Does it make scents?

Hey There!

There I was just walking through the Dollar Tree, minding my own business when BAM! I turn the corner and there is a display of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Brand Scented Candles.

WHAT???

My and Krispy Kreme go together! We are planning to get married and have donut babies! That just how much I love Krispy Kreme! I had no idea that these things existed! I had no idea that I could smell sweet, doughy, sugary goodness all day and not gain a pound. This is what delightful joy feels like people. I'm very excited to try these.

I have to temper all that glee with the understanding that sometimes the candles from the Dollar Tree (these are from the Star Candle Company) don't always have good room throw and some of them don't even smell all that great. It doesn't upset me because, well, they are a dollar. And they are cutsie. It would be different if they were $5 or $8 candles and I expected them to be amazing. They are $1 and if they are mediocre I'm ok.

I haven't been burning candles lately. There's been so much going on I haven't thought about it. But you can bet your Bath & Body Works stash I'm lighting these suckers up tonight!

Just stay tuned for my review. It's coming soon.

And yes, you guys are invited to me and KK's wedding.

Dollar Tree Parchment Paper, Foil and Storage Bags

Hey There!

Let's move away from makeup today. Let's talk about our homes, shall we?!

I've been in my Dollar Tree a lot lately. I normally don't go in there for paper products and such but my local Target closed so instead of traveling, I've been trying out Dollar Tree brands. Yes, the Dollar Tree has many name brands but I wanted to try brands I hadn't tried before. I wanted to see if they stood up to the stuff I had been using for years.

My first product was the Durable Parchment Paper 25 sq. ft. (Dollar Tree Brand). I bake quite a bit during the holidays. My last parchment paper lasted almost two years and cost me almost $4. It was a 45 sq. ft. roll. This one was, of course a dollar. They both performed exactly the same. There has been no difference at all. I won't pay full price for this item again -- Dollar Tree all the way.

The next item I tried was the Aluminum Foil Sheets 30 sheets, 13.39in. X 10.75in. I've never tried a whole box of Reynolds Wrappers Pop-Up Foil Sheets (25 count, 14 in X 10.25 in). I've only tried sheets from other folks home when I was preparing to go plates. In my opinion, same thing.

Before purchasing these from the Dollar Tree, I always just used foil by the roll. The kiddo and I found we were actually always using the same amount of foil when we baked things or wrapped things. The amount that we used was about the same as the amount that you get in a pop up sheet.

The Reynolds Wrap Foil that I used to purchase is the 75 sq. ft. foil. I know that it's probably more cost effective to purchase this rather than the pop-up sheets, but man! The easy and convenience of these sheets makes it such a better deal for the kiddo and me. We appreciate anything that makes our lives easier AND not cuts our hands!! You know what I mean.

Now, what I did not like was the GoodSense Zipper Seal Freezer & Storage Bags. The first one I pulled out of the box didn't even close. The second one closed but I wouldn't have put anything in it and put it in the freezer. No, I like the stiff, blue Glad Freezer Gallon Zipper Bags. They cost a bit more, yes, but I feel that my food is safe in the freezer.

So yes, yes, no. You find one thing that you didn't like. But, you know what? It only cost me a dollar to figure that out.

That's pretty nice!

Cheap Eats - Dollar Tree - Snapps brand Crispy Green Bean Fries and Mushroom Bites

Hey There!

I've been loving up on my local Dollar Trees. I have been getting decorations, snacks, pizza (OMG, the kiddo and I are going to turn into homemade pizzas!), makeup, home goods and just general stuff that I didn't know I needed until I saw them at the store. I can't remember the last time I made it out of there for less than $20.

A few weeks ago I stocked up on freezer snacks. I normally don't get the chance because unless you are going straight home (and I never am) your frozen things will thaw. This particular time I was going straight home and it was pretty chilly outside. My frozen foods made it home safely.

