Fall-a-la-la-laaaa

Hey readers!!!


Holy cow, I can't believe we've already circled back to Thanksgiving once again!!! This year has truly passed me by quickly!!

Just like so many other blog writers, I realized today I'd hit quite a lapse between posts. I've been dealing with some things, away from the blog, that have taken a bit more of my time lately. Therefore, I'm so excited to get back into the swing of things and share more of my savings and daily life with all of you!!!

As I may have mentioned ever so briefly in the past, I LOVE Fall! And when I say I love Fall, I mean I'm psycho obsessed with it. If Fall were Arnold (of the classic show "Hey Arnold", then consider me the ever-secretly-worshipping Helga Petaki.

I love the fashion of Fall, all the holiday goodies and decorations, and of course the special occasions spent with your family during the season. Fall, to me, just seems like it brings everyone closer together. I swear....there is just something in the air.

I could almost promise you that some marketing executives, somewhere, tailor their whole line of consumer fall-related products to sucker me right on end.

My thoughts as I grocery shop these days: "Fall candles...definitely need. Lessee....oohhh fall room scent...can't live without....Fall cinnamon broom..I'll take 2. Ohhh...just a picture of a randome fall leaf....okay then."

It's crazy how much stuff I can talk myself into needing based solely on my love of the season. However, this year, as I've mentioned previously, I got so much smarter about the way I choose to shop. True, I still believe I need the Fall goodies--but at least I can purchase them at much lower rates. Here are a few of my recent purchases so far.

The cutest little scarecrow/door hanger ever! Purchased at the Dollar Tree

PURCHASE PRICE:$1.00

Silly turkey table decoration for Fall guests in the Kitchen. Who dosn't need a whimsical turkey to spice up their life? Especially when it comes from the Dollar Tree. Haha

PURCHASE PRICE: $1.00

Fall leaves on the welcome sign to announce this beautiful season! Purchased at Dollar Tree

PURCHASE PRICE: $1.00

Fall floral arrangement. Put together by regular flowers from Winn Dixie and items in the yard!

PURCHASE PRICE: $4.99

Assorted batch of holiday goodies. Chips and salsa/queso and of course spice cupcakes! All bough on coupon items from various grocers.

PURCHASE PRICE: About $5.00 for all ingredients (with coupons)

What can I say? I love Fall and I love savings even more ;) Happy awesome season everyone!!!

The Tale of the Three Dollar Sweater

So in the last year, I had gotten to a point in my life where I just hated clothes shopping. No, scratch that, I had gotten to a point in my life where I DETESTED clothes shopping.

In theory, clothes shopping used to sound pretty awesome to me, initially. I would think: "wow! This is gonna be great! I'm going to get some new, fresh threads and really spice things up!"

Yet, when I left all I ever thought was: "Never again."

Shopping, for me, often culminated in an experience of trying on fifty different items to find one possibility. Often times, the one possibility would turn out to be extraordinarily high-priced and beyond my budget. The result usually yielded a frustrated me leaving the store in a huff and choosing, instead of new-clothes shopping, to hide the rips and mysterious stains of clothing long-ago.

This was all before I discovered the majestic art-form known as "thrifting." I had no clue what I was missing out on before!! Some of the cheapest stores end up having the best, basic pieces and I was so wrong to have thought otherwise. I have attached a few, basic pieces of advice to commence in basic "thrifting." They are listed below



THRIFT SHOPPING BASIC RULES:
1) Know your budget. As previously mentioned, I often designate a budget that will not hurt my monthly expenses for clothing shopping. From this point, I carry cash because, to me, it's more tangible. Also, once my budget is established I don't spend a penny more. I buy the things I won't stop thinking about and leave the one's I will.
2) Know your discount retailers. Give stores like Ross, Walmart, and Goodwill a try for your clothing basics. Know which store best suits you for each need. For instance, I know that Ross can be hit or miss with professional wears. Yet, I also know that they sell economical, quality fashionable shoes at all times. If I need a pair...Ross is my first stop shop.
3)Know your coupons. This last part is oh so important. If I could stress one thing that is the most essential to thrift shopping this would be it. With so many online couponing sites now offering retailer discounts and discount codes, the savings are endless!!!

