Cheapalicious

Nifty under $50: What I want....

2012-01-26T21:31:00.000-05:00

Since putting myself on a $50 per month shopping budget (see what I've bought here, here, and here, so far), I'm not spending as freely as I usually do. I'm trying to shake the "I like it, I buy it RIGHT NOW" feeling, so I've been keeping mental notes of items I've spotted and fought the urge to buy them. Believe me, it's been hard. I've created a little wishlist of everything I want, and hopefully in the coming months, I can squeeze them into my budget. Here's what I want....

zig zag heel $27.20, Go Jane. These are so fun, and I absolutely adore the color combo! I hope my size is left when i do decide to order a pair. All of the cute shoes tend to sell out fast at Go Jane.
sateen cropped pants $42.95, NY & Co. I tried these on in-store the day before, and fell in love. I was a little concerned about how the cropped length looks on me, but I think with the right shoes, I'll be able to pull them off. Penny Pincher Fashionista's post has inspired me.
printed side tie top $26.94 and printed blanket wrap cardigan $38 (reg. $44.94), Old Navy. As you can tell, I'm a sucker for prints, so when I saw these two pieces, I instantly fell in love with them- especially the cardigan. I think it would definitely add some spice to a basic look.
spacedye flyaway cardigan $15 (reg. $50), JC Penney. I own this cardigan in another color and I absolutely love it. Now I want it in this color.

Cheapalicious Deals 1-24-12

2012-01-24T01:55:00.000-05:00

J. Crew: Take an additional 40% off sale items. Coupon code: OURTREAT. Expires 1-25-12
Loehmanns: Take 25% off a single regular priced item. Expires 1-29-12
Go Jane: 30% off your purchase. Coupon code: NEWSITE30A. Expires 1-26-12
Target: Various apparel coupons
Gap: 30% off your purchase when you use your Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic charge card. Expires 1-28-12
JC Penney: $10 off $50 or more purchase. Expires 2-10-12
Fashion Bug: 20% off your clearance purchase. Expires 1-28-12

(Possible) Clearance Alert: Mossimo "Paisley" platform pumps @ Target

2012-01-22T18:08:00.000-05:00

After months of stalking the Mossimo "Paisley" platform pump, and waiting for them to go on sale at Target, blogger bud, My Dressy Ways, tweeted that those bad boys were finally marked down to $8.98. Mind you, when I was there last week, they were marked down to $20.98, but I decided to wait until they were marked down a little lower. I bought them in the taupe color, but the black and gold glitter ones are marked down as well. Keep in mind that they may not be marked down this low (or marked down at all) at every Target location (different store, different markdown schedule), so check with your local store first.

$50 shopping challenge update: Well, I'm down to less than $4 for the rest of the month. Eek! That means no more shopping for the rest of the month. Time to shop my closet and makeup stash even more. 18 more days to go......

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2012-01-20T19:27:00.000-05:00

photo source: A Dime on a Dime

Vee finds a $50 dupe for Prada [Dime On a Dime]
Ten fabulous DIY fashion ideas [All Women Stalk]
Get Golden Globe inspired accessories on the cheap! [Penny Chic]
An easy DIY manicure to try- Zooey Deschanel's tuxedo nails mani! [The Budget Babe]
Win a $100 ShopBop giftcard from Budget Chic! [Budget Chic]

As of today, I am no longer doing "Freebie Friday" posts. Reason being is because there haven't been a lot of freebies coming to my inbox lately and I don't want to waste a post on the 3-4 freebies that I do get. I will still share them, but they will be on the Facebook page and on Twitter. If you have freebies that you want to share, email them to me (I'll give full credit of course), share them on the Facebook page or tweet them to me and I'll retweet them. Thanks for understanding. Have a great weekend!

A Cheapalicious Closet: Let's try this again....

