WINNER

Our lucky WINNER for the 

Holika Holika Face Mask giveaway is

NANCY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations Nancy! I'll be sending out the prize next week!

Japanese Skincare

One of my close friends, loves Shu Uemura's line of cleansing oils. We had a little tea party yesterday and one of the events at the party was a free makeover with Mary Kay. At the end of the day, all the girls decided we should all take our makeup off before going home. Is it silly of me to be so excited over spending quality girly time, simply over removing our makeup together?! Because I was having a ball. Maybe it's because I've always yearned for sisterly bonding with girls.

My friend introduced her favorite porefinist anti-shine fresh cleansing oil from Shu Uemura. I used three pumps to clean off my full coverage makeup and while I was gently massaging my face with the cleansing oil, I felt the little bumps on my face that I get from my regular oil build up in my pores come out!!! Not all of them came out, but it did remove a few effortlessly. I was quite impressed. I usually use facial exfoliators that have massage beads to remove as much build up as possible, but I was totally shocked when I felt the cleansing oil from Shu Uemura work its magic. I was told to use this porefinist cleansing oil only once a week. 

The steps to using this cleansing oil:

1. take 3 to 4 pumps of cleansing oil, spread on your hands
2. gently spread cleansing oil over cheeks, nose, forehead, lips with circular motions, blend well with eye makeup by outward circular motions of your finger tips
3. wet your hands, wet your face until cleansing oil turns milky
4. rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, rinse off completely along the hair line, dry your face with a clean towel

There are six cleansing oils for all skin needs, the one I tested was for pore refining. The porefinist anti-shine fresh cleansing oil is ideal for normal to oily skin types and acne-prone skin. When I finished washing my face, I still felt a little oil on my face, but when I looked into the mirror, there was no visible oil shine. It just felt super smooth, I've never experienced the perfect face cleanser, but I'm assuming it feels something like this. I was so use to the routine of buying cleansers that overly stripped the oil from my face, I literally felt it squeaky clean afterwards, and most of the time I'd see dry patches immediately after a face wash. But shortly after my face would feel super stiff and sticky with oil again. I was told that because I stripped all my natural oils away from my face, my sebaceous glands had to go on overdrive to correct the lack of oil. With Shu Uemura's cleansing oil, it felt smooth, like there was a thin layer of protection, I did feel refreshed. I was skeptical at first, even after the surprising pore refining experience, because of the lack of "squeaky clean" feel after the face wash. But I'm totally sold now, because hours later my face still felt smooth, and there was no additional oil build up. I guess my face was happy! 

And lucky for me, today my friend mentioned there was a special offer. Shu Uemura has a summer beauty package that includes 10 FREE samples of their summer beauty favorites. When you use the promotional code "SHUPRISE" with your next $50+ purchase. 

The 10 FREE samples are:

• red: juvenus retexturizing cream - 13 ml, 0.43 fl. oz
• depsea hydrability moisturizing emulsion - 10 ml, 0.34 fl. oz
• lightbulb foundation sample 774 [sachet] new!
• red: juvenus retexturizing night cream - 13 ml, 0.43 fl. oz
• depsea hydrability alnight quench essence - 1 ml, 0.03 fl. oz
• anti-oxi skin refining cleansing oil 20 ml
• lightbulb foundation sample 574 [sachet] new!
• high performance balancing cleansing oil classic - 20 ml
• porefinist anti-shine fresh cleansing oil - 15 ml, 0.50 fl. oz
• ultime8 sublime beauty cleansing oil - 15 ml, 0.50 fl. oz

And even without the promotional code, Shu Uemura offers you 1 FREE deluxe sample with each order. I had the option of getting the:

• Porefinist anti-shine fresh cleansing oil 15 ml, 0.50 fl. oz OR
• complimentary lightbulb insert

I'm super excited about all these samples, especially getting the chance to test out a few of their other popular cleansing oils! I loved the pore refining cleansing oil so much so that I ended up wanting any and all possible sample bottles. I get two 15 ml samples with just this one purchase. 

Shu Uemura sells two bottle sizes for the porefinist anti-shine fresh cleansing oil, a 450 ml for $67.00 and the 150 ml bottle for $31.00! 

My order even had free standard shipping! I can't wait for my new Japanese skincare products to arrive in the mail >.< !!!

NEW ZOYA Naked Manicure

I only have a few warm, fuzzy, genuinely happy childhood memories and one of them was having my nails painted by my older cousin. She was probably in middle school at the time and I was only 7 years old. I didn't have an older sister, and she was the closest I'll ever have to that feeling. I still remember climbing up onto her dresser, with Spice Girls' new CD playing in a dimly lit pink room and begging her to paint my nails like hers. I had only recently discovered what nail polish bottles looked like earlier that week while I was spending my summer vacation at her house upstate. I begged and pleaded while she was clearly busy putting things away in her closet. My mother wasn't fond of nail polishes and refused to allow me to wear it, reason being I was too young. She was worried the chemical would be harmful. But I really wanted to be like my cousin and have pretty shimmery nails. My cousin finally gave in to my persistence, she painted my little, short trimmed nails. My fingers were so small and dainty, she was able to cover my whole nail in one swipe. I couldn't stop staring at her painting my nails, I was so excited. There was this tingly feeling and I just remember after finishing one hand, we both put our fingers to our lips and whispered "shhh" and giggled till both hands were done and dry. I'll never forget the sparkly pale pink nail polish my cousin shared with me. Ever since then, I loved the idea of having my nails done. I enjoy doing my own nails and it's a rare treat for me to pay for manicures.

As I got older I learned the difference between dollar store nail polish and high end nail polishes. Before I was introduced to the ZOYA Nail Polish, I use to buy any and all cheaper, more affordable nail polishes, focusing primarily on color. I loved collecting colors. I usually bought my collection from the CVS drugstore. The price ranged between a dollar to $3.99 max! I was only in middle school at the time and my mother was still not happy about me painting my nails. Fast forward into my sophomore year of college, one Christmas, my friend decided to surprise me with a manicure appointment at the A.F. Bennett Salon in Staten Island. That's when I noticed the huge difference in consistency, application, and durability with ZOYA nail polish compared to cheaper end nail polishes. There was even a noticeable difference in the chemical smell of the nail polish! How I know this and why I'm so confident in loving ZOYA over any cheaper brand nail polish was when I was desperate to use the color orange, I reached for a dollar store bottle and my nails literally cringed, it hurt to feel the liquid on my nails. Something was going on that was seriously different from ZOYA's nail polish. I almost fainted when I opened the bottle. I ended up having to take the orange off. After trying something so great, going back to a dollar store brand was a horrible idea. 

