JewelBits monthly jewelry subscription box april 2014 review

Hello everyone!



Today I am reviewing another subscription box, this time is a monthly subscription of jewelry called JewelBits. Each month you get 2-3 pieces of jewelry depending on your style selection on their website, you can choose one of three styles of jewelry: Boho Babe, Glam Gal, and Classic Chick.
I chose Boho Babe for my first box because it works best with the way I dress.
So first of all I must say that I am very impressed with their super fast shipping that only took 3 business days, which is amazingly fast for shipping from the US to Canada.

My box arrived in a bubble mailer, I'm impressed with how important it is to JewelBits that all pieces arrive without breaking.

The pretty box the jewelry arrived in!

A thank you note inside the box, how sweet!

Each item came in a little tie bag, I will use these to hold jewelry when I travel!

The first item in my box was this beautiful bracelet, you can't really see but it has tiny rhinestones all around the blue stones

The next piece I received was this beautiful long necklace.

The pendant

I didn't like the length at first but as soon as I put it on, I fell in love!

And the last piece is another necklace

It fits slightly tight around the neck, almost like a collar. It was quite a challenge taking it off because it was hard to find the clasps because it blends so well with the pattern of the necklace

Overall, I am very happy with all the pieces, this box is certainly what I was expecting, and even more! The pieces are so unique and detailed, I have been checking out some jewelry in stores and I haven't seen anything like these pieces I received. The only thing I wish was different is that I was kinda hoping to get earrings or a ring, and in general it would have been nice to get one necklace/ one bracelet/ one ring/ one pair of earrings. But that isn't really that big of a deal.

My first impression of the box is pretty great, I am very impressed with the packaging and the beautiful pieces. I am hooked !!

Get YOUR JewelBits here !

xoxo,

Em



Where to buy the Nars Ita brush in canada

The popular Nars ITA brush is currently sold out on the Nars website. Being a product junkie I decided not to give up on finding it, but still not pay an outrageous amount of money for it (you can buy it on Ebay for $80, ridiculous!), and it turns out I didn't have to look very far.

First of all, NARS came out with a new collection of brushes that apparently is identical to the original ita. However it is not yet available in Canada. A quick Google search led me to the Hudson's Bay website, and to my amazement, they still carry the original ita brush for its original price of 62 CAD. I ordered mine yesterday and it was shipped this morning. So yes, its real, and its in stock!

Get yours here
You're welcome :)

Mac Playland collection lipsticks reviews and swatches on lips

MAC cosmetics has launched their new collection for spring ! I got the email on Monday morning and couldn't help but get ALL the lipsticks from the new collection, the campaign looks absolutely beautiful, cute, colorful, and happy I just couldn't resist!
The collection will be available in stores 4/17

Swatches swatches swatches!!

Left to right: Sweet Experience, Playland, Happy Go Lucky, Toying Around, Head In The Clouds, Red Balloon

Sweet experience is a beautiful soft pink in the Amplified finish, I love light pinks like these one, however the combination and the finish make every little imperfection show,so remember to exfoliate your lips and applying a thin layer of moisturizer/clear lip balm before applying this color (I recommend Baby Lips by Maybelline).

PlayLand is the most interesting lipstick color I've ever seen (and the signature color of this collection), I was very hesitant to purchase it, on the website it look like a mustard yellow color (doesn't sound very appealing especially when I picture it on my lips), so I thought I will get it anyway for mixing purposes only, when it arrived today I was amazed, and in love. This lipstick is a beautiful shimmery GOLD with a frost finish. This color is a tool to endless possibilities, you can mix it with other shimmer lipsticks or use it as a top coat to add some gold shine to any lip color, or do an ombre lip. (it will look oh so amazing on top of Ruby Woo or Russian Red). I am so glad I got it ! It is gorgeous, see for yourself:

Happy Go Lucky is a lovely Fuschia lipstick in the Amplified finish, it is so similar to so many other shades (Pink Poodle, Lickable, Girl About Town) yet so different. There is something about it that just stands out to me, and I can't put my finger on what it is, it's just so pigmented and bright, it just gives that pop of color to your lips. I own Pink Poodle and lickable, but I know I will be using Happy Go Lucky more than the others. It's just so irresistible and I don't even know why.

Toying Around this is an Amplified coraly orangy-red. This color is so unique I can't think of any other Mac shade that is a close dupe. I was thinking Vegas Volt at first but when I swatched it I saw that it is more red than Vegas. There is nothing like it, I truly adore this lipstick.

Up next is another color I was hesitant to purchase, thinking "ugh... another red, I have a million reds already" and I only added it to my cart just to have all the lipsticks in this collection. Head In The Clouds is a shimmery red in the Frost finish. Frost is my least favorite finish because I like my lipsticks to be opaque and Frosts just make me feel like I am wasting product because I tend to apply so much of it to make the color show. To my surprise, this lipsticks is very pigmented! The shimmer in it, to my surprise, gives a very classy look. It's a classic red with a twist! It slightly reminds me of Rihanna's Viva Glam, but this one just has so much more color. Love love love!

