Mini Haul: Bath and Body + The Body Shop, Plus More

Again, terribly sorry for the terrible quality! I left my camera back home during Thanksgiving break. Bad decision :( My roommate and I went to the mall today! The mall with over 230 stores... It felt like we just went to Disneyland! Our feet were so worn out. The mall was really crowded today and I saw a guy buy a giant Hello Kitty plush!

Well, here's what I bought...

Bath and Body Works

• Fresh Picked Strawberries Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap
• Peach Bellini Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap
• Kitchen Lemon Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap
• Fresh Picked Tangerines Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap

The Body Shop

• Vineyard Peach Body Butter 
• Satsuma Body Butter
• Mango Body Butter

The Lego Store

• Spiderman keychain
• Gandolf (from Lord of the Rings) keychain

The Disney Store

• Winnie-the-Pooh mug 

I couldn't find a deep cleansing version of the Fresh Picked Tangerines. Foaming soaps are fun, but I don't think they last too long :( The Vineyard Peach is a gift for my roommate, the Spiderman keychain is for my brother, and the Gandolf is for Jon :) Hopefully he won't read my blog for the next three days... I'll be done with finals and sitting at home in just three days! Yay! Oh, and the mug is for my cousin, who really loves Disney :)

The soaps from Bath and Body were 4 for $15 and the body butters from The Body Shop were 3 for $10 :) I've never bought any body butters from The Body Shop before, but my roommate and I fell in love with their fruity scents... I don't think I should add on to my lotion collection any more... 

When I got home, I tried the mango body butter and it's really great. The scent isn't too strong nor is it too weak. The butter also leaves my hands feeling very much moisturized :) I might make a separate review for the body butters, since I've never tried them before. What do you think? Should I not make a review, because it's just body butter?

Tips to Save Money During the Holidays

Source

Hey guys! I promised to make a post about saving money this season. Who doesn't need to save money during Christmas?! There's presents, Christmas trees and decorations, and food! Here are some great tips I've learned over the years (I'll probably edit this tomorrow or add some more):

1. Bring cash: If you bring cash, you basically have a physical budget. That way you won't overspend with a credit card. This is one of the easiest trick to saving money!

2. Make a shopping list: Bring a pen to check off items on your list. At the end of the day, reward yourself with hot cocoa if you bought things only on the list. This allows you to buy only what you need.

3. Shop alone: This might not seem too appealing, but shopping with a friend can make you feel pressured! Often times, friends make suggestions which are hard to say no to. Sound familiar? And what about taking your time in particular store because your friend wants to try on a million things? Shopping alone will not only keep the pressure away, you will be able to zoom through stores and finish shopping in no time :)

4. Sign up for coupons: Got an email account you don't really use? Dedicate it to email coupons from stores like Bath and Body Works, Macy's, and more. You can usually sign up for these on the homepage of the store's website. I've gotten free lip gloss from Bath and Body and free undies from Victoria Secret before! Don't feel like printing out coupons? Most stores will still accept the coupons if you show it to them on your phone.

5. Use reward cards: American Eagle and Sephora have reward cards which allows for discounts or freebies after reaching a certain amount of points. I know, it's hard to reach that goal! And to reach it, you must buy more! But just remember to swipe your reward cards every time you shop - watch those points rack up as you shop for your friends and family. And maybe, you'll be able to get yourself a little something with those rewards! ;)

6. Make it yourself: Handmade gifts are much more meaningful. A few ideas are: cookies in a glass jar (tied with a ribbon!), coupon books for your boyfriend or girlfriend, knitted/ crocheted scarves (or mittens and socks if you're good!), and jewelry! I really like the cookie in a jar idea; it's also really cute to make hot cocoa mix. To do that, fill a glass jar halfway with cocoa powder and fill the rest of the jar with marshmallows! You can add cinnamon, wafer sticks, etc.

7. Try to buy everything in one day: Dedicate one day to buy everything on your shopping list to save on gas and time. Also, this will prevent you from adding on to your shopping list! ;) That would be considered cheating!

8. Save receipts: Keep these instead of throwing them away. What if you bought a shirt in the wrong size? Or what if you accidentally bought too many glass jars for your cookies? Return them! Yes, that means waiting in line for half an hour because it is holiday season, but hey. You can save a lot of money that way!

I hope this list will do its part and save you money this year :) I honestly sat down in the library and wrote these tips down, so please credit me if you wish to share!

Happy shopping (and saving!) <3

Infinity Dress + Labor Day

Whoever designed this dress (or knows how to make it), CONTACT ME ASAP. I am in love with how many different way one dress can be worn! The navy blue and white contrast also makes it unique along with the fabric pattern. It is just too cute! 

It's good to be home, if only it's for a few days. I get good food without having to cook or wash dishes ;) But of course, I get to spend time with my family and boyfriend. Yes, we do have a long distance relationship (2 hours apart), but it's what makes us stronger. The limited time we have together is just so much more special because we don't know when we will see each other again. Of course I can't be away from him for too long; I try to come home once a month. Last school year when I dormed on campus, he came over for a few weekends. This year is a different living situation. Plus, it's risking taking his 1995 Honda Accord to see me. 

Anyways, Labor Day weekend not only means a day off from school... it means sales! I am currently subscribed to American Eagle, Forever21, Clinique, Sephora, etc. Email subscriptions are a great way to find out when sale events are going on. You can stumble upon free shipping, discounts, or sometimes even free stuff! I've gotten free lip gloss (no purchase necessary, I just brought the coupon!) from Bath and Body Works. Their lip gloss is valued about $7.50 each and one tube lasts a while. I love their minty glosses. I can't help but to lick my lips a little! ;) Shopping online is great because lots of items aren't found in-stores and clicking a button can help you sort through thousands of items, but shipping costs are such a drag. Take advantage of free shipping whenever you can :) 

There are many ways to save money over Labor Day weekend. What are your ideas?

Craving for Online Shopping

This past week has been unbelievably busy for me. I come home every day around noon and do my homework until 10pm - 1am. Minus two hours for dinner cooking, eating, and showering. I hope this madness will end soon... it's killing me!

Anyways, I have one more class tomorrow and then I'm on my way home for Labor Day weekend! :) This will be my first time home in two weeks. I'm in the need of good, delicious food. I did start my weekend early though and started window shopping online, hehehe. Come on, I've worked really hard this week. I deserve a gift! Or maybe five.

I haven't decided if I will buy them or not. Forever21.com is currently down right now. But that doesn't mean it's the end of the world! I love F21. However, it's good to have a few other favorites in mind when one store is unavailable for a while.

Take a look at my findings:

Aeropostale, $12.99 (on clearance)

Aeropostale, $12.99 (on clearance)

Aeropostale, $9.99 (on clearance)

Wet Seal, $17.99 (on clearance)

Wet Seal, $14.99

All but one were found on clearance (woohoo!), but even so, the flats are still pretty cheap. Especially since I tend to wear my sandals and flats until they cannot be worn anymore. My favorite pair is from Target. I bought them about four years ago. The bottom sole is all rubbed off and it has lost its beautiful gold color! But they are so comfortable. I've worn them through dirt, sand, rain, etc. I guess the worn look makes it feel more special. Oh, and they were only $16.99! At that price, it has lasted me for four years and it's still not broken yet. For me, shoes last many, many years. I don't mind investing in Nike sneakers (I own three pairs), but I do love finding great value for great prices.

Where do you shop at for awesome stuff and even more awesome prices?