TAG: My Nail Polish Obsession!

THE QUESTIONS:
1. What's your favorite nail polish company?

China Glaze [For now] I love all of their bright colors and love the quality.
2. Glitter or no glitter?
No glitter for me thanks! I always have the hardest time trying to get it off.
3. OPI, China Glaze, or Essie?
China Glaze
4. When do you change your nail polish?
When I'm bored on the weekends and actually have time to sit down and let it dry properly.
5. What's your favorite color on your nails?
Gamer Glam by China Glaze. It's a really pretty halogenic* purple

6. Darks or Brights?

Brights! Definitely. I'm not a big fan of dark nail polishes, probably why I don't own any lol
7. What are you wearing on your nails right this moment?

Mark - Fushia-istic ----->

8. Matte Nails--In or Out? 
Out! I have one polish that's matte and hate it. I love gloss!
9. French Manicure?
Not really my thing. I like my whole nail to have some color!

10. Favorite Winter Color? 

I actually don't have a winter color. Might need to add one to my list though ;)

I'm going to TAG all of you to do it because this tag was fun and after you do it please come back and leave a comment below so I can go and read yours! Thanks!!

Freebies: Shave Gel

I hope you all don't mind my random posts about couponing. Of course I don't think you will since about 3 out of 46 people actually look at my blog posts [thank you to those ladies, you know who you are].


I got coupons sent to me from a nice lady in Montana for the $1/1 Gillette Shave Gel. It doesn't have a size restriction and Target just happens to have the trail size can for $0.97. The lady sent me 8 coupons and I had one of my own. So last night my friend Ashley and I headed to target and used all of my coupons so I could stock up.

In the picture it shows 8 because I got 1 a few days before. I'd say I'm stocked up for awhile on shave gel. These are the little 2.5oz bottles [I believe].


9- $1/1 Coupons. Shave Gel $0.97 - $1 = Free which means I would have spent $8.73 but instead got all of them Free.


Did you have any good deals this week? Are you into couponing? Let me know below :)

Shallac and Hair Update!!

Today is Day 10 of my Shallac manicure. I did a blog post back on Day 1 or 2 I believe and if you read it you'd understand that this is supposed to last 14 days [at least]. I'm here with an update on how mine are looking right now.

This is my left hand

My Right Hand

My right hand

This is what happened Saturday night..

 Yep, the polish peeled off. It got caught on my hair and peeled part of the corner and then I just took the rest off because it was driving me nuts.

Look at how tore up my nail looks!!! This stuff really isn't that great on your nails -_-. It still does last a long time. A lot longer than regular nail polish so that's definitely a plus. But this is not a plus. Luckily I have a buffing pad that I just rubbed on it and got rid of all the little marks and peeled up piece of nail. Ick!




Now time for my hair update! I was tired of my bangs being so long [pretty much weren't bangs anymore] so I cut them.

Yup..Here are my bangs now :) A little bit shorter and I think overall, I like them. What do you think? Like, dislike? You can be honest.

Extreme Couponing....Just Kidding

I am no where near being an "Extreme Couponer" but I do love getting good deals and using coupons when I can.

Here's my latest couponing adventure. I went to Target because I had the rest of my friends $50 gift card to use [had $21 left]. I needed to pick up a few things anyway so I figured I'd use some of my coupons and get some of the items a little cheaper.

I'll break everything down so you can see how much I spent and how much I saved.

• Tide Laundry Detergent - $5.99 [Sale] Used $2/1 = $4.99
• Axe Body wash - $3.49 ea. Used B1G1 Free = 2 for $3.49
• Socks - $1.50 ea = $4.50
• Downy Unstopables Fabric Softener - $5.99 [Sale] Used $1/1 = $4.99
• Up & Up Paper Towels - $0.97. Used $1/1 = FREE
• Gillette Shave Gel - $0.97. Used $1/1 = FREE
• Herbal Essence Trial Size Shampoo - $0.97. Used $1/1 = FREE
• Cascade Dish Detergent - $0.97. Used $0.25/1 = $0.72

Total: $19 and some cents [don't have the receipt in front of me
Saved: $11 and some cents


I wouldn't save it was an amazing shopping trip but I did get a few items for free and everything else was either on sale or cheaper.


Here's a close up of the stuff I got really cheap/Free

Fitness Groove - WTH?