2012-01-17T20:15:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking about incorporating more outfit posts on this blog. I tried it for a while a couple of years ago, but then it got to the point where I didn't like what I was wearing that day, or I was just too tired to take a pic. Well, I felt up to it today, although I was dead tired (can't you tell by looking at my face?), and ta da- an outfit post. Since I've started my $50 a month shopping challenge, I've been shopping my closet a lot more. I've moved items that still have the tags on them up to the front of my closet (more on that later), in an attempt to wear every last piece. I have quite a few pieces. Oh boy. This flyaway cardigan that I'm wearing is the first item I've started with. I bought it the earlier part of last month, and it just sat in my closet. I paired it with my favorite gray BCBG trousers and tan cutout booties for work.

flyaway cardigan $20 (it was on sale for $29.99, plus I had a $10 off coupon), JC Penney
cami (really old, so I don't remember price), Wet Seal
BCBGMaxAzria trousers (thrifted) $2, Goodwill
booties $15, Wet Seal (seen in this post)
belt $5, Ross
necklace $1.99 and bracelets $1.99, MIZ Outlet

Cheapalicious Deals 1-17-12

2012-01-17T07:38:00.000-05:00

The Body Shop: Free shipping on any order. Expires 1-22-12
NY & Co.: $25 off $75 or more purchase. Expires 1-26-12
Fergie Shoes: 15% off sale items. Coupon code: FERGIESALE. Expires 1-18-12
Shoe Carnival: 25% off all men's shoes. Coupon code: 25OFFMENS. Expires 1-31-12
Walgreens: 20% off beauty products. Coupon code: 20BEAUTY. Expires 1-21-12
Aeropostale: 25% off a pair of jeans when you donate a pair. Expires 2-12-12
Shoe Steal: 25% off your purchase. Coupon code: STEAL25. Expires 1-19-12
Anne Klein: 25% off shoes. Expires 1-25-12
Avon: Free shipping on orders $10 or more. Coupon code: GARNET2012. Expires 1-18-12

$50 a month shopping challenge: Week 1 update

2012-01-16T10:36:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, I've gotten past the first week of my $50 a month shopping challenge! 23 more days to go! I spent a total of $37 (see first purchase here) and I have $13 left. Can I make it through the rest of the month? Hmmm. Peep what else I bought last week.

Mossimo "Wanda" wedges $7.48 (on clearance at my local store), and People Stylewatch magazine $3.99, Target. I needed more shoes for work and these are perfect. Although I said I was going to limit my spending on just clothing, shoes, accessories, and beauty products, I also tend to buy quite a few magazines a month. Maybe I should include that in my challenge.
necklace $1 and belt $7.99, Payless. Yes, you read that right, $1! It was marked down to $3, but when I got to the register, it rung up for $1. I had a 20% off coupon, so my total price for both the necklace and the belt was $7.62.

Being that I spent over half my budget in one week, I'm thinking about limiting myself to only $10 per week. I think that should help me get through the coming months if I decide to continue with the challenge.

For those of you who have joined the challenge, how much have you spent so far?

Cash. Check. Charge: Cutout wedge

2012-01-15T14:48:00.000-05:00

Cash: Mossimo "Precious" wedge sandals $20.98 (down from $29.99), Target. You may want to check out your local Target to see if they're marked down any further. I bought these last month for only $7.48!
Check: Seychelles "Eye to Eye" cutout wedge $88 (down from $110), Neiman Marcus
Charge: Chloe cutout back zip wedge $312 (down from $695), Neiman Marcus

Cheapalicious Beauty: Finger Paints nail color in "Twisted"

2012-01-14T19:37:00.001-05:00

Finger Paints nail color in "Twisted" $5.99, Sally Beauty. This was bought prior to the start of my $50 a month challenge.

Here's the newest nail color that I've added to my stash, Finger Paints' "Twisted" from their Special Effects Collection. Some say it could be a dupe for Sally Hansen's "Hidden Treasure", but I wasn't able to get my hands on "Hidden Treasure" (the original, not the new version), so I can't make a comparison. From what I see, "Twisted" looks a bit flakier than "Hidden Treasure. I used two coats of L'oreal's "Owl's Night" for the base, two coats of "Twisted"- although one coat would've been enough-, and one coat of Seche Vite Dry Fast topcoat for my mani.

indoors with flash

outside no flash

Do you own "Twisted" or any of the other polishes from the Special Effects collection?

