Tarte Double Duty Beauty Hits and Misses

I am an avid YouTube watcher.  I happened upon a recommended video discussing items you could purchase thru Ulta in their 21 days of beauty sale.  My birthday was fast approaching and a few items this lovely lady showed caught my eye.   I love a bang for my buck and these items and their prices made me tingle in areas I have long forgotten.  Also in the interest of staying relavant and getting this post up faster, swatches and pictures are NOT included sadly.  My camera is down.  There are many fabulouse youtube videos and swatches on pinterest etc...  Sorry and thank you for understanding.  But my opinion and experiences are still valid with or without pictures.

First Item I put in my cart was the Tarte Courage Pallette.  A Gold colored packaging with an inspirational saying on it, with 5 stunning neutral colors and a gorgeous blush not to mention a nice sized mirror and I got mine for only $26.00.  So I bought 2 as a good friends birthday was also approaching and we were going to exchange gifts and this was perfect!  The saying on the lid is She dreamed, she believed and she succeeded.  A wonderful sentiment and daily dose of inspiration.  In the video a Tarte Double Duty Beauty kit was featured for $36.00.  It included lights camera lashes mascara on one end and best in faux lash fibers on the other.  Tarte the eye architect wand with a liner in brown on one end and a shadow in copper/champagne on the other end.  A lipstick dual Tarte lip scultpter with a lipstick in VIP cool nude and a gloss on the other end.  and the final product is a Colored Clay bronzer blush in park ave princess pink bronze .31 oz

Pretty good deal as the kit is now gone and the products are $21.00-$24.00 each now and the eyeshadow palette is now $28.00.
blus
It was worth $36.00 but I don't feel any of them are worth the 21-24.00 individual purchase price and here is why.  I have been testing out all of this makeup since easter.  There are hits in the collection and severe misses.

First let us discuss the eye shadow/blush courage palette.  HIT!  I adore the eye shadows.  They are pigmented, buttery soft, apply and blend like a dream.  The blush included is beautiful and lasts all day.  The shades included are

• Rise & Shine Eye Shadow (beige) cream
• Lucky Penny Eye Shadow (rosy copper)
• Trailblazer Eye Shadow (brown)
• Rosy Outlook Eye Shadow (rose gold)
• Smile On Eye Shadow (dark brown)
• Courage Blush (nude pink)

I definately recommend you buy this palette! Buy it HERE!

Now onto the double duty beauty items.  

Lets start with the biggest fail and I am so sad to say this, it is the mascara and lash fiber duo.  Priced at $21.00.  I wanted so much for this product to work.  I don't like applying false lashes but need something extra.  The fibers fall into your eyes no matter how much mascara you apply first or how little fibers you have on the wand.  The ones that do stick fall out during the day making a mess.  The mascara itself started flaking and transfering an hour and half into wearing it.  And it dries out pretty  coquickly.  For $21.00 I was expecting better performance than my drugstore mascara and didn't get it.

Next a half major Hit and half Miss, is the Eye sculpter set.  The eyeliner is BOMB!  It is the only liner I have found to date to stay in my water line.  The shadow side is a miss.  There is not much product at all and sadly two uses in the shadow cap broke off while putting it back on the wand and I didn't twist hard or anything.  The wand is made out of flimsy metal that is easy to bust off.  If you pay $24.00 for it and it breaks so quickly you will be disssapointed.  Buy it for the Eyeliner!  The wand applicator for the shadow does make a nice smudger though.  Check out the liner/shadow combo HERE!

A Hit for me is the Lip sculpter set however I am not sure it is worth $24.00 and here is why.  The lip color is perfect for me for everyday wear, however the lipstick itself is very soft and everytime I apply it I can feel it move in the tube.  Also the bulkyness of the product itself makes it kind of clunky to apply and you will hit your lip on the side of the tube as it keeps pushing down on itself.  The gloss is nice.  Wear time is usual for a lipstick and gloss the gloss lasted about an hour as did the lipstick but I drink out of cans as well.  You will need to reapply throughout your day.  But the dual wand is easy to pop in your purse and have your lipstick and gloss right there.  Get the lip combo in VIP NUDE HERE!

