Fabulously Thrifty

Giveaway Winner and MIA

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:45:00 +0000

First of all, I want to apologize for being MIA. These past few weeks have been really hectic at home and at work. Last weekend all of a sudden a wisdom tooth popped out and I had emergency surgery yesterday to get all 4 of them removed. The surgery went pretty smoothly, and :knock on wood: I don't feel too terrible today, but it was an ordeal.

I wanted to announce the winner of the Haute Glam Boutique giveaway.

Congratulations Hockey! I will be passing on your information to Annette, the owner of Haute Glam Boutique.

I won't lie, I'm a little disappointed that only four people entered this contest, as this is a great store with an amazing owner. I'm also disappointed that with all going on I didn't promote it as I should. If you girls get a chance, please check out Haute Glam Boutique. They have some really cute and affordable stuff.

Thanks for the support ladies!

OOTD And Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:33:00 +0000

I very rarely do OOTD posts. I usually wear very blah clothing, I'm not thrilled with how I photograph and I have to ask my mom to take the picture, which is just embarassing! However, I received an article of clothing, from Annette at Haute Glam Boutique , which I just loved!

Outfit Details:
3/4 Sleeve Uneven Hem Cardi- Haute Glam Boutique
Black Cami- Stolen from John's sister
Jeans- F21
Booties- K-Mart
Necklace- Charming Charlie

Haute Glam Boutique has a really small and cute collection of clothing. Prices are somewhat between H&M and Charlotte Russe I'd say. I love my cardigan, and can't wait to wear it more frequently in the spring since it's a bit lightweight. I plan on shopping, especially for cute dresses, much more at Haute Glam Boutique!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!!!

Annette has offered to provide a giveaway for my awesome readers! If you win, you can choose any item of clothing you want from the site!

Rules:
♥ Must be 18 years or older
♥ Must be a US resident
♥ Must be a follower of my blog
♥ Must like Haute Glam Boutique's Fan Page on FB (click here)
♥ Must leave a comment below telling me which item you'd like to win
♥ Leave me your email address in case you win and I need to contact you!
♥ Contest ends next Thursday, January 26th

Winners will be chosen using random.org. Good luck ladies!!!

FTC Disclosure: I was gifted the cardigan by Haute Glam Boutique. I am not being compensated by them and my opinions can not be bought.

What I'm: Reading This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:43:00 +0000

I spend a lot of time on the internet during the week to help pass the time. I read so many blogs and watch so many youtube videos that I wanted to start a weekly post on my current fave blogs, websites or books of the moment.

This week I've become ADDICTED to www.thenesteffect.com. It's a home organization, DIY, lifestyle kind of blog and I found it through Pinterest. I may have gone back and read like a year's worth of it! This blog is full of so many amazing tips and interesting tidbits. It completely brings out the wannabe Martha Stewart in me!!

My Fave Shopping Apps: How to Use Your Phone to Not Only Waste Time, but Money Too!

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:03:00 +0000

I love my iPhone! On Monday it's exactly one year on Sunday that my precious little baby came into my life! I use my phone for everything, my email, my finances, my blog, my personal life. I don't even know my bf's phone number by heart due to my phone! I adore my phone. Within the past few months, I've begun to use my phone to shop and to save me some money.

Here are some of my fave shopping apps!

♥ H&M App

H&M is one of my favorite stores! I rarely walk out of their empty handed. I also really enjoy their app! I get notifications of sales, new collections and any H&M news. If you open the app and shake your phone in a figure 8 motion, there are also sometimes coupons! If you're an H&M gal like me, I would definitely download this free app.

♥ Bath and Body Works App-LUV BBW CLUB

Unfortunately, I am a Bath and Body Works addict! I have so many lotions from there it's insane. The app for this store is really cute. It notifies me of sales and also you can accumulate points by checking in when you are at a Bath and Body Works store. These points can equal freebies and coupons.

♥ Red Laser

Red Laser uses your iPhone to scan a barcode of a product. It then gives you the prices of that product at other local stores and online stores. Great way to comparison shop!

♥ Coupon Sherpa

What a great app! Ever find yourself in a store and know that you saw a coupon code or had a coupon somewhere? Search Coupon Sherpa, and if the coupon pops up, just show your phone to the cashier and they can scan the coupon right from there! A great way to keep all of those coupons out of your purse!

♥ Pose

I've only recently gotten into this app and I really enjoy it. People post their outfits, or items they like in stores and tell you where they got them! I really, really love looking at people's daily outfits and this just helps to shop some of their items when I'm in the mall.

Any great shopping apps I should be downloading? I love a good app!

