It’s All About the Lips

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“Your look is not complete until you add lipgloss. It is all about the lips!”

-Laurie Best, Lip Factory Inc. CEO

This month’s Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box is definitely all about the lips! Like I mentioned in a previous post, I immediately fell in love with Lip Factory Inc. and this month’s box did not disappoint! Not only did it arrive in a timely manner, the presentation was awesome too. This month’s box was filled with nothing but lip products. And as we all know adding a little pop to your lips is a great to switch up your look for the holidays.

Undead by Medusa’s Makeup

Chianti by Palladio Herbal Lipstick

Talk Talk Us by Medusa’s Makeup

Tango by MODELCo.

Plum Enticing by Designer Skin

Retractable Lip Brush

I loved the lip colors in this month’s box! I’m not quite sure where I’d rock Undead by Medusa’s Makeup but the tubing is amazing. And I really love that the MODELCo. Lipstick tube has a built-in mirror on the side, it’s a simple feature that adds so much, like extra room in my clutch…lol. The verdict still stands, I highly recommend Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box to all my beauty junkies and newbies to makeup! It’s definitely an affordable service, just $22/month and as you can see it’s filled with quality products.

What’s your favorite product in this month’s Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box? Do you agree that it’s definitely all about the lips this month? Do you have a favorite lip shade for the holiday season?

Get connected with Lip Factory Inc….

For more information about how you can get your own Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box, check out their website.
Like Lip Factory Inc. on Facebook
Follow Lip Factory Inc. on Twitter

Parenting…Who Knew?

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Who knew that parenting would be so hard, right? I didn’t! I’m a mom of three boys, 12, 5 and 4…and let me just say there’s never a dull moment in my house, like never!

I guess it’s true what they say, all the stuff you do as a child comes back to haunt you when have kids of your own. I was a very rebellious, argumentative and stubborn child. I’m sure a lot of you find that hard to believe but its true; I gave my folks a run for their money. And man let me just say, I’m getting all back…not from just one but from all three of my boys. Like I said there is never a dull moment in my house.

Aside from the financial struggles/obligations of parenting, the task of raising responsible, respectful and intelligent children is a tough job. And I’m slowly learning to conform, against my own will I might add, to not let the little things get to me. There are just some things that aren’t going to change, like that slight smell of urine in my boys bathroom that never fades or the countless number of toys that end up under my couch no matter how much I clean and fuss!

I was once asked the question, “Does it ever get easier?” This was coming from a woman, with a two-year old son and she was asking in reference to me dealing with my oldest. All I could do was laugh. In no way does this whole parenting thing get easier, the issues just change. So instead of struggling with potty training, the never-ending NO phase and temper tantrums at two…I battle with making sure he’s actually bathing while taking a shower, helping him with his homework/studying and dealing with his pre-teen attitude at 12. The struggle is real and it never ends!

I have those days, I assume like most moms, when I wouldn’t be the best poster child candidate for the “Should I Have Kids” campaign…lol. To say I’ve learned a lot about myself since I’ve become a parent would an understatement, I didn’t know who I was until I became a parent. Children are like little mirrors, imitating your every move, even those faces I make subconsciously when I’m annoyed. Now don’t get me wrong I love my boys to the moon and back! And despite the day-to-day struggles of parenting, it really is a blessing to be able to watch them grow and change every day. I wouldn’t change things for the world but believe me it’s not easy.

Here’s a little parenting humor for y’all…

What are you parenting struggles? What advice would you give to a new parent? What’s your funniest childhood memory?

Black Friday Savvy Shopping Tips

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Wowzas! Its November already, Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas will be here before you know it. And for most of us, with the holiday season comes tons of shopping! Being the “frugal deal-seeking shopaholic” that I am, it’s no wonder that I’m one of those crazy people out shopping on Black Friday. It’s even become a tradition in my family…we stay up all night, brave the cold temps and score great deals! And I love it!

I know that Black Friday shopping isn’t for everyone and it can even be a bit overwhelming for those experienced shoppers, like me…lol. Here is my Top 10 Black Friday Savvy Shopping Tips to help you get the most bang for your buck and fun out of the experience!