The last but certainly not least and most beautifully presented item in the collection is the Park Ave Princess Bronzer Blush!  Is it a bronzer?  Is it a blush?  Apparently it is both.  It looks gorgeous on the cheek and in the pan.  You can check it out and purchase it for $30.00 at Tarte Bronzer Blush.  Ulta isn't selling it anymore but the full size is on the Tarte website.  If you love bronzer and you love blush you can't pass this up!

I have two bonus reviews of Tarte mini products I have recieved in Ipsy bags.  The Park Ave Princess Bronzer and Tarte Lipsturgence Lip Crayon.  The bronzer is a bit light for me and looks a bit muddy on me.  But my skin is different than yours and it is a nice bronzer.  The Lipsturgence crayons are my favorite lip crayons.  They have a minty smell and they stay on for a while.  If you want a chance to recieve products like Tarte bronzers and Lip Crayons try IPSY for $10.00 a month for full size to deluxe samples sent to your door each month Get your IPSY bag HERE!

Kozy Shack Tapioca Pudding

Hello everyone out there in internet land.  My new resolution for the year is to blog with some sort of regularity.  I know I said that last year, but this year I mean it.  I expanded my blog to include food, lifestyle and home reviews as well as advice for all of you.  Today Kozy Shack Tapioca pudding.  Why, well all of you that take numerous medications for health or chronic pain like I do, know that there are times your tummy is hungry but it feels weird and hot food and many solids don't catch your interest.  So I need to have various jellos, yogurts, puddings and other not so solid solid foods around to snack on so my meds don't irritate my stomach beyond control.  Why Tapioca?  Well to be honest as a girl I hated the stuff.  Now I like the weird texture.  I like the creaminess of the pudding and I like the texture of the tapioca beads and also enjoy using my tongue to squish them. :-)  It has been a hot minute since my fridge has seen tapioca, and while at Walmart the other day I saw some while picking up go gurt for Jordan.  

Kozy Shack Tapioca

Pros:  Great creamy consistancy, a good density of pudding, not to light and not to dense.  the tapioca beads are a small size and clear in color and there is a good amount and distributed thoughout.  It is good enough that the whole container was consumed within three days by me and hubby (5 serving size).  The boys think tapioca looks nasty which is a pro because it means I got more than a spoonful.  

Cons.  Is kind of BLAND, lacks nutmeg and cinnamon however not a deal breaker because I add my own, and can do it to taste and freshly.  the tapioca beads themselves are mixed in some are soft and squishy (my fav) and some are harder like slightly undercooked rice (NOT my favorite)...

Being I can't remember the other brands I have tried so I can't compare or scale it.  Please comment below on your favorite brand of Tapioca or your favorite way to dress up your Tapioca.

Remember Friends (even internet friends) don't let friends buy, consume or watch crap!

My Top 5 Youtube Food Review Channels (UPDATED)

Hey all in internet land.  I updated this blog to say more things about my favorite people, a disclaimer in small letters and in red so you know I mean it, and a honorable mention.  I know, I know I have been gone for a while.  One of my kids borrowed my laptop and it was stepped on breaking the screen, then after i got a good tablet with keyboard I got sick again.  But lets get down to it, no one cares about my woes...and to be honest I don't either. So why Heather WHY food reviews on your beauty blog.  Well we all need to eat.  If we stopped eating, our skin would get grey and rubbery and we wouldn't have any energy to apply all these ointments and color products to make us human again.  Yes I know they aren't reviewing "health" food on a regular basis, but this is better.  you get to find out how junk food taste Before you waste your money and caloric count to find out they suck.  Another point to address  before the comments come...Why are they all of the Male persuasion.  Yes all my favorite foodies are male.  It isn't that I need to watch other men to get my fantasy material.  I got books for that.  I am married with three boys.  Two of them are teens and then add all the boys they bring around.  The only female around is me and the damn dog.  We are lacking serious estrogen up in this bitch.  Anyhow I digress.  I am feeding men/boys, It also isn't my fault that the men food reviewers are hands down funnier than the females.  And yes It helps that a few of them are nice to look at (greg and dimples I am talking to you)...the hubby gives me a look and leaves the room when he sees me start to silly grin.  I don't say anything about his collection of magazines in his sock drawer do I?  Fair is fair and anyway these guys keep their clothes on.  They have nice smiles, and we all know that, a smile is the first sexiest part of a man we notice and we keep on noticing it far past the novelty of bunny screwing wares off.  It is almost our 16 year anniversary.  Also the smile is another thing where size or shape doesn't count it is how you use it.  okay size does matter..who are we kidding but that is for a different blog topic. Before i go all 50 shades of Heather on you lets get back on topic, Without further ado....going from 5-1...

