The Five Item Fix

Hellloooooooooo my lovely budget babes!!!!!!

I don't know about all of you out there reading this, but for some reason this particular weekend really got me alllllll stoked for the fun and festivities on weekendry. Y'know like sleeping in, laying out by the pool, taking leisurely walks, and enjoying a few adult beverages with just the tinnnieest garnish of lime.

Okay so maybe that last part is just me, but hey.....And seriously though, you should try the lime it makes all the difference.

MOVING ON. So there I am on Saturday after several quick dips in the pool. My husband opens the cupboards and we realize something is terribly, horribly awry.

We're out of snack foods!!! Now, as we all know, that is just completely unacceptable. So five minutes later I'm in my car on the hunt for snack foods.

I guess the quest for food really had gotten me all fired up because I hadn't taken any time to actually LOOK at my reflection at any point during the whole "getting ready" process. By the time I finally did flip my mirror open, I was quite literally in my vehicle parked at a red light. I....can't....even.....tell you....how....bad....it....was.

I had huge red bags under my eyes from the chlorine, my eyebrows were pointing in every direction, and to top it all off there was some old lip product bleeding every which way around my mouth. I kinda resembled this.

Thank goodness I always have a makeup emergency kit on hand that helps me out in a pinch like this one. I was able to remedy the situation fairly quickly and move along about my mission for eats.

Anyways it got me thinking about how often we've all been there. Not enough time to stop by the house but have somewhere to be NOW. So I compiled a video for you viewers out there, going over what I have in my emergency kit. Since I only carry five products, I know that it keeps the cost very low. However, these low-cost items pack big-time results as evidenced at the very end of the video, so stay tuned till the bitter end.

OOOO and also I should warn you guys in advance that next weekend I probably won't be posting anything at all. That is because I am on my anniversary trip with my man. Yep, we got married on St. Pattys day. LOL. So I'll be back to resume my duties in posting the following weekend. Thank you guys sooooooo much for continuing to read (I just saw the blog count is up to 2900!!!!). I think I may actually do a dance when we hit 3,0000. Oh!! And let me know how you are liking the videos too. Are they helpful?! Do you have requests? We want to hear from you guys!!

XOXOXOX

Until Next Time,

Elegant Emergency Elimination

----ELIZ

Dollar Daze

Heyyyyaaa!!!!

I hope all you awesome readers out there are having a perfectly fannntastic Sunday funday :)

For me, as a twenty-something married lady with groceries to buy and bills to pay, most of my Sunday adventures typically consist of LOTS of laundry, dishes, and mayyybbee (if I'm feeling extra luxurious) a rented redbox movie. Being on a budget, and being a beauty lover can be SOOO hard. I have to physically restrain myself from entering places like Ulta on the weekends...or else this would surely result

And let's be honest, it doesn't help to have Pinterest telling you how this or that product will channnggee your freaking life if you just plonk down the $54.00 purchase price. Holy cow man!!

The best feeling in the world to me is spending a teennnyy bit of money and ending up with a product that I would honestly stack against the high-enders, quality-wise. I've actually had lots of luck at places like Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar when buying beauty. I won't tell you that the purchases don't make me feel a litttllleee like this

Not to mention, there are sooo many brands being offered at those types of stores now!! It's truly incredible. Check out me video below, and I'll tell (and show) you my faves :)

Until next time,

Dapper Dollar Daze

XOXO

Eliz

Black-Eyed Beauty

Hey gals!!!

Today I just wanted to do a quick lil post on a trend I've seen pretty much EVERYWHERE in the makeup world lately. It seems like every place I turn, models/actresses/slash(ctresses) are wearing BLACK EYESHADOW!!!!

Now I know what you're thinking...."Ummmmm yah no. Not for me. No way, no how. That would look awful on me."

Wanna know how I guessed your immediate reaction so accurately my dear readers??!! Because mine was exactly the same when I first spotted the trend. I just quickly decided it wasn't for me because A) it required such perfection in application and B) I thought it would look waayyyyy too heavy for my usually-subtle makeup style.