Two of the frozen goodies that I purchased were the Snapps brand Crispy Green Bean Fries and Mushroom Bites. I like fried mushrooms from grills and pubs so I thought these two would be great to try. And who can beat the price ($1)?

Well, first let's look at the picture and then the actual cooked items. The mushroom bites look the same but the crispy green bean fries look NUTHIN' like the picture. I guess that's okay because they tasted nuthin' like they should have. The tasted like steamed green beans with a drizzle of old oil on them. The coating wasn't on the beans. It was off to the side of the beans. They weren't good at all. I trashed them. I don't recommend them.

The mushroom bites were a bit better. They were mushroom pieces shoved together to make a mushroom shape. The batter coating stayed on but didn't offer much in the way of flavor. I at least finished my serving but I didn't save the leftovers.

I just don't think these two items were good. I was hoping that I'd have yet another great dollar find. This wasn't one.

Brush Up On It!!

Hey there!

I mentioned that I was going to take the hair donut that I bought from Dollar Tree and try using it to clean my makeup brushes. I've seen a new brush cleaner that's out (Vera Mona Colour Switch Solo is the one I found) and folks have said that the dupe for this is the hair donut. I'm all for an easier way to clean my brushes. And, a dollar is a great deal...if it works. 

Again, I picked up my hair donut at Dollar Tree (for $1) and squeezed it into an empty candle jar. I ran my makeup brushes across it to aid in the cleaning process. Wanna know what I discovered?

Concealer brushes are pretty strong. They stood up to the hair donut. I put some brush cleanser (dawn dish liquid and a touch of olive oil for conditioning) on the brush and swirled it around the donut. It still took just as many wash and rinse times as it normally does when I wash them against the palm of my hand. The friction of the donut works pretty nicely for the concealer brush.

And that's it for the good stuff about the dupe. I used the donut with my e.l.f. Angled Blush Brush. Arggggg! It made the brushes go every which way. I think the bristles are too soft for the hair donut, which makes me wonder if they are too soft to use with the Vera Mona.

In my opinion it just wasn't good. I will keep using the palm of my hand for now. If something new comes along, I'll try it but this was not the way to go for me.

Making a House a Home - Stor It Vacuum Storage Bag

Hey There!

I realized I've neglected my Making a House a Home series (ha! one previous post). I can't do that to you good people. Some of you are just waiting to see what you need to do to perfect the place that you live in! If you guys are waiting on me, you poor dears, you probably need to pick up a proper house decorating magazine. You know I don't have any decorating sense! My house theme is "beach front property". It has been that for five years.

But I digress. For those of you that find my house and home posts insightful (or just plain funny) I have a find for you.

I found this Stor It Vacuum Storage Bag at my local Dollar Tree. I had heard so many YouTubers tout its fantasticness. I decided that I needed to try this baby out. With this being only a dollar, it could be the discovery of the year. The kiddo has a ton of clothes and each season, she trades things out. Right now she has three boxes over flowing with summer clothes. I, on the other hand, moved my summer clothes to a 2 foot space in my closet (#ImTheMomIssues).

This Stor It Vacuum Storage Bag said that it gives you three times more space, it's airtight and waterproof and great for storing pillows, bedding, soft toys, clothing and towels. I'm just interested in clothing right now and I have no plans on testing the waterproof theory.

The instructions tell you to pack the bag, close the bag, unscrew the valve cap, suck out the air with a vacuum and screw the valve cap back on. So, I did just that. Except, I don't have a vacuum with a circular hose. My hose is rectangular. So, I opened a bit of the bag and sucked out the air that way and you know what?

IT WORKED!!

Originally when I filled the bag with clothes, It was 8 1/3" high. I didn't count what I put in there but it was the contents of a full paper box. When I sucked the air out, it was 6 1/2" high. I forgot to measure the length of the bag pre and post vacuum, but I can tell you that there was about 2" of shrinkage. That's quite a bit. No, that doesn't seem like 3 times the space BUT when you look at the airless bag, you realize that you can take 2 of these and put them upright in the empty paper box. I do think that it gives you twice the space but not 3 times the space.