Top 5 Youtube Food Reviewers.

5. (updated)  SAS...Snack Food Appreciation Society.  Brandan and Will come at us with reviews from their dining tables, his truck and occasionally other places.  They review Snacks as the name implys, fast food on their OTR series, and every friday he does either frozen or hot pizza reviews with the reading of quote from his crazy cat calander.  I really enjoy watching the boys over there at SAS virginia.  They have a great group on facebook the SAS group.  Now why do I like them so much, our main man Brandan has an interesting look, he has a radio voice and shares anticdotes and knows what he is talking about.  I LOVE that his oven runs hot, even though the sweet side of me that loves him wants to fundraise to get him a new oven, I enjoy that he is a reguar joe like the rest of us little people, and not everyones oven works great.  I like knowing what pizza will still taste good even though my oven sucks.  Please Join us over at the snack food appreciation society on facebook. I am a new member but everyone is really nice and it feels like a family club.  

Watch Him HERE

4.  IAN Kiener... Peep this Out.  I like that it sounds dirty but isn't.  Ian is awesome, he has good production value, sound effects, pictures and catchy sayings.  He reviews everything from beverages, to snacks to fast food and movies and electronics and such.  I enjoy him most for his food reviews. A big plus is it seems as he is friends with almost everyone and does great crossover vids and sends his friends stuff to try.  Ian is how I discovered number 3 & 2...Number 1 is how I discovered Ian.  ooh a fun math word problem.  okay moving on.  Go check out our man IAN K.  Now if I didn't know better and perhaps I don't.  I'd say our man Ian K has news casting experience.  He has a news voice.  I like it.  He wants us to Peep it out...Like I said it sounds dirty and mama likes it.  He just got married to a beautiful woman and I wish him all the best.  Keep Peeping it out my man.
Peep him out HERE

Number 3.   The Endorsement,  Yep Dimples himself made it to number three and why three and not two as the dimples on its own should catapolt him into a league of his own... well Greg and Q edged out your award winning smile and laugh by a hair and that hair being the curly hair on irrepresable Q's hair with the witty banter going on.... perhaps if....no..forget it.  Anyhow already you know this man has dimples and an infectious mischievious grin, he also has food and beverage reviews and is funny.  He is believable and REAL.  You can tell he likes what he is doing and he likes the people he meets.  Oh btw...there is a cute little back and forth between Q from number 2 and the Endorsement.  It gets quite humorous and you can tell it is like when your brother hates on you at thanksgiving still when you are in your 30s, it doesn't mean anything...or maybe it does but mom says it doesn't. ;-)  
He can be very persuasive.  Seriously I know simmer the hormones  down right.  He is great at what he does and I look forward to more videos from him.
You can watch him HERE.

Number 2..  Greg and Q form Mr. Happy 0121  or mrhappy0121 in case you are in a hurry to go searching for them..  Why do I love Greg and Q so much.  HONESTY, INTEGRITY, REALNEATO, HUMOR, Damn right I am Shouty Caps like this is a presidential election and they got my vote against yet another Bush demon.  Greg and Q are the bombdiggity.  The Ice in my Ice Ice Baby, The long ass guitar solo in GNR's november rain...shout out to Slash.  Without those elements the songs would not be complete and as awesome as they are (don't hate, Vanilla Ice had his moment and hell I was 12)  Would you rather me compare by saying some obscure referance to the New Kids... Yep I am all about them.  I don't need your damn street cred.  I love the New Kids...aaaaghhhh Jordan....wait joe cuz jordan turned into a douchebag with his arrogant personality, however it doesn't change the glorious years of fantasy world where the bullies were gone and I was having an orgy with them....okay where was I....without those things the songs wouldn't be awesome and without Greg and Q my day wouldn't be as awesome.  On Mrhappy0121 they give videos 5 days a week.  yep 5.   and if i want them another two...i go to the dark side.  Greg does reviews on another channel mrdark0121 or something like that... you look it up, i am getting tired.  You must go check them out HERE.  And Facebook mrhappy0121 Facebook page. Like, Follow tell them LARGE MARGE SENT YA...HA HA HA    

