lately

Today I thought I would share a few things that I've absolutely been loving lately! I've done this a couple of times on blog which you can see here and here. These posts are inspired by Julie over at Peanut Butter Fingers- I love when she shares completely random things that are making her day recently!

Having Time To Spend At The Beach



I have been enjoying a ton of beach time on our lovely Rhody beaches lately! I bought my season pass at the beginning of the summer and love having what I consider "free" entertainment for the rest of the summer. Once I have spent the $60 on the pass I might as well go as many times as I can and make the pass worth it!

Spending Time With My Best Friends



I have had so many events lately and have loved spending time with my friends. It has been great to see high school friends, college friends and everyone else in between! There are a ton of events coming up in the near future so I will be seeing everyone a lot this fall! =)

The Pogs


The other night I went to a 90's cover band concert and had a blast! The Pogs are a Rhode Island based 90's cover band and I enjoyed rockin' out to the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and so many amazing 90's songs! One of my favorites? A 90's TV medley that consisted of Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Friends, and Full House. Not only was the music incredible- the band was full of really nice guys who actually jumped in our picture without being asked- you couldn't find a nicer band!

Hanging With my Mom


I have been spending a ton of time with my mom lately and I am loving it! I am lucky to have the sweetest, most generous mom in the universe and I have been enjoying all the time we have before I start my job!

Trivia


I love playing trivia every week! It is always a blast to hang out with friends while we see how many questions we can get right. I look forward to it and can't recommend Trivia Time USA enough- they do a great job!

Those are just a few things I have been loving lately- what have you been loving?

I'll be back tomorrow with a Less Stuff, Less Stress update- a pre yard sale edition!

Monday, August 25, 2014

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday...


Happy Birthday Mom!!!!





I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have such a wonderful mom! She is my best friend and biggest supporter in everything I do, I love you mom!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Weekly Couponing Wrapup

I did quite a bit of couponing and freebie-hauling this week! Luckily one of my friends Laura has been getting really into couponing too so it's been a ton of fun planning out our weekly trips together!


The first store I went to was Dollar Tree. 

2 Gain Fabric Sheets @ $1 each, $2 total
used two $1/1 coupons
FREE!

I paid 14 cents in tax for these two packages of fabric sheets, which is amazing!


I also did a deal at Rite Aid this week...

Hello Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner @ $4.49 each
on sale two for $5
used a $3 coupon
Paid $2 total ($1 each for shampoo and conditioner- not bad at all!)

2 Colgate Toothpastes @ $3.79 each
on sale for $2.50 each, $5 total
used two 75 cent off coupons
Paid $3.50, and received $2 back in +Up Rewards

I also used in $5 +Up Rewards, I paid $1.20 on a gift card, and received my $2 +Up Rewards for the Colgate.

At Target they only had one more of the regular Kraft mac and cheese which I really wanted to do a deal for...but I ended up purchasing that one, and then nine ninja turtle ones!

1 Kraft Mac and Cheese @ 94 cents
used 10% off coupon
Paid 84 cents

9 Ninja Turtle Mac and Cheese @ $1 each

I paid $9.84 not bad for mac and cheese (but it would have been a better deal with regular mac and cheese)

For complete freebies this week...



I don't know where this came from, but I was excited to find a free makeup bag come in the mail!



This Airborne sample came from Target, along with a small booklet of coupons to use! =)



For Harbor Freight freebies, I picked up a 4 outlet power strip and then later in the week my dad went to Harbor Freight and used two of my coupons in two different trips in order to get me the metal tray and the work lamp!

How did your week couponing and getting freebies go?!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Project 365: Week 33

It's Thursday and you know what that means....Project 365! 

We are creeping towards the end of summer and with the fall will bring a lot of big changes in my life- and on this blog... a new job, a new house and new experiences! 


Day 227. My post on this Friday morning was a good morning from the beach. I spent this particular beach day at Misquamicut Beach. It was a gorgeous day and I managed to get burnt a little bit, but nothing too bad! =)


Day 228: In case you didn't know I'm a big Patriots fan (thanks to my college roommate Megan who within a few short months of living with her had me obsessed about game schedules) I was so bummed I wasn't able to watch the last game since it doesn't air on any of our channels. I did manage to find the game tracker online so I was able to keep track of my favorite guys. (Although my all-time favorite guy Gronk is still out...keep on praying!)


Day 229: I started packing up my stockpile.... =(



Day 230: I shared the other day how Brittni and I worked on her guest room tearing out all the carpet.   I can't wait to paint with her =)


Day 231: I saw this quote on Samantha's Simply Organized Instagram page and I thought it was so inspirational. 


Day 232 I did a ton of packing and moved everything over from my closet/attic space into the empty office. I have so much stuff that I've accumulated over the last twenty-five years, I don't know where it all came from!


Day 233. Yesterday I snapped this picture of Roxy. She is such a sweetie and loves to be cuddled up in my bed. When I'm working on projects around my room she just sits nicely in my bed and listens to me work, sometimes snoring too! =)


How was your week?

Remember, you can follow me over on Instagram where I share a lot more personal photos every day! 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Big News!

Today I'm sharing some big news with you....

I'm moving.


Yes, moving. My future plans are not set in stone and everything feels completely up in the air but for right now we will just focus on the fact that I'm moving out of this house that I've lived in for the last 11 years of my life. I will be moving to another house with my family and then moving out on my own soon after.

If that isn't enough excitement for you...

I got a new job!

I will be starting my big girl job in September and I'm so excited about it!

For now, let's focus on the moving process...


I started to slowly pack up my room/closet/storage items this past weekend collecting stockpile products and less used items in any bin and bag I could find.

Now, let's take a little tour around my room when it was unpacked...




(yes, an unmade bed because that's how I roll)





Where does all that stuff go?


I ended up piling everything I've boxed up in the empty office next to my room. I plan on bringing all my small stuff over to the new house myself so I know that everything gets put where I want it!

I will be sharing all of this moving process as it proceeds and I will be sharing some pictures of this house once we are officially moved out- a way to reminisce about the house I've known and loved all these years!

I also may do an organized moving blog post if you are interested.

When was the last time you moved? What are your best organized moving tips?

Have a great day!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Brittni's Guest Room

On Sunday afternoon, one of my best friends in the entire world (since first grade no less) invited me over for some "organizing and picking out wedding music"......

We didn't do any of the above, we tore out a carpet instead!



I learned a few things about tearing up carpet.

#1 There are nails that stick out of the bare floor- don't step on them.



#2 Wall to wall carpeting is extremely difficult to fit out a window.



#3 There is foam underneath the carpet, which is glued to the floor. Peeling it off is not necessarily easy!

#4 Working on peeling foam off cement is immensely easier with a scraper.



#5 All housework is better while singing along to the frozen soundtrack!


Next up? Painting! (Then hopefully some organization!)