Hey, Mama!

While financial freedom comes from bigger wins like negotiating a higher salary or refinancing, who doesn't enjoy some freebies? I recently received the Mama VoxBox from Influenster for review, so I wanted to share my thoughts about the goodies.

The Mama VoxBox included Pond's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream in two different tints, a belVita breakfast biscuit, a cup of Annie's Homegrown real aged cheddar mac and cheese, and Dr. Scholl's for Her comfort insoles.

One of my favorite items from the box was the Annie's mac and cheese cup. Last week was a little hectic with John travelling for work and Monica tackling a growth spurt and cold, so this was an easy lunch option. The last time I had instant/microwave mac and cheese was Kraft Easy Mac in college, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It's obviously not fresh-out-of-the-oven homemade or Chicago's Southern Mac and Cheese, but it was pretty good for a convenience item.

 

Would I buy this item?

Maybe. It was convenient to keep in my desk at work as a back up, but I wouldn't buy it on a regular basis.

 

The item that surprised me the most was the Dr. Scholl's for Her Comfort Insoles. The last time I bought insoles was over five years ago for my wedding shoes. I popped the insoles into my flats for a quick afternoon of shopping and in my flats at work.

 

Would I buy this item?

Probably not. While the insoles are comfortable, my feet don't bother me on a regular basis. If anything, I might look into something that prevents the back of my shoe from rubbing my feet.

 

I was really interested to try out the POND's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream because this is something I wouldn't go out and buy on my own. I've heard all about BB creams, but it's a little hard to break out of my regular makeup routine. 

 

Would I buy this item?

The jury is still out. With all the hype about BB creams, I was expecting something amazing. I was a little disappointed.

 

A bunch of dark spots popped up on my face while I was pregnant and I have some pretty good dark circles under my eyes due now that Monica is here. So I still needed to use concealer for extra coverage. And I was feeling a little greasy by the end of the workday.

 

Maybe if the VoxBox came while I was on maternity leave, it would have had more time to work its BB cream magic. Though I will say, this is a great product for the weekends when I only need a little cover-up.

 

I was also interested to try the belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuit (i.e. cookie). Chocolate! And carbs! And it has the word "cookie" on the wrapper! Unfortunately, belVita didn't deliver the moist cookie I was hoping for. The "cookie" was a little dry and crumbly and could have used a few more chocolate chips. And while the "cookie" had 20% of my daily recommended fiber intake, it didn't keep me full for very long. Could be all the calories I'm buring from breastfeeding and pumping or it could be the "cookie."

Would I buy this item?
Sorry, belVita, I don't think I'll be buying your breakfast biscuits anytime soon. If I'm looking for something a little more substantial than a granola bar, I'm more likely to grab a CLIF bar.
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"It's Your Money: What will you do with it?" Review

I'd like to interrupt this week's refresh of Step 3 of Makeunder My Finances for another very helpful post. Since John and I are savers by nature, the only debt we have to our name is our mortgage. We pay off our credit cards every month, were extremely fortunate to have our parents pay for college (in addition to scholarships), and we paid for our new car in cash. It took a lot of hard work and discipline on ours and our parents' parts, so I don't take it for granted. This discipline is extremely freeing because we don't have to be as strict with our budget. We know how much money is coming in, have automatic transfers set for savings and retirement, and have some extra wiggle room once the monthly bills are paid.

However, I know not everyone is in this place. Since I've never been in debt, I don't feel like I have the authority to talk about it on Fiscally Chic. If you want to learn more about getting out of debt, I can recommend several blogs to you. I can also recommend the new book out by Eric Williams of Words of Williams.

It's Your Money: What will you do with it? is out today, but Eric sent me a copy a few weeks ago to read and review. It's a quick read and I probably could have knocked it out in one sitting if given the opportunity. The book is split into two parts. Part I is the backstory of how Eric and Kelsey accumulated almost $40K in debt and the lessons they learned along the way. If nothing else, this part of the book inspired me to never to get into debt. Conquering debt is more than just beating the numbers, there's also an emotional aspect. And reading Eric and Kelsey's story and desire to be out of debt before starting their family really hit home.

