If you have not already, soon you will realize that I am a shoe feen so I like to show and review shoes that I deem fabulous. Speaking of fabulous, I think it’s time that I review a subscription company for shoes: JustFab.com. This site has been reviewed by others and is one of many subscription services but opinions are like belly buttons so yes…I have an opinion. I’ve made more than one purchase from JustFab so this review is over a longer period because mishaps don’t happen during the first order necessarily. I made an order on February 15, 2014 and February 18, 2014. Here are where the “mishaps” occur. I was on Instagram and saw a post of a shoe that I was previously not so excited about. The picture changed my mind. I made my purchase for not only the shoe that I saw on Instagram but also a bag and a pair of sandals that I had been lusting over. I have a tendency to not be trusting so I felt the need to check on my order status after two days. When I checked my orders, neither budged from the warehouse. In fact, one of the orders failed fulfillment. I called Justfab to get some insight on why my order failed, (and why I was not notified). The first person I spoke to seemed helpful enough. She claimed the sandal “Gillian” was out of stock (even though it did not say that on the Justfab site) and that’s why my order “failed fulfillment”. She promised that she would get my order out asap with ALL of the items included with rush shipping. I was temporarily comforted and relieved. The next day, I decided to check on my status again. Both of my orders had been cancelled! I was annoyed at this point. I called Justfab again and spoke with another person who told me I had been charged for the cancelled orders but that she could re-order my items and charge my card…again. I was furious so she suggested I wait until I was refunded my money to place the order again. The problem? One of the items I wanted was very low in stock and she added that the item might not be in stock by the time I order again. I was so frustrated at her non-chalant attitude that I hung up. I called back later that night and a very helpful person answered. He listened to my frustrations and promised to take care of everything. He did just that. He put a rush on the order and gave me free rush shipping. The order was at my door in two days. I had combined both orders into one. I am LOVE with the items I got. My experience with Justfab was tricky but the last representative bettered my experience. My shoes and handbag helped as well. Both shoes fit great and the handbag is so classy and versatile. Check out my pics below and let me know how your experience with Justfab has been if you are a member. If you’re not a member, I can send you an invitation if you’re interested. Also, which item do you think is your favorite of my picks this month?
*Update: I was recently informed by a Justfab representative that the rewards program has changed. They no longer offer a credit for a free pair of shoes when you gather enough points. There are knick-knacks that you can choose from instead. I just wanted to pass on that information to all those who are customers and those thinking about becoming customers. Hope this info helps!
Get The Look for Less!
While I love to shop, I like LOVE a good deal even better. Since spring is right around a small corner, I think a spring fashion post is in order. I found some popular styles of shoes and sandals with comparable styles for only a portion of the inspiration style. *Disclaimer: while these shoes may not represent MY personal style, I’m sure these comparisons may help some of you save some of your coins.* Check out the pics below but don’t forget to comment and share your favorite shoe brands!
Spring/Summer 2014 Beauty and Fashion Collaborations
If you are a fashionista, you have no doubt already heard about and seen pics at least of the Peter Pilotto for Target collection. I’ve actually indulged and picked up some of the pieces that tickled my fancy. (I will expose my items later). That being said, I’ve been in anticipation of what other new collections and collaborations will debut in S/S 2014. I did some research and compiled a list that includes beauty and fashion. Mark your calendars for the collections you are most interested in because these types of releases always draw large shopping masses and what you want could go out of stock quickly! Whose collection are you most excited about?
Eating for Healthy Skin in Winter Weather
This winter weather can wreak havoc on our skin and hair. So far, in my area temps have reached a low in the negative of fahrenheit. That, I am NOT a fan of. To combat the frigid temps and to make sure that I don’t look sallow once the spring months come around, I try to take care of my skin and hair. I will be doing a hair regiment soon but for now I will focus on what I do for my skin. Firstly, I eat foods that are high in healthy fats such as avocados and salmon. I prefer wild caught salmon so there is not as much fat as farm raised but it is still a great fish to give the body healthy oils. Also, I incorporate coconut oil when I am cooking. If you are not a fan of coconut oil, try sesame oil. My fav is toasted sesame oil. It tastes great in Asian inspired dishes. The next things that I like to eat are a wide variety of legumes and nuts. My favorite are cashews. Be careful that you don’t eat too many as they are high in calories. I also like egg whites and eggs for omelets in the morning. As a treat, I indulge in oysters. If you are a seafood lover like I am, you will get a great helping of selenium which has great antioxidants that fight to protect the skin from harmful rays. FYI: the sun’s rays are stronger in the summer but the snow can reflect up to 90% of the rays. While we may be covered on our bodies, the face can suffer from the UV rays. Lastly, I like vegetable based smoothies and coconut milk (vanilla flavored) and to keep my hydrated of course water. These help provide nutrients to protect us from the harsh winds and cold that winter a bombard us with. Here is a link for more winter helping foods. I will be doing a natural skin care recipe soon. Stay tuned!