But let's be honest. This is a $1 bag. If I can purchase 3 of these and make room for the kiddos off season clothes, my off season clothes and maybe the scarves and gloves that you don't need, then it is certainly worth it.

My vote is that you run out to your dollar store and pick up 2 or 3 of these bags. I think you will be as impressed as I was.

It's A Haul Y'all! - Dollar Tree

Hey there!!

I thought we'd have a little fun today and talk about what I bought at the 4 Dollar Tree's that I went to. Now, I won't talk about all of the food items that I purchased because some went in the freezer and some went in my tummy, you know the drill. But, after I spend a few weeks trying some of the freezer items and food items that are new to me, I'll come back and tell you folks what I thought of them.

It has been a while since I've done a Dollar Tree crawl (like a pub crawl but sober and nothing to do with alcohol so, not like a pub crawl at all). There are 2 Dollar Trees near me but they don't always have what I want so sometimes I have to travel in order to find fun things. That's what I did this time.

I'll start off with the cleaning type stuff. I didn't need much but I have seen everyone and their mother use the Electronics Wipes. It says you can use them on cell phones, televisions, laptops, tablets and more. So far I've used them on my laptop, cell phone and the TV. They worked. The stuff is clean. For a dollar, I have no complaints at all. I also got Spic and Span Fashion Long Cuff Latex Gloves (for cleaning) and 2 sets of 2 green, square plastic bins. I like to hide things in bins and these are perfect for that. They are nice  and sturdy.

Next are my health and beauty aid products. I picked up a brush and comb set for the hair brush. I have fine baby hairs that stick up in the front of my hair and on days when I decide to rock a ponytail I have to slick them down a bit. This brush is the perfect size and the bristles are just right. I'll probably toss the comb. It's too small and hard for a human to use. I picked up an L.A. Colors nail polish in Wired. It's the perfect Tardis Blue for my toes. I'm a HUGE Dr. Who fan and I do polish my nails in Tardis colors when Dr. Who comes back on for the season. Doesn't everyone?

I picked up a cute slanted tweezer to keep at work because...well...sometimes I get hairs in embarrassing places. There! I've said it. I have the occasional beard and side burn hair and I need to take care of the situation! Don't judge me!

You see that hair doughnut? I'm not going to use it in my hair at all (nor is it an edible doughnut -- such a terrible name). I've heard many people talk about how they use this to clean their makeup brushes. I plan on trying it out. I'll let you know how it works.

Everyone has been going on and on about the Valentines items that have come out at the Dollar Tree. The YouTubers say that you have to get in early and get out quick if you want anything. I only wanted a few things. I have a pair of Valentines socks pictured (and a regular pair too) but I also picked up 2 other pair for the kiddo. I also got 3 types of washi tape because I do decorate my planner as well as my calendar at work. I can also decorate almost anything with washi tape. You can just peel it off when you get tired of it. The candle holder isn't exactly Valentines-ish but it was the last one that they had and I wanted it.

Last but not least are just a few random things. Yes, those are Double Chocolatey Rice Krispy Treats and Lance Lem-O-Lunch cookies. The kiddo likes the Rice Krispy Treats and I love the Lemon cookies. Don't sleep on snacks at the Dollar Tree!

I picked up wine themed napkins because my Wine Club occasionally reads books. Wait. No, my Book Club occasionally drinks wine. Yes. That's right.  I also picked up silver sparkly flickering effect LED Tealight Candles because, why wouldn't you? I put one in my silver candle holder and it's darling! They aren't bright enough to bring home a ship in a storm or to read by but they are nice and could be considered romantic.

And that's what I bought from 4 different Dollar Trees. Like I said I did pick up some food items but I'd like to review each item and let you know what I thought. I can tell you that while not everything is a bargain at Dollar Tree, it's always fun to shop there!