AND the Number 1....God Father of all food reviewers...(in my not so humble opinion).... DAYM DAYM DAYM... no I am not suffering another stroke...it is Daym Drops with Super official food reviews.  He is big, he is funny, he has a great smile and he knows what I like.  anyhow.  He is the chocolate on my extremely vanilla sundae of food reviewers.  He gets a 5 all day son.  Go check  him out NOW !  He also has a gaming channel and does occasional give aways, was featured on the Travel Channel, and gets exclusive first looks at new items coming at us from our favorite or hated fast food restaraunts.  He tells you what is what.  You can see it in his face if he does not like something.  He is like a giant teddy bear you wanna hug, and he has a big heart.

disclaimer.  These are my thoughts, I am not friends, paid or anything by these people to say these things.  Even though I wouldn't mind being friends  with them, that is why I gravitate towards them because I could see myself lunching with them and having so much fun stuff comes out my nose.  I know gross, but hell you know something is down right funny or shocking if a beverage spurts out of your nose.  Don't worry men, I will bring plenty of napkins. Also please don't assume these are the only 5 I watch.   Over the past two years I have subscribed to hundreds of different foodie channels.  Some top ones that I may still enjoy from time to time because of the food, I considered but didn't put in my top five because of things such as arrogance, crankiness, annoying pitches,, unsavory practices and other things.  Out of 50 I actually considered for this blog these are my top 5 because of their charecter, their humor and their genuine spirit.  Thank you for reading...


Honorable mentions

Jack on the Go, Jack scalfani is the first food reviewer I found on accident.  He does cooking demos and reviews of kitchen products *my favorite thing* on his Cooking with Jack channel, and thru that I found his second channel Jack  on the go where he does restaraunt reviews and pizza, burger, taco, wing wars.  Now since he relocated from California to Tennesee he has added BBQ wars.  I love Jack Jr. his son as well.  This guy reminds me of my brother with his dry humor and sarcastic wit.  Check him out as well HERE

Nail Art Society

Hello all in internet land.  Today's chat and review will be about Nail Art Society.  Let me tell you a little story before we begin the reviews.  Once upon a time (March of 2013) I was reading a makeup site and the subscription box threads.  Yes I have a small teeny tiny addiction to subscription boxes.  At the time I was into the YouTube nail art tutorials.  It looked great in theory but in practice with my shaky hands well... anyhow I digress.  I saw a post on Nail Art Society.  They were relatively new and were restructured under new ownership.  There were some negative nancys writing about them.  So of coarse I like to give the underdog a chance to prove themselves ordered.  I also joined at the time they had a lifetime $9.95 per box pricing when regular pricing at the time (or supposed regular pricing was $19.99.  What they promise. 
"Each month you’ll receive a new kit curated by one of our celebrity manicurists. Kits contains all of the polishes, professional tools, supplies, and step-by-step instructions you’ll need to create our featured look at home. Combine elements from past kits and get creative with designs of your own."  At the current time the "membership" is $11.95 a month plus $4.95 shipping.  Now I got the March 2013 box and don't really remember being all that impressed at the time.  I didn't get another until January 2014.   They sent a email stating they were upgrading their computer program and we had to resign up.  Not to worry because our other information would be deleted and no one else would see it.  In January I resigned with a different card.  A MasterCard.  A Visa was on file prior.  I decided to cancel the day I received the January box.  January I was also charged a different amount and shipping which prior I hadn't been.  No big deal.  Anyhow...February comes and I was looking over my visa account and discovered I had been charged $9.95.  Oh well, I figured perhaps I didn't cancel early enough or what not and awaited my box.  It never came.  March I was charged again.  I logged into my account and it said I was no longer a member and the MasterCard was on file.  Huh why is my visa being charged... And then I looked for a phone number to call them as most subscription services have excellent customer service on the phone and this was an emergent issue as I wanted to alert them that somebody had perhaps gotten a hold of their old records and were using them (fraud) or perhaps someone was ordering and sending the boxes to a different address again fraud.  No phone number.  So I sent an email.  I never got a response.  April comes and same thing, sent another email, no response.  May comes and again charged and no response.  June I finally get a response after I threaten legal action and bad reviews on nail community boards.  The response was "can I call you now to talk about this matter"...it was time stamped at 6:15 and it was 7:30 when I checked my email.  I wrote back nicely and said yes please call me anytime after noon.  I am excited to talk to you and resolve this matter.  I did not hear back from anyone.  However I got an email saying hooray your order has been shipped.  Okay...I got my June box...but what about the last 4 months.  Wait until you see Junes box...I was pissed off.  Perhaps because I was already in a sour mood about these people.  Then July comes.  Surely they have taken care of the matter and I will not be charged...Wrong.  I was this time I wrote another firm yet compassionate letter about how I am sure it is not their error, computers are horrific and that I am patiently waiting to do my review on the company to see if this issue will be resolved. I stated that I either wanted the 4 boxes I have been charged for or a full refund for the 4 months I was charged and did not receive products.   I was contacted the next day and refunded for July.  I had said in the email I don't mind being charged as long as I got the product.  I then wrote thank you for the refund.  I appreciate it.  What is the status on the past boxes I was charged for.  She wrote back you got March and June correct.  I wrote back I got March 2013 and January 2014 and June 2014.  They must have read it wrong because I got an email stating our shipping coordinator is sending out Feb, April and may's boxes to you right now.  And my friends I did receive 4 shipping confirmations and tracking numbers, 3 boxes and the fourth tracking number was just a info received message and is still that way.  So it was never sent out.  I decided to let it go.  I am happy I got the 3 boxes I have been waiting forever for.  I never did get any answers to how my subscription was cancelled and the visa card isn't even on my account anymore yet it was still being charged questions, and other questions I had.  I guess that will remain an enigma.  Will I be charged again in August??? That is the question.  So without further ado...