Beauty Buy of the Week: January 8-14

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:01:00 +0000

There's a great deal on Revlon Lip Butters this week at CVS! I've only tried one and haven't been blow away with it, but I really want to try more since everyone loves them so much.

Photo from Vampyvarnish.com

The Revlon Lip Butters are on sale for $5.99 each this week with $3 in Extra Care Bucks back which brings down the price to only $2.99! That's awesome! The catch- you only get the Extra Bucks back on one!

Happy shopping lovies!

Top 11 Products of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:56:00 +0000

Ok, so I jumped on the bandwagon to do the tag of my top 11 products of 2011! Let us begin!

Makeup

♥ Laura Gellar Shadow/Liner duo in Unearthed/Dark Chocolate ♥
This is my fave quick eyeshadow duo. I received this in one of my QVC Beauty Tubes and it's a super quick and pretty look for every day. If you use the products wet it makes a great bronzey/brown smokey eye.

♥ NYC Bronzer in Sunny ♥
Is this not the best bronzer? I love this super cheap, super matte and super natural bronzer. I wear this every day from winter to summer and it never looks orange or fake.

♥ Wet and Wild Megaglo in Blushing ♥
I've had this product for a while and I just started using it in the past few months as a cheek highlight and I love it! It works very well for my pale complexion. Rub it in well and you can't tell the difference between this and the Benefit High Beam.

♥ Cargo Blush in Mendocino ♥
I received this blush in a Cargo giftset from Apothica.com and I love, love, love it! Use it with a light hand and it just gives the prettiest berry flush.

♥ Mally Eyecolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in Midnight ♥
I also received this in a Beauty Tube and it's my only Mally product and I am in love with it! I use this on my waterline and while sometimes it travels to right beyond the corner of my eye, it usually stays put for the entire day! Such a nice and creamy black.

♥ It Cosmetics Brow Power in Universal ♥
Wow, another QVC Beauty Tube product! While I love, love my WnW liner, this brow pencil is really fantastic and lasts all day. I also like that the other side of the pencil is a brush to make the look more natural.

Body Care

♥ Vaseline Cocoa Butter ♥
I use this baby every day and it keeps my skin feeling silky smooth. The smell and price doesn't hurt!

♥ Bath and Body Works Signature Vanilla's Fragrance Mist in Apricot ♥
I get SO many compliments on this scent, it's loco! It smells so yummy and subtly fruity at the same time. I wore this every day in the summer and now in the winter when I want a boost!

♥ Lush Sweet Lips Sugar Lip Scrub ♥
My lips are always so blah that I use this scrub almost daily. While I could be cheap and use olive oil and sugar I like the convenience of always having this around and the smell and taste doesn't hurt!

Hair Care and A Random

♥ Suave Dry Shampoo ♥
I really, really like this dry shampoo. I actually use it almost every day to give my hair volume and a more fresh feeling. I wash my hair every other day so this keeps my hair voluminous.

♥ Colgate Optic White Toothpaste ♥
I bought this toothpaste during a couponing extravaganza and I was blown away by it! There is a definitely a noticable difference in whitening while just using this. I began using 5 minute White along with it so I hope to see even a more dramatic difference.

So that's all folks. If you did this post, please leave a link below or let me know some of your favorite products of 2011!

2012 Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

It's that time of year again, the time to make completely unrealistic goals for the upcoming year. I wonder where this tradition started because it depresses me every year! However, I still make them and try with all of my might to keep them until the first snowstorm hits and I hate weather and everyone and just resort back to my bad habits lol. Let's see how long I can keep these!

Beauty Resolutions

♥ Keep my nails looking good- Sometimes I get so lazy with my nails that I let them grow however or walk around with chipped polish for days. I really want to learn to do a good home manicure and keep my nails looking neat and maintained.

♥ Spending less on makeup and more on skin care- I always love to hunt down make up products, but I rarely go on the hunt for perfect skin care products. I have most of my skin care routine down, but I still want a product to lighten acne scars, so I want to concentrate more on skin care and less on makeup.

♥ Shop my stash- I own a decent amount of makeup, especially lip products, yet I wear the same stuff all of the time! I want to start experimenting with the products I already own!

♥ Master liquid liner/gel liner- I'm so bad at any liner other than pencil. I need to start practicing constantly!

Fashion Resolutions

♥ Wear more skirts- I live in dresses over the summer, but never wear skirts or dresses in the winter or spring with cute tights. I want to get on that! I love all of the patterned tights out there, so I want to start incorporating them into my wardrobe.

♥ Wear more heels- I'm 5'1" on a good day, and yet I wear flats pretty much every day. I reserve heels for special occasions. I'm on my feet a lot during the day at work which I think keeps me from wearing heels, but I have a few low heels that I can definitely rock at work and there's no reasons I can't wear a heeled pair of boots every now and then on the weekend.