Even if you're not a crazy nail polish collector like me, and one or two bottles are enough to last you years, then I strongly suggest investing in a safer high end brand. Specifically, getting a base coat, nail shade, AND a top coat. You might think it's silly to do all three steps, but there's a notable stain if you paint on the color coat without a base coat. The top coat is equally as important because that's what keeps your manicure looking flawless for weeks. ZOYA calls it Armor for a reason. And yes, I've tried cheating, by purchasing the high end shade and layering it with a drugstore top and/or base coat. It was NOT a good idea combining the different brands. My nails felt so much heavier and the outcome was not worth it. I've even tried thinning out the drugstore polishes and that didn't do me any good. Once I committed to ZOYA's three steps for a basic manicure, I've been able to confidently wear my nail polish. I have no problem working with my hands and really pushing my limits with a manicure. The longest I've had my ZOYA manicure last was about two and a half weeks before the first sign of a chip. I never felt the need for touch ups. 

Recently ZOYA furthered their manicure line with their NAKED MANICURE line. Their aim is to treat, correct and protect. Click HERE to read more about this NEW line of polishes. I'm super excited about this new line because ZOYA's come up with polishes that correct discoloration, giving your nails that healthy glow. This is perfect for any profession, even without a french manicure you can have beautiful nails. Click HERE for the full NAKED MANICURE brochure.

ZOYA is promoting their NEW Naked Manicure line with a special promotion!!! There's so many freebies, it's absolutely worth it to get it now than later. The promotion lasts till July 12, 2015. If you purchase the Naked Manicure Women's Starter Kit which includes:

• Pink Perfector
• White Tip Perfector 
• Naked Base
• Satin Seal Topcoat

The Naked Manicure Women's Starter Kit is an all-in-one sort of package. It comes with full-size (0.5 oz) nail polishes. It's perfect for business professionals, busy moms and nails recovering from gels or other damaging products. Order before the 12th and use the code: NAKED to get free shipping, a FREE 2oz ZOYA nail polish remover and a FREE Qtica Solid Gold Anti-Bacterial Oil Gel 0.5oz Tube. The Women's Starter Kit comes with 4 bottles for $25, if you were to purchase these bottles individually they range between $10-12 each. Basically, if you purchase this kit with the promotional code you're getting practically two of the bottles for FREE! I've already placed my order! 

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PROMOTION: until July 12, 2015

Naked Manicure Women's Starter Kit ..............$25

Perks of promotion:

• FREE gift: 2oz ZOYA Nail Polish Remover
• FREE gift: Qtica Solid Gold Anti-Bacterial Oil Gel 0.5oz Tube
• FREE shipping

Use promotional code: NAKED

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Korean Skincare in Everyday Stores?!? NO WAY...

Korean products are slowly sneaking their way into my favorite stores!!! I love it! Since I've been recently introduced to Korean skincare products, certain brand names are starting to stick out to me. Last night I discovered that Forever 21 sells Holika Holika products and this morning I came across Peripera products on Birchbox! These were two of the brands that I was interested in sampling. Now that they offer it in more familiar stores I don't have to go through the hassle of Korean stores and long delivery waits.

Web Exclusive at Forever 21

[from Left to Right]

• even complexion mask ................................................$3
• facial soap set ............................................................................$29
• collagen moisturizer ........................................................$21
• blackhead removal prep gel ...............................$10
• black caviar anti-wrinkle eye cream $46
• soothing mask .............................................................................$3
• calming mask ................................................................................$3
• blackhead cleansing balm .....................................$13
• aqua max moisturizing cream ....................$28

After I saw Shu An's video from Tried and Tested, her review of the adorable Peripera Cushion Blusher left a great impression on me and I've been keeping my eyes out for the chance to buy this whenever I stopped by the Korean stores in Chinatown. But when I saw the same product on Birchbox's Instagram page this morning, I was ecstatic. Birchbox now offers a few items from the Peripera line and for the cushion blushers Birchbox carries all three available shades!

Have you also heard that Target is now going to carry the Korean skincare line, Laneige?! Your whole skincare routine would be a one stop shop at Target while you grab your groceries and Starbucks.

After doing some of my Korean skincare routine research I knew I had my heart set on trying the Laneige line first. I'm so excited now that I don't have to go out of my way to try this product. And to top it off, Target's website offers a $21 value Laneige Advanced Hydration Trial Kit - 4 pieces for only $10!!!

The kit includes sample sizes of:

• multi cleanser
• water bank serum
• water bank moisture cream
• water sleeping mask

The best thing about having these popular Korean skincare favorites at our everyday stores is that all the sales from the store will apply to these products! So that trumps me trying so hard to mix and match the prices from the Korean department stores that ship from Korea. And for the cushion blushers, I could even put my Birchbox points towards it, that way I get it for FREE!

Okay, since I'm totally excited about my new found discovery, I want to do a raffle giveaway!

The giveaway will be open until the end of this month, by July 31 @ 11:59 EST. You must be 18 or older and a U.S. resident to qualify for entry. There can only be one winner! So be sure to submit your entries through the Rafflecopter giveaway app below!

The stakes for the prizes will subject to change for the winner if:

• Currently, the winner will receive one FREE Holika Holika Face Mask!
• IF by the end of this month, 2 NEW followers subscribe to my blog, the prize will increase and include: 1 FREE Holika Holika Face Mask AND 1 FREE Laneige Advanced Hydration Trial Kit
• IF by the end of this month, a total of 5 NEW followers subscribes to my blog, the prize will increase and include: 
• 1 FREE Holika Holika Face Mask
• 1 FREE Laneige Advanced Hydration Trial Kit
• 1 FREE Peripera Cushion Blusher

You can enter to win below, but keep in mind, if you spread the word the prizes will increase and by doing so you can also increase your chances of winning! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

** Prizes are subject to increase if more followers subscribe by the end of this month (as stated above). Best of luck!

Free New York City Concert [Barenaked Ladies]

Do you want to try your luck with FREE tickets?!? Request a chance to attend an awesome outdoor concert for free with the band, Barenaked Ladies. I love the TV series, The Big Bang Theory, Barenaked Ladies wrote their intro theme song!!! Click HERE to enter your name and email. Your entry will be submitted into their random lottery for tickets. You'll receive an email notification if your request has been granted. Best of luck!!!

Barenaked Ladies is playing at:

Pier 97
West Side Highway at 57th Street
New York, 10019

Date: July 1
Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Cost: FREE

Parisian Bliss

Adding a little Parisian Decor to my life.

June was magical this year. So many new adventures and chapters opened up at the start of this month. I'm always looking out for things that are pretty, inspirational, and DIY related, and this month I was fortunate enough to come across this gorgeous calendar! I absolutely loved the Parisian vibe. This pretty piece is painted by Kerrie Hess.