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2012-01-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

Watch the "Things Bloggers Say" video above [Sherry Blossom Beauty]
Ten blogger mistakes and how to avoid them [J's Everyday Fashion]
YSL and Balenciaga to collaborate with Target? [The Budget Fashionista]
Jason Wu for Target lookbook [The Looks for Less]
How to dress for an interview on a budget [Glitz Glam Budget]

Have a great weekend!

Designer Way vs. Cheapalicious Way

2012-01-11T20:06:00.000-05:00

The Diane Von Furstenberg "Zia" slingback sandals retail for $280 at Jildor.com. I couldn't find an exact match for them, but these Nine & Co. sandals from JC Penney were close enough- and they're on clearance for $24.99! Much easier on the wallet, that's for sure!

CouponSherpa.com's Top Beauty Coupons to Beat Winter Skin Blues on a Budget

2012-01-10T01:27:00.001-05:00

I'm taking a break from posting my regular "Cheapalicious Deals" to bring you the top ten health and beauty coupons from CouponSherpa.com. Enjoy!

1. Elizabeth Arden
Order before Feb. 2 and receive a free 9-piece deluxe gift with coupon code GIFT9, plus free shipping on orders of $40 or more.

2. FragranceNet.com
Get $10 off your order before Jan. 15, plus free shipping with coupon code WINTER10.

3. Bath and Body Works
Save $10 on orders of $40 or more by Jan. 15 with Bath and Body Works coupon code HELLOYELLOW.

4. Folica
Take 15% off orders of $75 or more by Feb. 1 with coupon code FOLICANEWYEAR.

5. Sally Beauty Supply
Get $5 off three Orly Nail Lacquers with promo code 444591 when you order by Jan. 31.

6. Ulta
Take $3.50 off any $10 purchase with an Ulta printable coupon. Good through Jan. 21.

7. Drugstore.com
Save $5 on two Nivea Lotions by Jan. 30.

8. Skin Store
Get 20% off your purchase with coupon code NEW2012 when you order before Jan. 17.

9. VitaminWorld
Take $5 off orders over $25 by Jan. 12 with coupon code TAVWNY2.

10. Yves Rocher
Enjoy free shipping on all orders of $20 or more through Jan. 30 with code YRFREESHIP.

Weekend Finds: Day 1 of the $50 a month challenge....

2012-01-08T20:08:00.000-05:00

Well, today is the official start of my $50 a month shopping challenge. Yay! My original plan was to go and do a little bit of thrifting, but there was a change of plans to take a little road trip to Port Charlotte. Once there, we grabbed lunch and took a walk through the mall. I only brought $20 with me, so if I spotted something that I liked (and could incorporate into my wardrobe), my goal was to spend way under the $20 if I could. Today I only spent $17. Here's what I bought:

Bath and Body Works body sprays in Carried Away, Country Chic, and Japanese Cherry Blossom $1.25 each. Bath and Body Works is having their "Hello Yellow Sale", so these sprays were 75% off, making them only $1.25 each. With tax, this purchase was $4.01

hoop earrings $3.99 and dangling earrings $2.99. These were purchased from a store called "Chic" (formerly known as Charmed 11). I also bought a Nicka K lipstick in "Loud" for $2.99 and a lip pencil for $1.99 (pictured below). I've only tried the nail colors from this brand and they're pretty decent, so I'm quite sure that the quality of the lipsticks are decent as well. The peacock ring was free. I think if you spend over $10, you get a free ring. Sweet! My total purchase with tax was $12.80

Here are a few questions I've gotten about the challenge:

Q. What does the "$50 a month challenge" cover?
A. Since this is my personal challenge, I've decided to only limit my spending on clothing, shoes, accessories, makeup, hair products, etc., because those are the things that I tend to spend my extra money on in a month. If you're planning on joining the challenge, you can cut back spending on anything you like- whether it's eating out or cutting back on makeup, it's totally up to you.