Lastly, the Amplified Red Balloon is a stunning reddish-magenta color. A beautiful color for the season. It is also very unique and I can't think of other Mac colors that would be considered dupes. It is a very warm berry tone, a combination of pink and red. I can see myself wear it a lot in the summertime with neutral eyeshadow for that bold lip look. I like!

Overall I am very impressed with this collection, the colors are beautiful and bright, and this summer is going to be all about bright make up. I love them all, if you don't have any similar lipsticks to these I would highly recommend checking them out. And if you consider yourself on the more adventurous and daring side and feel very comfortable with color, I suggest you to get PlayLand , get creative with it and experiment!

Thank you all for reading.

xoxo

Em.

Best places to shop for baby and kids clothing + coupons, sales and deals!

Hello all,




One of the funnest parts about being a mom is shopping for your little one. I shop for Jellybean A LOT, but I donèt spend a lot of money, as I only shop during sales and promotions. So if you have a little one, are expecting, or planning to shop for someone else who is. Here is a list of the best places to shop for clothes for kids and babies: (the list is based on quality for price, so the top shops on the list may not necessarily be the cheapest, but have the best quality for value)

1. H&M
Their quality for the price is great, especially when it comes to babies, they don't have a lot of sales going on but their prices are already low as is, the garments are well made, although I wish the selection was bigger but usually it isn't a challenge to find cute and fashionable styles for little boys and girls.
Sales and promotions:

• Sign up for their newsletter and receive 20% off your entire purchase:   https://www.hm.com/ca/newsletter

2. Old Navy
I love how they have a huge baby and kids sections. Their prices are great and so is the quality of the clothes, if you are looking for cute casual clothing for little ones at a good price, Old Navy is a great place to shop. Their price range is between $5-$20 and they always seem to be having good deals.
Sales and promotions:

• 15% off your entire purchase online with coupon code: ONSHOP
• Earn $10 for every $25 you spend in SuperCash coupons to redeem between 4/27-5/3 in stores and online.

3. The Children's Place

This store has a huge selection of lovely kids and baby clothes (although I think they have a little too many printed tops with tacky glittery prints for girls, but that's a matter for preference) and they have sales ALL THE TIME so you're never really paying full price for anything. Their end of season sales are amazing! I got a snowsuit for next winter for Jellybean for only $15 dollars. It's always best to shop for next year or even years ahead during their crazy end of season sales.

Sales and promotions:

• 20% of everything or 25% off when you spend $60 or more or 30% off when you spend $75 or more + free shipping. Use coupon code DISCOUNT3
• Up to 20% off swimwear and accessories on selected styles.
• Extra 40% off select spring clearance styles.

4. Target

I only shop at Target for baby basics: Onesies and socks. The one-pieces come in packs of 2, 3, or 4. They have a big variety of long and short sleeve onesies all year long, from a variety of brands. Note: The Gerber onesie packs run VERY small and shrink when you wash them, I recommend going a size up. All onesie packs cost no more than $12 which is an amazing deal especially if you get a pack of 4 one-piece bodysuits. Socks come in packs of 6 pairs and are super cute! Cost no more than $10. Target is the way to go for onesies, socks, undershirts, and underwear for babies and kids!

Sales and promotions:

• None, the prices are already reduced to the floor.

5. The Gap

I love gap's kids and baby collections, the quality of their clothes is over the top, the prices are on the higher side but it's totally worth your money, they also have frequent sales. I bought a beautiful velvet dress for my daughter, I didn't see anything like it anywhere and it was 40% off so I got it for a great price. I like shopping at the gap once in a while when I want something more a little more dressy and unique.

Sales and promotions:

• 30% off your entire purchase online only use code GAPSPRING

6. Gymboree

Gymboree carry super cute clothes for the little ones, they tend towards the dressy style but also carry basics and accessories, I like how they constantly come out with new collections however they are quite pricy. I only shop at Gymboree when they have sales. Once or twice a year they have a 12.99 and under sale on everything in the store. But usually when these sales happen their most popular styles are sold out and finding sizes can be quite a pain.

Sales and promotions:

• Currently EVERYTHING on their website and in stores is 14.99 and under. I believe it will drop to 12.99 eventually but now is a good time to stock up on pretty suits and dresses because sizes go fast !

7. Wal-Mart

Wal-mart is actually pricy for baby clothes. At wal mart you will be spending up to $15 per onesie or top/bottoms. I only bought one Hello Kitty onesie only because it was super cute (and I am a huge HK junkie!) so if you like licensed clothing for your kids Wal Mart is the best for that, however its quite pricy compared to the Children's place or Target.

Sales and promotions:

•  None.