Preview Black Friday Store Ads NOW! We are well into the month of November and most retailers’ Black Friday ads are available online already. Don’t wait until Thanksgiving Day to check them out, view them online now. That way you have an idea of what stores have the items you want and you can begin preparing your list.
Compare prices. Everything that’s on sale Black Friday, is not a great deal, you must compare prices! You can use price comparison websites/phone apps to help you determine if the Black Friday ad price is the best possible price.
Make A List. Yep, be like Santa Clause, make a list and check it twice…lol. While you’re previewing the Black Friday ads online and comparing prices, start making a list now. My Black Friday shopping lists are pretty detailed; store name, item, price, color etc. The list helps keep me on track, I don’t waste time “just looking.” I focus only on the items on my list and leave the other Christmas shopping for another day.
Search for Coupons! Y’all know I love coupons! So before you head out on Black Friday make sure you check for coupons! I always recommend that you do email sign-up for all of your favorite retailers…they are always sending out coupons to their subscribers. And be sure to check store websites, Facebook pages and circulars for additional coupons too!
Know Store Locations and Store Hours. It has happened to me in the past, pulling up to an abandoned building or empty parking lot sucks big time, especially when you had a list items you wanted to score. If it’s not a store or area you visit often double-check the stores location. And Black Friday store hours vary from store to store…some opening on Thanksgiving Day and others in the middle of the night, so check those hours!
Know Store Coupon/Return & Price-matching Policies. Some stores may have specific coupon and price-matching policies on Black Friday. Knowing them in advance will save you a lot of time and headache when checking out, trust me. And don’t throw away those receipts, some stores offer price-adjustments after purchase if you find a lower price at another store.
Take a shopping buddy! I usually prefer to shop alone but not on Black Friday! With two or more people, you can cover more shopping ground…lol. I like to call it “Black Friday Tag Team”! If there’s a big crowd (which there usually is) one person can grab the items while the other mans the cart. I take Black Friday seriously; you have to be ready to shop ‘til drop and I make sure that everyone that tags along knows this because no one likes a party pooper.
Be prepared! As with anything in life you must be prepared and Black Friday is no different. Gas the car up early, map out your shopping trip (I leave that up to the hubs) and be sure to dress comfortably. Know there will be long lines and crowds. I personally try to keep things to a minimum, I downsize my purse (to help free up my hands) and I throw on my tennis shoes. I make sure to have my list and store ads (from the Thanksgiving Day newspaper) and any coupons/discount cards on hand.
Don’t Fret! If you miss out on a great deal or sale on Black Friday don’t worry…deals/sales will come and go all holiday season long. And don’t forget there’s always Cyber Monday!
SMILE and be friendly! Remember Black Friday is the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, so leave the “grumpy gills” at home. Despite all the craziness on Black Friday, people will be more willing to help you help if you have a smile on your face, trust me.

Do you brave the stores on Black Friday? What are some of your Black Friday shopping tips? What do you love about the holiday season?

Lip Factory Inc.

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Y’all know that I love makeup! So when I was offered the opportunity to check out the Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box, I just couldn’t refuse! I was shipped the October box and I received within three days of being contacted. *insert thumbs up here* Blame me for posting about it late but this week has been beyond hectic but I digress…the one highlight for sure, was my Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box.

What is Lip Factory Inc.?
Lip Factory Inc. isn’t just your typical monthly beauty box subscription service…each month around the 4th of each month Lip Factory Inc. ships 5 to 7 beauty products in its Beauty Kit to its subscribers. And “although your kit may include a full face of makeup products their focus is on your lips!” Hence the name Lip Factory Inc.! So each month you can expect to have various types lip products, like lip glosses, lip sticks, lip liners and lip therapy products, included in your kit each month. Lip Factory Inc.’s mission is to “help you look and feel beautiful as well as help you save money.” And let me just say I’m all for a company that wants to help me save money…being the frugal shopper that I am, lol. So how much is it right? For $22/month you can have the Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box shipped to your door. And yes, for the contents of this month’s box, it’s worth every penny!

Like I mentioned I received the Lip Factory Beauty Box within 3 days of being contacted…I was really impressed by how quickly it shipped. And the packaging was simple and chic, I loved it! Check out the goodies inside…

October Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box

Palladio Beauty Baked Blush in Blushin’

Michael Marcus Cake Eye Liner in Trashy

Michael Marcus Lip Gloss in Dazzling

Dew Grape Seed Age Protecting Lip Gloss in Lay It Down Cab

Befine Warming Clay Mask

BONUS: JCat Lip Liner in Carmine

BONUS: Alcone Make-off Makeup Remover

Impressed? Yes! I definitely was! The quick turn around on delivery, the packaging and of course the contents are amazing! I definitely give Lip Factory Inc. two thumbs up. And for just $22/month, you can’t beat it! If you are a makeup junkie like myself, interested in trying new makeup products or just a fan of the monthly subscription boxes then Lip Factory Inc. is for you!

Get connected with Lip Factory Inc….

For more information about how you can get your own Lip Factory Inc. Beauty Box, check out their website.
Like Lip Factory Inc. on Facebook
Follow Lip Factory Inc. on Twitter

What do you think about the Lip Factory Inc. October Beauty Box? Are you familiar with Lip Factory Inc.? What’s your favorite monthly beauty subscription service?

The Pillow Box – October 2013

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The Pillow Box is back! Well at least it is for me…lol. I’ve been a bit out of the loop as I mentioned before but I’m so glad that I received this month’s Pillow Box from Our Shade of Brown (formerly My Shade of Brown for those of y’all savvy readers that are familiar with the Pillow Box posts). The name may be slightly different but Our Shade of Brown is still providing awesome premium sized sample products tailored to women of color all wrapped up inside the cute little Pillow Box to its subscribers each month. Check out this month’s box…

Dr. Miracle’s Follicle Healer

The Naked Bee Hand Sanitizer

Elegant Minerals Foundation in Dark Honey

Pink Powder Parlor Lip Stick in Coral

I personally think this box came right on time for the cooler Fall temps we’ve been having. I must say that my favorite item in this month’s box is the Pink Parlor Lip Stick…I’ve only swatched it but I think it compliments my skin tone beautifully. And I can’t wait to try the Dr. Miracle’s sample, I’ve tons of great things about their products recently.

