September 2015 – Page 2 – Adventures in Polishland

Month: September 2015

Book Review | The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester (The Curiosity House #1)

Posted on September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

The Shrunken Head (The Curiosity House #1) by Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester

Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books on September 29, 2015

Genres: Children’s, Middle Grade, Mystery, Urban Fantasy

Format: ARC

Pages: 368

Source: BEA

Goodreads: ★★★★

What you will find in this book:

– A rather attractive bearded lady
– Several scandalous murders
– A deliciously disgusting Amazonian shrunken head
– Four extraordinary children with equally extraordinary abilities
– A quite loquacious talking bird

Blessed with extraordinary abilities, orphans Philippa, Sam, and Thomas have grown up happily in Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders. But when a fourth child, Max, a knife-
thrower, joins the group, it sets off an unforgettable chain of events. When the museum’s Amazonian shrunken head is stolen, the four are determined to get it back. But their search leads them to a series of murders and an explosive secret about their pasts.

This sensational new series combines the unparalleled storytelling gifts of Lauren Oliver with the rich
knowledge of the notorious relics collector H.C. Chester.

What you will NOT find in this book:

– An accountant named Seymour
– A never-ending line at the post office
– Brussel sprouts (shudder)
– A lecture on finishing all your homework on time
– A sweet, gooey story for nice little girls and boys.

REVIEW

I got in a line to meet Lauren Oliver at Book Expo America (“BEA”) this past May and came away with this book, of which I knew nothing. What I got in The Shrunken Head is a fun children’s story that takes place in New York City in the 1930s. The setting is Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders, which just got in a new and exciting oddity – a shrunken head. This head wows audiences and drives crowds to Dumfrey’s until it is stolen. The story follows four children who live and perform at Dumfrey’s as they run around New York trying to find the head and figure out why so many people have mysteriously died since the head’s disappearance.

The Shrunken Head is perfect for fans of Clue and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, as it combines these genres in a new way. Our ‘freaks’ in the story are: Pippa, a mind reader; Thomas, a boy who can fit into any space no matter how small; Max, a knife-throwing girl; and Sam, a scrawny strongman. These four unite to save the museum they call home, and make a great cast of characters. Each child has a well-developed personality individually, but work together really well. In addition, The Shrunken Head has an extended character list that is easy to follow and keep in line.

Moreover, The Shrunken Head is very well written. I loved the funny lines thrown in, and how the mystery aspect of the story is well-crafted. There are just enough hints along the way that make the book fun for adults as well as children. That being said, I do think the storyline is a bit dark for its intended audience of 8-12-year-olds. The Shrunken Head is a murder mystery, so there is a bit of violence, and a discussion of murder and suicide. While there is nothing too graphic, if you are a parent of young children I would keep the subject-matter in mind.

One thing I do really love about the story, though, is the overall message. I think it’s great that The Shrunken Head discusses body image and being different, and how what makes a person good is not what he looks like on the outside. I definitely look forward to seeing the children in The Shrunken Head in another book soon, especially considering the ending of this one!

All in all, I really enjoyed The Shrunken Head. It is a cute and fun story, and can be enjoyed by a wide audience. I look forward to seeing the final version of the book upon its release on September 29, 2015, so I can see the beautiful artwork that is to be included (I only got sneak peeks in my advanced copy!). I definitely recommend The Shrunken Head if it sounds like something up your alley!

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My Top 5 Green Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Posted on September 14, 2015September 5, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today starts off a brand new series on my blog called #FallintoPolishland! Fall is my favorite season, and there are a lot of nail polishes that I especially enjoy wearing in the fall months. I decided to put together a few blog posts each featuring a particular nail polish family. Today I’m showing off my top five green nail polishes for fall. Green is one of my favorite colors, and I especially love it in nail polish form. Let me show you the polishes I picked out to share with all of you!

OPI – Stranger Tides [BUY]

OPI Stranger Tides is a beautiful muted green from the On Stranger Tides Collection that came out a few years back in celebration of Pirates of the Caribbean. Strander Tides has an awesome formula that is opaque in three coats. The muted shade is great for transitioning from summer to fall, and is perfect for those who don’t like dark shades. Stranger Tides is also office appropriate, as it can pass for a neutral shade.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics – Chlorophyll [BUY]

Next up is Chlorophyll from Obsessive Compulsive Cosemtics. This is a richly pigmented teal polish. Chlorophyll has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This nail polish will look great on every skin tone, and looks beautiful when paired with a gold glitter. While Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics is more of a higher end brand, the entire brand is 100% vegan and cruelty free. I highly recommend it!

