POSHVICE

Just wanted to throw up a quick notice to those of you who may not be aware - the Bath & Body Works website has lots of stuff discounted at the moment. You can grab hair products for $5/each (I grabbed one of each of the moisturizing shampoo/conditioner in Sweet Pea), most of their home fragrance oils are knocked down to $4/each (with all my stinkybutt dogs, I’m addicted to home fragrances, so I scooped up oils in Vanilla Coconut, Melon Sorbet, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Fresh Linen, and Black Raspberry Vanilla. Also got two Wallflower refills in the new Pineapple Orchid scent - the double pack is on sale for $6 right now).

Lastly, they have a REALLY cute pink & green Goldie tote bag full of various skincare samples that you can score for $20 with any order of $20 or more - BUT I found a promo code (enter 6805 at checkout) that knocks the price down to $10, so hell yeah.

Just wanted to share in case anyone else wanted to take advantage of the low prices!

I found this via another blog and received my free sample today, so this is legit (although there wasn’t much doubt, it’s from the official Escada website, after all) & I thought it was time to pass on the goodies to y’all!

Escada releases limited-edition fragrances pretty regularly, and the current one is called “Moon Sparkle” - supposedly “evoking memories of hot summer party nights filled with a sexy, magical intensity where anything is possible, Moon Sparkle for Women is the essence of summertime. Captured here, to be enjoyed year round, is an luscious mix of irresistible sweet red fruits and delicate florals, infused by a sensuously smooth base of creamy woods.” Or so the description at Sephora says!

Anyhow, I’m usually not really into overly fruity scents, because they have a tendency to turn generic and headache-inducing with my body chemistry, but the notes in this one (Strawberry, Blackcurrant, Citrus Cocktail, Red Apple, Sweet Pea, Freesia, Jasmine, Rose, Raspberry, Musky Notes, Sandalwood, Dry Amber) sounded really intriguing. I was imagining a mix between Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s Mora Bella and Bath & Body Works’ Sweet Pea fragrances - both of which are favorites of mine - and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve been wearing my sample of Moon Sparkle for about an hour now, and it’s really pleasant… unique, light, fruity with a hint of creamy musk. I may have to invest in a full-size bottle, we’ll see.

So, if you want your own free sample, just fill out the form here at Escada’s website. They’ll send you a cute postcard with one of those little towelettes moistened with the fragrance attached - enough for one or two applications. Enjoy!

I’ve been devoted to my same red Dooney & Bourke Wayfarer bag for multiple seasons now - it’s just so timeless, gorgeous, and the perfect size. Unfortunately, after so much use, it’s starting to show its age - so, just in time for spring, I’m on the prowl for a new handbag. Here are some contenders.

I’m into green (both the color and the lifestyle), and this bag from quirky e-tailers Fred Flare is both adorable (pandas!) and charitable: a portion of all the proceeds from the sale of this bag are donated to the World Wildlife Fund. I’m down with that. Plus, I figure this style of tote is a must-have for those days when you’re rocking the super-casual, summery look - flip flops & jeans, y’know? And as a bonus, the tote is big enough that it can double as an earth-friendly grocery bag in place of paper or plastic. Also, today only: use the coupon code GREEN at checkout for 25% off your entire purchase. Ends today at midnight!

On the pricier end of the shopping spectrum, we have this divine canvas tote from handbag mega-name Coach. I love the combination of pastel pinks & cocoa browns, probably because it reminds me of Neopolitan candies and ice cream - it’s always been one of my favorite color schemes. I’m also seriously digging on the equestrian-inspired horse-drawn carriage logo. Very preppy/ladies who lunch, and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s WASP-ish without being too stuffy and old - and to me, at least, it just positively screams warm weather. The most expensive of the bags featured today, the Bleecker clocks in at $298.

The Emerald Eye Clutch from Baby Phat is strictly for the most glam of girls among us: luxe patent leather and a silver metal logo embossed with a cheetah makes this clutch seriously unique. I’m so tempted to make a “Julie Cooper, Urban Cougar” joke, because you KNOW she’d be all about this clutch when it came to a night out on the town… and on the prowl. This sexy clutch will run you $89 at babyphat.com, if you’re interested.

Returning to the more casual & daytime spring/summer look, I really love this sweet blue seersucker clutch from Amici Accessories. It’s perfect for those sunny days where you’re not seriously dressy, but not quite casual enough for just a canvas tote bag. And how cute is that big knotted bow? At only $26, this is an absolute steal.