Stay connected with Our Shade of Brown….

Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter
And for details on how you can get your own Pillow Box check out their website.

Have you signed up for Our Shade of Brown yet? What subscription services are you signed up for? What is your fall/winter must have beauty item?

Free Beauty Events – October 2013

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It has been a long time since I posted about Free Beauty Events but my love for the site is still the same. If you’ve been following The Savvy Housewife then you are quite familiar with Free Beauty Events. But here’s a quick refresher on why I love the site so much…

Free Beauty Events is an amazing site that features FREE, yes FREE, beauty events happening in and around your area. You’ll find events like free makeovers, gifts with purchase, spa open houses and sampling events held at various local beauty retailers, spas and salons across the US. To find out what events are happening in your area simply enter your zip code here and a list of the current FREE beauty events will appear. It’s so easy and if you’re a beauty junkie like myself you will become addicted to this site. Below is an example of what you may find…

During October you can take advantage of the Ulta YesTo event. Demonstrators will be giving away free samples of Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment, Yes To Tomatoes Daily Balance Moisturizer, Yes To Carrots Body Butter, and Yes To Cucumbers.

You can find more information about events like the one above and others by checking out Free Beauty Events and entering your zip code in top right hand corner. And if you host/demonstrate free beauty events at a local spa, salon or retailer you can have your event featured on this site too. All you have to do is submit a form and your event will be listed on the site for free. What makes Free Beauty Events one of my favorite sites is that in addition to providing a listing of all of the FREE events it also gives it’s readers a chance to win prizes each month. Check out what they are giving away this month…

For their current giveaway, Free Beauty Events will be giving away 5 prizes. Yep that’s right, you have 5 chances to win! An each prize will consist of L’Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream, Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15, and Seventh Generation Boosts Skin Serum – Hydrating. The Contest runs from 10/1/2013 to 12/31/2013, winners will be chosen on 1/1/2014 and notified by 1/1/2014. To enter, all you have to do is, go to Free Beauty Events and supply your name, email (only used to contact winners), and zip. Easy, right?

And while you are there entering the monthly giveaway and searching for the FREE beauty events make sure to check out Free Beauty Events Beauty Blog. There you will find reviews and information of some of the latest beauty products available. And there are weekly contest with smaller prizes too over on the blog too! So be sure to head over to Free Beauty Events before 12/13/2013!

Connect with Free Beauty Events….

Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.
For beauty product reviews and more giveaways check out the Free Beauty Events Beauty Blog.

Midweek Mani: Mint Candy Sparkle

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a manicure post of any kind. Like I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been super busy and overwhelmed with life so polishing my nails hasn’t been on my to-do list for a while. But any who I managed to squeeze in some me time and treated myself to a self-mani.

This manicure was inspired by a picture I saw on Instagram and for the life of me I can not remember who posted it. All I can remember is that I thought it was super cute and I wanted to recreate it…

What do you think? I’m kinda digging the color combo…especially how the glitter pops on the charcoal grey polish. What color are you rocking on your nails this week?

I’m Back….

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So I have been M.I.A. for quite some time. *drops head in shame* But life has been giving me a run for my money and your girl was struggling to just keep up. I did manage to stay in touch via Facebook and Instagram but that’s it. But finally things have seemed to slow down or maybe I’m just now catching up, either way I’m back…And it feels good! I’ll be posting more soon so stay tuned….

And thanks so much y’all for being patient and sticking around! Now let the blogging begin! WOOT!

FREE Chick-fil-A Breakfast September 9-14

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If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook then you know how much I love Chick-fil-A! And I love it even more when I can get it FREE!

So I’m so glad that it’s back…select Chick-fil-A locations are offering a FREE breakfast entrée to customers that make reservations between September 9-14. Click here to see if your local Chick-fil-A restaurant is participation and to make your reservation today!

***Please note that the reservation site is getting hit hard right now, so keep trying if the site won’t load.***

Thanks Hip 2 Save!

Midweek Mani: Full Steam Ahead

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This past weekend was bitter-sweet and extremely busy…I’ve been spending the past few days playing catch up just to do it all over again this weekend. School will be starting next week and yes I’m crunk about it but don’t tell my boys. With all the craziness going on I needed to take a moment to breathe. And what better way to relax than with a mani…

This week’s mani is special because the polish was gifted to my by a fellow vlogger, SweetOne1299. A few weeks ago, she posted pictures on Instagram of several great clearance cosmetic finds she scored from her local Walgreens. So I ran to my local Walgreens, within minutes of her post (it’s just that serious) and found the nothing! But SweetOne1299 came to my rescue…lol! She sent me a box of goodies! All I can say is her name definitely fits her…

Goodies from SweetOne1299

Check out this week’s mani…

Full Steam Ahead

Full Steam Ahead by Essie

Full Steam Ahead

I’m not quite sure why this pastel purple shade is named Full Steam Ahead but I love it. What do you think? What’s your favorite shade by Essie? Have you found any great cosmetics on clearance lately?