Walkers On Aisle 7 (Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Mall)

So...this happened...


Credit: al.com

And all I could think of was this (turn your sound down. It's ...weird):


Credit: youtube

The first video was taken at a Wal-Mart in my home town. In fact, it's the Wal-Mart where I generally shop. The only reason--and I do mean only--that I was not there for this Black Friday massacre is that I was at another location closer to my house. The second is from AMC's The Walking Dead, and really makes me think that the zombie apocalypse is already upon us, and we just haven't noticed.

Yes. Yes, I went into the fray on Black Friday Eve (formerly known as Thanksgiving). It's not something I've ever done before, but Thomas and I have been looking to replace the prehistoric television (it's a box!) in our bedroom for some time, and Wally World was rumored to have one in the perfect size for the perfect price. It was kind of a now or never type of deal. There is no way I would have ever attempted to brave the store otherwise.

I can honestly say that I've never experienced anything like it, and I've worked Black Fridays in both a mall coffee shop and a New York chocolate boutique, not to mention a major department store. You could barely move inside the store. The aisles were filled with palettes of items to be sold only at specified times, and the few clear bits of aisle were taken up by people waiting in lines for those items. Periodically, uniformed officers would sweep those aisles to prevent impatient folks from tearing into the plastic wrap and taking what they wanted before the sales event began. They also served as armed guards for the poor employees who had to deliver the palettes to the floor. The actual departments within the store were roped off with caution tape, forming makeshift Disneyland queues through ladies' pajamas and produce. On top of that, all around, exhausted shoppers were sitting or lying on the floor, resting, while protecting their precious packages. I alsmost ran over one with a cart. It wasn't even my cart. I was just trying to squeeze past it, and didn't see a man slumped on the ground beside it.

The employees were wonderful, helpful, and even patient, but the patrons were anything but. I was stepped on, yelled at, and tugged on, and that was just trying to walk past the shoe section. I grasped onto Thomas' hand, just so we could stay together in the ebb and flow of the crowd. When we finally figured out where our queue began, we were issued a ticket for our item. On the ticket was the number 7 in a circle. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for that, but all we could figure was that was Wal-Mart shorthand for being in the Seventh Circle of Hell.

We got our TV. We even got to pay for it, even though that was another hour of trying to decipher where the lines began, and where they split apart again. The entire ordeal was a nightmare, even without the Romero reenactment.

The next morning, I picked my mother and brother up for our traditional 6AM Black Friday shopping at the mall. There was almost no one there. I walked into Bath and Body Works, and was at the counter within five minutes. The first 200 people at Customer Service received gift bags, and I was able to mosey up to the desk and get one. I honestly only did that to kill some time waiting on Mom to check out at Hollister. JCPenney's had some long lines, but the people in them were in good spirits and were polite and patient. What used to be the time for the "crazies" to fight it out over toasters and trinkets has now become, dare I say, quaint. Rising before dawn for Doorbusters is downright sweet, these days.

You know what? You can keep your camping out at Best Buy and your 10pm Wal-Mart zombie attacks. Who needs Midnight openings when you can enjoy a well-earned Turkey coma? I'll just stick to being quaint, thank you.

Frugal Friday and Some Heavenly High Heels

A favorite blog of mine is The Erin O'Brien Owner's Manual for Human Beings (God, I love that title). Today, Ms. O'Brien posted a picture of her Valentine's gift: a chocolate high-heeled shoe, filled with gourmet truffles. The mere fact that such a thing even exists makes the world seem a little brighter.

This polka-dotted, treat-filled pump (available in dark or milk chocolate) is roughly one pound of chocolaty deliciousness, and can be yours for $39.95. Not really feeling into the whole "Cinderella's lost slipper" vibe? Pick up a pair (delivered in the most adorable tissue-lined shoebox!) for $76.95. In case you're wondering, yes, they are life-sized, but no, I would not recommend wearing them. Of course, that is one way to get around having to share...

Photo Credit (All): Sweet Designs Chocolatier

Want to read more from the delightful Erin O'Brien? Her new book, The Irish Hungarian Guide To the Domestic Arts, is available on Amazon for $14.00. While you wait for the beautifully-written hilarity to arrive, check out her blog for an oasis of intelligent humor in this increasingly crass cyber-world.

And now, it's time for some Frugal Friday deals!

Disney Store: Use code HAPPY25 for 25% off any Parks merchandise through 2/20/12.

Smashbox: Enter the code SMASH25 for $25 off any $100 purchase. Ends 2/19/12.

Old Navy: Save 15% off any online order, or 25% off any online order of $100 or more with code ONSAVEBIG. Ends 2/20/12.

MAC Cosmetics: Free shipping on any online order through 2/20/12. No code necessary.

Victoria's Secret: Free 3pc. travel bag set with any $45 in-store Beauty purchase. Expires 2/17/12.

Have a wonderful weekend!

