Shop Miss A!! A bargain hunter's dream?

What if there was a dollar store that had amazing makeup, jewelery, and accessories and you could shop for all of it from your couch?  What if they offered free shipping on orders over $30 and had good customer service too? I found this amazing site called ShopMissA.com and I love it!!  I have placed 3 orders so far and I have been able to get a wide variety of their products and feel like I can tell you what to look for and give you tips on it all. The biggest thing to watch out for is lead in their jewelry.  This is my only disappointment with this store.  I love the jewelry that I got from them, but several of the pieces had warning labels that stated "not intended for children," "for ages 14 and older," etc.  I believe one even had the "this product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause.." label.  Some of their jewelry items do say "lead free" on the website but not all do.  In the future I will only be ordering items that state "lead free" on the website. My only other warning is that you need to check your package and everything in it thoroughly right when you get it.  If anything is broken or defective or you just want to return or exchange something, you only have 3 business days from when your package arrived to you.  I had 3 out of my 40 something items that were broken/defective in my first order and 1 in my second order and 3 in the third. With the 1st order I contacted them about 2 weeks later and at first they just told me their policy and that I had missed their cutoff.  They did give me store credit when I complained that their cutoff date was not a normal amount of days for a return and that it was only listed on the site under the returns tab (which you wouldn't check until you were already trying to do a return and you might already be too late without even knowing it at that point).  The only other con is that stuff sells out quickly.  They get some really amazing things for $1 but usually the best colors and options are sold out when I look at the site.  They have an email subscription that alerts you when they add inventory and I would highly recommend joining it if you love the site. Thanks for reading!!  Have you ever tried this site?  Leave me a comment below with your thoughts!

Zit Fix! The 3 Best Spot Treatments

I have had acne off and on since I was about twelve.  Unfortunately it's been mainly "on" and very rarely "off."  I have tried so many different acne products both prescription and over the counter with little success.  There are a few products that are worth sharing though :)

If you have acne often or even if you only get a "spot" rarely, the best strategy may be just to treat each spot.  Often using a strong or drying product on your entire face will cause more harm than good.  These three use a variety of active ingredients to help you get rid of zits faster.

The first is Murad's Acne Spot Treatment.  This baby is $16 for a little tube that will last for a very long time.  It is very soothing and effective at reducing the swelling and pain of a zit while helping it heal faster.  Here are the claims straight from Sephora, "High performance ingredients, such as sulfur and salicylic acid, reduce the appearance of blemishes while supporting natural cell turnover. Zinc and licorice root extract help support natural healing. This product is dermatologist developed."  I just barely ran out of this and I will miss it.  The only downfall is that it is a little smelly due to the sulfur.

The second product is a glycolic acid acne spot treatment called the Zit Zapper from Perfectly Posh.  This is also a small tube with the same amount of product as the Murad treatment.  It also will last forever!  This acid is great for getting rid of the dead skin cell plugs and oil that causes zits, blackheads and whiteheads.  It can shrink some zits in a matter of hours!  The claim straight from Perfectly Posh "Aggressively exfoliates clogged pores to reduce duration of blemishes."

The third product is actually a mask but I liked it a lot better as a spot treatment as it was a little too drying for my entire face.  It is Proactiv's Skin Purifying Mask.  This product was great for making you feel like you were instantly shrinking and drying out your zit.  It also always made them heal up in about half the time that they would heal in without this treatment.  The mask uses sulfur, kaolin clay and tea tree oil to clarify skin and kill bacteria.  The claims from Proactiv "Containing sulfur medicine and kaolin clay, it draws out impurities, reduces excess oil, and keeps pores clear, helping prevent new breakouts. It also soothes and calms skin as it reduces redness, irritation and blotchiness."
These three have really helped me with my skin when I was desperate to fix a nasty spot or two (or three).  :)  I hope they will help you out too!
What are your favorite acne fixes?  I'd love to hear in the comments below!

Review: Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer

4 out of 5 stars

Best uses:  Highlighting, concealing under eye circles while highlighting, matte finish highlight with no shimmer, sheen, glitter, etc.

