I'm not a 100% earth friendly/green person but I try to do my part by reusing, recycling, and reducing. The best way I think I participate in doing the 3 R's is by using my favorite bag called the:
It's sturdy and holds all my groceries
Look how compact its fold is! Look how cute it is too!
You can fold it like this too but don't.
I was first introduced to the blue Flip and Tumble as a gift b/c my friend's sister-in-law made and launched it a few years ago. The designer was a Stanford Design Student and has gotten great headline. My first reaction was, "What the flip! What is this thing?" but I opened it up and ended up using it almost every day!
I've been using these bags for about 3 years now. I've RE-cycled these bags for my kids' swimming class, traveling, etc. Another friend of mine uses it as her daily purse! By RE-using them, we RE-duce the use of plastic and paper bags from the grocery market.
The bags have stayed faithful and true. It's been featured in Real Simple Magazine and Organize Magazine, Smart Planet, Paula Deen....and the press list goes on.
It's modern, chic, and earth friendly. It's so affordable for its worth go get one or 3 today. :)
One of my sisters told me about a pasta where you don't have to cook the pasta first and dump it into a tray to bake. Genius! So I tried it today. I looked in my frig and all I had was spinach, hot dog sausages, and macaroni or shell pasta.
This recipe is so easy that even a 3 year old can make it!
One jar of your favorite pasta sauce (I like Prego's Romano & Parmesan)
One box of your favorite pasta (I usually go with penne)
Shredded mozzarella
Dump the uncooked pasta in a 9x13-inch pan. Dump the pasta sauce on top. Add a jar of water. Stir. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Remove foil, top with cheese (as much or as little as you like); bake uncovered until cheese is melted. Eat.
This person kinda writes like me right? She even said "Eat." at the end. How cheesy.
Anyways. This is definitely my next potluck or new mommy delivery dish!
As you can see below, is my finished product. We added spinach, hot dog sausages, bread crumbs and cheeeeeese! We covered and baked for 35minutes and then stirred, put cheese on top, and cooked uncovered for 10 more minutes which totaled the cook time to 45 minutes.
Voila! Fini!
Here is Addy's attempt in writing the recipe. :)
I looked up uncooked pasta bake and scored 8 swagbucks while at it too! Join Swagbucks today! Do your daily searches, rack up points and earn $$$ for paypal, amazon...etc.
Today I used my first buy 1 get 1 free combo on an item. The bonus was that this item was buy two get a $5 gift card! SCORE!!! BUT I got both for free. How? I used two BOGO free coupons and each one cancelled out the other item. I know that some coupon policies have changed where you can't do it anymore but it worked for me :)
missing one yogurt b/c we ate it before we took a picture. :P
15 items and walked out $9.69
Buy 2 Schick Hydro 5 Razors at $6.49 each
Use 2 $4/1 Schick Hydro Razor coupons from the 6/12 SmartSource insert or 2 $3/1 printable coupons
Spend $4.98 (or $6.98) plus tax out of pocket
Get a $5 Target Gift Card back Free (or $0.99 each) after coupons and gift card
The above info was from the Totally Target. BUT I used BOGOfree coupon from a Sunday paper a while back. I used 2 and they cancelled each other out AND gave me $5 gift card.
Papermate Crystal pens (10-pack) — $1.02
Use $1/1 Target coupon $0.02 after coupon
Fiber One $3.64 (reg. price)
used $0.75 printable coupons from Swagbucks
sign up through my referral code: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/swagliz OR click the banner below.
Yoplait yogurt buy 10 for $6 (reg. price)
used printable coupon $0.50 off 6
Disclaimer: I'm not the best at all the links yet. As I get better I'll be a good resource for your match ups. Sorry for now but I hope you find the links to the blogs to be helpful. Most of the blogs I follow are mid-west or east coast. I'm looking for west coast local blogs so let me know if you know of any. Thanks!
The Cranberry Juice and Milk had no coupons.