Q. What if you don't spend all of your $50 for the month?
A. I will either carry the remaining balance over to the next month, or put it in my savings.

Q. How long will you do this challenge? A month? Six months? A year?
A. I haven't specified how long I'm going to do the challenge. After this first month is over, I'm going to decide whether or not I want to keep going. I will keep you updated!

I have $33 left and 29 more days to go. Wish me luck!

Designer Way vs. Cheapalicious Way

2012-01-07T19:58:00.000-05:00

The Pierre Hardy suede colorblock wedges retail for $662.40 (down from $1380, ouch!) at Net-a-Porter. Although not exactly alike, these colorblock wedge sandals from Urban Originals make a good dupe. And only under $27!

Star Style under $200: Ashley Greene

2012-01-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

I can't get enough of Ashley Greene's style. This girl is always so put together, even when stepping off of a long flight. Get her jet setting look for less with finds from Forever 21, Old Navy, and more....

shawl cardigan $26.24 (on sale, reg. $34.99), Macy's
tunic tank $5.80, Forever 21
jeggings $34.94, Old Navy
sunglasses $5.80 and layered chain necklace $5.80, Forever 21
Michael Antonio nude pumps $48, Endless
"Mariana" satchel $57.50, Mimi Boutique

GRAND TOTAL= $184.08

Freebie Friday 1-6-12

2012-01-06T08:17:00.000-05:00

Free 7 day pass to 24 Hour Fitness
2 free Zoya polishes (just pay $6.95 shipping). Create an account and add two nail colors to your cart. Apply coupon code ZOYA2012 at checkout. Offer good until 1/9/12
Gendarme fragrance sample (via Facebook)
Free digital 10 issue Seventeen magazine subscription
Free Atkins Quick Start Kit and three Atkins bars
Free All You magazine and People StyleWatch magazine tablet (Nook, Ipad, Android, etc)subscriptions to current print subscribers.

Andrea Woroch's top 8 shopping trends from the 2011 holiday season

2012-01-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

Is everyone still recovering from the holidays? What whirlwind of a season it has been! A lot of people have set resolutions to do better for the new year in terms of spending and saving money- myself included (see my upcoming $50 a month shopping challenge here). Now that the new year is here, it's time to consider what we've learned from last year's holiday shopping season and create better spending habits for 2012. Here's money saving expert, Andrea Woroch's list of the top 8 shopping trends seen during last year's revelries.

1. Clicks Beat Bricks
This was the year e-commerce beat the pants off brick-and-mortar retailing. Although traditional stores did better than expected -- up an estimated 3.8 percent -- online shopping surged 15 percent over 2010.

2. Free Shipping Was Everywhere
Consumers clamored for free shipping offers and often abandoned their online shopping carts when such deals weren't offered. That explains why nine out of 10 retailers provided free shipping during the holiday season. This prosperity no doubt will spill over into 2012, as websites like FreeShipping.org continue to attract bargain shoppers.

3. Free Return Shipping the Next Big Thing
Zappos and several shoe stores began offering free return shipping years ago, but this year even Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus got in on the trend. According to aMarketLive study, 73 percent of respondents named free returns as a deciding factor in their online purchasing.

4. iPads Rule
Laptop shopping is so passé! More than 18 percent of all e-commerce hits were initiated from a mobile device. That's up of 8.4 percent from Christmas Day 2010 and an astounding increase of 117.8 percent. Yes, that figure is 117.8, not 11.78.

5. Dumbbell Shopping
Americans weren't flocking to weight lifting; they were shopping early and late and avoiding the in-between, creating a dumbbell-shaped graph. As expected, buying surged on Black Friday by 6.6 percent over 2010 -- a new record. Then last-minute shoppers hunting for the best deals gave retailers a 4.5 sales uptick in the week before Christmas, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.