My boxes...now some have months on the cards and some don't.  So I just guessed what was suppose to be what. 

No Month:  On the card there are directions for two different nail art designs.   #Diamond Nails and #Shattered Glass.  The Materials given were A bottle of ORLY Instant Artist Water Based Nail paint in Crisp White and ORLY Instant Artist Water Based Nail Paint in Grape.  Both Full size retail for $6.50 each.  Next a small packet of nail art flakes and a small packet of tiny pink diamond shaped glitters in hot pink.  And last an orange stick.  Now we have to guess the value of the glitters I will round up and say $1.00 each and the orange stick..$.25.  Grand total for this box  $15.25.

March 2014 is entitled Denim Blues.  Featuring Habit Cosmetics.  I was really excited after I looked up the polishes I received.  Both full size from Habit Cosmetics in Blue Velvet and Belle Epoque.  Both gorgeous shades of blue.  They naturally strengthen nails with Myrrh extract.  Myrrh is also anti inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti fungal.  So in addition to getting awesome Nail polish I finally learned what one of the wise men brought to the party.  Sounds like a very useful product.  Back to Nails, we also got a pack of each gold and silver zipper decals for the nails and an orange stick.  Now get ready to lose your mind the bottles of nail polish sell for $18.00 each and they are only .35oz each.  And yes I looked it up it is full size.  Myrrh is expensive I guess.  The nail decals are the brand Blue Elf Beauty Sells on amazon for $4.37 each.  Grand total for this box is around $45.00.  I really like the quality and colors of these polishes.  They were opaque in one coat and shiny without a top coat.

May 2014 #Something Blue

In this kit I recieved a bottle of Jessica nail polish in the shade Surfer Boyz N Berry $8.40, It is a like a tiffany blue color, A package of The Creme Shop Nail Appliques #30 $5.00 is a guess because no where online sells these anymore, not even the company, A Sally Hansen I love Nails Nail pen in 310 White fine tip $5.99.  A Nail Cage $1.00 on ShopMissA.com  and two 3D white Bows $1.00, 2 midi rings in a silver color $1.00  and a nail scissors

$1.00 at any dollar store and of coarse the orange stick. This box retails for around $23.00. 

June was a Pedicure box... I was none too thrilled when I had waited so long for my emails to be answered and to get a box and then I open it up to see a Pink Manicure set $1.00 (the kind you get at the Dollar Tree), A Mini Ciate polish in the color glitter pucker up pink and this tiny bottle retails at sephora for $8.00, a small jar of hot pink glitter hex shapes $1.00  and two packets of a foot exfoliate from Freeman Bare Foot the full size of 5.3 oz is $5.99 and the two sample packets are only .5 each so about $1.00 for both.  . This box retailed for around $11.00.  The polish is nice but I wouldn't pay $8.00 for .17 oz. Not pictured are the toe separators and plastic orange stick.  Anyone know what the heck that piece of pink Styrofoam is for (the rectangular object).  