Kerrie's an Australian fashion illustrator. She's illustrated for CHANEL, Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade New York, and Printemps Paris. Her illustrations have been featured in Vogue, Talter and Harper's Bazaar. She also has a website that sells her limited edition prints. Here's her most recent addition to her collection. http://kerriehess.bigcartel.com/
If you're in need of a dab of chic and Parisian fashion in your mornings with that cup of caffeine, check out her Instagram #KerrieHess


The sweet surprise is that I downloaded my June calendar print for FREE! When you join Kerrie's mailing list, you're able to download her monthly gift to her subscribers. Click HERE to sign up for her mailing list, and be the first to receive her one of a kind calendar spread. Once you've signed up, you'll get an email notification each month with the downloadable print.

I'm totally thinking about having some girls over for a mini Parisian brunch and spending the afternoon creating watercolor pieces like these. I could finally put my macaron skills that I learned in Paris into good use! I'll also be able to make fresh baguette, Patissier Eric would be proud of me.

WINNER for the Geeky Gamer Crate Challenge

CONGRATULATIONS LUCA !!!

Our Winner for the Geeky Gamer Crate Challenge.

Theme: Adventure

Luca's "Adventure" themed crate included items from Star Trek, Marvel, Minecraft, Spice and Wolf, Adventure Time, and Star Wars. His crate was jam packed with amazing items. A lot of effort went into elaborate handcrafted pieces like that adorable BMO. Just looking at it, you wouldn't believe that he only spent $29 on this fantastic crate! The Star War's T-shirt was $17, the Spice and Wolf book was $7, and the Minecraft mystery box was $5. Everything else you see in this photo was handmade. Yes, even the high quality print of the Death Star that you see in the center of the picture was handmade and framed. There were a total of six mat framed digital photos, one for each franchise that was chosen for his adventure themed crate.

What's inside the "Adventure" themed crate by Luca:

• Star Wars T-shirt
• Spice and Wolf book
• Minecraft mystery box
• a set of 6 digital prints with mat frames
• two 3D paper cutout models (R2D2 and C3PO) 
• BMO with three interchangeable expressions
• Minecraft pickaxe
• handcrafted Tribble from Star Trek
• Star Trek badge magnet

Compared to the Loot Crate that I received for the month of April, Luca's crate is 10 for 10. I can't wait to hear what theme our winner would like as his prize. I look forward to building his crate! Thank you for participating.

My Geeky Gamer Crate CHALLENGE

Today is the last day to submit your version of a geeky or gamer crate! Last month I announced the challenge for my readers to create their own themed crate, following the same template as a Loot Crate Subscription. The theme was open to preference, but it had to be geeky or gamer related. For all the rules and requirements Click HERE.

I also gave myself this challenge to create a crate of my own, and I chose the Doctor Who theme. I finally put all the pieces together, and I even created something by hand to give it an extra touch. Don't worry, it wasn't mandatory for you to create something by hand, you may, but you're not obligated to. 

Without further ado, here is my submission to the GEEKY GAMER CRATE CHALLENGE: 

What's inside my box?:

• Inside the Tardis, hand painted box [Free: I painted that myself]
• Tardis Teapot [Free: my friend gave me this, it's worth $29.63 on Amazon]
• Time Fiction T-shirt [$18]
• Doctor Who Blind Bag series [$2.75]
• Doctor Who 10th Doctor Mini Pop Funko [$6.50]
• 2 Doctor Who pins [$.50 for both]

Total: $27.75 spent on this box

Total Value: $63.63

Lucky for me, there were a few sales going on when I was looking for my Doctor Who items. I bought the T-shirt from TeeFury, normally their shirts are $20 each, but I used the "tf10" coupon code for 10% off. There's a few Doctor Who T-shirts that I loved, like the Doctor Selfie, and the Doctor Rockwell, but I chose Time Fiction because it was a play on the movie Pulp Fiction! The T-shirt just begs for the caption, "Say Who again, I dare you!" If you like the Time Fiction T-shirt it's actually on sale this month for $16.

I bought the Doctor Who 10th Doctor Mini Pop Funko, Doctor Who Blind Bag Series, and the two Doctor Who pins at Hot Topic. The entire store was Bogo 50% off your second item. I bought a few things from there along with my Doctor who items, so it worked out in my favor with all the sales combined.  

For my readers' challenge, judging will be done by me, one winner will be selected and announced by tomorrow, June 1, 2015. The challenge that I am hosting for my lovely readers will be judged within the pool of submission that my readers send it, it will NOT be compared against mine. My submission was to fulfill my own challenge that I assigned myself. 

KEEP IN MIND, the deadline for submitting an entry for the reader's Geeky or Gamer Crate Challenge WILL END AT 11:59 PM eastern time, tonight March 31, 2015. 

Rules for Contest: 

This contest is only open to residents in the United States. You must be 18 or older to submit an entry. One winner will be selected. This competition will be judged by me, based on how amazingly awesome it looks for the price of $30 and how well it coordinates with your chosen theme. The prize for the winner will be a specially customized box by yours truly, full of goodies valued at $30 or more based on a theme the winner chooses. You could ask for a box full of candy treats, vintage sweets, geeky goodies, gamer stock, artsy crate, or even a beauty box. I will personally hand pick a special box with you in mind. 

I CHALLENGE YOU!!!
Budget Goal: $30 (your spending cannot exceed this value)
Items: no limit
Theme: You may pick any geeky or gamer theme that you're comfortable with or would love to have or even share! But it must be GEEKY or gamer! (example: Nintendo, Marvel, Star Wars, Big Bang Theory, Diablo, League of Legends, or Adventure Time, just to name a few)
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2015 @ 11:59 PM

Secret BONUS points: Spread the word and have your friends join in on this contest. For extra brownie points for you and your friend, have your invited friend tag you as their reference to this competition.

** Please do not include personal information aside from your first name in your entry submission. I will private message the winner in order to mail out the prize.**

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Sample Entry Format:

Your first name: 

Theme:

Attach the image of your box:

List the price value of each item found in your box: 

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Good luck and have fun!!! 

Birchbox Reward Points

It finally occurred to me why everyone spoke highly about writing reviews for Birchbox points. I vaguely knew about it, but I never bothered to look at the fine print. Apparently, if you review your samples that you receive each month you get 10 Birchbox points PER REVIEW. There’s typically a minimum of 5 samples in each box, which equates to a chance of 50 Birchbox points. That’s $5 worth of points!

Your points get recycled basically. It’s a win win situation if you really think about, because that means you’ll always get full sized Birchbox product on sale. Birchbox is known for their selection of high end products, and you can never go wrong with a sale on the item you really want to get. I’ve been eyeing a few products since I first signed up for the subscription, but I’ve only slowly been working on that wish list because the prices are pretty steep. But now that I can build my Birchbox points faster, this wish list will soon become a shopping list! And with every full size purchase from my wish list, I get 1 point for every dollar spent, and most of those full size products are over $30. If I chose to apply my points I could either get the price reduced or FREE.

