OPI Katy Perry Collection - out TODAY at Ulta stores!

*UPDATE* Click here to go to the blog post with the OPI Katy Perry collection swatches.

Hello, Beautiful!

The much anticipated Katy Perry collection by OPI is now available at Ulta stores! I went to my local Ulta (which is 45 minutes away) first thing in the morning. They didn't open until 11am, but I was here at 10:25am, and yes, I waited in the parking lot so I could be first one in the store. My husband thought I was nuts, but he went along with me to see the crazy unfold :)

I originally only wanted the glitters from the Katy Perry collection and maybe the duo chrome color, but I ended up getting one of each (I had put away money specifically for this collection, so I was able to buy them all). I picked up two other shades too, which I had wanted for awhile: OPI My Private Jet and OPI DS (Designer Series) in Opulence. Plus an Ulta polish four pack (of mini shades, from Halloween - the "Ghoul's Best Friend" set) on clearance for $1.99 (down from $7.99) and one Ulta Pro polish in Lotsa Luxe on clearance for $3.75 (down from $7.50).

After Ulta, on the way back home, I hit up a few stores and picked up even more nail polish. At a Dollar Tree I picked up a few more L.A. Color's polishes (their regular line, not the Color Craze that you always see at most of the dollar stores). At Rite Aid I found a Petites Color Fever polish for 75% off (just one shade was on clearance - Fairy Pink). And at CVS I picked up three more Wet n Wild Craze polishes (The Wonder Yellows, Gray's Anatomy, Teal Or No Teal).

My polish collection just grew by another 26 shades (bringing my polish shade count to 602).


I will post swatches of the Katy Perry collection (and other polishes) very soon.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Great nail polish finds - New Victoria's Secret makeup - My Swollen Knees

Hello, Beautiful!

Today we had to travel out to state for a car part, and along the trip home we stopped at every Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and The Dollar Tree that we could find. We also stopped at a Five Below, Icing, and Victoria's Secret.

I'm always on the hunt for great makeup deals, and today I found some pretty sweet deals. In fact, so good of deals that my nail polish collection just grew by 38 new shades!!!


So what did I get?

* At TJ Maxx I found two different Goldie nail polish sets. Each set includes 8 full sized nail polishes for just $7.99 per set!

I'm so glad I held off on purchasing these on another discount beauty site (which sold them individually for $2.99 each), because now I have 16 Goldie nail polishes for just $16 (which would have cost me $47.84 for the same amount at $2.99 each).

I love the colors and I'm really happy with the find, but one thing that bothers me like no other is the fact that these shades are un-named! GRRRR! I can't stand that!! I tried to find some sort of web reference for shade names, but I had little luck with that. Oh well, I'll just name them "Goldie #1, Goldie #2" and so on.

Also, between both sets there were three dupe shades. No biggie - they'll be a back up, end up as a gift, or put up in a blog contest :)


* At Icing I really hit the jackpot! I've never had the chance to go to an Icing store, since there are none near me. But were were in four states today (Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania), so I was able to run into one (In Maryland, I believe).

I picked up two colors from their current line, which were buy one get one half off - a deal good enough for me! But then, just as I get in line to check out, I hear my husband say "Crystal, turn around... look at the clearance rack". And there it was: 5 for $5 nail polishes!!!!  It just happened they had 10 shades available in the clearance bin, so I picked up 10 Icing polishes for just $10 (regular price is $4.50 each) - I just saved $35 just on the 10 polishes themselves, plus an additional $2.25 on the half off polish! Woo Hoo!


* At Five Below I picked up three Funky Fingers polishes - which are 3 for $5. This Five Below actually didn't have many polishes to choose from, which was a disappointment. But I did find one really pretty Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear polish (a black with silver and multi-colored glitter that I can't wait to swatch).