Essie – Stylenomics [BUY]

The last creme formula I have to share is Stylenomics from Essie. Stylenomics is a very dark green that is nearly black. The formula is amazing and opaque in two coats. I really love Stylenomics, and wear it every fall. While this polish is from an older Essie collection, I found it on Kohl’s website! You never know where you’ll find older collections.

RUFFIAN – Hedge Fund [BUY]

Next up is Hedge Fund from the Birchbox Exclusive brand RUFFIAN. I’ve been in love with this polish ever since I received it, so if you’ve been an Adventures in Polishland reader for a while you’ve probably seen me gush over this in the past. Hedge Fund is an army green with gold shimmer. The formula is perfection, and so is the wear. It’s now only available for purchase in a kit, but if you’re interested I say go for it!

Julep – Marion [BUY]

Last but not least is Julep Marion, a deep teal polish with silver shimmer. Marion has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s perfect for fall, and for the holiday season. Marion has a super glossy finish, so you can skip the top coat and save time. Make sure to shop using Ebates to earn 5% cash back when you shop on Julep’s website.

That brings us to the end of the first #FallintoPolishland post! I hope you liked seeing my favorite green nail polishes for fall. Next week this series will continue, so make sure to follow my blog to see when those posts go live!

What are your favorite green nail polishes for fall?! Let me know in the comments!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Pipsticks Sticker Subscription | Unboxing + Coupon Code

Posted on September 12, 2015September 2, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am excited to share with you a new sticker subscription service called Pipsticks. This service sends a bundle of stickers and other stationary supplies to your door every month for just $15. As you may know, I absolutely love to decorate my Erin Condren Life Planner with stickers. Plus, I like to send out snail my to my family and friends, and I always include some stickers on the envelope. I reached out to Pipsticks and the brand graciously sent me a welcome kit to review, and is also providing a coupon code for all of you! Let me show you what to expect in a Pipsticks Subscription!

ABOUT PIPSTICKS

Pipsticks is a monthly sticker subscription with three different plans. The Kids Club and Pro Club (for adults) are each $15, and the Family Club is $35, and includes three times the amount of goodies as the Kids Club. I got a Pro Club kit to review, which comes with at least 15 sticker sheets, a quote card, a stamped postcard, and other goodies. The stickers are curated from all over the world, and I love that Pipsticks does not include character stickers. In other words, you won’t receive Disney stickers or Minion stickers. I think that is a really smart business move, because you always know that Pipsticks is including unique stickers!

UNBOXING

Let’s take another look at everything inside my Pipsticks subscription! I’ll talk a bit more about what I’m loving, what I’m not sure about, and how I plan on using the stickers. First are the stationary products: the quote card, stamped postcard, and vintage inspired postcard. I love how versatile these items are, and I think it’s amazing that the postcard comes in every kit. That way you can design a new postcard every month, and send it to a different family member or friend!

Next up are the vintage inspired stickers. I absolutely love these two sheets! Each one would be great for a weekly planner layout in my Erin Condren. I am already envisioning the washi tape and color palette I would use! The quality on all of the stickers in this kit is beyond excellent as well.

The next batch of stickers I would label fun and trendy. I’m not really loving the sheet of faces on the left, but I think the emoticons and popsicles are awesome! In addition, the Polaroid Deco Stickers are great for decorating photos, coloring in, and more. I really like how Pipsticks has such a variety!

Speaking of variety, I think these kawaii stickers are beyond cute! The full sheet will work really well in my planner, and the ‘Don’t Forget’ sticker is perfect! I’m not sure how to use the little faces yet, but they are great for journaling or scrapbooks. While I don’t use 3-D stickers often, I’m excited to discover a new creative way to do so!

Of course, the kit also includes some functional stickers, which are some of my favorites. I would love to see Pipsticks include more functional stickers in the future, but the ones I received are definitely great. The stars are perfect for highlighting important events, and the small ones can be used as bullet points. I know I’ll be using all of these in my planner!

Last but not least are these little samples of Russian nesting dolls! I love these, too! They are so cute and colorful. I use small stickers of this size to seal envelopes all the time. The little bear is especially adorable.