"We were making the sacrifice at that point in our lives (pre-kids) so we didn’t have to in the future. It was a hard lesson, but one certainly worth the effort. [I]t built character. It certainly wasn’t easy, but nothing worth the effort ever is. At one point Kelsey was really sad that I had to miss our twin nieces’ birthday party because I had to work during Memorial Day weekend. I remember telling Kelsey (in one of those grab-her-close kind of moments you see in movies) that I was missing out on the party now so I don’t have to miss out on our own kids’ birthdays in the future."

Eric dedicated this book to their daughter Rooney, who inspired them to get their financial act together and start creating a legacy for our family. Now that Monica is here, we want to do everything possible to make sure she's taken care of and that we can be at her soccer games, piano recitals, or whatever other activities she decides to pursue.

Part II of the book offers practical action steps to help you get a handle on your own finances and start developing a plan to help you achieve your goals. If you're working on getting out of debt (student loans, credit card overspending, or whatnot); this part of the book is definitely for you. Eric walks you through creating your first budget (or spending plan), paying off debt, and offers tips on keeping your budget going.

Eric and Kelsey were able to conquer their debt in 23 months. And this wasn't due to inheriting a small fortune or winning the lottery. They did it on average salaries with lots of hard work, sacrifices, and discipline when it came to managing their money. That's not to say they didn't have a little fun along the way. Eric encourages building some fun into your budget each month, be it going out to dinner, catching a movie, or purchasing a celebratory item once a large financial goal is reached.

It's Your Money can be purchased directly from Eric and Kelsey's blog, Words of Williams. There are some extra perks if you buy today (8/29/13), so you'll definitely want to check out their book release post. It's Your Money is available on Amazon as an eBook and in paperback.


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The Mary Kay Look

Madewell silk tank, J. Crew shorts, Ann Taylor wedges,
Rose gold earrings via JewelMint, Kate Spade tote

Last week, I received a VoxBox full of Mary Kay products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Truth be told, I've never used Mary Kay makeup and only have limited knowledge of their multi-level marketing strategy and pink Cadillac loving ways. And let's not forget the Mary Kay consultant that approached me in an Old Navy last year and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

So color me impressed when I wound up liking what they sent!

The first item I tried out was the True Dimensions lip stick in Pink Cherie. It's bubblegum pink and perfect for summer. The description says the lip stick is, "intensely moisturizing and exquisitely smoothing." I'd have to agree.

I wore it to Mass this past Sunday with my standby eye shadow and mascara. While Monica doesn't look impressed, I loved it and thought it paired nicely with my black maxi and neon pink belt. As a new mom, I also think the pink lip stick is a fast and easy way to feel put together after less than restful nights.

My next two favorites were the Lash Primer and Lash Love Lengthening mascara in I ♥ Black. The lash primer claims to create dramatic definition and fuller-looking lashes while the mascara touts long, strong, separated lashes. I'm no mascara expert, but I've tried out a few in my day since I generally use the latest sample from Sephora or Clinique. While my eye lashes seemed longer and separated, I didn't think they were much fuller than usual. Maybe it's because I don't usually use lash primer and needed to apply a little more.

Next in the box was the Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm. Honestly, I was a little intimidated by the cream eye color since I usually use pressed eye shadow and the color looked a little dark in the pot. To make things easy, I smudged some on with my finger instead of using the cream eye color/concealer brush included in the VoxBox. My first reaction was that it was too dark for me, but when I applied the mascara, it didn't seem as dark. I wouldn't wear this color on a daily basis, but would consider wearing it on date night or when dressed up for something like a wedding paired with a subtle lip gloss.

Since it's time for Friday Fancies, I created an outfit inspired by my favorite item from the Mary Kay VoxBox, the pink lip stick. We're going to a cookout this weekend and would love to wear J. Crew's coral polka dot shorts and tote around baby gear in Kate Spade's popsicle tote.

Have a great weekend! What are you up to?
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Springing for a Custom Dress

eShakti Colorblock frame print dress, Anthropologie Oleic hoops, Gap neon belt,
Kate Spade Waverly Terrace Jeanetta clutch, Vera Wang Lavender Febe sandals

 

I hear it's Spring, but you wouldn't know it in Chicago. The other morning it was 15*, but it felt like 0*. Ugh. If you're somewhere warm on this Friday, please don't rub it in. Or maybe just wear a colorful and springy outfit like this for me.