* I made purchases at two Dollar Tree's. At the first Dollar Tree I found these great L.A. Colors Nail Dazzling! sets. Each set includes a mini nail polish and two glitter pots (jars). I love glitter - especially on my nails - so I picked up two of each set they had (three different sets to choose from). Of course, just $1 per set (duh - it's the dollar store!).

At the second Dollar Tree I ran into some Sally Hansen polish, sold 2 per pack. I think I picked up 4 packs. Each pack was different with what it included, some Xtreme Wear, a Maximum Growth formula, a Diamond Strength, and then there are the Star Opal Nail Glazes - which I haven't heard of and never used, so I'm really excited to go swatch them. Again, just $1 per set of 2 polishes. I did get two dupe colors, which again will probably end up in a contest on this blog.


* And finally, I stopped by Victoria's Secret (I had a gift card) and picked up two makeup finds. The first is one of their new Perfect Lipstick's in the shade Instinct. This is such a pretty nude shade! The perfect pinky nude to wear with smoky eyes. It goes on super smooth, semi-sheer yet plenty of color, and it feels good on my lips (moisturizing, not drying at all). This was $14.

Then, while in line (the lipstick was going to be my only purchase), I saw they had a new makeup palette out. This was the "Shimmer Lights Eye Kit" for $15 (they have a purple one and a green one available - I chose the purple one). The kit includes 6 eyeshadows, one cream highlighter shade, and one cream eye liner.

The shadows are just what I like to wear! Pretty grays, taupes, and violets. I will do swatches on this soon because it is so pretty!!

The green palette was also pretty - but I liked the purple one way better (I'm sure I'll get the green palette eventually).


That completes my day of deal hunting!


And on a personal note...

I'm not really sick anymore, but I still feel a little run down. My voice is also almost completely gone right now. I'm sure tomorrow it will be gone. This normally happens to me after I get a bad sore throat and it lasts several days. Fun times.

So, I have swollen knees...

I've been having major issues with my knees since last weekend. They are swollen... like tree trunk swollen! So swollen that just sitting down (bending them) or having to get up (making them straight again) is one of the most painful things I've ever felt.

I don't know what I did to them exactly. The only thing I can think of is last weekend I moved a bunch of furniture around. The pain started the next day and has been here ever since. So I guess I did something, I just have no idea what I may have done to them.

Getting in and out of the car hurts. Sitting down to pee hurts. Getting up from the toilet feels impossible. Seriously, I thought today I would be stuck on a public toilet because it was so low that I barely made it back to standing (and I let out a small groan/scream of pain while trying to stand up... which followed by strange looks from other people in the bathroom when I came out of the stall, haha).

Then today I also thought I'd be stuck down on the ground in the dollar store. I had to get down to see something and on my way down I felt like I ripped every ligament, tendon and muscle in my knees. Getting back up was worse. I had to rely on a store shelf, which I pushed all my weight down on just to stand back up (I was sure the shelf would break, but it didn't, thankfully).

For the past week I've been icing my knees and trying to stay off of them, but that isn't possible at all times. I mean, I have a business to run and I have a 5 year old to take care of! But when I can I do prop my knees up to try and reduce the swelling and at night I also sleep with pillows under my knees. Nothing has taken the swelling away, so I have no choice but to go to the doc on Monday.

According to my grandmom, who has had this done a few times, they will need to drain the water from my knees and inject some sort of medicine. Just hearing that makes me want to run and hide. But I also know that I like to sit, stand, walk, and move like a normal person without pain in my knees. So because of that I will do what I need to do. This pain is ridiculous.


Tomorrow the Katy Perry OPI collection is released at Ulta stores. I will be there, swollen knees and no voice, when they open so I can get the shades I want. But then I will do nothing tomorrow but prop my knees up, ice them, and stay off my feet!

Wish me luck at the doctors on Monday. I'm seriously freaked out!

Sephora Haul - Plus, ValentineKisses.com FREE Beauty Bonus!

Hello, Beautiful!