The latter rule, of the thrifting basics, produced a pretty great deal yesterday that I must share with all of you. Within our mail, earlier this week, we received a coupon for a Burlington Coat Factory grand opening event. The coupon, pictured below, offered a $10 discount off any purchase of $10. These types of coupons are truly the best because they do NOT have a minimun purchase price which often-times encourages you to spend more than you originally anticipated.

I've been looking for a flattering, Fall-inspired Thanksgiving sweater to wear home during the holiday's. Luckily for me, the Burlington Coat store had been laid out with easy to see, accessible racks that made the shopping experience feel comfortable and doable.

I found this little baby, that fit like a dream, for $12.97.

On it's own, this is not a bad deal, but a couponers work is never truly done. I provided my grand opening coupon and got $10.00 off the purchase price. With tax this made the purchase price:

THREE DOLLARS AND SEVENTEEN CENTS!!!!!

Coin & Cash Celebration

As we all know too-well, life can be tough. Each morning, it seems, we start with a jolt. From that point forward, we stay in a rush---doing our very best to accomplish our professional and personal daily goals. And the goals never really go away either. I mean, let's face it, you can be cozied in your covers, adorned in your favorite flannel pajama bottoms with your teeth brushed and your hair safely secured away when suddenly it hits you! You forgot to bring those wet beach towels in from your car. So, now, you are faced with a dilemma: rouse yourself from your half-asleep state, put on clotes and go get those things out of the friggin car OR have a car that smells like dead fish greet you early in the AM.



Situations, like the one previously discussed, are ones that face me on a daily basis. I swear I sometimes feel like life is one, extended sprint as I am forever racing as fast as I can to the next thing. Listen, I'd love to say I stop and smell the roses every day......but in the famous words of this wise and wonderful sage:



Which is why, in my opinion, it's so very important for pepople to take some, occasional opportunities to break away from the rat race of typical life. My husband and I try to find at least one weekend per every two months to enjoy a "special date."

Typically, as you readers know, our little family is pretty thrifty when it comes to date nights out, day adventures, and even travel. However, on our "special dates," we get to let our hair down a bit more and do something a little more expensive. This is due to the fact that we are not cutting into our own, personal accounts. It does take a bit of savvy in budgeting, but it is made quite simple with a few easy tricks.

First, we collect all change in this handy dandy coin counter. When doing laundry, I empty all change accumulated into this guy. I also find plenty of change while cleaning my car or the house. You wouldn't believe how fast the change adds up! Over the course of two months, we accrued almost forty one dollars!!!

Secondly, we bag all extra dollar bills into a ziploc baggie. Often times, I'll use my change from various purchases to sock away. Also, once again, the laundry proves and excellent resource for finding those missing one's and fives. If I get the go-ahead from hubs, the dollars go in the fund. The most important step of all this, if you are as cash-happy as we are, is to store the ziploc container in an inconvenient place. I know this sounds nutty---but keeping the money in a place where you have to hunt it down really cuts down on unnecessarily dipping into the fund.

Lastly, the most important thing we do for our "fun fund" is to continually count our monies accrued. We keep tabs, week to week, on what's in the containers and how much more we need to reach our goal. Once we hit $100-$150 dollars, we splurge!!!! Essentially, the fun fund is the money you don't even miss day-to-day.

This week was a really difficult one for me, and the fun-fund hit the right amount of money in the nick of time!!!