If It Smells Too Good To Be True, Is It?

Hey There!

I hope you good people had a GREAT Thanksgiving! I hope you got the hugs and food that your heart desired. If you didn't get a big ol' hug, come in close. Come on, get over here, I'm gonna hug you!

SO now we are all hugged up, let's talk about some fragrance. Have you seen these at Dollar Tree and run away from them? Me too. I mean for a dollar, what kind of scent are you going to get and exactly how long is that gonna last? Everyone knows you can't get a good fragrance from Dollar Tree! Guess what? Everyone is wrong.

A few of my Dollar Tree haul folks on YouTube kept saying I needed to try them out. I always hesitate with fragrance because I'm picky (with everything). I like sugary sweet scents and musky scents. I had seen the little $1 mini duo's before but passed right by them. After watching several reviews, I thought what the heck?!  I picked up 3 of them.

I purchased Too Much ("Our impression of Tory Birch"), Stunner ("Our impression of Bombshell by Victoria Secret") and Touch ("Our impression of Coach Love Coach"). The glass bottles contain.3 fl oz of perfume and the lotion container contains .9 fl oz of lotion. And, of course, each duo is $1.

Stunner was just TOO powerful for me. It is a strong scent. Too Much is better but I can only use a little bit. I liked Touch a lot. It's a lighter fragrance and seems "florally sweet". By that, I mean it's not candy sweet but a light floral scent that's sweet (sorry folks, that's the best I can do with perfume descriptions!). Now, while the perfume roll-ons differed in intensity, the small lotions did not. They all were very lightly scented and I could handle them all. This is perfect because they are tiny enough to fit into my wristlet and the smell isn't overpowering. They are a touch watery but it's not bad. They aren't a cream or ultra hydrating but they aren't meant to me.

And all of these fragrances last. I've heard people say that they don't last more than 30 minutes or have a strong alcohol scent. I just don't find that to be true. Yesterday I wore Too Much. I put it on at 1:15pm and when I got home from eating and then shopping, the scent was still there. That was about 10:30pm. The lotion lasts a while, but I wash my hands 9 million times a day so you aren't going to last through that. But, it's ok.

Would I purchase these again? I think so, even if it's only for the purse sized lotion. I think the perfume is a nice little trinket to have in your desk at work in case your forgot to put on some smell good before you left the house. Now remember, the bottle is glass so it doesn't travel well. That is definitely a downfall. The lotions are great and you can keep them everywhere.

It's A Haul Y'all! - Dollar Tree, Marshall's, Big Lots & Ross

Hey there!

It's been a while since I posted an honest to goodness, random haul. I spent Saturday morning in the streets and the result is a trunk full o'goodies!

BATH AND COSMETICS - I made a point of stopping into my local Dollar Tree because one of my YouTube Gals, Frugal, Fun & Fabulous (if you aren't watching her, you are making poor life choices) recommended the Daily Defense Body Wash with Argon Oil. I'm excited to try it because it does smell really good. She also found some really cute tote bags and I found the one that you see as a background in all the pictures. Isn't that cute as a button?! Yes it is! I also got my e.l.f. Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara. I actually use both sides to set my brows after I use my Anastasia Brow Wiz.

From Big Lots I picked up 2 fragrances that I thought might be delicate enough for me to try (and if not, they're only $1). I got the Touch Heart (their impression of Coach Love by Coach) and Stunner (their impression of Bombshell by Victoria's Secret). At first sniff Touch Heart might work, Stunner may be a bit much for me.  I'll let you know.

Marshalls gifted me with a Body Shop Vineyard Peach Shower Gel (by gifted I mean I purchased). I've had a raspberry shower gel from them and loved it. This one was $3.99, well worth a trip to my house. I also picked up a Revive Makeup Blending Applicator. I've never used a sponge for my face and I wanted to see if this would do anything magical. I'll report back.