Why I like it:  The wand is easy to use, it lasts a long time, it provides good coverage and a natural looking highlight, blends easily.

What I don't like:  If my skin is dry at all, this makes it look worse.

How I use it:  I like to apply it right along the lowest part of my under eye, you know that line or indent that goes from the inner corner of your eye, at an angle out and down, I put it right in that low spot and blend gently with my finger.

If I have more time then I will apply along the skin right next to the bottom of my nose, a little right down the center of the bridge of my nose, a bit on the tip of my chin and a wedge/triangle under my eye.

How to get rid of makeup lines

I struggle to get the right shade of foundation on the first try.  If I am way off I will see if I can exchange it.  I feel bad taking it back when it was my fault, so if there's anyway I can make it work, I keep it.
When picking a foundation, I go for the lighter shades because I know I am very fair.  I have found a slight yellow undertone looks much better on me than a slight pink or orange or cool undertone.   I also have found that if I am having a hard time choosing between two shades, it is almost always better to pick the darker.  If the lighter shade looks like it might be lighter than your skin I wouldn't get it.  In the past when I have gotten a shade lighter than my skin, I look sickly.
If you get a shade that is close, but too dark, you won't look sickly.  You will have to do a little extra work to make the mismatch less noticeable though. Here's what I do:

• I apply foundation to my face
• I take a little more foundation (not very much) and rub it from my jawline to almost halfway down my neck
• You want this (on your neck) to be a very thin layer of foundation, so that you have a gradient between the bottom of your neck to your jawline.
• Take bronzer and slowly build it along the sides of your neck, next to the front of your neck, but not right on the front, sweep it all the way to your collar bones

You want to be very sparing with your foundation and bronzer application to your neck.  You want to slowly build it for a natural look.

Here's a video of how I do it.

Thanks for reading!! 

P.S.  If you do like high end makeup, Sephora actually has a color matching machine that scans your face.  I have heard mixed reviews about its accuracy, but it's worth a try :)

Make your cheekbones POP!

I follow Benefit cosmetics on Instagram.  They have some pretty cool marketing and their products always have the funnest names.  Yesterday they posted a tip called "the jelly doughnut."  You use illuminator around your cheekbones/apple of your cheeks and then put blush in the center of your "doughnut" and blend.

I tried it yesterday...Wow!  I have never had my cheeks look so sculpted and gorgeous.  These pics really don't do it justice.

Before (sorry it's so blurry)

Can you see the ring of shiny color on my cheek?

Ring and blush in the middle, preblend

The finished look!  I think this is easier and maybe even better than highlighting and contouring. I used my e.l.f. all over color stick as my highlight because it is somewhat frosty.  I used my e.l.f. baked blush in rich rose to pack in the middle of my circle.  Then I blended the edges of the circle and the middle with the blush.

You've got to try it!  Thanks for reading :)

Linking up with: Fry Sauce & Grits, Makeup Monday

Summer Makeup Tutorial

    I'm trying my hand at video making again.  It was so much easier the first time!  I'm going to take the makeup kit from last week, and show you how to do my favorite summer makeup look.  It is super simple, looks very natural, but also adds some color and definition to show your natural beauty.       I did change out a few products.  My skin is extremely broken out right now, so I am using Revlon Colorstay foundation instead of my e.l.f. BB cream.  I swapped my NYC color mosaic blush out for my e.l.f. baked blush in rich rose.  I also am using my new CK one mascara that I got for my birthday and then adding just a bit of my define-a-lash to help curl my lashes.  The wand is amazing!
    So here it is!  How to get that summer glow with your makeup.  :)  No sunburn or tanning needed.