Lately I've been in this fitness groove where I've been working out almost every day and then had a couple of days resting time. Well, I think my friend who was telling me we needed to workout, has quit on me. I kind of knew it wouldn't last long with her. I was all into it and she just really wasn't. But now I'm realizing how much I actually enjoyed working out. Shocking! I never knew I'd miss working out everyday or at least every other day. I feel like I'm falling back into a slum and need to get out of it.

I have tried for the past 3 days to get her back into working out and I've been ignored or she'll respond at like 10:30pm. It's like UGH. So, I either keep nagging until I get her back into it or just move on and either find a new workout buddy or workout on my own.

Working out on my own means that I'm going to have to be more disciplined because if I did workout on my own I'd have to workout in the living room and to Just Dance and Wii Fit. Mainly because our apartment gym is so small and everyone hogs the machines.

It sucks. I was really hoping that she would keep with it with me and we'd start losing weight together but I guess I'm just a little more determined than she is or something. :(

Any advice or suggestions?

Target Haul and Other Goodies

Went and did a bit of shopping at Target last night before my court hearing. Ended up picking up a few goodies I just thought I'd share with you because honestly, I'm in <3 with the socks I got. Yes, a little weird but they are super cute!

My friend Ashley gave me a $50 gift card for Target because I used my $25 Christmas gift card for her to get groceries. She was very sweet by giving me a gift card when she had money even though she did not have it. It's what friends are for. But nonetheless, I used part of it last night.


Picked up 4 pairs of socks @ $1.50ea. A set of ceramic cereal bowls (boyfriend loves these because they are pretty big) 2 @ $5.58. Then I got a new pizza pan with holes in the bottom because the one we have REALLY badly needs to be replaced! 1 pan @ $12.77 (sale!) and then I got a bag of conversation hearts because the boyfriend loves these (and so do I) and the ones he brought home the other day are the sweethearts brand and they are flavored and we both did not like them. Overall spent $28.52.

Target had such a wide variety of cute socks! I had such a hard time choosing but ended up with these four and I love them! I need to go back and get some more!!

That's it for my Target trip. I plan on going back and using the rest of my gift card on more socks, downy unstoppables and some makeup removing wipes.


Now onto the other goodies I got recently. All of the items shown below were courtesy of my work. I <3 getting freebies from work due to either a defect or a sample from a manufacturer. They all rock!

I got a recipe card binder to keep recipe cards and clippings in, 3 sets of recipe cards and a pack of cookmarks for cookbooks. The recipe cards and cookmarks were samples from a manufacturer of ours and the collected recipes cookbook was ours and was returned to us because the customer felt it was too cheap of a quality and it got ripped a little in the top left hand corner. So I got to take all of these home and I actually plan on putting yummy recipes in the book and using it.


Do you have a recipe book or a recipe card box? Do you use it often??

I hope you all enjoy my blog posts. I'm a little concerned though. Let me first say that I do not want to get 1,000 million bloggers to follow me that won't actually follow me or comment. I just simply want to know how to get my blog out there a little more. I've been stuck at 46 followers for almost a year now..Actually I think it's been a year. I have one friend that started a blog 4 months after me and she got 100 within the month. Now, I see blogs where people don't really do a good job with information and pictures, yet they have 1,400 followers. I know I shouldn't care about followers but I have been stuck at 46 for a year now and would have thought I'd at least be at 100-300 people by now. Any tips or tricks that you guys do to get more followers?

Fitness Time - Getting my Butt in Gear

image courtesy of google

Recently I've gotten into the habit of going to a gym and working out. Crazy right?! My friend Ashley lives at this amazing apartment complex and has an awesome gym full of weights, treadmills, ellipticals, stationery bikes and a yoga/kickboxing room.

She told me "Katie...I don't want to be fluffy anymore, so let's start working out". Of course I can't say no to that because I'm fluffy too and could use some exercise in my life. I used to weigh a lot less when I was in high school but kinda fell down the hill when I got my office job. You know, the one where you're constantly sitting at a desk answering phones? Yeah, that's my life now. 

We decided to try to workout every night for 30min-1 hour. Here's how my workout schedule has gone the last 3 days. 

  Saturday Night - was our first workout night and I did 30+mins on the bike @ 11mph. Then I did 30+mins on the treadmill @ 3.8mph and 5% incline. I also did 41 reps of abs. 