♥ Not shy away from patterns! I'd say about 95% of my wardrobe is made up of solids. There are so many cute and age appropriate patterns out there, I need to get my hands on some!

Personal Resolutions

♥ Keep myself organized! This includes my schedule, my life, my closet and my makeup. I get myself so disorganized at home sometimes that I just rip everything out of my closet and get rid of half of it on a whim! I really just need to downsize. I have so much junk that it's hard to keep organized.

♥ Like a lot of bloggers, I've recently become obsessed with Pinterest. I am setting a realistic goal of attempting 2 DIY projects and 2 new recipes a month. The DIY projects on Pinterest or so awesome and some of them seem so damn easy!

♥ I know a lot of people say exercise and eat right, and that's something I definitely have to work on, but a more specific goal I want to work on is finding an easy and healthy breakfast. I like to eat breakfast at work to unwind before the kids come in, and I usually grab something incredibly unhealthy. Any suggestions would be awesome!

Faves of YouTube Fitness

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:54:00 +0000

As Christmas comes to a close, a lot of people start thinking about their resolutions for the New Year. I've been on a quest to get healthier for the past few weeks, as I have what John and I call "fat-skinny girl syndrome." I'm thin from the outside, but my diet and mainly sedentary lifestyle makes for a terrible inside! I've been turning to Youtube to get my fitness inspiration and workouts since I really hate the gym! Here are some of my fave fitness channels on Youtube.

Amanda Russell is gorgeous and her high intensity circuit routines are super easy to follow. I also like her relaxed, non-drill sargeant style.

Blogilates is my new fave exercise guru on Youtube. She's super cute and excited and her workouts are easy and fun to do. Also, for only like 10 minutes the workouts are amazing!

Sarah is the first YT fitness guru I began following and I also love following her blog. Her routines and advice are great and real! She seems like such a sweetheart!

I follow a few other YT gurus, but those are definitely my fave. I'm also really trying to get into reading more health, fitness and healthy cooking blogs. If you have any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated! Happy, healthy, holidays everyone!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:52:00 +0000

Merry Christmas to All...and to all a Good Night!

CVS Clearance Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:03:00 +0000

I love when the CVS Beauty Clearance sale comes around! It really is the most wonderful time of the year haha. This is the time of year where I really like to try drugstore products that I wouldn't necessarily pay full price for or stock on some favorites. My haul is strictly Revlon as they are my favorite drugstore brand. Also, my CVS did not have ANY items marked for clearance. I used the comprehensive list available on Nouveau Cheap here. I then took the items to the red scanner box to see if all of the items were on sale. All of the items identified on the sale list were on sale except the matte blushes. If you pick up any items, please let me know what you get!

From L to R, top to bototm:
Revlon New Complexion Foundation in 04 Natural Beige- Regular priced: $14.29 Sale price:$3.57
I've never heard of this foundation before, but I usually have good luck with Revlon foundations and I needed a color a tad bit darker than me because I've been looking so washed out lately.

Colorstay 12 Hour Eye Shadow Palettes in Berry and Blushed Wines-Reg. priced: $7.29 Sale: $1.85

I have only used one of these palettes before and they are nice subtle every day palettes. Don't expect any amazing pigmentation here.

Double Twist Mascara in Blackest Black- Regular price: $9.99 Sale price: $2.49

This is a product I have never tried, but I've been liking mascaras with fat brushes lately and this appears to have one. I have a lot of mascaras before this baby that I want to try though.

Scented Nail Polish in Passion Fruit- Regular price: $6.39 Sale price: $1.59

Regular Revlon polishes in Steel-her Heart, Silver Screen and Plum Night- All regularly priced at $5.49 each Sale price: $1.45 each

I've been really trying to build up my polish collection as I continue to save money to move out, so this was a great way to get a lot of different shades for very little money.

Did anyone else score any deals at the CVS Clearance Sale? If you haven't been yet, go now! Don't wait for the stores to make items on clearance, test them out yourself at the price checker!

DIY Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:12:00 +0000

Thanks to Pinterest, my interest in DIY projects has skyrocketed! One of my New Year's resolutions is to attempt 1-2 DIY projects per month, especially upcycle type of projects! I made two DIY projects for Christmas gifts this year (which I won't post in case people who I made the stuff for are reading!) and am really excited to try more projects. Here are some of my favorite DIY project gift ideas. Please post if you have done any DIY projects recently or some inspiration for projects! Happy holidays!