Before I get into my Sephora haul, I want to remind you about our awesome FREE 5-pc Beauty Bonus and 10% off your order of $40 or more! Some of you have already taken advantage of this great deal. Don't miss out! The 5-pc Beauty Bonus has a retail value of $25+! They are all FULL SIZED products! This offer ends November 26, 2010!

Check out this page for all the details!



Now onto the Sephora haul...

I've placed three orders this week at Sephora. I know that sounds like a lot, but let me explain. The first order was just for the Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation in shade M30, and of course I wanted free shipping so I added some nail polish to my order so I'd qualify for free shipping. I also wanted that free beauty clutch with the samples :)  That was order #1.

Then I received a Sephora event invite in the mail with a 20% order code. I NEVER get my Sephora mail promos on time. The event was over days before I received the invite, which made me mad because I always miss out on all the events because they never send out the invites early enough! But I did still have a few hours to use the 20% off code, and I'll never pass up the opportunity to say 20% at Sephora! I ended up getting the Beauty in a Box: NARS Junkie set (which is $69 and is now out of stock - I'm glad I got this while I could!). I'll do a post on that set once I receive it in the mail (which should be tomorrow or Friday). That was order #2.

And finally, the third order I placed today because they have a lot of great items in the sale section! I took the opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts for my friends and family. I picked up some little stocking stuffer kits for my friends and family (one in Pink Grapefruit, one in Vanilla Cupcake and one in Coconut Cream). At $7.50 each, they make a really affordable gift! I picked up Urban Decay Loose Pigment shadow in Baked for a gift. It's only $5. I already own two of these, which I like, and this shade is a good color for just about anyone on my gift list. also picked up some things for me: Tarina Tarantino Magic Hour Cream Shadow in Black Diamond, on sale for $9.50! I wanted to get the purple shade too, but I read too many bad reviews about that shade. At least with the black I can use it as a shadow base or a liner. I also picked up an Urban Decay shadow duo in Grind/Oil Slick, for just $10! Those shadows retail for $19 each, so that is a really great deal! If I were you I'd pick these up for $10 while you can! Not many duos left and they were $19 for two just a few weeks ago! Plus, they have a new sample offer - which is a free Get-Away tote with 10 free samples. Use the code GETAWAY (must spend $25 or more). And that was order #3.

I swear I don't typically place that many Sephora orders in such a short time! I will admit that I do spend too much there, but I've been really selective lately with my Sephora orders. I usually only place a Sephora order now if there is a great sale or special price on something (like their weekly specials), and of course the great free gift offers!

Full reviews of all the products from my Sephora haul (minus the products I'm keeping as gifts) will be posted soon! And, I may have picked up an item or two for part of our Twelve Days of Beauty contest (coming December 1st)... but I won't say what those items may be :)


On a personal note...

I had to get another epidural nerve block yesterday! This one was 100 times worse on the pain scale. This time they did a traditional labor & delivery epidural (going through the middle of my back), but they aimed it to the left side, over my left butt cheek and down my left leg. And all I can say is OUCH! Sure, all you feel is pressure... but wow.. the pressure was intense! It felt like they took a baseball bat and shoved it down my leg... then took another baseball bat and did the same thing... and then another, and another! Wow... I've never felt something like that before. That epidural made the last one seem like a tickle party, and made the epidural when I was giving birth seem like nothing! I really, really, really hope this one works (the last one did absolutely nothing for me). If it doesn't work the next step is going to be really painful and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

Today I am SO sore. I'm taking it very easy today, as it still hurts to bend, twist, or reach. I should know by the end of the weekend if it helps or not. I'm not a highly religious person, but if you are, please pray for me and that my leg pain will go away. I've had this leg pain for going on 3 years at the end of this February. It has totally taken over my life and the way I have to live my life. I'm just sick of it!!

Makeup Haul

Hello, Beautiful!