BL Boutique Review
Class and glamour come naturally and definitely describe the online boutique that I made a purchase from recently. I fathomed from the website of BL Boutique and the Instagram page that the owner was a classy lady. This review will explain why I would purchase from this business again. I saw the items that I wanted to try on Instagram and was able to snag a of couple pieces during a sale. The ring I got is a silver toned knuckle ring and the quality is great! It fits perfectly on my fingers and I must warn, my fingers are a bit chunky. For those who might have thinner fingers, you might opt to wear this ring as a thumb knuckle ring. The ring is totally comfortable and feels as if it cradles my finger. I like this because I hate rings that are too tight or I feel like I have to constantly adjust because it’s too big. Bottom line, I genuinely love my ring. The other item in my purchase is a gold toned slave “bracelet”. The bracelet part is made as a cuff. There is a delicate chain that connects the cuff to the ring which is adjustable and made as a ring cuff. All parts of the slave bracelet are pretty sturdy. I like the uniqueness of this piece and I can’t wait to pair it with other bracelets to accessorize my outfit. Now, let’s talk customer service. I have to say that I am more than satisfied. During the sale advertised on Instagram, I went over to make a purchase but the coupon code was not working. I commented on the post that promoted the sale to notify them that the code was not working. Literally within minutes, I received a reply that the “problem” had been fixed. Also, I received my order really fast. Upon opening my package, I noticed a short but very sweet note from the owner. I truly appreciate any connect from owners to the customer base. This note was the icing on the cake for me! I just a made another purchase yesterday and I will definitely make more purchases in the future. If you trust my word, go over to the site. She is having a 70% off EVERYTHING sale. Yes, you read it right: 70% off!! Lol. You won’t be disappointed.
MAC Cosmetics Heroine Lipstick Review
I’m not a cult fan or anything but I happen to like LOVE MAC Cosmetics lip products. In particular, the lipsticks are worth the money every penny. One favorite color that almost every lady that knows of MAC Cosmetics likes is Heroine. It has a lovely matte finish. The color has a cool pink base but is purple in hue. It is definitely W*O*C friendly. I applied one application that lasted for about 5 hours before I would have had to reapply. Unfortunately, I was ready to get in the bed after being out for 5 hours this particular night so all my makeup had a near future of being removed. Lol. Anyhoo, I absolutely am excited that MAC made this color permanent (it had previously come out in a limited edition collection and was being sold for almost body parts on eBay). If you are looking for a great color and are feeling bold, give Heroine a try. Heroine might actually “save” your makeup look!
Mina's Handbags & Accessories Review
Every girl loves a great bag, right? Let me introduce you to a lovely clutch that I was gifted from Mina’s Handbags & Accessories. I actually attempted to purchase the clutch but the owner (whose name is Sabrina) is super sweet and decided to send the clutch while refusing to accept payment. Anyhoo, the shipping was really fast (we live in the same metro area) and I’m sure shipping to any location would be fast. The clutch was neatly wrapped in a lovely wrapping paper. The clutch is impeccably made by hand. The zipper is of obvious quality and the details are great. The inside boasts of a unique bright green tribal-like print. If only I could also wear this clutch inside out lol, but I digress. There is a tag on the inside of the clutch so you never forget where you bought it. This clutch was made with love and it is definitely worth the price I was going to pay before I knew it was being gifted to me. Check out the pics and afterwards head over to the site and see what you like. I’m thinking of doing a giveaway soon for one of these bags. Stay tuned!
www.etsy.com/shop/minasaccessories
Deborah Lippmann Glitter Polish (Glitter and Be Gay) Review
Who doesn’t love glitter?! I love it more than sequins, lol. Well that being said, I found Glitter and Be Gay polish while browsing Sephora and I had to have it. This polish goes on uneven but there is a ton of glitter which is a plus. The polish lasted for a week and a half before I saw any “chipping” and I had not used any top coat for the test. For $20 a bottle…it better last! (Pictures below)
Julep Maven…Maybe?
Soooo…..I know that everyone has heard of Julep and perhaps have seen what the company has to offer while browsing the website. I was subscribed to Julep as a “Maven” a couple a few years ago but I was not that thrilled with the company even though I had not tried out the polish. That being said, with the season of autumn here I decided to try one of the polishes that I purchased way back when since it was a dark polish. I will not be displaying this polish however I will say that in comparison to Revlon, Maybelline, and China Glaze, Julep’s polish lasted the longest and took the longest time to chip. I decided that I wanted to try Julep again. I will soon do a review on the polishes but at this point I would like to review the service and show what I have gotten. Stay tuned for a brief review with pictures of the polishes that I got and pictures of what I got (initial impressions after the jump).
Maybelline Vivid Colors (Spring 2013)
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I am definitely a lipstick lover so I am always looking for new and fun lip colors. I’ve gotten a few lip products in the last month or so but I was doing a little shopping at Walmart and came across some gorgeous new lipstick colors by Maybelline. These are part of one of their Spring 2013 collection. I was so happy to see these and to get my hands on them because I usually miss them and am scrounging around to find the colors that I actually like. So without further a-do, the colors that I bought are pictured and swatched after the jump. These lipsticks are very moisturizing and feel good going on the lips. Most seem to have a satin sheen. Overall, definitely worth the $5.50 (each) that I paid for them. I am considering going back to get the other colors. Let me know what you think of the colors and finishes. Please overlook my “girl”stache, lol.