DIY Gift Ideas by melziebabee on polyvore.com

Giveaway Time! Hollywood Fashion Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:36:00 +0000

I'm happy to be hosting another giveaway by Hollywood Fashion Secrets! I was lucky enough to work with them this summer and I have been using their fashion tape a lot! I have a lot of off shoulder sweaters that never stay put so I use a little piece of tape to keep that sucker in place!

For more info on this great company check out their website here, or send them a sweet @Hollywood_FS
I want to give you guys an opportunity to win some of their great products too!

Included in the prize package is:

-1 Special Occasion Tape
-1 No Show Concealers (perfect for winter time!)
-1 Fashion Tape (my fave!)
-1 Deodorant Removing Sponge!

Rules to enter:
1: Must be a follower of Fabulously Thrifty
2: Must like Hollywood Fashion Secrets FB page
3: Must leave 1 comment below telling me about your New Year's resolution..tis the season!
4: All comments must be submitted by December 22nd..that gives you 1 week!
5: Good luck and happy holidays loves!

I am not affiliated nor paid by Hollywood Fashion Secrets. Just want my readers to have the opportunity to try some great products.

Moms, Aunts and Grandmas

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:27:00 +0000

Where is this month going? Christmas is just around the corner and it's time to begin or better yet, finish up that holiday shopping! Here's my gift guide for Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and any other special ladies in your life. Happy shopping!

Moms, Aunts and Grandmas by melziebabee on polyvore.com

From L to R, top to bottom:
♥ Magazine subscription! The gift that she gets to enjoy all year! My mom really enjoys Real Simple magazine, but a subscription to any of her fave magazines is a really great and thoughtful gift!

♥Photo Coasters- I really love the look of photo coasters and what mom doesn't want her guests to keep her coffee table ring free lol. Put in your fave pictures of the two of you together or even print out mini pictures of her favorite art pieces.

♥Candle Gift Basket...I ADORE, ADORE, ADORE Yankee Candle. I know there a lot of other popular candle brands out there, even some great finds on Etsy, but everyone knows Yankee Candle and they know that they are getting good quality. Grab a great seasonal scent that you know she will love.

♥ Spa Gift Set- I really like this set from the Body Shop. Every woman loves to be pampered, but maybe she doesn't have the time for a full on spa day. Get her a great set and let her pamper herself on her own time! I really love the exfoliating glove that comes with this set. Grab any scent you know she will love!

♥Crock pot- Ok how random? My mom and I love using our crock pot. I find that during the winter time, coming home and smelling a yummy meal already made is just so comforting. There are so many fantastic recipes out there and it's so simple to make a meal using a crock pot. I think it's a great gift for any mom or any lady who's always on the go.

♥And finally..cozy slippers! I'm pretty in love with this slipper set from Kohl's. I think slipper booties are really cute and very cozy if you're special lady lives in a colder climate.

Any recs for Moms, Grandmas or Aunts? I'm a bit stuck with my aunts and I've gotten them one or more of these gifts in previous years lol.

Happy shopping!

Gift Guide: BFF and Good Girlfriends Under $25

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:36:00 +0000

Ahhh the holiday season. I am such a holiday nerd. I'm lucky enough to be able to celebrate both Christmas and Hannukah and I eat the holiday season up. I love the lights, the music, the smells, and finding the perfect gift. I do a majority of my gift shopping online, because I just can't deal with crowds. All this week and next I will be featuring gift guides to hopefully help you out during this busy holiday season.

Here are some gift ideas for your BFF or good girlfriends

BFF Gift Guide by melziebabee featuring beaded jewelry

Forever21 beaded jewelry
$8.80 - forever21.com

Amazon.com: Mud Pie Best Friends Frame: Home & Garden
$9.81 - amazon.com

BARNES & NOBLE | The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Penguin Group (USA) |...
$11 - barnesandnoble.com

Amazon.com: The Hills - The Complete First Season: Lauren Conrad,...
$9.87 - amazon.com

Amazon.com: Philosophy Fun In The Frosty Air, 18 Ounce: Beauty
$25 - amazon.com

Amazon.com: Candle Warmers Etc. Square Illumination Fragrance Warmer,...
$14 - amazon.com

From Left to Right:
♥ A framed picture- Every girl loves to be reminded me of a happy time in her life. Best Friend frames have come so far from the metal glittery ones that we all used to buy at Claires when we were 13. Choose a chic metal one or a pretty wood frame and include a favorite pic.

♥ A great book- My friends and I all love to read and we usually enjoy reading the same type of books. Grab her a great book that you know she will love. My favorite book of the year has definitely been The Help.

♥ A cute accessory/jewelry- F21 has the BEST cheap jewelry. Buy her a trendy and cheap piece for a fun night out and put it in a cute gift bag or box.

♥ DVD for your fave show- My bff and my roommates and I used to obsessed with The Hills. Buy your bff a dvd of your fave show or movie to watch together.