So those are all of my Nail Art Society Boxes.  Now perhaps they figured their issues out and this isn't happening to new people that sign up.  If you think that the products are worth over 15.00 a month go ahead and sign up.  To me they are really not, I'd rather save my $15.00 and go onto Amazon.com and buy nail art supplies and then go buy nail polish elsewhere.  Also I worry about any company that does NOT have a phone number to speak to real people.  They use to.  Anyhow.  I am happy I got what I got and I am happy they finally sent me all but one of my boxes.  I am still missing Feb or April...depending on what month the ORLY stuff came in.  I am not bitter.  I won't say Don't give them a chance.  ;Let me know how it works out for you.  Watch now that I cancelled again the boxes will be awesome.  That is just my luck.  OR Maybe they will continue to blow chunks.  That is the gamble you take with subscription services.  Anyhow my nail art addiction has long passed.  I am addicted to polish only and stamping.    I will post the link here if you want to check it out.  Nail Art Society  Keep Keeping on and Remember Friends don't let Friends Buy CRAP.

NEW SUBSCRIPTION Lip Monthly

Upon opening

Pretty Products lined up in a row.  Ready for review captain!

Hello Internet friends.  I hope your summer is going well.  I have something exciting that brought me back to the blogasphere.  A new beauty subscription!  So exciting that I even taped a video review five times for Youtube...I think I may need to record it again.  Take 6!  Speaking of Youtube, I discovered this box from a favorite super youtuber of mine, Melissa Raymond.  She is hysterical and I adore her reviews.  Melissa Raymond Awesome Youtube channel Click the preceding link to watch her be awesome. Without further ado my review of July 2014 Lip Monthly.

Revlon Color Burst In Sunbaked

So I bring in the mail and there is a white bubble envelope.  The return address said Lip Monthly.  Yaaa.  I rip open the envelope and three products and a small box with the lip monthly logo spill out.  Still excited.  The first product which is called the Monthly Mix up (a non lippy product they will include every month) is a 1.5 oz John Frida Frizz Ease smoothing creme.  Okay sure.  I will use this...I guess.  On amazon this product size sells for $5.65.  The next product rolling around my table is a City Color Lip Lush (Lip Crayon) in the color Malt.  It is a nice brown color in the nude family.  It retails for a whopping $2.99 on the City Color cosmetics website.  It isn't horrible and looks pretty nice with the next product about to fall off my table which is the Revlon Color Burst Lip Gloss in the shade Sunbaked.  A glossy shimmery nude brown with a berry tinge.  It is a bit sticky so we will play with it and see how much I love it  This retails for $6.99.  It looks great over the city color lip lush.  Onto the tiny box.  There is a card that tells you about Lip Monthly and that next month they will start theming their boxes in a unique way.  I can't wait to see how they do that.  Under the card there is a city cosmetics lip balm in Bright Pink, it is a very opaque balm infused with Vitamin E.  Retails for $2.99 this product reminds me of wet n wild lipsticks but not as dry.  Now onto the piece de resistance....Appeal Cosmetics Lip Stick in Red Light District.  

Lipstick in Red Light District

This color is RED RED RED...this Lipstick Is really really RED...Oh sorry Taylor Swifts RED comes into my head every time I view this lipstick.  This lipstick retails for are you ready...$22.00.  Yes that is right.  Not a typo and celebrities apparently wear this specific shade according to the website.  They specialize in Eyelashes and Luxury Lipsticks.  
' 

City Color Lip Balm in Bright Pink

 City Color Lip Crayon in Malt

So for my whole $5.00 I got 5 products valued at over $40.00!  I will keep this subscription until I no longer need to hoard lip products and maybe for a month after!  Of coarse there are pictures.  My good camera is on the fritz so I apologize...  Oh the link I promised you for your first box for only $ 6.99 (they changed the deal, but it is still a good one.  Join Lip Monthly  The code Is Summerlips, they display it on the ordering page as well so don't feel like you need to write it down.  What are you waiting for??? Click the link and join.  BTW this link is NOT a referral link meaning I don't get one iota of a credit for you clicking it and joining.  However there is a spot when you join to say who sent you if you want you can put Heather Shineflew.  Once I play with these products a little more I will come back and let you know what I think of them...Trash or Treasure.  My next blogs will be on Nail Art Society...So look forward to that.  I got 3 boxes at once and am waiting for my 4th.  I have a lot to say about them.  Any questions, comments, witty remarks or casual statements?  Comment...Share.  Love me Dammit.  Until Next time.  Friends don't let friends buy Crap.