In fact, the post-Black Friday lull was even slower than usual this year. The two weeks after Thanksgiving weekend showed the biggest percentage in sales reduction since 2000. In the last two weeks before Christmas, sales surged once again by the largest rate since the 2005 holiday season.

6. Event Shopping
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been joined in recent years by Green Monday andFree Shipping Day. There's a slew of smaller shopping holidays, but these events drew the bulk of media coverage.

7. Gift Registries
In days of old, gift registries were pretty much restricted to weddings and baby showers. This year, Christmas-specific registries flourished, with lists from Santa's Hideout andChecked Twice. Even gift cards have registries for nearly every event at Card Avenue.

According to the Harvard Business School report "Give Them What They Want," "Gift recipients are more appreciative of gifts they explicitly request than those they do not. In contrast, gift givers assume that both solicited and unsolicited gifts will be equally appreciated."

8. Dollar Store Deals
Consumers weren't too embarrassed to hit the low-end shopping outlets, like dollar stores, thrift stores and pawn shops in an effort to save as much as possible. Many saw increased sales over 2010.

In fact, the National Pawnbrokers Association estimated there are roughly 13,000 pawnshops around the country that support a rapidly growing $6.1 billion industry

For more info, visit AndreaWoroch.com

The $50 a month shopping budget challenge.....

2012-01-03T22:13:00.000-05:00

photo source

What: I'm going to put myself on a $50 a month shopping budget (clothes, shoes, accessories, and beauty products). I'd like to think of it as a new year's resolution, and hopefully I'll be able to stick to this one.

Why: I want to curb my spending and put a little bit more into my savings account. Whenever I get a little extra money (after paying all of my bills and grocery shopping, of course), I put a little into my savings and tend to use the rest to buy myself a little somethin' somethin'- whether it's a pair of shoes, a couple pieces of jewelry, or a new nail or lip color, fashion is my weakness. Granted, I never leave home without a coupon and I comb the clearance racks for hidden gems, but those dollars add up. Plus, I want to start shopping my closet a little bit more and get more use of what I already own.

When: I'm starting the challenge this coming Sunday (January 8th), and will see how long I can go with this $50 per month budget. I will do an update post of all of my purchases for the month on February 9th, and determine whether I will keep going on with the challenge for another month or so.

This is a personal challenge, but you're welcome to join me if you'd like (a few fellow bloggers stated that they would like to join me on the challenge)! I will occasionally post updates throughout the month on the Cheapalicious Facebook page and tweet about it using hashtag #50dollarchallenge. Wish me luck!

Cheapalicious Deals 1-3-12

2012-01-03T06:25:00.000-05:00

Fresh Pair: Extra 20% off clearance items. Coupon code: EXTRA20. Expires 1-8-12
Kate Spade: Take an additional 25% off all sale items. Coupon code: NEWYEAR25. Expires 1-10-12
Payless: 15% off your purchase. Expires 1-29-12
Old Navy: 20% off a single item (via Facebook). Expires 1-12-12
Aldo: 30% off all sale footwear. Expires 1-3-12
Fashion Bug: 20% off your clearance purchase. Expires 1-6-12
NY & Co.: Up to 80% off sale. Expires 1-11-12
Express: 50% off outerwear. Expires 1-8-12
Dollhouse: 15% off your purchase. Coupon code: 15AFF. Expires 5-31-12

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2011-12-30T18:36:00.000-05:00

photo source: The Budget Babe

What to wear on New Year's Eve when it's cold outside [The Budget Babe]
Holiday hairstyles for natural hair [Dime on a Dime]
Ten best budget destinations for 2012 [All Women Stalk]
College Fashion's top ten DIY projects of 2011 [College Fashion]
New Year's Eve outfits for under $80 [Penny Chic]

Everyone, enjoy your New Year's festivities tomorrow and be safe! See you next year!