♥ Scentsy burner- What girl doesn't love candles? My new fave way to make my room smell yummy is a scentsy burner. It's like a tart burner with a wide variety of yummy smelling wax cubes that really scent your entire room. Check out Amazon for the burners and some scents and Etsy for even more scent varieties.

♥ A yummy smelling body care set- I love Philosophy's scented shower gels! There is a scent to meet everyone's tastes. Check out Amazon or Sephora for great Philosophy gift sets or Bath and Body Works to make your own gift sets.

Happy shopping!

Deal of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:14:00 +0000

I love, love, love my Conair Youcurl clipless curling iron. I very rarely use an iron with a clip now. I have an Enzo Milano clipless iron and I'm telling you that this Conair one is exactly the same for a fraction of the price. I may even like it better because of the change in size from the bottom to the top of the iron. Anyway..there's a great deal on the Conair YouCurl, YouStyle or YouWave at CVS.

The 3 items listed above are on sale for $30 this week and you get a $10 gift card which makes the total cost $20! That's a great deal if you haven't picked up this iron yet. I don't know about you the YouStyle or YouWave, but I may look up reviews for the waving iron since I am in the market for one.

Christmas Shopping: How to Stay Organized

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:12:00 +0000

Holiday shopping is in full swing and it can very easily get out of control. I can't tell you how many times I've written shopping lists on random pieces of paper just to lose them and have to rewrite them! Here are a few tips and tricks to keep you organized during this busy shopping season.

♥ If you have an iPhone, download the Christmas Shopping iList app. I don't know if this is available for Droid, but I'm sure there is an equivalent. This little app keeps my shopping list with me at all time. It also keeps track of how much I've spent on presents so far. For someone who frequently loses shopping lists, this is a great way to stay organized!

♥ If you prefer paper lists, there are some great organized shopping lists available to print and download online! Click to download my fave here. This list doesn't have a column for a budget or how much you spent, but you can always add that on your own.

♥ Use Pinterest to keep track of ideas or even your own wish list! Isn't Pinterest like the best website ever? If you don't know what it is, it's basically a bulletin board on your computer. You can add a "Pin It" link to your favorites bar and you can pin anything from any site and keep it organized on your own virtual bulletin board. It's invite only, so if you'd like an invite to this awesome site, comment and let me know!

♥ Buy a cheap folder and save all of your receipts! Even if you get a gift receipt (which you always should) hold on to the original receipts until at least January in case anything breaks or someone changes their mind if they like it.

Well, these are just a few tips to your holiday shopping organized. I'd love to know your tips to staying organized during this busy shopping season! Please comment below.

Deal of the Week- 11/27

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:25:00 +0000

I'm really excited about this week, but it's only through the 30th, this Wednesday so hurry and go to your local CVS to grab any Wet and Wild items priced at $.99 are only $.69! For items that are pretty cheap already, some may not see this as a big deal, but I will definitely be going to stock up on some nail polishes. Let me know if you score anything!

Image from: http://wieniawski.blogspot.com/2011/01/wet-n-wild-spring-2011-makeup.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:34:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers and your families. We really have so much to be thankful for! I hope you are all enjoying time with your loved ones and getting plenty of rest for a busy shopping reading.

Gift Giving: A Man's Guide for Women Buying Gifts for Men, by a Man

noreply@blogger.com (JohnBoy) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:42:00 +0000

Hello, ladies - you backbones of the the U.S. economy. Many of you are struggling with a dearth of gift ideas for the men in your life as the holiday season rapidly approaches. Fret not, thoughtful gentlewomen, I offer you my simple and completely subjective guide to gift-giving this year.

First step: visualize the person this gift is for. Who are they? As in, what are the metaphysical properties that in summation make them who they are? Are they a geeky tech nerd or a brawny lumberjack with a penchant for beards and wrangling rams while wearing Wranglers? Either way, a thoughtful gift is something that the person wants but would not usually splurge on for such a luxury, or, something that they don't even know they need. Either way, the goal is to prompt a visceral response of 'wow, she gets me.'

Here are some ideas to get you started, aimed at geek or tech-nerd boyfriends.

Phone

The hottest tech toys this season are undoubtedly mobile phones. Yes, half the country is in love with their robot-assistant touting iPhone 4Ss. But those of us who love to tinker are staring longingly at the new crop of Android super phones relentlessly being released into the wild, from big shots such as Samsung, HTC, and Motorola. The new hotness this season is Google's next developer phone - the Galaxy Nexus.