We decided to visit the beautiful New Smyrna Beach which is just a mere thirty minutes from our home. Now, if you are not familiar with the Daytona area, than you are probably unfamiliar with the fact that it is bike-tober fest. That's right....an entire month devoted to biking. Originally, we wanted to stay at a hotel for the night. However, those bikers must be as thrifty as me because they stole all the decently priced hotel rooms. Is it wrong that I keep envisioning a hardcore biker clipping coupons and putting them into a skull and crossbones caddy?



Anywho, in spite of those meticulous motorists, we gave New Smyrna a go. The first stop we made was to an eatery called The Garlic. The atmosphere of this place was so incredible, so beautiful that I honestly felt I was eating inside Eden. When you enter The Garlic, it gives you a hint of what's to come. You are instnatly greeted by this long,beautiful garden trellis with greenery all over. The establishment is literally built around these amazing trees that have huge palms and are strewn with lights. Freshly grown garlic hangs everywhere for consumers to note. It's just really, truly beautiful.

This place has serious hutzpah. The specials were written on lasagna noodles and the menu cosnsited of a dude in a crazy hat funneling pasta. You can just tell it's the type of place someone smart takes a first date---cool and jazzy but not trying too hard.

Perhaps my favorite thing about the place was the food! We are foodies after all. My husband wasted no time in ordering The Garlic's famous 160z meatball on the menu, while I opted for the goat cheese stuffed chicken. As an appetizer, they serve roasted garlic and just smash it with a fork right in front of you.

After such a beautiful meal, we picked up our wheelbarrows and rolled ourselves out of The Garlic. We then headed for New Smyrna Beach to watch the sunset.

Now, if you ever decide to go to New Smyrna, expect muddled parking. The parking...was...no....joke. I mean there were some parts where I felt like we were Austin Powers trying to navigate the mysterious realms of the three-point turns.

However, once we got there, it made everything seem so worth it. We packed a nice, big beach blanket and laid it out right in front of a beach club. This way, we had both the beautiful views of the purple sky over the beach and lightly piped music from the club's live entertainment.

It really felt great to put my toes in the sand and forget all about anything heavy. Jon and I just watched the little kids build their sand castles with friends and run from the waves. Oh yeah, and we loved the moment together too. It was just truly the perfect evening between a very in love and married couple :)

PRICE OF DINNER:$70.00
PRICE OF GAS:$20.00
PRICE OF EXPERIENCE:PRICELESS
CHANGE LEFTOVER:$30.00

Fashion Re-Cap Time!!!!!!

I couldn't wait to show you the ways I styled the outfit items from earlier posts :)

OUTFIT #1

*=BLOG POSTED EARLIER

OUTFIT COST
1)*Blouse---$10.99---Purchased at Ross and discussed in 10/7 blog post.
2)*Skirt---$12.99-----Purchased at Ross and discussed in 10/7 blog post.
3)*Belt---$0.99----Purchased at Goodwill and discussed in 10/8 blog post
GRAND TOTAL:$24.97

OUTFIT #2

OUTFIT COST
1)Dress---$9.99
2)*Boots---$19.99---Purchased at Ross and discussed in 10/7 blog post.
3)*Belt---$0.99---Purchased at Goodwill and discussed in 10/8 blog post.
GRAND TOTAL:$30.97

OUTFIT #3

OUTFIT COST
1) Cardigan----$19.99---Purchased at Marshall's and discussed in 10/7 blog post.
2) Black V-neck----ALREADY OWNED
3) Jeans-----ALREADY OWNED
4) Belt---$0.99----Purchased at Goodwill and discussed in 10/8 blog post.

GRAND TOTAL:$20.98

Twenty Dollar Thursday

So, every day this week, the weather has been absolutely unreal. I live in Florida where we have one season---Summer. So, when I feel a breeze of any type outside....I pretty much lose...my...marbles.



Pictured above is me at the first sight of any breeze....ever.

And this week the weather has been perfect!! I'm talking sunny skies, breezy winds,and even a cool temperature. The weather I wasn't sure even existed anymore does...in fact...exist. So I antied up my vacation time and did what any professional should do from time to time....I requested a mental health day from work :)

I really wanted a day to enjoy the beautiful weather, get school work done, and do some chores around the house! I'm so happy to say that the former did not get forgotten in the midst of all the have-to's today.