Star Style under $200: Kate Middleton

2011-12-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

Kate Middleton was spotted taking a stroll in a Ralph Lauren sweaterdress, suede knee high boots, and sheer tights. Steal Kate's stylish winter look with budget friendly finds from Target, Macy's, and more......

Merona Collection wool turtleneck sweaterdress $29.98, Target
Tahari "Payton" suede stiletto heel boot $119.99 (down from $179), Lord & Taylor
Ralph Lauren suede buckle belt $34.99 (down from $48), Ralph Lauren
HUE sheer tights $5.99, Macy's

GRAND TOTAL= $190.95

Product Review: HANAair Professional Hair Dryer

2011-12-27T20:18:00.000-05:00

by Tira

Let’s talk about hair. I’m obsessed with mine. And I’m a self-confessed product and hair tool junkie. Seriously, I have two storage totes filled with half-used products, perm rods, crimping irons and other hair paraphernalia.

While I don’t have a set regimen, I do make an effort to wash my hair at least once week and moisturize daily. Now, I’m working out 3-4 days a week, and the sweat is not my friend. I can’t go more than two days without washing my hair. The sweat makes my scalp itch and drives me crazy. So I’m co-washing (washing my hair with conditioner instead of shampoo) every other night. Between work, the gym, and other activities, I have a lot of late nights and early mornings, which makes the time consuming efforts of air-drying inconvenient. So, when given the opportunity to try out this dryer, I jumped right at it.

The Hana Salon is known for making some of the world’s best tools for hair styling. Their flat irons are 100% ceramic, and their hair dryers boast the most advanced far infrared ionic heat. According to the website, “It is the only hair dryer that will make your hair healthier and more radiant with each and every use.”

Click here for more info

Features:
• Ion Technology- condition hair & reduces static electricity
• Tourmaline & Titanium Oxide Technology- natural ions promote healthier hair
• Silver Nanotechnology- for antibacterial Protection
• Scratch Resistant Shell with black metallico finish adds durability and is easy to clean
• Long life motor with low noise
• Gyroscopically balanced for easy handling
• Fiberglass concentrator
• Italian Design

I washed my hair with Paul Mitchell’s Intense Moisture Shampoo, and then followed up with the Awapuhi Wild Ginger leave-in conditioner. After that, I lightly towel-dried, I applied the AMAZING HANA Shine Shield Thermal Protectant before blow drying my hair.

I was impressed with how fast my hair got dry. I haven’t relaxed my hair in over a year, so it’s really coarse, but this dryer did a great job on my entire head.

Pros:

Gorgeous packaging – HANA prides itself on beautiful packaging. If you give a HANA product as a gift, there’s no need to wrap it, because it already comes in a beautiful box.
Lightweight and dries quickly – This is the lightest dryer I’ve ever used. My arm usually gets tired when going through my hair, because it’s super thick, and shoulder-length. But this dryer got through my hair in almost half the time as my other dryer.

Cons:

Expensive – This dryer retails for around $335, but is currently on sale for $194.99 on the website. For a professional stylist, this may seem reasonable, but for those of us using this at home, that may seem a little price. To be fair, this dryer does come with a 2 year warranty.
Single Attachment – Other dryers I have used came with more attachments, my favorite being the diffuser. This one comes with a concentrator. This piece allows the air to directly flow to a specific area of the air. The diffuser is my fave because it does the opposite, which is ideal for curly or wavy styles. It’s not necessarily a deal breaker, but more options are always a good thing.

Bottom line:
Although it’s pricey, it is well worth it. In fact, it's probably the best hair dryer I've ever used. More reviewers on the HANA website rate this dryer the top on the market. One reviewer even dubbed it “The Louis Vuitton of hair dryers”! It is a great investment for a salon or at-home care. Click here to see the rest of their dryer collection.

Official HANA website:
http://www.hanasalon.com/

A sample of this product was given to Cheapalicious for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on Cheapalicious are the honest opinions of its author(s) and editorial samples do not, in any way, influence the outcome of product reviews.