As Seen On Tv Stretchkins FAIL

Today is my youngest sons 7th birthday and the only thing he wanted was a Stretchkins.  So yesterday we hurried to our local Wal-mart and purchased the only one they had left.  A Pink Unicorn.  He didn't mind.  We slapped down $19.99 for this pink monstrosity

and wrapped her up.  Upon opening he declared this the best birthday ever and me the best mommy in the whole world.  I have a feeling he would have said that for anything.  Now the claims on this product is it "grows" from 29 inches to 60 inches tall, it included a DVD that is a $10.00 value that has a dance party section and excersize section.  Of coarse he immediately popped in the dvd and being a good mother I was forced to watch 10 minutes of this horrifying stretchkins theme song over and over while different children danced and did cartwheels and such while their colorful animals were attached to them.  (Anyone ever wonder who figures out the "values" of extras product companies include?)  Probably the same person who figures out the retail values for stuff on the price is right.  They overbid...  Anyhow.  My son enjoyed his toy and that is the point.  However later in the day he was distraught.  His stretchkins that he already named had torn  Now for a toy where the leg attatches to the body.  See above picture.  This should not happen to a toy that is supposed to be stretched and danced with and even cart wheels done with it, it shouldn't tear on the first day of medium strength play.  My 7 yr old is not 60 inches tall either, the toy was not stretched vigorously or played with roughly.  The Tummy Stuffer is a good As Seen on TV toy and has held up well but this is not.  Save yourself 20.00 and talk your child into something else.  I am kinda ticked off that this animal tore on the first day when it was specifically designed to be attached to a child and stretched and such with.  I am writing a strongly worded letter to the company.  Make my child upset on his birthday will you. 

Elf Haul (eyes lips face)

Hello friends in internet land.  I trust you are keeping warm?  On cold nights like tonight instead of a warm blanket and hot chocolate I enjoy going thru my make up collection with a nice Mountain Dew.  Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.   A month ago I needed primer as my elf primer finally emptied.  I had planned on just ordering a primer.  However around four am the morning I got my direct deposit I got an Email from ELF.  They send me emails like twice a week with a set or a sale of sorts.  I usually just delete them.  However this coffee break email set had the primer included along with some other items that interested me for only 19.99 and I had a new years five dollar off code because I rock.  So I figured why not.  So come along with me as I explore the world of goodness that is my elf haul.  The good, the bad and the ugly will be shown and discussed. 

The good!

1.  Elf Mineral Primer.  This is my second bottle.  I love this stuff.  It has a silicone texture and my foundation and other crap just glides right on.  It leaves a lovely satiny feel to your skin.  I do have combination skin and it works really well.  It is only 6.00 and has a great pump.  I love the packaging as well.  I set it next to my foundation bottle on my vanity.  ELF Primer  There are three different kinds.  I have tried the Mineral face primer and the Hydrating mineral face primer.  They both work the same.  I don't need extra hydration and really can't see the difference so if you are stuck just go for the regular Mineral Face Primer.  You will love it, and for only $6.00 it isn't much of a risk.

2.  ELF Nail Polish in the color Glamour Girl.  This is my first ELF nail polish.  (If you'd like a nail polish collection post comment below)  This polish surprised me as much as the fact there is no letter z in the word surprised.  It is an opaque light tannish brown that has a pinky undertone to it.  It is the perfect neutral or nude color and it has shimmers in it.  This is a 2-3 coat polish and be sure to use a great top coat to help with fast chipping.  You can't expect a $2.00 polish to be extremely long lasting.  However it applies like a dream and the brush is nice and short and lets you be precise in your application.  Check out the selection and their website has great sets for under $10.00.  You can also find elf in some Targets and Dollar Trees and Drugstores.  ELF Nail Polish 