FOOD - It shouldn't surprise you that food is a part of my haul. Big Lots had this Winter Wonderland Gingerbread Man coffee. It was decent. I have to brew it on 6 oz (the smallest size) in order to get decent flavor from it. Either Ross or Marshalls (can't remember) had these two Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Blends for $3.99. I love cooking with oil blends and I don't have this flavor. I figure I'll be able to add this to salad dressings or other raw foods.

HOME "STUFF" - And second to last, is my home haul. I had to pick up some command strips to hang a picture. I saw a cute grocery list and pen set at Marshalls and the Dollar Tree had some Glade solid air fresheners in Pure Vanilla Joy. I don't normally use solid air fresheners but you can't very well light a candle at work and get away with it (well, I can't). I picked up 2 in case I liked it. If I don't, I can always use it outside in the storage closet.

And my favorite buy of them all are my London pajamas! I don't know if I've ever mentioned it but I'm British (in my head). Seriously, I am an Anglophile. I have several items all over my house with Union Jacks, a double decker bus, and several pictures all representing my love of England. Those closest to me know that an authentic piece of Cadbury's chocolate and some ribena (though not at the same time) win me over every time. So, while roaming the aisles of Ross Department Store I came across these pjs, I didn't look at the price, just the size (but was happy that they were only $16.99). And as I write this post, I'm sitting oh so cozy in my freshly laundered, brand new pjs.

What did you pick up this weekend? Was it a deal or a splurge?

International Envy - L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Privée nail polish

I watch a lot of YouTube makeup videos and many of the folks that I enjoy watching are from places other than the continental US. I love watching them create an everyday face video or a glamorous night out look although sometimes I get a bit weepy when they tell me the products that they used. If they went to Superdrug or Browns department store, then 9 times out of 10, whatever they are wearing, I can’t get. I love a good haul but when they talk about a fantabulous lipstick or eyeliner that they picked up from Debenhams or a top from Asda I get sad. I know that I can order online and possibly pay premium shipping or I can pop over to the USA site but you don't always get the same product lines. Even Poundland has stuff that our Dollar Tree doesn't have and that makes me jealous! I don't want to be sad or jealous when I watch my friends across the water. So instead, I get International Envy.

I don’t think it’s a real condition but it should be. How many times have you been reading a blog and the person is using the eyeshadow quad that would be so perfect on you and it’s some company you've never hear of?! You Google it and it’s based in another country. Then you look it up on Amazon.com and Ebay.com and they sell them….for some outrageous amount plus shipping!!! Or, it is a company that we have in the US but that particular collection isn't one that they plan to show in the US.

That’s International Envy and I get it often.

The most recent time was when I was reading a blog and they mentioned one L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Privée nail polish. The colors were so pretty! I had never seen it in my stores so I assumed they were the new spring colors. I began to research and I found out that L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Privée is beautiful collection of 6 nail polishes and 6 lipsticks in a wonderful array of warm nudes that would be so perfect for my collection. They looked so creamy and so supple. I just had to have them!

I set out to see if my local drugstores had them. Why no, they did not! Perhaps it was too soon in the season for them and the blog post that I had read had been a teaser. I went back to the “World Wide Web” to see what was going on.

Turns out this collection is mainly European and I cannot readily get them here. I can seek out stores that got small numbers of certain colors (or pay $25 on ebay for a lipstick). There are a few stores (not very close to my house) that sell 4 of the polish colors but none of the lipsticks. NONE!

Thus, I now have International Envy.

It’s ok. I was relentless and hunted down the 6 colors and POW! BAM! I found the polish! A Walgreens about 30 minutes from my house had them (and not many of them). I hightailed it over there, in rush hour traffic -- FRIDAY rush hour traffic. Guess what?!

I am International!

Well, in my head I'm International. I do have International nail polish though.

And that makes it all worthwhile.

I am so excited to use these colors. I want to wear them all at one time. But that's crazy!

Right! Right??