We are preparing to have company in town and, like any good absent-minded wife, I forgot to buy several of the groceries I intended to earlier this week. So I slipped into my local grocer and purchased a few things. I wanted to share, with you my readers, the deal's that I was able to find should you be looking for anything this week.

First of all, Suave hair products are on sale 2/$4.00 at Winn Dixie. The cool thing about this, for those of you who also coupon the Sunday paper, is that a coupon recently appeared which featured a deal like this one pictured below. So, essentially, I paid $4.00 flat and got a shampoo, a conditioner, and a serum. Now, what is cool to note about this purchase is that the serum itself was originally retailing for $3.68. Sooo I pretty much just got all of those things for what I would've paid for the styling product alone. Pretty sneaky sis.

Also on sale today, Dixie Sugar products. Now, I know for those of you who, like myself, are getting into baking, sugar is absolutely QUINTESSENTIAL!! Also important to realize for novice bakers..omitting the sugar usually=ugh. With Fall right around the corner, we can pretty much count on pies, cakes, muffins, and breads which will all call for sugar. Specifically, Fall season yields me an unusually high need for brown sugar. Well, I'm about to make your day bakers. Winn Dixie is on sale for...you ready for this...0.99 cents. OH! And did I mention that if you coupon the paper you probably also have a coup somewhere for .55cents off? Yep...you do. You're welcome! Go enjoy your .44 cent brown sugar today :)

So here is the result of my grocery trip today:

Pictured above: Two bags of cheese, Suave Shampoo, Suave conditioner, Suave Serum, bouquet of Fall flowers, cottage cheese, salsa, 1 container brown sugar,and a paper towel roll.

GRAND TOTAL: $19.99
AVERAGE PRICE THIS VISIT $2.00 per item

HAPPY THURSDAY EVERYONE!!!!!!!

Deal of the Day Part 4

GOOD MORNING!!!! Yes, it is disgusting, I am a morning person. I don't know why but ever since I was a kid I have always woken up with visions of sunshine, rainbows, and fairies in my near-immediate morning future. Blame it on my mother who woke up every ay at 5:00 AM for as long as I can remember and looked perfectly content to do so.

However, this chipper attitude has made me completely prepared and excited to share yest another awesome deal with my awesome readers.

If you are not in the know on the chain Tijuana Flats and you live in the Orlando area---you should reaaallly study up. It's like the Orlando(an) equivalent of being an American with no knowledge of who George Washington is. The first Tijuana Flats was owned an operated by a UCF (GO KNIGHTS) student who opened the first location in Winter Park,FL. It's Orlando history!!!!!



Since it's initial opening in Winter Park,FL Tijuana Flats has opened several eateries in different states. It's affiliation with several, meaningful charities is both heart-warming and admirable to note when you frequent this business. Also important to note, the service as polite to their patrons as they are expedient in serving them Oh, and did I mention? The food is freaking delicious. I mean mouth-watering, omygoodness!, yyyuuummmyyy delicious.

Luckily, my husband and I have located a Tijuana Flats in close proximity to our house (after a multitude of admitted google searches....call it stalking if you like ;) As it is one of our favorite places to dine, we frequent it often on our mini weekday "date nights." This is how I came to know about....THE DEAL.

So, Tuesday's and Thursday's are when you want to get in there. And, when I say get in there, I mean you want to go earlier in the afternoon or at least before 7:00 PM. My husband and I are usually able to beat the rush at 6:45 PM by about twenty minutes. So, essentially, the specials for Tuesday and Thursday are the following:




TACO TUESDAY:
*2 Tacos
*Chips and a drink
*Soft Drink
PRICE:$4.99

OR



BURRITO THURSDITO
*Regular-sized burrito
*Chips
*Soft drink
PRICE: $4.99

Either way, that is an ENTIRE MEAL for $4.99. So, in theory, you and a buddy can get out the door for $10.00 and still have the experience of eating out in a cool and funky place!! At FULL DISCLOSURE I will admit that Jon and I usually add on a small side of salsa for the chips. Last night, we also added on two adult beverages. However,the total STILL came out to less than $19.00 for two people. You really can't beat that!!!