Cheapalicious Deals 12-27-11

2011-12-27T18:36:00.000-05:00

Sephora: Take an additional 20% off sale items. Coupon code: EXTRA. Expires 1-3-12
Payless: Take 20% off your purchase. Coupon code: 65393. Expires 1-2-11
Sally Beauty: Save up to 70% on ALL Red Tag Clearance Items with promo code 555367 Sale Ends 12/31!!
Off Broadway Shoes: 25% off any boot purchase. Expires 1-1-12
Old Navy: $15 off $75 or more purchase (via Facebook). Expires 12-29-11
Esprit: 40% off your order. Coupon code: NEWYEAR12. Expires 1-3-12
Charlotte Russe: 25% off clearance items. Expiration unknown
Victoria's Secret: 20% off clearance swimwear. Coupon code: 20SAND. Expires 12-29-11
Loft: 50% off everything (excluding new arrivals). Coupon code: TAKE50. Expires 12-31-11
Kmart: Take an additional 20% off shoes. Coupon code: KMARTSHOES20. Expires 12-31-11

Influenster Holiday VoxBox

2011-12-26T00:17:00.000-05:00

I'm sure by now, all of you have heard of Influenster. If not, learn about it here. Anyone can join and it's free!

I received the Holiday VoxBox from Influenster last week, and here are the contents of it:

SoftSoap Coconut Scrub bar soap: I actually bought a pack of this soap from Walmart weeks ago, and I love it. I'm a big fan of the body wash in this fragrance, so I was glad to see that it comes in bar soap form. I love how it gently exfoliates my skin and is not too harsh. I do wish that the fragrance was a little more noticeable as its body wash counterpart. The coconut smell is very faint (to me) in this bar. Overall, it's a good soap and I will try the other fragrances that are available.
Montagne Jennesse Passion Peel Off Mask: I'm a big fan of peel off masks, so I can't wait to try this one. Made with passionflower and pomegranate extracts, this mask is supposed to deep cleanse, purify, and protect. We shall see when I do an upcoming review on it.
imPress Press On Manicure by Broadway Nails: I'm actually not a fan of press on nails. I tried them (not this brand) for the first time a few years ago, and they just felt too weird on my actual nails. Plus, I didn't want to mess them up by doing my everyday activities, so I took them off after one day of wearing them. The design of these nails is very pretty. I think I may give these to my niece.
LaraBar: A new to me brand, the LaraBar is a fruit and nut bar made from only 2 to 9 natural ingredients. I received the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar in my box, and it was pretty tasty. I loved the fact that it was not too sweet, and it sure came in handy while I was making a trek through the fleamarket shopping for last minute Christmas gifts. It kept my hunger at bay until we left for lunch after we were done shopping. I will definitely try these bars again.
Mentos Pure Fresh chewing gum: I buy Mentos mints every blue moon, but I think I'm going to start buying this gum more often. Its crunchy outer shell "contains a green extract core that provides and immediate burst of coolness for long lasting fresh breath." It's sugar free and the flavor lasts for quite a while. I like the sturdy little container it comes in, too.
NYC Liquid Lip Shine in "Nude York City": I own these lipglosses in a few other colors and I love them. I haven't tried this shade yet, but from the looks of it, I think it's a little too light for me anyway.

Influensters, have you received a VoxBox? What are your thoughts on the products?

Disclosure: I received these complimentary products through Influenster’s VoxBox program. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cheapalicious Links of the Week

2011-12-23T18:44:00.000-05:00

photo via College Candy

Ten last minute New Year's Eve dresses [College Candy]
Easy DIY glitter striped tee [The Budget Babe]
Alyson finds fab, killer clutches! [The Average Girl's Guide]
8 tips on how to wear sweater dresses [All Women Stalk]
See how Patrice rocked her $1 cocktail dress on the Nate Berkus Show [Looking Fly on a Dime]

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!