Since I’m a Birchbox subscriber anyways, why not make it worth even more by reviewing my samples. The cost of $10 for the monthly subscription will be cut to $5 just by reviewing the sample products. All this requires me to do is be more active with Birchbox each month, which I do not mind. Just keep in mind, if you're shopping through Birchbox and you reduce the retail price of the full size item, let’s say $50 to $10, you only get 10 points from that purchase and not 50 because it’s based on the amount you paid out of pocket.

Here’s the official rule for receiving Birchbox points from reviewing your monthly samples:

AND if you earn 500 Birchbox Points within the calendar year, you’ll automatically gain a spot in Birchbox Ace! Birchbox Ace is their VIP program. Once you’re a Birchbox Ace member, you’ll unlock a whole suite of perks and privileges special to members only! The Ace experience includes: 

• Free Shipping. Automatically get free standard shipping on all orders, plus free 2-day shipping on full-size orders of $100 or more.
• Concierge Service. You’ll receive priority service whenever you contact their Discovery Specialist, if you want a one-on-one consultation to find just what you need for that perfect product or the ultimate gift.
• Exclusive Shop Offers. You’ll be the first to hear about select product launches and get exclusive access to offers from their brand partners.
• Anniversary Perks. Hit your one-year Ace mark and you’ll score a sweet gift.
• Surprises. There will also be gifts and offers year-round for Ace members. This will be announced at a later date, just keep your eyes and ears open for these surprises.

It’s not difficult to become a Birchbox Ace if you really think about it. If you’re already a monthly subscriber, and you don’t mind writing reviews each month, that’s a minimum of 50 points in the bag for each month. So after 10 months you hit your required 500 points, just by doing the bare minimum. I mean, the whole purpose of writing the reviews each month is to save up the points for cheaper full sized items from the Birchbox store. That alone would motivate me to write a small review each month. And on top of buying these full sized items you’ll get 1 point for every $1 you spend. A $65 item will give you back 65 points, and you could always use your rewards towards it to drop the price down to practically zero if you’re patient enough to hoard all your Birchbox points until then. That’s totally something I’d do to be honest. Amidst all the discovering, shopping, reward building and reward redeeming with Birchbox, it will all add up towards your 500 Birchbox points for the Ace status. Redeeming your Birchbox points does not take away from the 500 points going towards the Ace member qualifications. 

Building up points from shopping on their Birchbox website or through their store front in Soho will be much slower if you’re aiming to shop for free, basically build up enough points to make a purchase without putting in a cent, but that won’t be the case for me when I’m shopping for others. Within one year there are enough holidays for me to splurge on people and that alone will make up 50% of my accumulation of Birchbox points. Before I fully understood the Birchbox point system, I spent annually about $200 without the help of Birchbox points. That’s $200 out of pocket, without writing a single review. Christmas shopping made up 85% of the $200 spending. I have an unhealthy obsession of spoiling people.

I enjoy sharing my Birchbox finds with my friends. I’m already looking forward to Christmas, and it’s currently 85 degrees outside. I know I’m silly, but you wouldn’t think that if you were on the receiving end of my Christmas list. It just means I’ve been planning your gift all year long, because you're just that special to me. 

Housewarming Gift Idea

Ta-DA!!! I'm proud to present, the first gift basket that I made! I've been meaning to create one for a special occasion for a while now, and I finally had the opportunity to do so. My first gift basket is a housewarming gift tailored towards a beginner baking recipient. I had so much fun thinking of all the possible arrangements that could go into this gift basket.

This gift basket includes:

- oven mitt

- matching pot holder

- rubber spoonula

- measuring spoons

- measuring cups

- set of 2 kitchen towels

- regular size whisk 

- chocolate chip cookie mix

- DIY sharpie mug with instructions on how to make your own single serving of brownie

***and an adorable wooden crate with handles from Michael's to hold it all in***

I did most of my shopping at Home Goods. I absolutely love their selection of stock. If I had to rank my top favorite places to shop for home accessories, it'd have to be: Home Goods, Pier 1 imports, Target, and The Christmas Tree Shop. This is just based solely on my personal preference, selection of items and the availability of stores near where I live. When I shop for home accessories, I don't necessarily look for the brand, nor the sales. I do however love a good sale or clearance aisle, it makes the item that I like look even more appealing. I base my decision on feeling, whether or not I can picture myself staring at it for years to come and how well it incorporates the theme I have in mind. Home Goods is where I find more of my favorites, compared to the other brand name stores. If I had the luxury of going all out with a bottomless wallet, I'd love to splurge in Crate & Barrel. Just saying.

I totally recommend this gift set for anyone looking to start with the essentials. Whether it's for yourself, or a friend, these are the basic tools I'd recommend to have in the kitchen. Just a note from someone who loves to bake, if you had to decide on having only one of the two, a rubber spatula or a rubber spoonula, always go with the rubber spoonula. It's nice to have both, but if you're just starting out, the spoonula acts as a spatula when you need to gently scrape the batter off on the sides of a bowl, and it's super handy when you're trying to spoon out a mixture or create a nice dollop. I prefer the utility of a rubber spoonula.

If you're interested in the DIY sharpie mug I made, as a personal touch to this gift basket, I'll be posting the instructions on how I made mine in a later post this week.

Free Book Signing May 26

I'm totally looking forward to attending Jamie Tworkowski's book signing this Tuesday! It's going to be my first time attending a book signing!!!

Jamie Tworkowski, is the founder of To Write Love on Her Arms nonprofit organization. Jamie's intentions didn't start out initially as a nonprofit organization. All he was, was a compassionate person who wanted to support a friend, who was going through a difficult time, to share her story. Jamie sold T-shirts to help cover the cost of the treatment center for his friend. He gave her all the support he could, when she was struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and suicidal thoughts. He wrote about the five days he spent with his friend, Renee Yohe, before she entered a treatment center. Jamie wanted to give Renee's story a home, so he posted it on MySpace and named it "To Write Love on Her Arms."  Read the original story HERE.

From there, the TWLOHA story reached the mass and grew into the nonprofit organization it is today. It's a safe haven for those that seek comfort, without the judgmental criticism. Nine years later, Jamie is set to have his first book published on May 26, 2015!

"If You Feel Too Much" book releases on May 26, and Jamie's book tour will span many cities across the United States. To kick start his book tour, the first location will be here in New York. I'm just so happy that I came across this before he took it to Los Angeles. I've never attended a book signing before, so I'll definitely take it all in when I get there!