FINAL THOUGHTS & COUPON CODE

All in all, I’m really impressed with Pipsticks and I think it is a great value for the money. If you love stickers and stationary, this is an affordable way to receive a bunch of goodies in the mail every month. Many Etsy shops put out monthly subscriptions or kits for the same price, but you receive a lot less stickers. With Pipsticks you are still supporting a small business, but you are getting a better value. Of course, I still love Etsy shops, but if you are really on a tight budget, I think this is a great option. Pipsticks is also providing all of you with a 15% off coupon code! Use code POLISH15 at checkout. If you’re in the United Stated, shipping is included, but international subscribers will need to pay an additional shipping fee. Nonetheless, I hope you will consider trying out Pipsticks! I think it’s a ton of fun!

FIND PIPSTICKS

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

JGOB Blending Sponge for Beauty | Review + Giveaway

Posted on September 11, 2015September 11, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to bring you a review of a beauty sponge from the brand JGOB. You all know that I love the BeautyBlender, but I don’t love the $20 price tag. That being said, I’ve stuck with the BeautyBlender because I haven’t found a more affordable option that works. When I got the opportunity to try the JGOB Blending Sponge, I couldn’t resist. It is about $8 cheaper than a BeautyBlender, which is a decent savings. Let me share my thoughts on the sponge, and stay tuned to the end for a giveaway!

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

The JGOB Blending Sponge comes in 11 colors and in a screw-top travel case. I got the neon green to review. The sponge is designed to reduce waste by having the perfect density so the makeup goes on your face without getting trapped in the sponge. JGOB also designed the sponge to be soft to the touch and the perfect shape to work on all areas of the face. Finally, the sponge is easy to clean and use again.

MY THOUGHTS

As you can see, the sponge is very similar to the BeautyBlender in size and shape. It does feel very soft to the touch in my hand, but it also feels much denser than the BeautyBlender. This made me very nervous to use the product. However, I was so surprised when I went to apply my foundation! The JGOB sponge applies my foundation even better than a BeautyBlender. I definitely find that more product ends up on my face than usual, and I get a beautiful finish. The one main drawback for me is that the sponge is a bit rough on my face. I do use it damp, but it is nowhere near as soft as a BeautyBlender. That being said, I think that is a fair trade-off for having such an amazing application.

I also used the JGOB Blending Sponge with my favorite CC Cream. I didn’t enjoy that result quite as much, but it was still comparable to how it applies with the BeautyBlender. Finally, I did wash the sponge and the product came out nicely. The sponge was stained a little, but the majority of product washed out easily. I’m really impressed!

FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, I am really loving the JGOB Blending Sponge! I’ve been reaching for it to apply my foundation all the time now! I still really love my BeautyBlenders, as they feel super soft on the skin, but if you are really on a budget and want a comparable product, I highly recommend this sponge. You can buy it on Amazon HERE for just $11.97!

GIVEAWAY

Now it’s your chance to win one of these awesome Blending Sponges from JGOB! They are giving away one sponge to one winner in the United States. Please read the complete Terms & Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget before entering. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Firmoo Glasses Giveaway | Choose Your Frames!

Posted on September 10, 2015September 1, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I am excited to announce a giveaway being sponsored by Firmoo, an online store specializing in affordable glasses and sunglasses. I’ve reviewed three pairs of Firmoo glasses in the past, and now they want to give a pair away to one of my readers thanks to your support! I’ve really loved the glasses I’ve tried from Firmoo, especially the sunglasses. They are great quality, come in a variety of trendy frames, and arrive with a soft case, hard case, and mini screwdriver. It’s an amazing company to shop with when you are on a budget, but need prescription glasses! Let me show you the glasses I’ve tried, and then we’ll get onto the giveaway!

Jet Away June | Prescription Sunglasses from Firmoo.com [LINK]

Fall Office Fashion with Firmoo Sunglasses [LINK]

Firmoo Hipster Glasses Review + Work Outfit [LINK]

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Firmoo is giving away one pair of glasses with free shipping to one of you! The winner will get to choose from the Blogger Collection (found HERE). Included in the prize are the frames and standard 1.50 index single vision lenses. This giveaway is international, but you must reside in one of the countries to which Firmoo ships. You can view the full list of applicable countries HERE. Please read the full Terms & Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget below before entering. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. Thank you for your support! It’s your follows and views that allow me to give back to you with the help of brands. I really appreciate it!