Sunday Night - 30+mins on the treadmill, 5% incline, 3.8mph. 30+mins on bike @ 11mph. Jump rope 10 mins, dance video for 20 mins. 

Monday Night - 5 mins on the treadmill, 15% incline, 3mph [friend told me to do this for a lot longer but I couldn't lol], Weights, 60 pounds @ 20 reps, change position, another 60 pounds @ 20 rep, Leg weights, 60 pounds @ 20 reps, 100 pounds @ 20 reps, Stairs for 2 mins, treadmill for 15 mins, 3.8mph, 0% incline, Weights again but this time 40 pounds @ 20 reps, change position, 40 pounds @ 20 reps, change position, 40 pounds @ 20 reps, treadmill for 30 mins, walking and running, 3.8mph-4.8mph, 3% incline down to 0% incline. Weight ball toss for 30 mins.

 Unfortunately I did not get to workout last night because I had to go to court for a ticket [grr] but I probably would have still taken yesterday off because my arms and legs are a tad bit sore from the weights. I'm hoping to keep this up and either do it 5 or more times a week with maybe 1 or 2 resting days in between.

I know this is what most people's resolutions are for the new year but this is actually not one of mine. I don't like to set resolutions because most of the time they don't get completed and I don't stick with them. So I just figured I'd do this just to do it. Also going to try to start eating better. Here's my list of stuff I plan on getting at the store when I have money/time to go grocery shopping.

1. Salad mix
2. Tomatoes
3. Squash
4. Zucinni
5. Pineapple
6. Apples
7. Bananas
8. Cilantro
9. Bell Peppers
10. Frozen fajita chicken
11. Frozen fajita steak
12. Head of lettuce
13. Pita bread
14. Oatmeal
15. Crystal Light
16. Bottled water
17. Milk
18. Lean cuisine [when I'm too lazy to make something]

Are you working out? Do you have any tips and lists on what you buy at the store? Yet again, I'm not doing this as a new years resolution. Just simply want to try to eat better and work out. I don't have a goal as to how much weight I want to lose or if I'll even lose that much weight but I'm doing it to be healthier and have a better life.

Hope you all are having a great day and feel free to give me your input, advice, techniques, tips and grocery lists.

Take it to the next step - Shellac

I only heard about this recently from a friend - Shellac. The nail polish like no other that stays nice for weeks longer than your regular nail polish. If you haven't heard about Shellac, here's a little more information on it.

Shellac Nail Polish

Why is this polish so desired?

Shellac Nails lasts up to 14 days without losing shine, breaking, chipping, or smudging. Even more amazing is the removal process. It is a 1, 2, 3 miracle. Shellac Nails comes right off with application of acetone.

CND (Creative Nail Design), the leader in professional nail, hand and foot beauty, is proud to introduce the first hybrid nail color after nearly five years of development in its state-of-the-art laboratory. Now you can say good-bye to chips, smudges, and dry time and say hello to Shellac™ Hybrid Nail Color! This revolutionary product applies like polish, wears flawlessly for 14 days of high gloss shine, and is removed in minutes.

Information courtesy of google 

My friend Ashley and I decided to go out and have a girls day yesterday. I haven't had one of these in forever. I hardly ever get to pamper myself, mainly because it's my choice to just save my money or use it on more appropriate things. We ended up going to Happy Nails Salon & Spa. There prices were pretty good and we had planned on just getting the basic mani & pedi for $35 and then adding the paraffin wax extra. Of course, the owner thought otherwise and talked us into spending $60 and also going with Shellac. Over an hour later, paraffin wax and hot stone treatment, we had adorable nails and were $60 broke. haha. Guess that's the price you pay for pampering yourself. I was nice enough to double check with the boyfriend if it was okay for me to spend that much. My original plan was to go to the place his mom gets her nails done and pay $25 for a mani and pedi and just skip the wax. Oh well.

Overall I'd have to save that I'm pretty impressed with my nails but I don't think I'll be going to that nail salon again. My nails didn't come out as perfectly as I had hoped, Ashley got skipped on the wax part because her nail ladies were too busy on their iphones texting and when I asked to have zebra print on my toes, the lady did a flower -_-.

Ashley picked the color [China Glaze] and I don't remember the name of it but it's a pretty coral color with a bit of a shimmer/sparkle to it. It went on really light and the lady had to do about 3-4 coats to get it a bit darker for me. I'm not sure if I like this color or not but I do know I don't care for the flower. lol.