I RATE TIJUANA FLATS TUESDAY/THURSDAY SPECIALS: A DEALLLL!!!!!

Meanwhile at Goodwill

If you are anything like me...you see your local Goodwill as the place where you go to donate items at the end of your spring-cleaning cycle. It feels great, when donating, to feel a sense of helping an extraordinary business. Goodwill does so much for the community and should probably be sainted for it's affiliation with several, charitable businesses. To add, Goodwill also helps out so many in-need families in a time of such economic uncertainty.

However, too often I forget that Goodwill is also a store that is open and available to the public. Yesterday, when making bi-monthly donation, I started to explore the Goodwill. What I found was nothing short of shocking.

I was surprised to find, while walking around, the amount of super-trendy items I actually found on the racks! Among my findings, a fashionable red cardigan from the GAP retailing for an astonishing $6.50,several tops from Levi brand for less that $5.00, and an American Eagle pair of flats for $5.00 with the sale tag still securely on the bottom of the shoe and the SHOE HANGER STILL ATTACHED (in a freaking size wouldn't you know...booooo.



Pictured above is me at the Goodwill on Sunday. Like I said in my last post, that Mustard color on the shorts is very in for Fall ;)

It was so exciting to hunt through the racks and look at all the fun merchandise. I had no idea Goodwill promoted any of these name-brand articles for sale. And yet, there they were all waiting to be found. I recently found this cool article which discusses Goodwill's fairly recent rise in the thrift-store circuit. Definitely check it out if you have a minute!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/fashion/11goodwill.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

So, in short, I entered Goodwill a donator and left it an avid shopper. I left with two,fashionable belts for 0.99 a piece and also got a really cool, white oxford shirt that can be a staple in many outfits for $4.00. I can't wait to show you the way's I style all the items!!!! I feel a Goodwill-only inspired outfit contest coming on!!

At other retailers, I was able to find an almost exact replica of this shirt "on sale" for $16.99.

With This $100.00

Back when I was a college student, I used to know how to make....money....stretch.

I can still remember, quite vividly, the crafty techniques my husband (boyfriend at the time) and I used to get us through those tricky days following the payment of rent. Some, of the many,frugal ways we cut costs were:

*Volunteering to bring deviled eggs to every party. We reasoned we could buy them for $1.27 and we always had all the "fixin's" at home in our cupboard.
*Wholeheartedly spreading last-night's casserole left-overs on sandwiches as a spread. This was due to the fact that we literally...had nothing else.
*Clipping coupons for 0.99 bowling games. This was the equivalent of a "romantic date" for us at this time.
*Taking "nature walks" almost every Saturday and Sunday. We did not have a dime to our names, yet this prevented us from being stuck inside on beautiful, sunny days.
*Date nights in. Jon and I used to get all dressed up, then meet at our kitchen and share a $3.00 bottle of wine and whatever else we could afford as a meal.

Pictured above an example of our usual table set for two on Friday night "dates"

At that time, I had not a single cent to my name. Yet, having nothing forced me to get so creative that I could provide an excellent meal with only $10.00 in my pocket. I don't know where that creativity went when I graduated and got a job. Maybe it flew out the window with my daily allotted freedom to do whatever I like. But, like most people, having a job, a husband, friends, and a household to juggle left me with little to no desire to get back into the thrifty zone.

However, as previously mentioned, the last three months have really alerted me to the fact that I have GOT to start paying attention to my finances. If you want to achieve your goals as an adult, it is so very important to work towards your financial goals while starting out.