You can pre-order the book online to save 40% off. The book retails at $16.95, but if you pre-order from Barnes and Noble online before May 26, you can get it for $10.08! I normally don't get drawn in by the publicity of a new book being published, but this was the exception. For this particular book, "If You Feel Too Much", not only did it hit home with where the origin of the writing aspire from, but there was a single thought that crossed my mind when I heard the title. I had this strong urge that I would find the answer in this book. What can a person like me, someone who's raw to every emotion, both good and the bad, do? Are there answers or even thoughts that I could relate to and find comfort in? I feel this is something worth exploring, this is my personal opinion.

Since the event requires you to have a wristband to show proof of purchase for the book, I'll be heading to Barnes and Noble earlier in the day to pick up my copy. I'm so hyped to get my hands on this new book. For an added bonus I'll get to make it memorable with a free book signing by the author!!!

If this book also interests you, I hope to see you at the book signing! Comment below to let me know if you're attending. I'd love to get a souvenir photo with someone at the event who also shared my thoughts.

DIY Pinch Pot

I've always loved the way air plants accent a room with a minimalist style. One of the best things about air plants is that they don't require soil and they're relatively low maintenance. A friend and I took a trip to Botanica Garden Center in Brooklyn, NY to pick up a few air plants. I ended up buying two different sizes. I knew I wanted to create some sort of display for these adorable new air plants. When I saw the small air plant, a pinch pot came to mind. So for my first DIY project I made a mini pinch pot out of polymer clay to showcase the smaller air plant. Since I had so much fun making the pinch pot I figured I'd share the fun with you all. Below are the instructions on how you can make your very own pinch pot.

 

I hope this DIY tutorial inspires you to create something unique for yourself or as a gift for someone special. 

I also have a printable version of my tutorial if you wish to print it out for reference. Click HERE for the printable copy.

Stay tuned to see what I have in store for my medium sized air plant!

April Favorites

Since I've started blogging, my day to day routines seem more exciting. There are things I constantly find that I can't wait to share in a post. For instant, now that April has come and gone, I discovered some amazing products in just one month. I figured I'd share my April favorites with you all.

Last month I splurged a little on cosmetics, but in doing so, I learned a secret about shopping through the Macy's cosmetic section. Who knew gift sets existed with purchases!? I always wondered what those little display cases were all about. This was my first time trying Lancome products, they're a bit pricey, but I've heard great reviews about their skincare items. I went with Tonique Confort, a rehydrating toner from Lancome to start off my collection towards my daily routine supplies. I figured I'd have to test out a few toners before I settled for the one, but this rehydrating toner leaves my skin feeling so moisturized. This definitely fills my toner requirement in my daily routine. I also tested out the Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover from my free Lancome gift set, and boy is this thing amazing! It took off waterproof mascara with one swipe, even three attempts with my regular makeup remover couldn't do the job. Lancome definitely won me over with these two amazing products so far.

..... I've been searching for a good daily face cleanser, and I think I found one that I actually like, maybe even love. I've tried the Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub and Garnier's Clean & Balancing Daily Exfoliator for combination skin. Both Neutrogena and Garnier face cleansers stripped my face of oil completely, like the squeaky clean sort of feeling, which apparently isn't a good thing. The St. Ive's Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub on the other hand actual leaves my skin feeling smooth and clean without the dryness. Thumbs up to St. Ive's for making my mornings less irritating! 

..... In the beginning of April, I went to Chinatown with two of my friends, and we were on an adventure to explore a bunch of Korean product skincare stores. I happened to come across one thing that I absolutely had to have. The Nature Republic Soothing and Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel, was a steal for only $6.49 (300ml)! I love products that contain aloe vera and this one feels so light on the skin. It smells great and it'll be perfect for the warmer seasons. 

..... There's one beauty product that I can't live without. The Laura Geller Beauty, Spackle Supercharged Fortified Under Make-Up Primer, it's a mouthful to say but it's my favorite primer ever! There's a shimmery peach tint to the product and this is one of those primers where you can wear alone or follow with foundation. I use this specifically for my eyelids because I don't normally apply full coverage on my face. The one I've been using was a sample from my Birchbox, and it has lasted me for quite a while, well over thirty uses. The primer goes on silky smooth, has a matte finish and it helps nourish the skin. I don't always wear makeup, but when I do, I always use Spackle. 

..... A recently discovered, current favorite mascara, would have to be the NEW Covergirl Lash Blast series, The Super Sizer Mascara. It's so new, it hasn't even hit all the stores yet. I got this mascara complimentary from Influenster, in my Covergirl Voxbox, for testing purposes. Mascaras and I have a love hate relationship. I am the type of person that usually stays far away from mascaras because I've poked my eye twice trying to use them. But the new design for the bristle on The Super Sizer Mascara is remarkable. Not only is it easy for someone like me to use, and I actually feel comfortable using it, it also clearly lengthens the lashes without the messy clumps! I'm not afraid of using mascara anymore!!! But only if I get to use the Super Sizer Mascara from Covergirl.    

..... Since my ZOYA manicures last well over 2 weeks, even through the roughest conditions, without being chipped or worn down, I started to just do one design to last me the whole month. For April, I wore Pippa and Godiva to create a super chic look. Pippa is a bright, warm shade of happy yellow, to me it looks like the perfect shade of a daffodil! Which coincidentally is my favorite flower in the whole world. Godiva is part of ZOYA's PixieDust collection, it's a soft nude with a sugared sparkle matte finish. I love how these two shades paired together with my design.

..... I was totally craving tea last month, specifically for Peet's Hibiscus C blend! I brew myself a cup almost every other day, with just one cube of sugar. This is perfect for when the night gets chilly. The C in Peet's Hibiscus Blend stands for the Three Cs: cinnamon, chamomile, and naturally occurring Vitamin C. Lately it's been pretty warm during the day, so I make myself Hibiscus Lemonade from just one tea sachet. It's super refreshing, if you're interested in trying this drink, feel free to check out my recipe below. You can always tweak it to your taste. 

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Here's my recipe for a single serving of Hibiscus Lemonade:

Ingredients: 

- 1 Peet's Hibiscus C Blend Sachet (or any hibiscus blend sachet)

- 1 glass, 3/4 filled with ice

- 2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar

- 1/4 cup of hot water (to dissolve your sugar separately)

- 3/4 cup of hot water (to steep your Hibiscus tea sachet)

- 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice 

Directions: 

1) Set your water to boil. I usually boil extra water because I refuse to drink tap water straight from the faucet. 

2) Once the water has boiled, pour 3/4 cup of hot water into a mug and add your Hibiscus tea sachet. Allow that to steep for about 3 minutes.

3) In a separate small bowl, combine 2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar with the 1/4 cup of hot water. This step is to create our simple syrup, using the boiling water to break down the sugar crystals before adding the lemon juice. I find it easier this way instead of adding the sugar into your drink last and trying to dissolve it then.