But finally, my curiosity and an idle Saturday with nothing to do  got the better of me. Then, before I knew it I was whipping out the black eyeshadow faster than I could say "holy bad idea batman!"

As you could've probably guessed by the tone of this story, the first attempt and the ninty five attempts after the first one turned out pretty flippin' disastrously.

The goal, initially, was to get some kind of a makeup look that resembled this:

 

And, instead, at the end of all my efforts, I always ended up looking more like this

 

 



It was seriously horrific. But, as with every good experiment, you just have to keep going until you get the right recipe. Finally, I came up with this makeup look using black eyeshadow. I'm pretty pleased with it!!

 



I figured I'd share the way I achieved this look with all you readers out there. Here is the video instruction

 

 

Let me know what looks you guys want to see next!! Until next time, beautiful black eyeshadow buzzing!!



Drugstore Delights

Hey girlies!!! I hope that each and every one of you is taking some much-needed, quality time away from work and enjoying your p & q (peace and quiet.) I know I have been!!!!

As most of you readers already know, I'm a HUGE fan of eyeshadow. I mean, I seriously LOVE it!!!! It, in my opinion, is the one element of a woman's makeup that can COMPLETELY translate the look she's going for.

EXAMPLE:

Want a daytime look? Stick to neutrals, browns, and taupe colors and you can't miss.

From: Get Ready With Me Date Night Video

http://youtu.be/rg6xpPbCJvQ

Want to look nighttime ready? Add a little black and some smoldering eyeliner and it's a total hit!!!

From: Inexpensive Smokey Eye Video

http://youtu.be/GBH4aoajZVo

 

 

Eyeshadow just takes a woman's makeup from here to there so easily. It's...dare I say...magical?!

 

 



 

 

Eyeshadow is probably my WORST Achilles heel in the makeup aisle too. I'm such a sucker for all the beautiful colors and palettes. Whenever I go to the makeup aisle, and start browsing around the new colors companies are launching, I MIIIGGGHHHTTT look a little something like this

 

And then when I get home, experimenting with all those shadows and seeing what I think, I MIGGGHHTTT feel a little something like this:

 

 

I had written some time ago about how disappointed I am with MANY of my drugstore eyeshadow purchases. Here is a compilation of several compaints I've had, over the years, with verying drugstore eyeshadow palettes:

 

COMPLAINTS:

 

*Too powdery/chalky

*Not pigmented

*Color from palette does not translate

*Too expensive for a drugstore purchase and NO performance for the money

*Cute packaging/awful performance

*Not long-lasting at ALL!!

*No color range offered

 

 

This inspired me to do a video using eyeshadow palettes I DO enjoy that I bought from drugstore makeup brands. Now, to be fair, several of these palettes I got at Big Lots...but they are ELF and Profusions brands which can be purchased at any drugstore/Target. And besides...I kind of consider Big Lots a drugstore (ish) kind of place :)

 

 

Anyways, here is the video about the palettes that I love and I hope that it helps you guys out so you can avoid the same eyeshadow mistakes of MY past!!!

 

 



 

Until next time, darling drugstore deals!!!!

 

-Eliz

 



Happy Valentines Day From Us to You :)

Hey Gals!!!!

I'm really hoping your Valentines day was super awesome this year!!!! If you don't choose to celebrate this holiday, than hopefully your lovely selves were just enjoying the weekend and loving being off work!!

I, myself, was rushing around like a chicken with it's head cut off to get ready for Valentines dinner with my someone special. I realized afterward that several of you were probably doing the same.

I filmed this video of my easy-to-do and as always budget friendly makeup look and I hope you guys enjoy!!

Thank you guys so much for continuing to support our blog, and the YouTube channel. We can't possibly tell you how much it means. As always, please let us know how we can help Y-O-U out with any beauty questions/requests!!

P.S. Thinking of doing an underrated drugstore makeup video. Thoughts???!!