It's Over! It's Finally Over!

Photo Credit: Someecards.com

Today is a wonderful, amazing, brilliant holiday. It marks nine months and eight days until we have to deal with another round of those God-awful jewelry commercials! Seriously, if I have to hear that, "Every Kiss Begins With Kay" (Yay! You can spell!), or that, "he went to Jared" (which we don't even have within a driveable distance), or see Jane Seymour's wonky Z-shaped heart-butt abomination one more time, I may have to pelt their offices with rotten Edible Arrangements, or have FTD deliver some dead roses.

I'm so sick of these materialistic commercials. For me, Valentine's is about showing appreciation for all the loves in your life--not about going into debt trying to quantify your affection. My Valentine's plans? A home-cooked dinner, a fancy homemade dessert, and some snuggling on the couch. It's about being together; not about diamonds, roses, or reservations.

So, to celebrate this blessed occasion, here are some fun deals on goodies for all my lovely little valentines out there. I adore you all! Have a fantastic day!

Old Navy: Save 14% off anything today with the code ONLOVE.

Dressbarn: Free Shipping today on orders $14 and over. No code needed.

Smashbox: Free Precision Liner with any purchase until 5pm ET. $20 value, and no code needed.

E.L.F.: Free Shipping on orders $14 and over with the code FSLOVE.

BeautyMint: Get $20 off a 4-piece system with the code VAL20. (exp. 2/15)

Aeropostale: Take 14% off anything (except clearance and fragrance) with the code 14VDAY.

DuWop: Save 14% sitewide. No code needed. (exp. 2/19)

TooFaced: Take 15% off your entire purchase with the code VDAYLOVE12.

Frugal Friday: Work In Progress

Happy Friday!!! Here are your deals and steals o' the day!

Smashbox: Now through Sunday, you can take $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with the code SWEETDEAL. Offer not valid in conjunction with other promotions.

Victoria's Secret: In stores, through Feb. 2nd, you can get a PINK minidog with any PINK purchase. Starting Jan. 23rd, you can also snag one with any PINK online purchase, using the code PINKLOVE. Just make sure you add the little fella to your order first.

Wet Seal: Hurry for this one! 20% off your entire order UNTIL 3PM PST!!!

Today's post is more of a heads up than anything else. I'm in the process of testing out the Real Techniques makeup brushes by Pixiwoo's Samantha Chapman, but I haven't been able to locate all the brushes in the set, so the review is forthcoming, but not ready to go at this particular point in time. It appears they're only available at Ulta here in the States, and mine stays sold out of them. Go figure.

I didn't want to buy a new set of brushes. I really didn't. I've been using E.L.F. for so long, and I dearly love them, but I needed to have a set devoted solely to movie/stage makeup (it's absolutely no fun to have to cart your own, personal set of brushes to and from set. They can get lost, stepped on, broken...did I mention lost? It's nerve-wracking). I decided to donate that set to the cause and give these a shot. I'd watched the Pixiwoo girls use them for a while, and was impressed with the on-camera results.

Anyway, this isn't the review, but I have had the opportunity to test out four of the brushes, and have been extraordinarily pleased with both the quality and the results. Plus, with each brush (that isn't in a collection) running between $5 and $10, with a buy one get one 50% off sale, the price point is comparable to E.L.F.'s.

So, like I said, this isn't the review, but I knew a few of you out there had to be in the market for brushes. Now you can be on the lookout for the review and a breakdown of each brush. Hope that helps some.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Worth No Sleep and Crazy Crowds: Stila Glitz and Glam Palette

A few weeks ago, I found myself impulse buying a makeup palette. This, for the record, is not something I generally do. I'm a research, look at it, hem and haw, look at it again, research some more, justify the heck out of it, and eventually go back and get it, if it's still there and has gone on sale kind of girl. However, this was just too good to pass up: a Stila mini palette with four plummy shadows, neutral blush, highlighter, and full-sized lip glaze for $14. How could that get any better?!
It could go on sale for $10. That's how.

Figures. Anyhoo, the Stila Glitz and Glam palette is part of Sephora's Black Friday sale, and I'm going to cut to the chase and recommend it. I've used mine several times and received some really nice compliments. That's the short. Here's the long:

Packaging: The palette is constructed of heavy-duty cardboard (think: Golden Book) and opens to reveal a small mirror and instruction guide on one side, and products on the other. The entire setup is the size of my DROID, and fits neatly in a purse. Lip Glaze packaged separately in a click pen. I hate click pens, but that's just me.

The four shadows are large, and blush and highlighter are similar in size to a CoverGirl compact. My only gripe is that the blush and darker shadows are so close together that I have accidentally ended up with purple cheeks, so be careful. 7 out of 10.

Products: The shadows (champagne, rose gold, plummy fawn, and dark grape) are sheer, but nicely pigmented and silky, and work together beautifully. There is some shimmer, but not enough glitter to make this too teenybopper or inappropriate for the workplace. Heck, I wore these to church last week and got more compliments there than anywhere else.