Here are my finger nails with the Shellac. They didn't have too many pretty colors to choose from so it was either this one (to sorta match my toes) or a really bright, neon pink. My nails kind of remind me of Dorothy's Ruby Heels in The Wizard of Oz. haha. I'm not sure if I like the color or not. In the picture it looks a little red but it's actually pink. The boyfriend didn't like the color at all lol. He said it was too sparkly. I have to agree lol.

Ashley ended up getting a french tip shellac instead of doing a color and her's turned out pretty good. We were both amazed at how well this polish stands up to the everyday beating.


Have you used shellac nail polish??

Future Purse - Cute or Not?

I have been wanting a purse like this for awhile because it's super easy to keep clean and it's bigger than the purses I have now. Plus it's about $11. What a steal right? My boss got me a look-a-like one last year but it was a huge tote so I don't want to carry that around all over the place because it is HUGE. I mean, this thing is a big tote. I figure maybe I can just get the smaller one.

This is where I want your opinion..Is it cute or not? Should I just get it anyway cause I mean, it's $11, not going to break the bank. If I do choose to get one I'll have it custom made and I'll get either silver zebra outside or silver leopard outside. Then the inside will either be pink polka dots or silver zebra. I want your opinion.

The Bag is made of oilcloth and the one I took pictures of, we actually sell at my work. But for me to get the purse at $11, I'd have to make a custom one. If you'd like to see the pricing and purchasing info click here. This purse is very durable and is super easy to clean - simply wipe clean. Say you get lipstick on your purse...with this purse you'd simply just wipe it off with a paper towel or even a wet cloth. I love that fact about it because I'm always working on cars and sometimes I don't have a chance to wash all of the dirt off my hands before touching my purse. With this purse, I wouldn't really have to worry.

 Here I simply stuffed what I had available to me at work to show you ladies what all can fit in this size purse. It can actually hold quite a bit but the binder does take up a lot of room.

 I took everything out of the purse so I could show you the design inside. Notice that you can have the inside one design while having the pockets be another! It comes with two pretty big pockets on the side that I think are useful for holding my phone, chap stick and keys. You can also fit a small wallet and other items in the pockets. I know for me, I hate HATE HATE digging at the bottom of my purse for my house keys. Especially when I have my hands full with groceries or shopping bags. This makes it easy for me to just go to the pocket and get my keys out.

Here's a collective picture of EVERYTHING that I fit in the purse. My work binder, phone, lotion, chapstick, 3 packs of recipes cards, 1 pack of recipe sticky notes, my wallet and a thing of ramen noodles (my coworkers). I could actually have put more in there but you get the idea of how much can fit. I definitely think this purse would be great for when I'm going to movies with the friends or the boyfriend and want to sneak in my own snackies or drinks. I mean who really wants to pay $6 for a drink or popcorn. Not me!

[The boys bathroom mirror was dirty!] I figure you all would like to see how big the purse looks next to someone so here's that picture! This is my [messy hair, no makeup, crappy work clothes] picture. hahaha.


So should I get one? What prints should I go with. Here's a list of all of the available patterns and colors. If you are interested in any of these, they do have larger sizes and makeup bags and other items. Go check it out and let me know what you think!

Happy Birthday Tina!

Today is my friend Tina's 21st Birthday. Well actually, her birthday was on the 10th but she's having her get together tonight. I remember my 21st birthday..even though it was only 4 years ago LOL.

I hope she has a great one! I know she is planning on all of us getting together for dinner tonight at a Mexican restaurant and then tomorrow night everything is going to Drink Houston. Which, I will not be attending because I don't go to clubs, nor do I have the proper outfits for clubs.

Wanna see what I got her for her birthday??

She absolutely LOVES Hello Kitty. I mean, I love Hello Kitty too but she's a nut about her! I got her this beanie baby on amazon and also got her a Hello Kitty candy bracelet set and a Hello Kitty Candy necklace. I figured it was just something fun to throw in with the Hello Kitty plush. I know she'll like it.

Everyone at work asked me when she arrived if she was dirty. She's actually not! She's a cream/off white hello kitty and she's super fuzzy and soft. I think she's adorable.

Happy 21st Birthday Tina!!!!!!

Also forgot to mention

HAPPY Friday The 13th!!!!! :)

Day in the Life of a Kitty

 

All About Cars

All Photographs were taken by me