XOXOXOXOX

Until Next Time,
Valiant Valentines Vixxing :)

Girls in white Shadows with Thick Black(ey) Lashes....Lipstick and Blushes that Twinkle and Flashes...Great Deals and Discounts with nooo Strings...These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Okay...okay I'm so sorry for that title....but

#1. I love me some word-play

AND

#2. My mom is a music teacher

This should explain everything pretty clearly for you all. 

Not to make mention of the fact that every single time I go to a makeup aisle and hit some crazy sale I'm all like:

It's pretty much the best...thing...ever. I am definitely going to talk about ALL my February favorites soooonnn (I'm thinking as early as next weekend) but for right now I wanted to talk about a look I've been wanting to create forever.

Here is a photo I've been obsession over for months.

 

 

 

Does this girl look fantastic or WHAT??!! I mean seriously she looks amazing!! I love it how they just accentuated her features and didn't make the makeup look so cultivated and slaved-over. She just looks natural and gorgeous and beautiful :) I love it!! I also can't stop thinking about that tiny little pop of color they put right near the outer v to make the look have a little something-something.

 

So I've kinda been trying to find products I thought would help me achieve a similar look and here is what I found!!

 

 

Brulee--Wet N Wild--.99

 

Just as the model did, I used a light creamy shadow to put all along the eyelid. The one I chose was LESS THAN  A DOLLAR and is super pigmented (as you can see here)

 

 

 





Panther--Wet N Wild---.99

 

This is the shade I used to define the outer-V of my eye and make everything really pop. It's an absolutely amazng matte black color for only .99!!!! Seriously will use again and again and again...

 

 

 

Sun Safari Quad--Rimmel---$2.50

 

I found this adorable quad with that perfect peachy coral-tinted, bronze look it looks the model was sporting here in a Rimmel quad called sun safari. I love this quad and I'm sure it will come in very handy in spring and summer. Not to mention....coppers are IN baby :)

 

 

#17 Rimmel Lipstick---Kate Line----$3.50

 

After much looking (and I do mean MUCH) I finally found that perfect blush color lipstick it looks like the model is sporting iin the photo. This lipstick has the perfect amount of pink and rose---not too little and not too much!!

 

 

I think I had pretty good success with my own look after all was said and done:

 











Sorry the lighting is terrible :(

 



 



I actually had an epiphany when doing this nice, light makeup that it would be super perfect for prom looks for younger girls too! So I made this youtube video to coincide!! Hope you guys enjoy!!

 

Rave Review; Profusions Pallet in Go Glam

Hey you guys!!! I swear I didn't fall off the face of the earth :) I've been so cerazy busy lately with a million and one things but I could not WAIITT to get home and share my big news with you.

So...as you all know...I friggin LOVE bargain hunting. I mean, seriously, what better way is there to spend your Saturday than finding yourself with a ginormous STEAL on your hands??!!

 

BARGAINS:

 

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE TO NORMAL PEOPLE:

 

WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE TO ME:

 

 

So anyways, there I was at Big Lots on a Saturday. To answer all your unspoken questions: YES it is worth every oddball situation I have incurred there during my loyal, long-standing patronage. I LOVE ME SOME BIGLOTS and I don't care who knows it!!!

 

I wandered over to the cosmetics aisle because....because why the heck not that's why?!

 

I was fumbling through some "loveeelllyy" beauties (insert cynical laughter here).....

 

When I saw something lurking at the bottom of the shelf literally forgotten about and abandoned in a corner.

 

That's when I spotted this lovely eye pallet. First of all can we just stop to appreciate the adorable packaging??!!! I bought a Hard Candy pallet quite some time ago for similar reasons...and...yahhhh...disappointment ensued. I should really stop doing that (insert me laughing silently at realizing this will never ever happen)

 

 

So yah...already there is no way in HECK this thing isn't coming home with me. But the four dollar price tag didn't hurt either.

 

However, when you look inside it's all

 

 

Pallet is upside down from swatches...sorry!

 



 

ZOMG!!!! I didn't get near that color range in my Hard Candy Pallet!!! Seriously this has to be one of my new faves!!!! I'm thinking about doing a blog post about pallets I have loved for less than $5.00 and would recommend to all our readers out there. Thoughts?!!