4) When the sugar has fully dissolved, add your 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice. If you want to use freshly squeezed lemon juice, a medium sized lemon should give you about 3 Tablespoons worth of juice. If you're lazy like me you could always buy the lemon juice that comes in the little plastic lemon. 

5) After the tea has steep for 3 minutes, remove the tea sachet and discard it in the trash. Find your favorite glass and fill it with ice 3/4 of the way. With the mug of Hibiscus tea in one hand and the lemonade in the other, pour both into the glass at the same time. I use the double stream method that way I don't have to find a spoon to stir it together. If you're afraid of making a mess or don't know how to do a double stream, just add the lemonade to the mug with your Hibiscus tea, and pour the content from the mug into your glass of ice. 

6) Taste, and see if you need to adjust the flavors. You could always add a little more lemon juice if you like it tart. Or you can add more sugar if you want it sweeter. (And if you're feeling extra fancy, you can top your drink off with a thin slice of fresh lemon!)

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..... My last April favorite would have to be my newly discovered Black Cherry Merlot scented hand soap from Bath & Body Works! I'm sort of obsessed with Bath & Body Works, it didn't help that one of my best friend use to work there and I always felt obligated to buy a bag full of products whenever I went to visit her at her store. I'm a sucker for fruit scented products, and that store is full of just that. The Black Cherry Merlot, deep cleansing hand soap smells so yummy. Maybe one day I should create a black cherry cupcake with Merlot drizzle. 

What are your favorites from April? Stay tuned for more monthly favorites! I can't wait to see what May has in store for me...

Macy's Perks: Free Gift Sets

Shopping at Macy's for cosmetic products has its perks. At Macy's, brands like Clinique, Lancome, and Estee Lauder offer free gift sets with a purchase of their products. Ever so often they will switch up the gift sets to offer different samples. I was so surprised to learn of this neat little trick. I wrote about this amazing discovery in my Smart Shopping: Tips and Tricks post. While I was there browsing, I witnessed about four back to back purchases from different customers, all trying to get their free gift sets with purchases. I just had to join in on the fun and experience this hype, at least once. I ended up purchasing from Clinique and Lancome. At Lancome, they had a special event at the end of April. If you make a pre-sale purchase, a minimum of $25, not only do you get a free gift set but you also get a free makeover! I totally signed myself up for one of those. Now that I know about gift sets, I've got my eyes peeled for these special deals.

Listed below are my two gift sets that I received, if you're curious as to what these gift sets look like and consist of.

My free** Clinique Gift Set included: 

- Cosmetics Bag

- Mini Bag

- Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion: (1 fl. oz liq./30ml) Dermatologist-reformulated. Delivers all-day hydration and improves barrier strength. Makes skin more resilient. Silky texture penetrates quickly. Spread twice daily all over face/throat, or where needed. For best results, use after Facial Soap and Clarifying Lotion. Perfect for Very Dry to Dry Combination Skin Types.  

- Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief: (poids net wt. 0.5 oz/15ml) Enjoy rapid refreshment and a full 12 hours of soothing moisture with an addictive by-a-waterfall feel. Advanced hydration boosters and a new botanical blend that locks it in. Holds skin's moisture in balance through stressful shifts in humidity. Use daily for immediate moisture. For a midday boost, tap on over makeup. Or use as a 5-minute mask.

- Clinique Eye & Cheek Colour Compact: One kit. Four great shades to shape and define eyes and cheeks. Start with a trio of eye-enhancing colours to wear alone, or layered. Sculpt cheeks with silky smooth blush. All in a sleek compact with brushes.

- High Impact Mascara: (poids net wt. 0.14 oz/3.5ml) Clinique's must-have accessory for lashes. Kicks up the volume of each and every lash for a look that's plusher, longer, bolder. Pure, deep colour only adds to the impact. 

- Dual-Ended Different Lipstick / Long Last Glosswear: One end treats lips to luscious, comforting colour. The other adds a hit of glossy shine that lasts for 8 hours. 

**FREE Clinique Gift Set, with any $27 purchase.

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My free** Lancome Gift Set included:

- Cosmetics bag

- Lipstick case

- Visionnaire: Take your first step to photo-ready skin transformation. NEW Visionnaire delivers 3-in-1 correction to the look of wrinkles, pores and skin texture. [new serum product]

- Absolue Premium: Pamper your skin with luxurious comfort and nourishment, and see revived clarity. Apply every morning after your Lancome serum.

- Blush Subtil in ['Shimmer Pink Pool' Shade]: Get glowing with this luxuriously silky powder blush for natural-looking, long-lasting color.

- Le Gloss in ['Hot Number' Shade]: Glam up your look with a downright dazzling gloss that drenches your lips in captivating color and megawatt shine.

- Definicils: America'a favorite luxury mascara for over 15 years. Define and separate lashes with our #1 mascara.

- Bi-Facil: Whisk away all types of eye makeup, even waterproof with this award-winning formula that conditions lashes as it cleans.

**FREE Lancome Gift Set, with a minimum $25 purchase.

Loot Crate

Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron is coming out this Friday!!! As the month of May draws closer, my geeky side starts acting up again. So when I heard about the Loot Crate subscription, my geeky senses started tingling. Have you heard about Loot Crate? Loot Crate is a monthly subscription box of geek and gamer gear. I only got wind of it recently, a couple of my friends had the subscription and raved about it. I figured I'd check out their website and look through their last few months' crates and see if it was worth the $20. So far it seemed like every box had a worth higher than $20, so that's a plus. By the looks of it each box had at least a great looking graphic T-shirt or a Pop! Funko which are definitely pricey items. The themes for their boxes each month looked interesting and I was really loving the last two months' themes, Covert (March) and Play (February). For the month of April, the theme was Fantasy. If you go to Loot Crate's Facebook page you'll get a hint of what's in store for next month's crate. They usually hint the theme at the beginning of the month and then as it draws closer to when they are ready to be shipped out, on Facebook, Loot Crate will leak what's exclusively in the box.

For the theme Fantasy, we were getting some awesome collectible (and wearable) items from favorite fantasy franchises including Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, and Dungeons & Dragons. I was interested in three out of the four franchises so I figured this would be the perfect time to try out Loot Crate. Another interesting thing about ordering a Loot Crate is the chance to be drawn as their one lucky winner for their monthly MEGA Crate worth over $2,500.