This giveaway is sponsored by Firmoo, which means they are providing the prize. I am not being compensated. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Decluttering My Makeup Collection | How to Destash in 3 Easy Steps

Posted on September 9, 2015September 9, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! A few months back I did a big clean-out of my makeup collection, and shared some tips on how to destash HERE. It felt great to get rid of so much old makeup, but after my move I realized I still owned a lot of products that I wasn’t using or loving. I decided to go through my entire makeup collection a second time and toss a lot more. I wanted to share my decluttering with you again because I’ve come up with three steps to follow to make this process extremely simple. Let me show you how to clean out your beauty collection!

STEP ONE – EXPIRED PRODUCTS

I always start my decluttering process by going through my entire makeup collection and checking the expiration date on each and every product. Most skincare items will have an expiration date printed on the top, and almost all beauty products have THIS symbol printed on them to help you distinguish how long to keep open products. Of course, I also use my own judgment. Although I love the Julep lip gloss pictured above, I’ve had it for a couple years and the formula was looking all goopy. Similarly, I’ve owned the Avon eyeliners at the bottom of the photo for WAY too many years. Goodbye, expired products!

STEP TWO – DOUBLE PRODUCTS

Now that all the expired products are gone, take some time to see if you own doubles of anything. This is the time to look at products side-by-side and see if they are so similar that you don’t need to own both. I got rid of the L’Oreal eyeshadow and mini eyeshadow quad above because I own an eyeshadow palette that has these shades in it. In the same way, I own a smaller size of the Manna Kadar Sheer Glo, so there is no need to keep this big one when I rarely use it. This step is difficult, but don’t rationalize – if you own double products, get rid of the one you don’t like as much.

STEP THREE – PRODUCTS YOU DON’T USE

Last but not least is the most difficult step, and that is getting rid of products you aren’t using. I find this hard because I might use these products at some point in the future, but now is really the time for honesty. While someday I might need a blue or green eyeshadow, I’ve literally never used those eyeshadow shades since I bought the CoverGirl palette you see in the picture. In the same way, I will never use the three lip products because the shades don’t work with my skin tone even though I like them. Make a rule for yourself that if you haven’t used a product in three months, it’s time to get rid of it. I use a three month time period because makeup does expire somewhat quickly. Plus, my makeup collection has a tendency to grow quite a bit in a three month period, so that is a good number to keep in mind.

All in all, it feels great to declutter my makeup collection every few months. It leaves me with a stash filled with products that I love, and allows me to get some new goodies, too. I hope you found these tips both motivational and simple to follow. Please let me know if you would like to see an updated makeup collection tour!

How do you declutter your makeup?! Share your tips in the comments!

Book Review | Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Posted on September 8, 2015September 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Published by Broadway Books in June 2012

Genres: Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Format: Mass Market Paperback (Movie Tie-In Edition)

Pages: 555

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★★★

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media–as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents–the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter–but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

REVIEW

Wow. Gone Girl is my new obsession. Despite being late to the Gone Girl train, I managed to avoid spoilers and still find myself completely invested in this absolutely brilliant novel by Gillian Flynn. I’m sure you’ve all heard of this thrilling book in which Nick Dunne’s wife Amy suddenly goes missing on the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary by now, but I couldn’t resist sharing my thoughts with you nonetheless.

I typically avoid long books, and Gone Girl is a chunker at over 550 pages. The beginning was a bit slow at first, but once I hit around the 200 page mark, Gone Girl had completely taken over my life to the point where I couldn’t put the book down, and even carried it in my purse hoping to squeeze in a few pages whenever I got the chance. At the time of writing this review, it’s been two days since I completed the novel, yet I’m still thinking about it, and probably will be for a long time.

I’m amazed at how Flynn has created the two unlikeable characters of Nick and Amy, but still manages to make me feel sorry for them. Nick and Amy both had difficult childhoods that shaped their personalities in different ways, and while neither of their actions are excusable, I still find it hard to find them totally despicable, or even annoying. It’s rare for me to read a book in which I don’t like the characters, but still enjoy their personas.

Moreover, I am blown away by Flynn’s ability to craft a novel in the way she did. Without giving anything away in this spoiler-free review, suffice it to say that as the story developed, I was sitting there thinking “Brilliant!,” “Of course!,” and “Incredible!” at the amount of thought and detail put into the story. Flynn includes just the right amount of predictable to allow the reader to have an inkling of what’s going to happen, but still managing to stun and surprise at the same time. This is truly an impeccable piece of writing.