 

Anyways, moving on, when I got home I instantly had to try out the quality.  I have to say that they are...not...too..shabby.

 

 

I mean, as opposed to many other eyeshadows I've tried for a lesser price (ahem almost every other brand out there...boo on you) these ones are pretty creamy and apply pretty easily. They are also pigmented nicely once you swatch a few times. I mean...just check out these swatches of the first two rows

 

 

And then we have the bottom, green/blue colors which just BLUE my mind. Oh..gosh..I"m sorry I can't turn off the bad puns :)

 

 

As far as full disclosure goes, there are definitely a few duds in the pallete. I mean, as you can see there are three colors that barely even show up. However, when you consider there are 11 others that are MIND BLOWINGLY pigmented for that $4.00 price tag, I mean c'mon!!! That's less than you typically pay for just one color :)

 

 

Here is my youtube vid on the look I created with this pallete. I'm pretty darned proud of it and hope it helps you guys! Please, as always, don't hesitate to request what you want to see next!!

 

 



 



Ten Dollar Makeup Challenge

First of all, let me begin by saying, thank you so much for stopping by on your sacred weekend!! I mean seriously!! I know you guys have such limited, practically non-existent down-time in your busy lives and it means the world to us that you visit our blog in what little relaxation window you have :)

This weekend, I was really thinking about our wonderful readers and wondering what kind of post I could do that would really help you guys out! I must have thought of a million and one diy ideas that MIGHT have been helpful to our readers before I realized..."WAITADARNMINUTE!!!!! I know what every woman could use!!!!"

I can't even tell you guys how many lovely ladies I've conversed with, in previous conversations, who have at one time or another encountered the same awful situation I have: forgetting your makeup bag on a trip OR losing some important, key items. Murphy's law must actually state that it's your MOST EXPENSIVE makeup items that will, inevitably, get lost or destroyed somehow--especially traveling.

So it was with this new epiphany that I decided to challenge myself dear readers. And challenge myself I did. I completed this makeup look...entire face full of beauty products using just (gasp) ten dollars worth of beauty products.

I'll repeat that so that you can let it really sink in. Ten dollars only....for every...single.... makeup product on mah face people.  The only thing I didn't calculate in were my brushes, but I made sure to keep those super cheap too so that if you were truly in a bind the entire thing would cost you LESS than twenty bucks.

If you awesome ladies ever doubt how much I love you, just know that I spent most of my Saturday scouring every budget store in the most dangerous areas of town for this challenge. This was me most of the afternoon.

But seriously it was worth it and I hope you guys love the finished look!!!!

 

Here is my new, snazzy youtube video (with me having wayyyy too much fun with the soundboard/musical loops) to walk you through the process and the products :) Enjoy!!!

 

 



Date Night Gotta Have It

Hey all you lovely ladies!!! I hope that you are having a fantastic, enjoyable weekend perusing around town and just being happy!!

This weekend, my husband I got to do something we rarely ever do...we went on a date night. Typically on the weekends, we relax, do chores, travel a little, and just enjoy being with each other. But last night was the first time in forever where we just said: you know what? Let's do something fun together. And that is exactly what we did!! We went to PF Chang's for dinner and followed it with a late-night showing of Saving Mr. Banks (highly recommend the movie btw...but bring your waterproof mascara :)

I love getting all dressed up for dates with my hubby. It's so fun to be with the same guy for seven years, and still have them say: "wow" when you get you're all dolled up. But getting all made up doesn't mean you have to spend tons on products you may or may not like!!

I included some products I used, for yesterday's date night look, that I feel confident you guys will LOVE and that won't break the bank (I promise!)

Loreal Lumi Foundation in Soft Ivory $12.95

 

Yes, yes I know! $13.00 is a little extreme for a drugstore foundation. But okay hear me out!! First of all there are tons of coupons always floating around in Sunday's paper to make your Loreal purchases a little less hefty on the wallet. Pair that with whichever drugstore chooses to have a special on Loreal products and your set!! I think I got my bottle for maybe $10.00. And it was...seriously..the best $10.00 I've spent in ages.