3.  5 pc (4 if you don't include the pouch)  ELF Studio Travel Stipple Brush set.  $15.00 retail cost.  I love love love elf brushes.  I have many of the $1.00 essential eye brushes (white handle).  They are soft and do the job well.  This kit comes with The travel stipple brush, the small stipple brush, eyeshadow stipple brush and tapered stipple brush.  The duo fiber stipple brushes are great for mineral eyeshadows and loose makeup..  the white hairs easily pick up the product lightly and you just pat or dab (stipple) it onto your area you are working with.  The brushes are soft and they look cool.  The pouch is nice as it has the bands to hold the brushes and you fold over the bag and snap.  on the side is a zippered pouch to throw in a few mineral eye shadows or what not.  Glad I have them but I wouldn't like buy them separately for $15.00 when I can buy the whole Studio brush line for $30.00.  ( i wouldn't as they are on sale constantly or free with 25.00 purchase all the time .  Definitely sign up for their sales emails so you don't miss out.  Studio Travel Stipple Brush set.

4.  ELF Studio Lip stick in the color Pink Minx.  This color is a peachy pink.  It is fairly opaque.  It is pretty close to my lip color.  It is moisturizing and after 2 hours.  It has not traveled to the outline or gummied up.  So yaay for that.  I won't say it is fabulous but that is because the color doesn't play nicely on my lips..it just fades into them and says yeah I'm here but you can't see me.  So I won't make a determination on fantabulousness until I try a deeper color.  However I like the formula so I will try another color.  There are some lipsticks you try and you hate the formula or the way they sit on your lips even before you hate the color...this isn't one of those.  Just use your ELF Lip Exf

olliator (a treasure status product in my book) first.  Did I mention these are only $3.00 each?  They are a little lighter than appear online. Clicky Clicky for Lippy Lippies   MUST HAVE Lip Exfoliator

5.  Elf Studio Makeup Wipes.  I love these wipes.  They are only  $3.00.  And some of the best I have used.  Every time I order I throw on a pack or two of wipes.  Makeup Remover Wipes

Okay so now for the not so good but not so bad... The middle of the road products.

6.  elf Baked Eyeshadow Palette in Texas.  Price for this palette is $10.00.  I was excited for this palette because I only have one baked eyeshadow.  They look really cool.  This palette is all neutrals.  Using them dry is not advisable.  They are powdery and not that great looking on the eye.  There is little pigmentation and honestly they all seem to look like each other and when you blend they just blend away unfortunately.  However they go on nicely wet.  I will not buy or recommend this palette ever.  You can go to BH cosmetics and get a great baked eyeshadow palette there.  In case you want to look at it or try it yourself at your own risk..Baked Eyeshadow 
The best part of this palette is the huge mirror.

7.  Elf Studio Mineral Facial Mist.  Note I stole this copy from the website because hey I have no original words to say about what this supposedly is or does.  Replenish and boost your skin with the revitalizing Mineral Mist. This unique blend of Witch Hazel, Rosemary, Chamomile, Honeysuckle, Aloe and Vitamin B work together to balance and enhance the skin, leaving you looking energized and renewed. These nourishing key ingredients keep your complexion radiant, brighter and provides instant moisture to smooth and boost skin circulation for a firmer more youthful glow. The lightweight and invigorating mist leaves skin feeling revived and restored,

All e.l.f. mineral makeup is 100% natural mineral-based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes. 
Okay I am sure this is great, but I don't see the benefit and what not for paying $6.00 for 1fl oz of this stuff.  Yes it feels nice.  When I was sick I sprayed often but honestly I wouldn't buy it again.  My skin is usually fine and I didn't see any balancing effect.  If you have money you need to throw away on stuff you don't need buy this.  How about instead buy a 6 pack of Kraft mac and cheese break it apart and donate it to a food shelf or neighbor that has kids.  Add a pack or two of hot dogs and there you go.   Much better purchase for your $6.00.

Now the UGLY...

I love ELF products and they have great deals and you can get free shipping when you order a certain dollar amt.  Now I only paid 14.95 for this set (I had a coupon code for $5.00 off) so I had to pay $6.95 for the shipping.  The holy shit this sucks part is it takes two to three weeks to get your stuff.  Even if you pay for shipping.  WTF.  I live in WI not Asia.  You ship from the east coast not russia.  Oh well.  I am impatient and want what I want in a week and half tops. lol,  

Elf has great products.  Check them out, take them for a spin..