 

I hope things start to warm up soon because I have Easter and baby showers to look forward to! And I'm really hoping to wear this gorgeous dress sent to me by eShakti! It's not technically a maternity dress, but the empire waist and pleats easily accommodate my belly.

 

 

Plus, eShakti has the option of letting you send in your measurements and creating a custom-sized dress. Which is perfect because my measurements are currently all over the place. Even if you're not pregnant, it's amazing to put on a dress custom-made for your body. I'd much rather wear a dress that fits well over one that's just OK. Some styles even have the options of customizing the length, sleeves, and neckline.

 

And guess how much it costs to customize a dress, be it measurements or options? $7.50! Some options (like removing pockets) are free. What the what! (Though I love dresses with pockets, so probably wouldn't do that.)

 

eShakti is constantly updating their inventory and it seems like my dress is currently out of stock (here it is in a different shade of blue). Though I would also gladly wear the colorful dress from above and several other of their spring dresses. And brides-to-be will be happy to know that eShakti has a line of bridesmaid dresses and several of their spring dresses will also work as bridesmaid dresses.

 

Hope you have a fantastic weekend! Our crib came during the week, so we'll be putting it together this weekend.

 

 

Note: A custom dress was given to me by eShakti. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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White Hot Savings

Kate Spade tiki bar cocktail clutch, Friedasophie gold nugget hoops, TOMS Cenna wedges,
Jessica Simpson white eyelet dress, Madewell jean jacket

Thank goodness for Friday! Today's post is all about white. White hot savings and wearing white after Memorial Day. Speaking of, what's up with that silly rule? If you ask me, it's probably so you don't get BBQ sauce on your white pants at the family cookout. What? That doesn't happen to you? Must just be me.

As for savings, Memorial Day was a big shopping weekend for us and our fellow Americans. In addition to buying the iPad, we stopped by the mall to pick up some shorts for John. There were sales all over the place, but what if I want the sale price now? After Memorial Day, but before the next big shopping day (aka: 4th of July)?

Smith & Hawken® San Rafael metal patio set

For example, we're in the process of laying a brick patio in the backyard where the world's largest hedge once stood. Last weekend was a little too soon to buy a table and chairs, but there's a set that looks pretty good at Target.

I try to search around for online coupon codes, but there's an easier way. Couponcodes4u.com has thousands of coupon codes all in one place. Literally. As of the time of writing, they had 221,330 coupon codes and deals! Back to the patio set example, after a quick search through the couponcodes4u vault, I found several coupon codes for Target, including free shipping. Cha-ching!

How about the big party we throw once the patio is all finished? Yes, there are coupon codes for groceries that you can easily clip and print.

And what about that pretty white dress and TOMS wedges from Nordstrom? Don't worry, there are all sorts of Nordstrom coupon codes too. Or if Bloomingdale's is more of your taste (it is Friday's Fancies after all!), you can even find deals for Bloomies!

I'm probably having a bit too much fun cruising around couponcodes4u because I also found $2 off to Red Mango (hello, fro yo!) and deals for homebrewing (hint, hint Father's Day is right around the corner). I think I hear angels singing!

Now that I've shared my new arsenal of online coupon codes, it's your turn to spill the beans. What are your stealthy ways to save on groceries or online shopping?

Important stuff: I was compensated by couponcodes4u to write this post. All opinions are my own.

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Looking for a New View

Sometimes one change can dramatically transform an overall look. Like painting a room or cutting bangs. Maybe it's getting a new pair of glasses, like John did a few months ago.

From borrring...

To exciting!

Since I don't wear prescription glasses or contacts, I never knew how expensive they could get to be. I was going through our 2011 expenses for our taxes* and saw that his new glasses cost $165 out of pocket. Or something close to that since our insurance paid for some. Glasses are obviously necessary, but that seemed a little high. I (and probably you too) already knew about Warby Parker, but they're not the only player in the "reasonably priced glasses" game.

Have you heard of GlassesUSA.com? They offer high quality frames and lenses at a 110% lowest price guarantee and a majority of their glasses are less than $100, which includes the prescription lenses.

After looking around the website, I decided to "try on" a few pairs of eyeglasses using their virtual mirror. It's a fun tool to play with and my favorite was the iSee 501 in tortoise shell for $78. GlassesUSA also offers their glasses without the prescription lenses, so even I can look cool in a new set of specs :)

Not completely satisfied with you glasses even after using the virtual mirror?  You can return them to GlassesUSA for a refund or a new pair of glasses.