 

First of all, this is my new holy grail of foundations. It blends so beautifully, and still gives a nice dewey (not matte) finish that makes you look natural and glowing. It just is so radiant and AH how nice it is to FINALLY find a foundation that understands I actually have some yellow-tinting to my skin. I seriously love this foundation and cannot say enough good things about it!!! If you don't already have this...you should :)

 

 



 I love this ELF high definition powder. When I first bought it, several months ago, I opened the top and was greeted by (seriously) a WAFT of a white cloud. I feel like that really threw me off and it went buried never to be used again for several months.

Thankfully, I have our housing move to thank for re-discovering this little gem. I gave it another try and now it is in my arsenal of every-day usage. If you are wondering if this product is a mess to deal with and an even bigger task to clean, the answer it yes. However, this product can easily be remedied by doing what I now do and lining the bottle with some type of a dish cloth so the excess can be easily washed.

Now, onto what I love about this guy. First of all, it only cost me $6.00 for this HUGE tub of powder. Like I said, I've had it for months and been using it every day for two months now and inside (I realize the outside looks like I ran over it five times with my car) the supply looks like it's brand new!! Not to mention, the stuff just WORKS. It minimizes redness, and minimalizes the flaws in your skin--making you look soft and your skin look more finished/polished. Full discretion on this guys---DO NOT use it with flash photography. This powder was made to dupe the Makeup Forever High Definition powder which SEVERAL celebs found themselves the victim of after lovely, flattering photos like these were realeased with them wearing said powder.

 

Aye carrumba!! For some weird reason, it gives awful flashback so DONT DO IT if you know your getting flash photos taken.

 

                                   MAYBELLINE COLOR TATOO BARELY BRANDED

 

The next thing I wanted to talk about was this Ah-MAZING color tattoo product by Maybelline. First of all, I've had my eye on those MAC paint pot thingy's for FOREVER!!!! They are supposed to make your eyeshadows last forever and just be a great color base for every type of look. But at $20.00 a pop I can't really ration that out when that's a 1/4 of my grocery costs for the week.

 

I'd heard this was a great alternative, and for $6.00 I was willing to try it. Seriously you guys...look at that swatch!! It's this beautiful light goldy color that makes your eyeshadows just look incredible!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention...it lasts...all......night. AHH!! So glad I found this!!!!! Apparently this specific shade dupes for one of the MAC Paint Pots too, but I can't attest because (read above about groceries and whatnot)

 

The last, relatively new purchase I made to complete my datenight look yesterday was this

 

 

WET N WILD SINGLE BRULEE

 



You guys all know of my love for Wet N Wild so I will (reluctantly) spare you the details about why the brand just freaking rocks. But can I just for a moment tell you of my sincere joy when I discovered our Walgreens now carries the single colors too. This color, specifically, is amazing for a browbone highlight!! And the best part is it was only .99!!

Here is the video of my whole date night look

So yah I hope you guys enjoy!! Until next time, stay savvy super savers!!

Luscious Lipsticks for 2.00 or Less :)

There are several things we, as women, simply will NOT  leave the house without. These items may include (with slight variation) keys, wallet, some type of a compact, and of course lipstick/lipgloss. In all sincerity, there are so many beauty products you could live without on a day-to-day lipstick. But in my humble opinion...lipstick just aint one of em'.

I mean, seriously, think about it. Your stuck somewhere on a desserted island, coupled with an incredibly cute Tarzan look-alike. You can make yourself look acceptable with just one tube of lipstick or gloss. Need to make your pucker pout? Lipstick. Need some slight coloring on those cheeks? Lipstick. Need a little color in the crease of your eyes or an eyeshadow? Nude lipstick here you come.

Lipstick is just that one product that never goes out of fashion and is always oh-so helpful to have on hand. The only problem is finding colors you like for any type of an acceptable price tag. I mean 25.00 for one tube is pretty extreme!!!!!

Luckily, I was able to find six colors here for only 2.00 or less!!! So give this a whirl and see if it is helpful!! Until next time, luxurious lipstick lollygagging.