Original total: $38.22
used $5 gift card from previous shopping
saved $23.53 from coupons
P.S Swagbucks is like a google.com where it's a search engine for your daily web searches BUT you rack up points and you can earn gift cards for amazon.com and other such places. Check it out and sign up through my referral link. :) I've been using it for a month before being comfortable to pass it onto you guys. My personal friend has already earned gift cards! I'm 100 points away.
I've been faced with lots of young looking comments and how I've looked tired...even after hard work of applying make up. :( BUT things are about to change. Young looking comments are flattering...but not at my age when I want to look like a sophisti-funk lady ...or at least be respected for my career.
I had dinner with a couple of my friends and one of them reminded me that she distributes make up at wholesale price...so I said, "Will work for make up!" So she sent me a box of make up for a friendly price. :) (Thank YOU!)
In the past I've invested a lot of $$$ into buying Bobbi Brown make up for maybe 10 years now. When I shared with my friend that I only use Bobbi Brown she shook her head and said, "that's too expensive and it's not good to use the same brand for everything. You have to know what's good for whichever product you're using." So~ I'm willing to convert. Don't get me wrong, I still <3 Bobbi Brown!
I love Christmas in June!!!!
She also sent a eye make up tutorial card for day and night application tips. I haven't read it but I've been using the TOO FACE eyelid primer and it's done wonders! The colors pop and hold to its true color and last long! I always struggle with people telling me that I look tired at the end of the day...or even in the morning :(
Wanna know a secret?! I went to Sephora before I got my package and asked for a sample. It's been a month and I'm still using it!!! Go get your sample today! like I said earlier, I just applied my make up the same BUT with primer and it made such a difference!
Some people have asked me if they could have a list of the make up that I received b/c they've noticed my face so here it is:
Since I've been wearing these products, I've had compliments on my complexion and make up combinations therefore, I know it's the products b/c I'm applying the make up the same way as I did before.
Thanks Nyk from Cosmetics Corner
Face Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish UVS/UVB SPF 15 w/Dermaxyl complex
Foundation: Clinique Repairwear Anti-aging make up SPF 15 (off the market now)
Blush: NARS orgasm (huh?! yes, I said orgasm...giggle)
Eye Primer: Too Face Shadow Insurance Anti-crease eye shadow primer
Mascara: L'oreal voluminous waterproof original (need waterproof make up remover)
***Warning: The liquid products go a Looong way with just a little dab. Trust me. I caked on too much my first try. :/
Bonus: She sent A & C Maybeline lip gloss! SCORE!!!!~
I should post a before and after picture too but nah. Here's a link to a make up girl I like to watch on youtube...watch her instead. This is Janet hehe, it'sJen JENN (thank goodness I'm not a big blog, she'll never read this!), From Head to Toe. (Thanks Grace for sharing this link!) She amazes me with her transformation from a little girl look when she's bare to a grown up but non-tacky make up look.
To finish this entry off I"ll share how I start my make up routine.
Lotion: Oil of Olay SPF 15 (cheap...and I was thrilled when Costco started carrying it!)
Lip: Bobbi Brown Lip Treatment SPF 15 sticks Brownie Nude (I usually wear Toffee but it's discontinued :( I buy 3 at a time) I just slap this on, it moisturizes and shines as if I have lipstick+gloss!
Lip Liner: Bobbi Brown (whichever is complimenting for the season)
Make up Brushes: Bobbi Brown...all over eye brush, foundation brush, powder big brush, eye liner brush, and blush brush. Eye Make Up: Laura Mercier Eye Book (cashmere, morning dew, baroque, and topaz are my favorite). I started to wear the Black Ebony powder eye liner using the BB eyeliner brush wet.
I typically LOVE BB gel eyeliner
but I will be converting to Lancome waterproof pencil.
I've been using my new products for a couple of weeks now and I'm loving it more than ALL the products I've used of Bobbi Brown but I continue to love Bobbi Brown (I can't wait until she starts a recycle program tho).
Final thought (really): I thought I'd feel like the make up was caked on using all this but the Smashbox primer is so light that everything feels light.
Now put on your make up and party for celebrate USA for 4th of July!
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