I won't go into too many details, but this 4.65' Super AMOLED HD screen touting dual-core beast of a phone sports the most high tech features of any phone available today. However, that is not what makes this phone special. It is the pure google experience it offers in terms of software, namely the 4.0 version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich. This phone will be used as the reference device for all updates to the this software version, meaning it will be first in line to receive support and upgrades from Google. Verizon is rumoured to be releasing an LTE version of this phone on December 8, however unlocked international versions will work on T-Mobile and AT&T. Check back here for an update when the date becomes official. (EDIT it is shipping unlocked on T-Mobile and AT&T for $750 from Expansys. Yikes!)

TV:

Is money no object? Then get your boy toy or dad the Samsung D8000 59 inch 3d, web enabled TV. It is one of the best TVs on the market according to CNET, and has, in my opinion the sleekest design with almost no bezel. It looks like a picture hanging on the wall. This TV is all screen. Google around for the best prices, but Abe's of Maine has the best deals with no tax, no shipping and a free wall mount. $1898 via Abe's of Maine.

Personal

What good is having a man by your side if he smells like your dog? Sitting in front of all these electronics probably won't make him break a sweat, but marathon gaming can really take its toll on our hygiene. The Acqua di Gio gift set by Armani is noted as being 'a contemporary expression of masculinity', and I'm inclined to agree. This cologne dismisses the notion that a man needs to smell 'musky' to smell good. It is the freshest, cleanest and most sophisticated cologne I've ever worn, and it lasts all day. I love it and highly recommend it. The lotions are also a nice touch and smell exactly like the cologne. $65 via Amazon

Gaming

There are a ton of awesome games that were released or will be shortly this holiday season. Let's take a look.

Wii

The Zelda Skyward Sword Collectors Edition is one the most anticipated games of the year, as it is the first in the Zelda series to be programmed specifically for the Wii (Twilight Princess was a Gamecube port. The set comes with a special edition Wii Remote with MotionPlus built in. As most people don't have a MotionPlus add on, the $20 premium makes this package totally worth it. It also comes with a CD of orchestral arrangements of Zelda medleys, which is amazingly engaging and well done. $69 at Gamestop, or just the game from Amazon.

PC/XBOX 360/PS3

The other highly anticipated game release is the next installment of the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim. This open world RPG boasts virtually unlimited hours of questing, an engaging storyline and graphics that are to die for. There is also a collector's edition of this game, which is physically gigantic but not necessary. If the man in your life uses the Steam platform, you can gift him the game digitally. If not, the PS3 or Xbox versions will suffice. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim $57 via Amazon

Accessories

When your geek dresses up, its your job to make him look good (if he can't do it himself. Hey, it happens). Class up his look while preserving his geekiness with these amazing cuff-links, the iCuffLinks. Yes, they glow. $128 via Adafruit

Tools

Guys love building things. But we love taking thing apart even more. A good tool set is necessary to get the job done. While not professional quality, this set will get him through his hard drive installation or crime scene cover up. And at $49 via Amazon, its nothing get hung up on.

Tablet

If you need something to hold you over until the iPad 3 is released Q1 of next year, Amazon has you covered. The Kindle Fire is Amazon's $199 tablet, but don't be fooled by its bargain bin price. It is fully capable of handling anything you can throw at, be it eBooks, Netflix and Amazon Prime video streaming and web browsing. Some features include:

18 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books
Thousands of popular apps and games, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and more
Ultra-fast web browsing - Amazon Silk

Free cloud storage for all your Amazon content
Vibrant color touchscreen with extra-wide viewing angle - same as an iPad

I recommend this device as a cheap portable to carry with you, but don't expect the battery life to outlast your e-ink Kindle.

That concludes this holiday post. Remember, these gifts are aimed at the consumerist, but it is not necessary to spend money to make someone happy. Be nice to your boy and support him, and remind him that you love him - that means more than anything in the world. Except for the Galaxy Nexus. It doesn't mean more than that.

How to: Shop Black Friday and Cyber Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:43:00 +0000

Black Friday is only a few days away. Stores wait all year for the day after Thanksgiving to hopefully bring up their profits for the year. With us still being in a recession (I know this is up for debate, but whatevs), retailers are really hoping to reel consumers in during the holiday season. Here are just a few tips and tricks to navigating Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Black Friday

♥ Research sales
Most of your local papers won't contain the Black Friday ads until Thanksgiving day, but a lot of the big retailers have their ads online already. Visit theblackfriday.com to see which ads are already available. If you don't see your desired ad on the site, google store name+ black friday 2011 to see if you can locate it anywhere. Compile your list of the stores you have to go based on the online or print ads. See which items you want to purchase at what stores.

♥ Create a timeline
Different stores open at different times. If you are visiting multiple stores create a timeline of which stores to visit when. Most of the best sales are early bird specials, so plan your time accordingly.