8. Zara

Zara's clothing is very trendy and absolutely adorable if you want to have a little fashionista! They always have the trendiest styles for both children and adults and are inspired but the runways of the biggest designers (often accused of ripping them off), but recently Zara's quality went down while their prices are still up there. (I used to work at a Zara store, so heartbreaking to see it go downhill). But if you have some extra cash to spare on a luxury kids outfit for a formal occasion, go for it! Their sales are very rare as well (even when Men's and Women's clothing is on sale the baby and kids sections are still at regular price) and when they do happen it still doesn't feel like you're getting a good deal. Don't get me wrong I love their designs but the price for quality value is just too much, and being on mat leave I definitely won't spend that much on items my daughter will only wear once or twice before she grows out of it.

Sales and promotions:

• None at the moment

Ebay/Kijiji lots:

Personally I'm not into these but I know many moms who are! If you don't mind used baby and children's clothes I highly recommend Kijiji or Ebay lots. The good thing about those is that you can get LOTS of clothes for very cheap, the downside is that sometimes they don't show all the items so it's like buying a cat in a bag, also some things might be stained, damaged, or look very worn so I personally try to avoid lots and used clothes, it all depends on where and who you buy from and how detailed the description is, I suggest asking the seller many questions about the items and ask for more pictures. And if you end up with items you don't like or need you can always donate them :)
















Thank you all for reading,
Em

MAC by request lipstick review and swatches on lips

Mac cosmetics gave the fans a chance to vote for their favorite lipstick and eyeshadow shades from the 90's and brought them back for a limited time (limited quantities and online only, so I had to grab me some as soon as I received the email!!)

I only purchased the lipsticks since I have way too many eyeshadows already. I did not purchase the red lipstick in Glam.

Here are the photos of Pink Poodle and Hoop:

Swatch on arm with flash

 

No flash

 

On lips, with flash

 

No flash

 

 

Hoop swatch on arm no flash

With flash

 

On lips with flash



 

No flash

 

 

 

Overall thoughts: I do like both lipsticks, I usually don't like shiny, glossy finishes but Pink Poodle has just the right amount of shine, I also like the blue-ish tone it has, it is a very pretty lipstick and I will definitely wear it. Hoop is a beautiful light pink with a tiny hint of coral, it is very creamy with a matte finish that will look beautiful with any skin tone.

Mac's Lickable and Girl About Town are very similar to Pink Poodle. Hoop also has many similar shades by Mac.

I like both lipsticks a lot but I wouldn't say they are must-haves. I do not regret purchasing them however if I missed the online sale I wouldn't have been heartbroken either.

 

 

Until next time,

Em.

 



Unmentionably Cheeky / UmCheeky subscription April 2014 review

Hello all!
Today I am reviewing a monthly subscription bag of.... panties!!

First of all, why I subscribed:
After I had Jellybean I obviously grew in size, so I decided to look for an affordable monthly subscribction box of panties, because I didn't feel like buying expensive Victoria's Secret underwear since I didn't plan on staying this size for very long. (Luckily you can easily change your size on the website!) Besides, who has time to shop for panties when you have a newborn to take care of?!
6 months later I am still a happy subscriber and looking forward to my UmCheekies in the mail every month !

What it is: A monthly subscribction of two different pairs of paties.
How much: $7 USD (the price went up a dollar 2 months ago  due to an increase in shipping costs in the US.
Shipping: Free US shipping. International shipping is $5 USD (I reside in Canada but for some reason am not charged the international shipping fee, and I'm sure not complaining!)
To subscribe: http://panties.umcheeky.com/subscribe/


Here are the photos of what I got in this month's bag:

And one with flash to show the lace details

Overall thoughts: I really love what I get every month, so far I only receieved one double (not in the same bag), but I really don't mind. I love how everythig is nicely folded and wrapped in the pruple paper with the gold sticker, which gives it a boutique-like feel and makes the unwrapping so much more fun and exciting. The colors and styles are always different (I got black ones more than once but the styles were different every time, you can never have enough black panties anyway!), the panties are super comfy and are great quality for the price! The shipping is unbelievably fast for something going from the US to Canada.

The value is great for what you get, I don't regret subscribing for a second and I reccomend it for everyone!

What can be better: I wish that once in a while they sent a multicolored pair instead of solid colors all the time.

It would also be awesome if they had a men's boxers subscription too or a couples one with matching colors or something similar.

Rating: 5/5. Subscribe! You won't regret it!

Xoxo,

Em

Introduction

Hello all!

This is my first non-private blog. I decided to start one because I am a very opinionated, obsessive shopper and an internet addict. I research EVERYTHING before I buy it and look up reviews and prices of dosens of products on a daily basis, unfortunately some the products I am interested in do not have enough reviews or answer my questions online (especially baby stuff and household products). Being a mom I try to only purchase the best products I can find for myself and my family, at the best price (I am a HUGE deal hunter). I shop a lot, but I don't spend a lot of money (being on mat leave and all, gotta be thrifty!).
So yes, this is another one of those review blogs. And yes, there will be MANY beauty and skincare product reviews (what girl doesn't like makeup?) but I will also try to include all other sorts of reviews.

And of course pictures of kittens. Lots of kittens. No blog is a good blog without kittens.
Here are mine: Mal and Val

 

xoxo,
Em.