Once a month we go on a big grocery stock-up trip. We normally go to Wal-Mart for everything except fruit, veggies, and meat. The trip is long (taking us 2 to 3 hours normally) and the bill is high, but the amount of groceries we get usually lasts us 3 to 4 weeks (with going out to eat once a week). We still have to do mini grocery trips for things that run out/expire quickly - like milk, bread, fruits, and veggies... and Red Bull :)

I'm a crazy coupon user too. I have a binder full of them - all organized by type of grocery. We usually save between $50 and $100 in coupons in one visit depending on what we're buying - which is really great and is the reason we can afford to do those extra little fun things (like going to the movies). Usually the only way I'll buy makeup in a grocery or big-box store is with a coupon. I'm just too cheap! I think running ValentineKisses.com has really spoiled me. I know what good deals are out there and I hate paying full price for anything.

In today's shopping trip I picked up a few beauty items, which I'll try out over the next few days. I'm really excited about the Rimmel nail polish. I'm in love with gray polish - especially China Glaze polish in "Recycle" - but the Rimmel gray polish looks like a lighter shade of gray that looks so pretty! I think I'll paint my nails tomorrow afternoon, after I pack up and ship out all weekend orders.


Here's the haul:

I had a $5 off $10 coupon for Wet n Wild products. It was only after I got these polishes home that I realized I already have one of them! Oh well, no biggie. I'll probably pass it onto my nieces.

Going from left to right:
* Wet n Wild Craze Nail Color in #236 Lust
* Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in #206B Undercover
* Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in #213 RedTape
* Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in #209B Candy-licious
* Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in ##208A Through the Grapevine
* Wet n Wild Wild Shine Nail Color in #460D Kaleidoscope


I also had a Eucerin coupon, which I needed to use because it's the best lotion to use for tattoo healing. I had a sample pack of Eucerin that I've been using, but I've been out for a few days so I picked up the small 4.2 fl oz size and used a $2 off coupon I had for it. And although I already have the L'Oreal primer, I had a $2 off coupon so I decided to stock up (since I love that primer - you can read my review on it here). I also had a coupon for the Rimmel foundation, which was $1.00 off - although I'm really unsure of the shade, the coverage, or the wear. No coupon for the Rimmel polish or Hard Candy polish.

Going from left to right in the photo above:
* Hard Candy Mini Nail Color w/ heart shaped nail file. This polish doesn't have a name listed on the bottle, but it's just a clear polish with silver chunky glitter.
* Eucerin Intensive Repair lotion.
* Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in #805 Grey Matters
* L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base (primer)
* Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation in #303 True Nude


I also found these cute little bubble baths/shower gels at Wal-Mart in their holiday gift isle. I don't plan to keep these for myself; they're part of my nieces Christmas gift. They actually smell really good and they're super cute - but then again, I love cupcake shaped/themed items! I almost picked one up for me, but I know I'd never use it and it would just sit in my shower looking cute and making me hungry for cupcakes!

Besides my little Wal-Mart haul, I also placed a Sephora order. I really wanted that free clutch with samples (free with any $25 or more purchase). A year ago I ordered Cover FX cream compact foundation (that's not the exact name of it but I can't think of the exact name at the moment). I loved how full coverage it was and the finish (slightly dewy, yet still natural), but the shade wasn't right for me at all. It was too light. I exchanged it for a different foundation and brand all together, even though I wanted to try a different shade. But now that my skin is awful again I need that complete coverage so I'm going to give it another go. This time I ordered a shade darker than last time. I also ordered some nail polish there (one of the Sephora by OPI polishes and three Sephora polishes that were on sale for $1).

Swatches and reviews of all the products in the haul will come to the blog soon!

Also...

The website was not updated last night (Sunday) but it will be updated later this evening. If you order today and quality for the shopping promo that is still listed on the website you will still receive it (even though it says the offer expired yesterday). A new shopping promo is coming soon (another free gift offer).