♥ Go map out the store

When you decide what stores you are going to shop at, try to go earlier in the week and do a dry run. Bring the list of items you are planning on purchasing and see where they are located or at least the department they are located in. It'll make it much easier to navigate the massive crowds when you know exactly where you are going.

♥ Unless you want an early bird special or a limited quantity item, go at night

I very rarely shop at 3 a.m. or whenever stores open on Black Friday. The stores are usually open late, so I go in the evening and the crowds are considerably smaller. A lot of stuff may be sold out, but if I'm going for something random like an item of clothing or accessory, it's more than likely that the store will still have the items in stock.

♥ Unless the item is more than 50% off, it isn't worth it

Businesses are still really struggling, so sales are bound to be great right up until Christmas. Unless the item has a considerable discount, it really isn't worth it to brave the crowds.

♥ Keep receipts!

Most stores allow a price adjustment if an item goes on sale within a specified amount of time. Check the price adjustment policy for any stores you plan on going into.

♥ Most importantly, be safe and have fun!

People get a little loco on this shopping day and unfortunately people have been injured or even killed by stampedes of shoppers. Be safe! If a situation seems to be out of control, leave. No discount is worth getting hurt!

Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is my shopping option of choice during this busy shopping weekend. I don't have to deal with crowds, as I really tend to panic around massive crowds. I can also get items shipped directly to their recipients if need be.

♥ Research!

Just like with Black Friday, it's super important to do your research. More and more sites are featuring Cyber Monday like sales throughout the after-Thanksgiving day weekend. Also some stores are featuring equal or even better sites online than in stores. So compare, compare, compare! Compare between site and store and site to site! Click here to get an idea of some of the most popular Cyber Monday sales.

♥ Google Coupon Codes

Stores still put out coupon codes even during this busy shopping weekend. Google the store name +coupon code to see if you can score any further discounts.

♥ Use ebates!

I did most of my Christmas shopping online last year and made about $40 on Ebates. I think Ebates is such a brilliant idea. If you don't know what ebates is, click here for more information. If you want to sign up and earn myself and you a $5 bonus, click here!

♥ Be familiar with return policies

You don't want to order a gift and then have the recipient hate it and be unable to return it! Some retailers know that a lot of Christmas gifts are being ordered right now, so they have extended their return policy. Just make sure the store you are ordering from has a holiday extended return policy.

Happy shopping! Please post any major buys you score and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Beauty Finds: Costco

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:00:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I joined Costco with my co-worker. Coscto is a great deal to join with a friend or co-worker, because it's $50 a year for technically two memberships, so that's only $25 each! I thought I was just going to be able to buy my snacks in bulk, but I was blown away with their beauty, skincare and hair care selection! Here's a few quick snaps I took on my cell phone while walking around.

Venus Embrace and Venus Breeze Razor Catridges-$25 each for 12 Embrace or 11 Breeze Cartridges..what a deal!

Dove Fresh Deodorant Go Pack-$12.99 for 5 deodorants!

Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner Combo Pack-$11.99 for both...I think these products are sold at Whole Foods and I've heard about several Youtubers who like these

Nivea Skin Firming Moisturizer 3 pack for $13.99

Cetaphil Facial Cleanser 2 pack for $16.99 This is a great gentle cleanser!

Stila Wheel of Shadows- Only $19.99 A great gift for the beauty beginner or maybe an alternative to the Coastal Scents type palettes?

And finally, the Kirkland 10 Piece Deluxe Brush Set, that I picked up for $24.99. I really love the brush roll that comes with this set, and even though I've only just opened the box and played with the brushes, they seem really soft. Expect a review on this set super soon!

So if you're in the market to not only buy popcorn in bulk, but get some great beauty buys, I really suggest you check out your local Costco. Let me know in the comments if any of you guys are wholesale club memberships and some deals you've scored there!

Adoreme.com Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:55:00 +0000

Back in September I blogged about Adoreme.com here. Adoreme.com is a monthly subscription service (like the ever popular Jewelmint or Shoedazzle) for lingerie! Take a short and sexy style quiz and your showroom will contain bra and undie sets, hoisery and babydolls and slips! The styles range from cute to sexy. I just took my style quiz and while some of the items in my showroom are totally not my style, some are just too cute to resists.

Here's a little snapshot of what my showroom looks like this month:

I'm stuck between two options..the first being the Grace and the second being the Lillian.

With all of the monthly subscription sites out there, why not try a sexy one? I know I will be!

FTC Disclosure: I am not being compensated to write about Adoreme.com..my ideas are my own and cannot be bought.