So I have begun to challenge myself, each pay week, to see just how far I can make my $100.00 go. This week, I needed some new work clothes, some household items, and gas. However, I also wanted to work in some fun outer-wear for Fall if I could afford to. And so it was that I set out with my hundred dollars.

I like to carry cash, when only shopping with an allotted amount, because it helps make the money seem more tangible than simply scanning a card.

My first visit was to Big Lots to see their collection of Fall items for the house-hold. I love Big Lots because they acquire overstock retail from finer, name-brand stores and sell it at a much less costly price. For example, I recently purchased a Pier One Imports rug, from Big Lots, for $99.00. The original cost of this rug, at Pier One, had been $299.00.

Big Lots did not possess many fun, festive Fall items. However, I was able to purchase a really big, Fall-inspired candle for $2.50.

Also, I was able to locate a set of 4 tag-along rubbermaid containers for $2.50. I was totally stoked to find these because Jon and I have started taking our lunches to work each day. These containers will allow me to take left-overs to work without stinking up the office fridge. And, for $2.50 for a set of 4, you can't even beat that price at the Dollar Tree.

The next stop on my list was Ross. Of all the stores in all of the Universe, Ross is probably my favorite. I think they're deals are simply unbeatable and the clothing they have keeps very well with the current trends. Do you have to scour the merchandise sometimes? Sure. But the thrill of the chase can be fun and the spoils are so wooorrtthhh ittt!!!

At Ross, I purchased a really pretty cobalt top for work for $10.99, a beautiful charcoal grey pencil skirt (that came with a free belt WOOHOO) for $12.99, a really sunny yellow, grey, and lavender scarf for $7.99, and a beautiful pair of amber boots for $19.99.

I was super obsessed with these boots before I finally bought them. In short...these boots were made for stalkin'. Haha..hahahahahah

I moved on, then, to Marshalls where I purchased a Mustard-yellow cardigan (very in color for Fall this year) for $19.99. This was a little steep for one piece. However, when you consider spending close to twenty dollars on anything, consider how many times it will get used? For me, this cardigan can be worn in the office or at home and I can think of one million ways to wear it. So...I spent the money and I'm pretty happy with my purchase.

My last stop was to Shell Gas. I know that doesn't sound so exciting but hear me out! In affiliation with my neighborhood grocery store, I am allotted a rewards card that doubles as a fuel-perks card. You heard me correctly. My grocery store provides a card that discount not only your shopping purchases, but your fuel as well. So, at Shell, you simply run your grocers card to get money discounted per gallon. I think paid the remainder of money for gas in cash. It came out to approximately $12.89. With the fuel perks card that assisted me in getting almost a half-tank of gas!!!!

So, to re-cap, here is the list of items I was able to get for my $100.00 this week.

*Big candle ($2.50)
*4 Rubbermaid Containers ($2.50)
*Cobalt Blouse ($10.99)
*Charcoal Skirt ($12.99)
*Belt (Free came with skirt)
*Scarf ($7.99)
*Mustard yellow cardigan ($19.99)
*Half tank of gas($13.89)

So that was 8 items for 100.00. Two house-hold items, five pieces of clothing, and a half a tank of gas. Not....too....shabby. However, the challenge continues to get even better at this fun little game. Can you beat my results? Give it a try and see what happens.

Deal of the Day Part Three

As a newly-married couple, I find it so important to keep doing new things together. With careers, personal hobbies, and your own friendships to juggle, a man and wife can easily find themselves perpetrating a dull, boring routine week to week. My rule of thumb on this is---if, once weekly, you get served by the same waitress you had LAST week, order the same thing as you did LAST week, and plan to do the same thing after dinner as you did LAST week, it's probably time to shake things up a bit. I know from personal experience....haha

So, on those sacred weekends when Jon and I don't have company in town or tons of chores at the house to do---we go out on date nights. Weekend date nights are my favorites because they really provide us some leisurely time to just relax and visit and not be locked into any work-day time restraints.