Take a Trip Thursday: Packing tips and Hawaii Pics

Napali Coast Kauai

You know how some people have the most gorgeous, coordinated, well put together outfits when they travel?  I am not one of those people.  At all.  I have made a lot of packing blunders in the past.  I'm still not the perfect packer, but I thought I could share what I have learned so far. :)

1.  Plan ahead:  Waiting until the last minute results in grabbing many miscellaneous items that may or may not go well together.  I have learned this the hard way.  Also it is hard to pack the right amount when you are in a hurry.
2.  Plan multiple outfits with your pieces:  As you decide what pieces you want to take lay them all out and start putting together potential outfits.  You want clothes that you feel comfortable in and that work well together.  I am very bad at grabbing a bunch of my favorites and then finding out on the trip that I only can make a few outfits and that some pieces don't match with anything :(
3.  Dress for your activities:  Take your itinerary and decide, based on what you are doing each day, what you should plan on wearing.  You don't have to plan everything out to a T, but if you are going to be doing a ton of hiking (like we did in HI), you will want multiple outfits that work for that activity and less outfits for other activities.  

We brought old shoes for hiking.  Thank goodness!

Our trip consisted mainly of hiking with a side of driving and beaching :)

Waimea Canyon

4.  Bring at least one "fancy" outfit:  It is nice on vacation to go out to a nice dinner or do some shopping at least once.  It isn't as much fun when you feel like the frumpy tourist.
5.  Don't under or over pack:  I have decided that slightly over packing is better than under packing.  I tend to under pack, but I am getting better :)  Once again look at your activities and then how many days you will be gone.  Plan maybe one extra just in case outfit, but not three. :)

You can't tell from the picture but there is a nice swimming hole right here...

see we're actually standing up in this pic.

We hiked, waded, and kayaked to get to the swimming hole.

Maliuhi Road

Poipu Beach 

I bet you want to go to Kauai now ;)  It was a fun trip!

Thanks so much for reading!!  Comment if I should do a post about traveling cheaply.  Also if you have any packing tips I would love to hear them!

linking up with: BeYoutiful Link Party

Fashion love Friday

There are a few fashion trends going on right now that I am in love with.  Florals and stripes, cuffed jeans, boyfriend jeans and blazers and graphic shirts with feminine skirts.  Here's some pics of my faves and myself rocking the blazer and cuffed boyfriend jeans.

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A lot of these outfits are so amazing because of their contrast.  Graphic tee with a gorgeous skirt, blazer with loose cuffed jeans, whimsical floral with structured stripes.  Dig through your closet and see what you can do with what you've already got. 

 I have a lot of beautiful floral skirts, but might pick up a striped shirt like the ones pictured above, I did have a pair of baggy jeans and a blazer already :)

Thanks so much for reading!!

Style Sessions Link-up

Penniless Socialite Link-up

The Pleated Poppy Link-up

How to shop at Victoria's Secret

VS can be a very expensive store to shop at, but thay have some amazing things. Super comfy sweats, beautiful bras and panties, great beauty and fragrance items, gorgeous and practical workout gear, and the best swimwear.

The great thing about VS is how much you can save on their products. I have gotten so many great deals and many free items throughout the years. Yes, completely free :) The even greater thing is that you don't have to spend a ton to save a ton.

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Semi-annual sale:

This is the best! It happens at the beginning of June and January each year. You can get bras for $15 each and bath and body products for $3.

Before the sale starts go in and get sized and try on their sample bras. They have plain bras in each model in the dressing room so you can figure out what you like. Then write this info down. They typically have little cards for this.

Go back during the first few days of the sale and find the bins with your size and find the models that you liked and get what you want.

They mark everything down more each day that the sale goes on, but they have a price adjustment policy. Look at your receipt to see how many days you have and how much longer the sale goes on. Come back within your price adjustment period close to the last day of the sale (make sure you go in before the sale ends). 

In the past I have done this and have been able to get what I want before everything is picked over. Then I came back and had the price adjusted to the lowest sale price ($14.99).

Look over the clearance clothes and body care too if you like that stuff. You'll love what they have and how cheap it is. I always stock up on lotions and body wash for me and to give as gifts.

2. Clearance:

I have a swimming suit that I love from VS that I got for a really good deal from their online clearance. I even had to exchange the bottom for another size, and I still would do it again in a heart beat. I also have two pairs of their PINK brand sweat pants that I got on clearance. One pair was $25 and one was $15. If you've ever looked at those pants you know that's a great deal. They typically cost around $50 each.