If you're looking to order glasses, I would do it soon! GlassesUSA has a Presidents' Day sale that ends February 20!  Get 50% off any pair of prescription eyeglasses from their entire collection (basic single-vision lenses included), on orders over $50 with the code: PRESIDENT

If that's too last minute, here are a few other promotions:

Take 20% off your entire order of $80 or more & get free US shipping with the code: FS20
Take 10% off any order of prescription glasses. Code: Blog10

One more reason to buy new glasses? So you can dramatically remove them a la Jim Gaffigan:

Jokes.com
Jim Gaffigan - People With Glasses
comedians.comedycentral.com
Jim Gaffigan Coemdians Stand-Up

Do you wear glasses?

* - Don't forget that for 2011 taxes, you may deduct only the amount by which your total medical care expenses for the year exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. That includes reading or prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses! See IRS Topic 502 for more details.

Important stuff: I was compensated by GlassesUSA to write this post. All opinions are my own.

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Your New Shaving Buddy

Remember how there was a reader comment about wanting more tips about being green and saving money without being a hippy? Well, friends, that time has come! No, it's not time to talk about plumbing. It's time to talk about something we alllll have to deal with. Shaving!

Shaving is one of those necessary evils, especially if you're a female. Every morning, we have to shave our legs. Unless you're like me and go every other day and wear pants in the winter. (Don't worry, John is fine with it. Most of the time.) But that's besides the point.

Shaving is neither green nor frugal. The average consumer spends hundreds of dollars a year on disposable razor blades and creates an exorbitant amount of waste each year. It's estimated that two billion blades and their packaging are thrown out each year, resulting in two million pounds of plastic waste. Yikes!

But if I stop shaving, that'll make me a hippy, which wouldn't look very good in the workplace. And John definitely wouldn't like that. There's laser hair removal, but that isn't exactly cheap. So what's a girl (or guy) to do?

Enter the Blade Buddy!

The Blade Buddy is a groundbreaking, cost-saving, environmentally friendly product whose uniquely designed silicone pad maintains the sharpness of your disposable razor blades, so one blade gives you a close, comfortable shave for months, instead of days.

When the kind folks at Blade Buddy asked if I wanted to review their product, I was more than happy to oblige! 

Basically, every time you shave, the edge of your razor blade gets microscopically bent, rendering your blade "dull" after only a few uses. Gliding your razor up the Blade Buddy's micro-honing, grooved surface straightens the bent edge back into alignment, restoring the sharpness of your blade. Since I'm not an engineer, let's let this video do the talking:



After using the Blade Buddy and the same disposable razor blade for over a month, I'm pleased to give the Blade Buddy a positive review!

Though I had a few little learning points from my trial run. The first time I used the Blade Buddy was with a less than fresh razor, so I got a bit of razor burn. The website and instructions clearly say to start with a new razor blade, but I figured I'd try it out anyways. Lesson learned, start fresh to stay fresh.

Lenny, my buddy at Blade Buddy, has the following response to my feedback:

The Blade Buddy is really not meant to be used on old blades. While you may find it straightens them to some degree, the best results are found by using a new blade (or blade cartridge), and by using Blade Buddy as part of your regular shaving routine. What I have suggested to some people is to use a new blade until you are ready to discard it WITHOUT using Blade Buddy. This will give you a baseline on how long your blade normally lasts. THEN, start using the Blade Buddy religiously with your next new blade and you can truly measure the added life it gives.

Point taken, Lenny. Wish I had listened to you earlier.

I then switched to a new razor blade. After a few uses, I got some razor burn again. Is it possible that I "sharpened" to blade too much, bending the blade in the opposite direction? I'm not totally sure what cause the light razor burn that time, but all is well and good again. I seem to be getting the hang of it and haven't had any issues for the past few weeks. Just use a little bit of shaving cream to lubricate the pad and slide the razor 15 to 20 times up the silicone pad. Easy peasy.

Here's Lenny again:

As far as technique, I don't think I will do a better job in words than the instructions on our website does. My only pointers are to be sure to lubricate the rubber pad (I personally use soap and water), use light pressure when sliding the razor across the Blade Buddy, and to NEVER pull the razor, only to push it in the direction of the arrows.