Beauty Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:29:00 +0000

My hair is just plain weird. The texture, the color, the style, the sprouty grays...WEIRD! The weirdest thing about my hair though is this small chunk of it at the crown of my head. No matter what I use or how I wash my hair, from using the best clarifying shampoo, rinsing it for 20 minutes or getting a deep cleaning at a salon, this little piece of my hair always feels...gummy. It's really the strangest thing. I got quite sick of it, so I started doing some research and I read that using apple cider vinegar is a great way to clarify hair. After one time I was hooked!

Hair Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

♥ I personally use 1 part apple cider vinegar and three parts water to rinse through my hair prior to shampooing and conditioning. I really, really love the outcome. Not only does my hair shine, but that little chunk that drives me loco in the back of my head is barely noticable.

♥ You can also use 1 part apple cider vinegar, 1 part green tea and three parts water in a spray bottle and apply this mixture all over your hair, concentrating on the roots and scalp, about 30 minutes prior to showering. This is great not only for clarifying, but for dandruff or dry scalp issues. It's winter time, and I know even the healthiest scalp can get a little dry at times, so this is a great idea.

♥ Some people use apple cider vinegar as a final rinse in their hair after shampooing and conditioning for maximum shine. I've tried this method and the shine is AMAZING, but I smelled a faint aroma of apple cider vinegar all day, and it's not a good smell!

♥ I've also read that using apple cider vinegar can stimulate hair growth and I totally hope it does, because as you know by me, I hate my hair!

Skin Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

♥ Applying apple cider vinegar is said to be a great acne treatment. However, it's not recommended for dry or sensitive skin so I am unable to see if this effective. If you have oily acne prone skin, I would do some research on this treatment and see if it's ok for you.

♥ Drinking apple cider vinegar to prevent acne. I have started drinking apple cider vinegar every other day diluted with water. This is said to help prevent acne. I haven't noticed a huge difference yet, but (knock on wood), I'm not currently breaking out.

♥ Apply a capful in a foot tub filled with warm water to help with tired feet and to prevent fungus. All of our feet get tired and if we aren't careful in the gym or dorm shower, it's possible to pick up a foot fungus and this is a great way to prevent that.

Weight Loss/ Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

♥ Some studies have shown that drinking a small amount of apple cider vinegar or even white vinegar can help people feel full quicker. These statements haven't been proven by the FDA, so who knows if they are true or not. With any weight loss or diet program, please check with your doctor first!

Resources: petitemarieorganics.com, google images and webmd.com

OOTD: Dynasty Top

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:57:00 +0000

It's very rare that I wear anything resembling a dramatic item of clothing or statement top. This is honestly as bold as I go, and I'm glad I tore this out of the back of my closet because I got a lot of compliments on it. I really need to incorporate more cobalt blue in my wardrobe.

I was looking down to show off the headband and hide the terrible haircut. I obviously failed at the latter.

Beaded Headband: F21
Scarf top: Express (very old)
Jeans: Aero Ankle Skinnies
Pearl Bracelet: F21
Flats: Mossimo Brand Target (recently-LOVE THESE!)

It's All In The Details

I have these on pretty much every single day.
Love Necklace: Tiffany
Mother of Pearl Ring: Pandora
Both c/o of John ;)

Honestly, if you are looking for a pair of Leopard flats, end your search at Target. These were only $12.99, they are very true to size and super comfy. I have a difficult time finding flats because they tend to rub my ankle and leave me blistered and cut up, but these backs are super soft and my puppies aren't barking by the end of the day!

Jewelmint Mystery Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Fabulously Thrifty) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:53:00 +0000

Hello lovelies. So Jewelmint has been pretty popular around the blogosphere and Youtubeville lately. I've only purchased one piece, which I love, and wanted to add to my Jewelmint collection. Last week around Halloween I got an email about a Mystery Bag. It would include at least two pieces of jewelry and some possible coupons or discounts. I couldn't resist. I ordered that baby. It shipped and I received it much quicker than my previous order. I am IN LOVE with one piece, and kind of blah about the other.

The ring is the Urban Warrior Ring. It's gold plated and adjustable and unfortunately just not my style. The craftsmanship is beautiful, but gold just isn't my style. So luckily for you guys, I will be featuring this in a holiday giveaway coming up soon.

The bracelet however, I ADORE! I swear to you I was hoping to receive the Silver Zip Bracelet. My blogger friend Lulu received the gold one, and I had my fingers crossed that I received the silver one. It's so different and the little diamond detail by the pull make it all that much cuter. I'm very happy with this baby.

The coupon I received was a bummer. I only received $5 off a future order, which is worse than the deal I have from visiting the Jewelmint FB page every day. I will also be including this in my holiday giveaway.

Did anyone else purchase the Mystery Bag? Any other must have Jewelmint items?