I don't usually find much on clearance in stores. So I shop clearance online. Shipping and handling does cut into your savings a bit, so you'll have to factor that in. Returns and exchanges for me have been painless and once you've paid shipping on the item you don't pay again for an exchange.

3. Coupons:

Being in VS's mailing system is a beautiful thing. When they send you coupons they are good coupons. So good that you don't even have to buy anything and get a free pair of panties.

They do this to get you back in the store to buy something, but you don't have to. I have used the coupons both with and without a purchase. Remember they sent you the promotion because you have spent money in their store and they want you to continue to be a customer. 

They also will send out a coupon for $10 off a bra. You will save more by shopping at the semi-annual sale, but if you can't wait until the next sale, at least make sure you use one of these coupons. 

I'm also including secret rewards in this category. When they do a secret rewards promotion they give you a card with each purchase that is worth at least $10. So when I bought my PINK pants I bought the first pair then the second and used the card and actually received another card that I used to buy the hair mousse they used in the fashion show last year. It was $14.50, I used my card and got it for $4.50.


Have fun shopping and saving!!




Be sure to check out Fry Sauce and Grits here for a wonderful link up party dedicated to lifestyle blogging.

Also check out Agape Love Designs link up here

The best tips for how to grow long, healthy hair fast

I LOVE long hair. I have had hair down to my waist a few times in my life and I have only had it shorter than my shoulder blades three times. My hair is naturally pretty healthy and usually grows fast. The last year or so I have started to have more breakage. That combined with a botched hair cut has left me with shoulder blade length hair that I intend to grow out ASAP. 

I have done quite a bit of research lately and I wanted to share it and my own experience with other long hair addicts and dreamers out there.

Welcome to hair school!

First you want to encourage growth and secondly you want to prevent breakage. (Duh, right?) But seriously all tips fit into one of these two.

Encourage growth:

1.  Healthy diet:

  Lots of fruits and veggies

  Whole grains

  Healthy fats and proteins (fish, legumes, yogurt, eggs, avocados, etc.)

2.  Biotin/hair and skin vitamins

3.  Exercise

4.  Enough sleep

5.  Scalp stimulation:

  Brush/comb from scalp

  Scalp massage

  Part hair in different spots to style and also to brush/comb (putting your head       upside down and brushing your hair out feels sooo good on your scalp)

Preventing breakage:

6.  Use good MOISTURIZING shampoo and conditioner (choose moisturizing over volumizing, etc.)

7.  Deep condition every week or every other week (can do this with coconut oil, tutorial here)

8.  Wash hair every other day at the most

9.  Lather shampoo in hands before shampooing roots (if your shampoo lathers)

10.  Shampoo roots only

11.  Condition all of your hair, start at the roots and scalp and work to ends (use the conditioner to massage your scalp for about two minutes after you've coated all of your hair)

12.  Don't brush through wet hair

13.  Satin or silk pillow case

14.  Braid hair before going to bed

15.  Don't pull hair up into a bun or pony tail every day (I have been guilty of this and think it's the cause of a lot of my breakage)

16.  Use bobby pins, clips and barrettes more than pony tail bands to prevent breaking hair

17.  Trim broken and split ends when you notice them (great tutorial here)

18.  Only trim breakage don't get trims just "to keep hair healthy" or "to help it grow."   Your hair is dead and has no way of even knowing it has been trimmed. It will not make it grow faster, but breakage needs to be removed as splits and breaks will continue up the hair shaft and will also contribute to tangles and more breakage

19.  Avoid heat styling: do bun curls, sock bun curls, braids, etc. to get body and different styles.

20.  Air dry hair, if you have to use a blow dryer, let your hair dry almost all of the way and then use blow dryer, don't towel dry hair.



So I had a really, really bad hair trim in January.  I finally had the courage to go in and get it fixed last weekend.  I knew I was going to lose a lot of length, but it was so uneven that I couldn't even wear my hair down.  Here's the before and after of my "fix it" cut.

Do you have any good tips I left out?  Share them below, pretty please!  :)