I also love those special, weekend times because they allow me the short-lived opportunity to dress up and play with my makeup box. For those of you who don't know me...I heart makeup. To me, it's such a fun thing to experiment with different colored eyeshadows, liners, blushes, and lipsticks.

There is one product, however, that can be used each time you apply makeup with little to no alteration. Fake lashes are probably my number one go-to for all occasional makeup looks. To me, they just kind of give a face that extra "mmph" that makes you really stand out. I have worn both lash strips and individual falsies to several events---including my own wedding. Here are a few snapshots so you can see the look for yourself.

If you are a novice to the false-eyelash world, strip lashes are probably your best bet. They are easy, convenient to find, and pretty time-efficient too. I often wear strip lashes if we're doing something less formal like just going out to a nice dinner or dinner party.

The only problem with false eyelashes, for me, is the overall cost. For a one-time use, the least expensive eyelashes I have been able to find to date cost a total of $2.50. On top of this cost, you must calculate in AT LEAST another $3.00 for the strip eyelash glue. Now, to be fair, you do get to keep the glue for many more uses to come. However, with that being said, try keeping up with that glue over the months and see how that goes wont you? Haha...it's no easy task and I go through bottles of glue just as quickly as I do the lashes themselves.

So, to re-cap, we are talking about $5.00 every time you want to bump up your makeup look. Five...dollars. I know it doesn't seem like much but, if your anything like me and you get addicted...beware. That cost starts adding up quickly. If you were to wear lashes, each weekend (which I will neither confirm or deny that I DO ;), you would be looking at a cost of $20.00 per month. Now, I don't know about you, but I can think of an epic list of things I could do with that $20.00 instead.

LIST OF ACTIVITIES WHICH COST $20.00 OR LESS
*Buy an I-Tunes Card
*Get an eyebrow wax
*Buy three kinds of nail polish
*Get a hair trim
*Have my washed, vacuumed, and spray scented with that strange nozzely thing
*Purchase a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace
*Buy two tickets to a movie

For me,I desperately needed the hair trim this month. And so, I made a solemn vow that I would exchange the hair cost this month over the eyelashes. I thought I wouldn't touch the stuff again this month until I founnnddd.....

BAM!!! So there I was, with overtime to kill from work, strolling around Target. Using the rationale of a shoppaholic who works in retail, I reasoned that I could still explore the cosmetics section without actually purchasing anything. I...was...wrong.

In the back corner of the Target, there was a shelf with Elf products. If you are not familiar, Elf is the more generic brand that Target promotes, specifically. Think Wet 'N' Wild with wayyyy better quality. I have used several Elf products and I have to say...I have yet to find a dud. So, as a result, I was pretty elated to scour through the stuff they had to offer and see if anything looked good.

Can you imagine my surprise when, out of the clear blue sky, I found starter kit false-eyelashes on sale through Elf??



Get it? Excited Elf? Ohhhh I crack myself up

This deal, in my opinion, is pretty much the best one I've come across ever. For the price of $1.00...that's right ONE DOLLAR....you get two eyelash strips AND the lash glue!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY GUACAMOLE!!!!! That is truly an incredible deal. I think I bought like five pairs just because I knew I would eventually use them. Also, I felt so victorious because I spent what I would've normally for one false-lash wear and got FIVE DIFFERENT PAIRS/FIVE DIFFERENT USES.

Pictured above is the Elf packaging of the discussed package of lashes. This way you'll know what to look for.

Here is a picture of me sporting the Elf lashes. They held all night!!



So, my advice would be, whether you have utilized falsies in the past or not, get out there! Now is the time to find out if you even like them and, for a dollar, where's the harm? Scurry on out to your local Target right now and pick up the lash strips and the glue for a buck!!!!

I RATE THE ELF FALSE EYELASH STRIP SET: A DEAL!!!!!!!!!