Another attention-grabbing bag for a night out - the Candy Girl Signature Mini Hobo, also by Baby Phat. I’m usually not really big on metallics, but something about this bag does it in such a way that I actually dig on it. Plus, it kind of reminds me of Jillian Lewis’ design for the WWE Divas challenge on Project Runway, and I love me some Jillian. But yeah, this strikes me as a really good bag for a night at the clubs - cute, fun, but with a little bit of luxe to keep it evening-appropriate. And it won’t break the bank at only $49 - also available from babyphat.com, obviously.

Last but certainly not least, another sweet tote perfect for the spring and summer. I’ve always been a big fan of lace, when used in moderation - it reminds me of growing up in Southern California, because of the sort of handmade Mexican feel it can lend to an accessory. I don’t know, that might be an association that’s unique to me because of where I was raised, but regardless… I love this bag. Supposedly it also doubles as a clutch when you fold it, thus why it’s called the Convertible Lace Tote - very clever. Not a bad purchase for only $29.50 from Alloy - a catalogue I remember looking at back in high school! I guess some tastes don’t always change, huh?

That’s it for now… hope y’all enjoyed my random tour of possible additions to my spring & summer accessory rack, and feel free to comment with your opinions & recommendations!

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I’m part of an e-mail list that sends out constant freebie notices; I figured I’d start putting together a monthly (possibly bi-monthly, who knows) post full of the most recent & awesome-sounding freebie offers that end up in my mailbox. Most of these just require an ACTIVE e-mail address, though I’d recommend getting an email address dedicated solely to freebie offers… they do tend to generate spam, which sucks… but hey, free stuff.

Free Almay Lipstick - A fantastic female targeted offer. Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive a free sample of Almay Hydracolor Lipstick. Email address required.

$200 K-Mart Gift Card - Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive a free $200 Kmart Gift Card. Email address required.

Turbo Tax Software - It’s tax season again. Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive Turbo Tax Software free. Email address required.

$250 Old Navy Gift Card - Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive a free $250 Old Navy Gift Card. Email address is required.

Maybelline Volum’ Mascara - This is for a free sample of Maybelline Volum’ Mascara. Two-page sign up form.

L’Oreal Glam Shine - Get shiney, kissable lips. This offer is for a free sample of L’Oreal Glam Shine lipgloss.

12-IN-One Multi-Vitamins - Not getting enough vitamins in your life? This offer is for a risk free 30 day trial of the 12-IN-One soft gel multi-vitamin. Nutrients include Vitamin A, C, E, and all the B’s, Calcium, Omega-3 and much more. Cost to the consumer is $7.95 for S&H [EDIT - It just dawned on me that these are by the guys who make Irwin Naturals… I’ve used supplements from them before & been really happy].

Wired Magazine Subscription - For your completely free subscription to Wired Magazine magazine without commitments of any kind, simply fill in your information below. Note a valid email address is required as a confirmation email will be sent to you. USA only.

Godiva Chocolate - Indulge your sweet tooth. Surfers who sign-up for this offer can get free Godiva Chocolates.

Revlon Colorstay Lipcolor - Surfers who sign-up to this offer can get a sample of Revlon Colorstay smooth and soft lipcolor. Two-page sign up form required.

FINAL THOUGHT: I gotcha HDMI cables right here.

I hate most foundation. It’s usually heavy, clogs your pores, and can look really cakey if not applied just right. So when I was recently searching for a new foundation, I looked into mineral makeup. It’s extremely popular right now, mostly because it’s supposedly good for your skin, doesn’t cause breakouts, and looks extremely natural while providing amazing coverage.

I was told by almost everyone that I asked that the way to go was Everyday Minerals. Reason being not only that their products have a great reputation, but for new customers, they offer a free sample kit - just pay $3.65 in shipping and you get substantial samples of three foundation shades, one blush shade, and one concealer shade.

The best part is that what shades you receive is completely up to you - so you can figure out what works with your skin tone, but don’t have to try out the generic “light, medium, dark” samples that most companies give out. I ended up deciding that a blend of Cool Medium & Golden Olive works best for my skintone. You can also choose which formula you need for your skintone: Semi-Matte, Matte, Intensive, or Original Glo. I personally find the Original Glo to be my favorite, but I do have some samples of the Intensive formula for when I need more coverage.

All in all, I’m really happy with Everyday Minerals and recently ordered full-sizes of both the foundation shades I use and the Sunshine concealer (it’s wonderful for brightening the undereye area). The coverage is great, the finish is silky-smooth, and it looks natural and not at all cakey. If you’re in the market for new makeup, this is definitely an offer to take advantage of.