As for the ending, though quite unsettling and a bit off-character, I find it the perfect ending to Gone Girl. While the ultimate “winner” is not desirable, I can only imagine how things will go for these characters in the future. Flynn instills the proper feeling of fear and apprehension in the reader as her intense and unbelievable novel comes to a close.

If you were like me and waited to read Gone Girl, do yourself a favor and pick it up as soon as possible. I’ll be sure to read Flynn’s other works in the near future, and will certainly pick up anything else she releases going forward.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Julep Mystery Box Swatches | High End Nail Polish for $2

Posted on September 7, 2015September 4, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s been a very long time since I received a Julep Maven box, or even purchased anything from Julep. I’ve been on a pretty tight budget lately, and nail polish is one of those things I can easily stop buying. That being said, Julep had an amazing sale a couple weeks back called Savvy Deals. This sale included a Mystery Box with 10 polishes for $20. I was on the fence about purchasing a box, but then my mom mentioned she was interested in the box, too. We decided to each put in $10 and split the polishes! I just couldn’t resist scoring some Julep polishes for $2 each when the regular retail price is $14. Let me go ahead and show you the five polishes I picked out.

First up is Kelsey, a light peach creme polish. Kelsey’s formula is a bit difficult to work with, as were all of the creme polishes I received. It is thick, tacky, and took a long time to dry. That being said, the end result is gorgeous! I absolutely love how Kelsey looks with my skin tone. It is worth dealing with a troublesome formula for this stunning result.

Next up is Jules, a pastel pink creme. Jules also has a finicky formula, but it does dry nicely in two coats. I recommend using thin coats, and letting the coats dry completely before adding another layer. I do have other polishes in my collection that I would reach for over Jules considering the formula, but it’s still a gorgeous pink!

Julep – Princess Grace The last creme I received is Princess Grace, what Julep calls a Papaya color. Princess Grace is the biggest disappointment for me, because I love the shade, but the formula is too much trouble. Unlike Kelsey and Jules, which I could work with, Princess Grace’s formula is too tacky and thick. I had to redo my nails to get a clean look, and they still aren’t perfect. I’d stay away from this polish!

Next up is Paula, my favorite of the bunch! Paula is a purply-blue polish with gold shimmer. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is just beautiful. I can’t wait to wear this again!

Last but not least is Glam Roc, a dark purple polish with multi-colored matte glitter. Glam Roc has a Stardust Finish, which means it is a textured polish. While textured polish isn’t trendy anymore, I still really like it and was glad to receive Glam Roc in the mystery box. Glam Roc has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, plus it dries really quickly. I’m going to wear this in the fall months for sure!

All in all, I’m pretty happy with my Julep Mystery Box! I only spent $10, but I got two polishes I really love, two that are okay, and only one dud. I still consider that a win seeing as Julep retails for $14 per polish. Plus, I used Ebates and got 5% cash back! The moral of the story is, you can still own high end polishes without paying the high end price. Simply keep an eye out for deals!

How often do you shop for high end nail polish? What are your savings tips?

Is Erin Condren Worth the Price? | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on September 5, 2015September 5, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a new #PlanWithPolishland post for all of you, and I am really excited about it. I’ve been using my Erin Condren Life Planner for a little over two months now, and I am really loving it. I can honestly say it’s helped me make a change in my life, and I’m so glad I invested in it. You can learn more about the planner I purchased HERE, but today I want to talk about whether or not the Erin Condren Life Planner is worth the money. A standard 12-month Life Planner costs $50, and that price tag sounds quite expensive at a first glance. Let me show you how the Erin Condren breaks down in terms of cost, and share my thoughts on whether I think it is worth the price.

ERIN CONDREN LIFE PLANNER BY THE NUMBERS

First and foremost, let’s break down the price of the Erin Condren Life Planner (“ECLP”). For this post I will be basing my numbers off of the 12-month Ready to Ship Life Planner purchased by a first-time Erin Condren customer. If you are debating about whether or not the ECLP is for you, I’m assuming you are a first time purchaser. If not, these numbers will need to be adjusted a bit, but you are still getting a fantastic deal! The ECLP retails for $50.00, and shipping is $9.95. However, you can receive a $10 off coupon for your first Erin Condren purchase by signing up for a free Erin Condren account using my referral link HERE. Once you create your free account, you will receive an email with your coupon code. Your $59.95 purchase is already down to $49.95!