For April 2015, the Mega Crate would include:
a) ASUS VS248H-P 24" Full-HD LED-lit LCD Monitor ($169.99 x 2)
b) Razer BlackWidow Chroma Clicky Mechanical Gaming Keyboard ($164.99)
c) Razer DeathAdder Chroma Multi-Color Ergonomic Gaming Mouse ($58.55)
d) Custom Witcher 3 Wrapped iBUYPOWER PC ($2,000.00 +)
e) GUNNAR Intercept Colors ($69.99)
f) EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Superclocked ACX 2.0 ($569.99)
g) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($59.99)


All the Loot Crates ship out between the 20th and the 25th of each month. I received mine on April 24th. This was our first Loot Crate and I felt like it was more of a dud. I was so looking forward to it because there was so much hype about this geeky subscription that supplies you with incredible knick knacks. I got it secretly for my boyfriend for our anniversary. I had the delivery addressed to him, just to surprise him. I loved that it came with a shirt, but I wasn't thrilled that it was a shirt for Dungeons & Dragons. I was secretly hoping the shirt was Game of Thrones related or something, because my boyfriend absolutely loves the series. But this month's crate didn't enchant me like the previous crates that I saw on their website.

My April 2015, Loot Crate includes:
- Dungeons & Dragons T-shirt (~$12.99 +)
- Harry Potter Luggage Tag ($6.49)
- Inflatable Crown ($9.58)
- Exclusive RPG Bow Tie (~$4.00+)
- The Princess Bride Playing Cards ($14.99)
- Exclusive Game of Throne USB Flash Drive 4GB (~ $6.00)
- Game of Thrones Magnet Set ($12.99)
- Loot Crate April souvenir pin
Total Value: ~ $67.04 

It's difficult to put a price on the Exclusive items because they were custom made for Loot Crate, these are just estimates based on what Ebay is selling them at. Each Loot Crate is suppose to feature $40 or more worth of hand-picked products that geek and gamers would love.

Final Verdict: Would I subscribe again?



Price for 1 month Loot Crate: $13.95 (+$6.00 shipping & handling) = $19.95
Items in each crate: ~ 6-9 items
My April Loot Crate: 5 out of 10 (10 being super amazing)
Loot Crate in general: 8 out of 10
Pros: There's always at least one high value item in the crate, whether it's a graphic T-shirt, a book, or a Pop! Funko figure. And you can easily subscribe and unsubscribe to Loot Crate if you want to pick and choose which month's theme you're interested in and want to purchase, instead of having to go through every month.
Cons: I feel like it's a huge hit or miss even if you know what franchises are being featured.
Would I subscribe again?: Only if I like every single featured franchise listed after their theme for that month.

Coming up next month on Loot Crate: MAY 2015 Loot Crate Theme is UNITE

If you're interested in subscribing to Loot Crate, click on the above image and use the code SAVE3 to save $3 on your first new subscription!

MAY Loot Crate will be featuring exclusive merchandise from Avengers, Team Fortress 2, Power Rangers, Bravest Warriors, and Rick and Morty. There will also be an exclusive T-shirt in next month's Loot Crate!

If I've perked your interest to subscribe to a fun geeky subscription box, there's a few other subscriptions out there that share similar geek and gamer faves:

There's the 1UP box that's $12.92 a month, but if you use the code AWESOME you could save $3 and get your first month for $9.92 (excluding shipping and handling).

The Nerd Block subscription offers a few different categories for their boxes. They have the Classic Nerd Block that's basically like Comic Con in a box and it also comes with a T-shirt each month for $19.99, the Horror Block for $19.99 is for those of you that enjoy zombies and scary Fright Fest plushies, the Arcade Block for all the video game lovers for $19.99 and the Comic Block for $13.99 which looks like it includes a comic, some pins and possibly even an amazing graphic tee.

For those loyal die-hard fans of Marvel, there's also the Marvel Collector Corps, the ultimate Marvel collectibles subscription. This month for April they featured, Avengers: The Age Of Ultron for $25. The box includes one T-shirt out of four possible designs, one stylized vinyl collectible, and two premium accessories and everything is 100% exclusive!!! Their boxes are usually valued at $50 or more.

And last but not least, Geek Fuel, which is a monthly mystery box of geeky goodness valued at $40 and it includes a graphic T-shirt in each box for $17.90 plus $6 shipping and handling each month, but you get your first box for $13.90 plus shipping and handling.

After writing a review about Loot Crate and reading up on other geek and gamer box subscriptions, it got me thinking.........what if.........I made my own box, a stash full of amazingly geeky awesomeness. Alright, that's it, I'm going to make my own amazingly geeky awesome box with $30! Challenge accepted!

Who want's in on this challenge too?! Do you want to join in on the challenge and see if you can create the best box of geek and gamer stock with me? I enjoy getting random surprises in the mail each month for my subscriptions, but sometimes the unboxing isn't all it's hyped up to be. Then I remember I like shopping and bringing smiles to people more so than an endless supply of 50/50 chanced subscription boxes!

So here's the deal, the deadline for this challenge will be one month from now, on MAY 31! The box should cost you no more than $30, but if you're lucky, the value of the box could be so much higher, especially if you find sales and deals. This is an official contest!!! My first ever contest on this blog, I'm so excited! The challenge will be to create your own rendition of a geeky or gamer themed subscription box. Basically a box that you'd love to receive or give to someone. So be thoughtful as to what you put inside this box. I'll be completing a challenge of creating a box of my own. I'll make a post on or before May 31 showcasing my box and attach the full value of the box along with it. As for the challenge I give to my readers, you must create a unique box and take a picture of it, submit the image, write down the chosen theme for your box, and list the price value of each item in this post's comment box. You all have until MAY 31 @ 11:59 PM eastern time. This contest is only open to residents in the United States. You must be 18 or older to submit an entry. One winner will be selected. This competition will be judged by me, based on how amazingly awesome it looks for the price of $30 and how well it coordinates with your chosen theme. The prize for the winner will be a specially customized box by yours truly, full of goodies valued at $30 or more based on a theme the winner chooses. You could ask for a box full of candy treats, vintage sweets, geeky goodies, gamer stock, artsy crate, or even a beauty box. I will personally hand pick a special box with you in mind. Let the games begin!!!  I wish you luck! 

MY CHALLENGE!
Budget Goal: $30
Items: no limit
Theme: Doctor Who
Deadline: May 31, 2015 @ 11:59 PM

I CHALLENGE YOU!!!
Budget Goal: $30 (your spending cannot exceed this value)
Items: no limit
Theme: You may pick any geeky or gamer theme that you're comfortable with or would love to have or even share! But it must be GEEKY or gamer! (example: Nintendo, Marvel, Star Wars, Big Bang Theory, Diablo, League of Legends, or Adventure Time, just to name a few)
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2015 @ 11:59 PM

Secret BONUS points: Spread the word and have your friends join in on this contest. For extra brownie points for you and your friend, have your invited friend tag you as their reference to this competition.