So....is $20 towards a Blade Buddy worth it? I say yes! The product itself works well and so do the numbers:

A 4-pack of Gillette Venus original razor refill cartridges cost $10. Or $2.50 each.

If you use one cartridge each week, you're spending $10/month or $120/year on razor blades.

If you use the Blade Buddy and replace the cartridge each month (just to be conservative), you're spending $2.50/month or $30/year on razor blades. Using this math, the Blade Buddy will pay for itself after 3 months. Obviously results will vary based on how often you replace your razor blades.

The breakeven point will also vary because Blade Buddy is offering Fiscally Chic readers a special promotion!

Blade Buddy is offering a buy one get one free special to you (which is the same promotion they offered through GMA.com).  In order for that to happen, you should go to the Blade Buddy website, and order your first unit in accordance with the normal procedures.

THEN, go to the "contact us" link on their site, and send a quick note reiterating your name and city, and mentioning the special promotion code "Fiscallychic". They will ship you a 2nd unit free of charge. Just in time for Valentine's Day!

This 2 for 1 offer is active through the end of January 2012.

And for your viewing pleasure, here's one more video from Blade Buddy.




Happy shaving!

Full disclosure time: I was given a Blade Buddy to review for free. All thoughts and comments are my own.
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Weekend Update and 90+ Cellars

Hi, friends! Did you have a good weekend? I continued my Friday night baking streak with a lemon meringue pie. The second season of MasterChef just wrapped up and one of the pressure tests/elimination challenges was baking a lemon meringue pie. Feeling inspired, and since John asked so nicely, I baked the pie for him. I made the crust, lemon curd, and meringue all from scratch. They were pretty darn tasty, if I do say so myself.

Though somebody, who will not be named, managed to taste the pie before me. I finish baking around 10:15pm on Friday and it was too hot to eat right then. I let it cool overnight and hoped we could try the pie together in the morning. Well.....that unnamed somebody woke up in the middle of the night and decided to take a little nibble (see the bottom left picture). In his defense, I did bake the pie specifically for him.

In other news, we made a nice discovery at the local wine/beer/liquor store. The store was having wine tastings for Syrah/Shiraz/Sirah, as well as 90+ Cellars. By happy accident, we focused more of our efforts on the 90+ Cellars wines. Our favorites being the Riesling, French Fusion, and Shiraz. 

90+ Cellars is a unique concept and the first that I've heard of. 90+ Cellars is a virtual winery and doesn't own any vineyards. From the 90+ Cellars website, "We are taking advantage of the current economic conditions by purchasing high quality and highly rated finished wines direct from wineries at a discount and then passing the savings on to you. The wines we purchase must have a pedigree of 90 or higher ratings, best buy or gold medal accolades from a respected wine authority or publication."

These wineries either have a surplus of grapes or are having trouble selling their wines. In order to cut their losses and continue to sell, the wineries agree to sell their wine to 90+ Cellars at a discount. The wineries will also bottle and label the wine for 90+. In return, 90+ Cellars gives those wineries complete anonymity and passes the savings on to us.

I'm not a wine expert, so knowing I'm getting a high quality bottle of wine at a great price is very appealing. The prices at the store ranged from $9.99 to $13.99 (sale prices of $8.99 to $12.59). According to the distributor, these bottles would normally run in the $20's, possibly higher, depending on the Lot. As a point of reference, we usually buy wine that's well under $10 from Trader Joe's.

As you can tell from the pictures, a bottle of Shiraz (Lot 37) came home with us. It's out of McLaren Vale in Australia. The description reads, "Inky in color with seductive aromas of spicy dark fruit and perfumed plums. The wine is full-bodied, round, and juicy with subtle trails of vanilla in the finish. You'll love this wine with savory short ribs, hearty stews, or a juicy cheeseburger off the grill."

I definitely picked up on the spiciness and juiciness. As suggested by the label, we enjoyed the wine with grilled cheeseburgers, corn on the cob, and grilled zucchini. It was the perfect paring for the perfect summer night. And was definitely better than our usual culprits from TJ's.

If 90+ Cellars sounds like a good idea to you, check here to see if their wine is available near you. Chicago readers, it looks like they're available at Binny's. I know we'll probably be picking up a few more bottles in the future.

Full disclosure: I'm not being compensated by 90+ Cellars for this post. The opinions are my own. I just wanted to share a great product with you.

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