Next up, let’s take a look at all of the freebies and accessories included with every Ready to Ship Life Planner! These add up to a retail value of $22.70!

Perpetual Calendar – $5.00 [LINK]
Party Pops Snap-In Bookmark – $4.00 [LINK]
3 Compliment Cards – $1.50 [LINK]
Do-it-All Dots Sampler Sheet – $0.67 [LINK]
1 CoilClip Connecter – $0.58 [LINK]
Coupon for a FREE Cover – $10.95 [LINK to the cover design I chose]

Your first order from Erin Condren will also include two additional freebies! They have a retail value of $20.87.

Coupon Code – $10.00
10 Gift Labels – $10.87 [LINK]

If you’ve been keeping track, so far all of the freebies and accessories add up to a total retail value of $43.57. Every Erin Condren Life Planner purchase also comes with a free sticker and postcard. I would estimate the value of these goodies at about $1.00-1.50. That makes the total amount of freebies included worth $45.00! That is an excellent investment considering you only paid $49.95 out of pocket!

ERIN CONDREN LIFE PLANNER QUALITY & USAGE

Of course, the price of the Erin Condren means nothing if the quality of the planner isn’t good. Take it from me – the quality is amazing. The covers are very sturdy and laminated, and snap in and out of the planner easily. The pages are very thick and sturdy as well. The tabs included on the side for separating the months are also laminated, so I haven’t had any issues with those bending or getting damaged. Finally, the coil is very strong, too – it doesn’t bend or get messed up like regular notebooks. As you can see, the quality is top notch!

In the end, I think the Erin Condren Life Planner is 100% worth the price so long as you are going to use it! Make your planner your new best friend, and it will treat you well. After just two months of using my planner, I find that I am more organized than ever. I immediately add appointments, bills, and events to my planner, and that way I never forget about them. I also use the notes pages for shopping lists, and the monthly calendar to track my blog and YouTube posts. I am so happy I finally made the investment in an Erin Condren Life Planner. If you’ve been thinking about it, DO IT! You will not regret it.

Do you use an Erin Condren Life Planner? Tell me how in the comments or use #PlanWithPolishland on social media!

NYX Butter Gloss Reviews | Merengue, Créme Brulee, and Peach Cobbler

Posted on September 4, 2015August 30, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have swatches and reviews of three Butter Glosses from the brand NYX. I am pretty new to NYX, and am trying out the brand’s many products slowly. I am so glad NYX is now easily available at CVS Stores, and at Ulta both in store and online so I can try out these fabulous and affordable products! NYX has a vast product line, but I decided to start with the Butter Gloss lip gloss when I got a coupon for it at CVS last spring. I fell in love, and had to pick up a couple more! Let me show you the Butter Glosses I have in my makeup collection!

MERENGUE

Merengue is a pink lip gloss with cool undertones of blue and purple. Like all of the NYX Butter Glosses, Merengue has a slight vanilla scent that I really love. In addition, it packs a sheer amount of color to the lips, and can be worn alone or over another lip product. I’m not really a fan of Merengue with my skin tone, but I think it would look gorgeous with dark skin. I’m going to try layering this one to make it more wearable for me.

CRÉME BRULEE

My favorite of the bunch is Créme Brulee, a peachy-pink nude gloss that for me is a ‘my lips but better’ shade. Créme Brulee is the first Butter Gloss I purchased, and definitely my most worn. It is perfect for daily wear, and can be layered over many nude or pink lipsticks. The formula of each NYX Butter Gloss is awesome as well, because while they are a bit tacky, that slight tackiness allows the product to be long-wearing. They are comfortable to wear, and I would not label them “sticky.”

PEACH COBBLER

Last but not least is Peach Cobbler, a bright red-orange gloss. Peach Cobbler is quite pigmented, and brighter than I normally wear. It does look great with my fair skin tone, and I just need to go ahead and wear it. Peach Cobbler is a great gloss to wear any time of year as well!

All in all, I’m really enjoying the NYX Butter Gloss lip glosses. While I’m still trying to find out the perfect shades for me, I don’t mind experimenting because these glosses cost just $4.99! Plus, both CVS and Ulta offer coupons and sales on NYX on a regular basis, so you can score these for just a couple dollars (if not less!). These glosses are really great quality for the price, and I highly recommend them!

What are your favorite NYX products? Let me know in the comments!