** Please do not include personal information aside from your first name in your entry submission. I will private message the winner in order to mail out the prize.**

Winner will be announced in a post on JUNE 1, 2015. Good luck!

Moose & Squirrel say ALWAYS KEEP FIGHTING

ONE DAY left. For the exclusive "Always Keep Fighting"design by Jared & Jensen.

Do you remember the "Always Keep Fighting" post I did last month? Click ME to catch up on the scoop! If you missed out on the "Always Keep Fighting" campaign that Jared Padalecki held last month, no worries! This time we have an addition to the family of supporter, Jensen Ackles! If you're a supernatural fan, like myself, you'll understand where the names Moose and Squirrel come from. Jared (aka Moose) and Jensen (aka Squirrel) have been working together for ten years to bring us the 10 seasons of Supernatural. It seriously made me so happy to know that not only does Misha Collins dedicate himself to a cause, but now Jared AND Jensen are stirring up movements. Misha Collins plays the angel Castiel in Supernatural. Misha is the co-founder of "Random Acts" nonprofit organization. For a brief history of Random Acts, Click HERE. Random Acts is a registered charity here in the United States and is run completely by volunteers. Their mission is to conquer the world, one random act of kindness at a time.

"We are here to inspire acts of kindness around the world, both big and small. We provide a vast network of caring people with the encouragement and support they need to change lives for the better." ~ Random Acts

If you're interested in Random Acts, here are some ways to get involved, http://www.randomacts.org/getinvolved/ !

With Jared's outreach, and strong supporters of "To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), we were able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, just from Jared's first shirt design. All the proceeds from Jared's first "Always Keep Fighting" shirt campaign went towards the "To Write Love On Her Arms" nonprofit organization. With Jared & Jensen's new "Always Keep Fighting" campaign the proceeds will go to a joint fund set up by both Jared and Jensen and will be put towards not only organizations like To Write Love On Her Arms, but also Wounded Warriors, St. Jude's, Attitudes In Reverse, The Down Syndrome Connection, and more. These guys are aiming to reach and help even more people with each attempt. I'm just so excited to see the Supernatural Family coming together to make for a greater change in our generation and the generations to come. The Winchester boys on screen and off screen working hard to save humanity. It just warms my heart. If you want to join in and donate towards these amazing charities and support Jared and Jensen's "Always Keep Fighting" campaign Click HERE! There's still 1 day left for these amazing exclusive shirts, sweaters, bags and phone cases!  

Starbucks Perks

It's okay if you're addicted, most of us are. If you're a Starbucks lover, you may already know about this, but for those of you who don't, prepare to be amazed!

This is super simple. You might even walk out of Starbucks, saving your wallet from the ever so remarkable prices. If you know you're the type of person that finds yourself in one of the many Starbucks shops because you're craving some caffeine or just something sweet and frothy, there is hope. Here's the little trick, Starbucks has a rewards program! If you can't resist the temptation this would be much more gratifying knowing that you'll be enjoying Starbucks drinks and you're working towards a discounted drink or even a free drink.

It's super easy to sign up. On your next visit to Starbucks, when you've got the insane jitters for caffeine, purchase a gift card first. In order to get a physical gift card you need to load a minimum of $5 onto the card. If you're planning on getting a Trenta sized frappuccino you might want to load a little more onto the card. Once you've got this card, step to the side, and take a seat before you follow these next few steps:

1) You have two options, you could download the Starbucks mobile app to your Android or iPhone to create an account and register a digital Starbucks Card of the physical card you just loaded. This is the most convenient way when you don't have to worry about losing the physical card or forgetting it at home. Although once you register the card and you do end up losing the physical card, Starbucks would then be able to send you a new one. I prefer the phone because all I have to do is show them my phone and they scan the card for payment and for my rewards.

2) Or you have the option to register your card at www.starbucks.com/rewards and be sure to follow the prompts to create an account and select a Starbucks Card.

Now that you've set up your account for the Starbucks rewards program with your gift card, you may now order your caffeine boost with that gift card that you just signed up with. For every drink you order at Starbucks, you will receive a Star towards your account. Yes a little cute five point virtual star, in a Starbucks cup, if you have it signed up on your phone you can even shake the cup and see the stars roll around. And yes, I have tried that. You will never want to pay by any other means but that gift card because that's the only thing building you points. So put away the cash and the credit cards and just reload your gift card when needed. It's also super easy to reload your card if you have it on your phone. When there's a long line I twiddle with my Starbucks app, check for promos and see if I need to reload my card and also peek at how many points I have at the moment.

So by having a rewards account with Starbucks you also get extra perks! Like, on your birthday, you get a FREE drink or treat, plus a coupon for 15% off a purchase at StarbucksStore.com. Keep in mind, you must join My Starbucks Rewards at least 30 days before your birthday. Last month, on regular days, which aren't so regular for reward members, we got Happy Mondays exclusively for members only. Members of the Starbucks Rewards got special Happy Mondays offers, plus even more member benefits (on the specified date from 2-5 PM)
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Monday 09 March : 30% off food, drinks & more
Monday 16 March : Two teas for one (buy one tea and get one of equal or lesser value free)
Monday 23 March : Free pastry with drink purchase (excludes breakfast sandwiches)
Monday 30 March : Frappuccino Happy Hour (50% off Frappuccino blended beverages)

**THIS PROMO WAS ONLY FOR MARCH**
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I wrote out the March promo to give you an idea what Starbucks likes to do every year. But don't you fret, we have another promotion this MAY! STARBUCKS HAPPY HOUR MAY 1-10 HALF OFF ANY FRAPPUCCINO!!! From May 1 - May 10, at 3PM - 5PM, half off any Frappuccino blended beverage. If you're a member, we get an extra hour for this promotion, so from 3PM-6PM we'd get our Frappuccino half off!

Your app will notify you of all the promotions that are coming up. Besides the Happy Hour deals where you get 50% off certain drinks, which run for a few days, there's also the Buy One Drink get double the points on a certain date, these are usually towards their specially promoted drinks, which is still great because you might want to try those out anyways and you'll also be getting points for doing so.

Another amazing feature about this rewards program is the Green level and the Gold level.

Green Level: Earn Five Stars to put yourself in the Green Level. Once you're there, besides your birthday perks, you'll also get FREE refills in the store! Pay with your Starbucks Card (which was the gift card you attached to your rewards account) or the digital Starbucks Card on your phone, gets you brewed and iced coffee and tea refills at no charge during your visit.

Gold Level: Collect 30 Stars within 12 months and you're at Gold! With the Gold Level, you get all the birthday and Green Level benefits plus FREE drinks or food every 12 Stars. For a full listing of all the benefits Click HERE.

I hope this post helps perk up someone's mornings. While I wait for May to come, I'll be sipping my Venti Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel, cheers!