FINAL THOUGHT: Need some maternity clothes?

If you haven’t been able to tell yet, I’m a total Sephora addict! My weaknesses tend to be skincare and fragrances, and because of this I signed up for their “Beauty Insider” newsletter & thus I get lots of coupon codes e-mailed to me. I thought it’d be a nice thing to share some of the recent promos with y’all, so here goes:

ADVANCED: Enter this code at checkout, and you’ll score a .25 fl oz deluxe sample of the new Advanced Eye Area Therapy from Perricone. That’s a $48 value, considering that the full-size is .5 fl oz and retails for a whopping $95 - so if you need a new eye cream, get on this promo ASAP! I just got my sample a few days ago and a little goes a long, long, long way.

GLOSSRING: Entering this code will net you a silver lip gloss ring, with a smoky quartz-esque stone that flips open to reveal a shimmery bubblegum pink lip gloss. Supposedly a $30 value… it says with any purchase, but be aware that I had to spend $50 before it would let me use the code. But still, it’s a nice freebie.

FREE SAMPLES: No code for this, just make sure to check the three free samples you’d like before you checkout! The selection of samples is constantly changing, and sometimes they’re quite generous.

BOSCIA: This code only works if you are already purchasing Boscia’s Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment & their Green Tea Blotting Linens. If you are, the code grants you a travel size of their Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF 15 Moisturizer. I recently tried a few Boscia samples, and I was really impressed, so I’m planning on taking advantage of this deal soon.

STELLA MCCARTNEY PROMO BAG: Not a coupon code, but this is a limited time promotion - so if you’ve been wanting to try Stella’s new all-natural skincare line (named CARE), now is the time. The Stella Tote Bag Set includes a Sephora-exclusive, 100% organic cotton shopper bag, packed with full size CARE by Stella McCartney 5 Benefits Cream & a .33 oz Stella Eau de Parfum Travel Roll-On. A $190 value for $90… not bad.

That’s all for now, though feel free to comment with any codes I may have missed & I’ll edit them into the post. Happy shopping!

FINAL THOUGHT: Click for drug treatment.

Yes, you read that right. It’s really true; I signed up at Goozex Video Game Trading and within a week received a copy of Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance for my GameCube. The game was in great condition and I didn’t have to pay a cent. Since then, I’ve become positively addicted to Goozex’s amazing trading system.

Here’s how it works: for a limited time, when you sign up, Goozex will give you 100 points free. Game trading at Goozex is done with points, and 100 points equals many low-demand games. To give you an idea: Burnout is 100 points; Perfect Dark Zero is 150 points; Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is 250 points, Oblivion Game Of The Year Bundle is 850 points, and Mass Effect is 1000 points. In other words, 100 points can get you a really quality game - no Hello Kitty Island Adventure crap-tastic games that nobody wants. The higher point values tend to be reserved for brand-new games, or games with a really high demand/availability ratio.

The best part is that with Goozex, you trade games for points - but you don’t receive your points until person you’re trading with reports the game as received. This all but eliminates scammers; if you don’t send what you say you’re going to send, you don’t get your points. The end. At this point I’ve traded about ten games, and each experience has been wonderful and easy.

I can’t recommend Goozex enough, so quit reading this and hurry over and register to grab your 100 Free Goozex Points.

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One of my favorite things to shop for is fragrances; I think I could own a hundred perfumes and still want more. Of course, price usually keeps me from realizing that dream, as scents tend to be on the expensive side - usually starting at $50 for an ounce. However, I just stumbled on a few deeply discounted fragrance lines at online beauty megastore Sephora, and the stuff is just such a steal I can’t resist sharing with y’all.

If you frequent Sephora, you know that they don’t really advertise when they’re clearing out a line; getting one of their discontinued deals really just has to do with luck and happening to stumble upon the correct line. The three clearanced brands that I know of right now are Eau de Vie (all 1.7 fl oz fragrances are going for an amazing $5 right now), Laurence Dumont (prices lowered to $10 for their 3.4 fl oz bottles), and La Maison de la Vanille, with their bath & body products priced at $5 each, and the actual 3.4 fl oz perfumes at $10). If you’re into foody/vanilla scents at all, NOW IS THE TIME, y’all!

I personally scooped up four fragrances - LMdV’s Vanille Noire de Mexique, Eau de Vie’s Pina Colada & Cappuccino with Panna, and lastly, Laurence Dumont’s Creme Brulee fragrance. It’s tempting to get even more at these prices, but I decided to exercise a smidge of self-control and stop at four (which, four perfumes for $30 - wow)… at least, for now.

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