The blush (dusty rose) is also very sheer, and pale as I am, I have to pile it on. However, the built up color is stunning. The highlighter is colorless, but imparts a subtle sparkle to applied areas.
Lastly, the raisin lip glaze, while my least favorite of the group due to it's stickiness, is a lovely deep crimson that can be applied lightly or deepened, depending on the occasion. The overall effect of the set is sophisticated and elegant. 8 out of 10.

Wearability: Overall, this is a gorgeous set, but you will need to do a bit more than the included directions let on. Obviously, you'll need foundation and powder, but I'd also recommend a black or deep purple shadow liner, top and bottom, and black mascara, top and bottom. I also like to add a little contouring to my cheek bones with a light bronzer.

With or without the additions, this is an immensely wearable set; appropriate enough for holiday parties or Christmas Mass. The colors also work well alone. You're getting a lot for your tenner, that's for sure. 9 out if 10.

Final Verdict: 8.7. You'd be crazy to pass this up.

UPDATE: These are super sheer, so they don't show up too well on camera, sorry to say. That, and I suck at photography. Also, sorry to say. From left to right: Glitz (good luck finding it), Glam, Glitter, Glow, Amore blush, and Illuminate highlighter (again, good luck finding it). 

Recessionistas and Urban Cowboys

I refuse to get into politics on this site (or any other, for that matter), but there's no getting around the fact that the economy has gone down the proverbial toilet. Every penny counts these days, so today's post is brought to you, in part, by savings.com. They have a wonderful list of ways to save and/or reuse old cosmetics and makeup tools. 

1. Use one of your old smaller makeup brushes to clean off nail polish on your skin when doing a manicure. Just dip it in a little bit of acetone and wipe around the edges of your nails.
2. Got a bunch pigments and lipglosses that you don't use anymore? Try blending them together in a small pot to make your own custom colored lipglosses. You can also clean up old lipgloss wands and use them as an applicator.
3. Instead of throwing away old mascara, wash the brushes thoroughly and use them to tame unruly eyebrow hairs or to separate and clumped up eyelashes.
4. Save broken face powders and powder blushes and use them as loose powders. If you've dropped your compact, or even worse it cracks and gets all over your purse, save what's left of it in a small container. As long as you have a brush, you can still use it as loose powder.
5. If your foundation doesn't match your skin tone, you can mix a little bit of it in your moisturizer or body lotion to give it a slight tint. Also, if the foundation is slightly darker than your skin tone, you can use it as a contour shade on your cheek bones to give it some more definition.
6. If you've bought a conditioner that just wasn't cutting it for your hair, keep it on hand to reuse as a shaving cream. It works just as well and moisturizes your skin as you shave.
7. Try using eyeshadow to temporarily touch up roots. Spray your hair with a little bit of hairspray then pat on eyeshadow on the roots. Browns help cover up gray hair and gold, shimmery colors work with blondes.  --From savings.com

Those are brilliant. There also common sense enough to make me kick myself over some of the stuff I've thrown out. 

Alrighty! Today's dip into the old magic bag o' samples brought out Urban Decay's Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Midnight Cowboy. And yes, before you ask, the first thing I thought of was, in fact, John Travolta. 

According to Urban Decay:

Get hooked on shine, without the sticky hangover. Lip Junkie features a soft, luxe texture, stay-put shades and tastes like wedding mints. Addicted yet?
You want a super-shiny gloss, but can't stand the sticky texture, right? Wait till you feel the soft, cushiony texture of this gloss! Lip Junkie stays put longer than other glosses, but never feels gummy or gooey. It comes in a range of pretty amazing shades (if we do say so ourselves), and the color payout is amazing. Take your pick from sheer pretty neutrals, kick-ass brights, or glimmering near-black. And the flavor? Think yummy wedding mints... a sweet mint with a little zing that makes breath feel fresh. 

Photo Credit: Urban Decay

Midnight Cowboy is a neutral beige with a ton of silver sparkle, which gives your lips a frosted nude look. Personally, I love it. I think it's a gorgeous gloss, and one of the few nudes I can actually wear and not look like a cadaver. It's not sticky, but it is a little tacky. I can live with that, but I wouldn't recommend showering your significant other with kisses while you have this on. The gloss is mildly plumping (they recommend a month of daily use for full effectiveness), and has a pleasant, cooling tingle. The vanilla mint flavor is yummy, and helps freshen breath--though not enough to toss out your Tic Tacs. Mine main gripe is that I had trouble with too much coming out of the tube. Granted, this was a sample, but the full-sized tube uses the same application method. All in all, this is a beautiful gloss with some extra perks, and not a bad investment at $19. Available at Urban Decay and Sephora.

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. Nicely nude and sweetly sparkly.