{Fall Frenzy}

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend! I spent most of mine continually catching up with friends, painting my room, spending time with family, attending church and participating in retail therapy. I love long weekends, and I'm thankful my job allows me to have two more this month! Considering everything I consumed over the past few days, I'm not quite sure how I've lost 7 pounds?! Is there a happy hour diet? Yep, that won't last long. Le sigh. What will last though is my excitement for Fall!

"It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives."

Images via Pinterest

{Juice Beauty 101}

Who doesn't love hearing about a new organic skin care line that is amazing?! Okay, let's back up. To say that I have been under quite a bit of stress these past few weeks is an understatement. I knew 2011 was going to be big, I just didn't think everything (natural disasters included) would all happen within the past month! That said, normally my skin (er face) would be the canvas by which all could see what has really been going down. However, with every passing day my skin becomes clearer, softer and more hydrated. Luckily for me, I have Juice Beauty to thank!

I have been using Juice Beauty products for two weeks and I am quite pleased with the progress I'm seeing. If we eat organic foods to keep away from harmful chemicals and pesticides, why not treat our skin (which absorbs over 50% of what you put on it) with healthy ingredients? Juice Beauty is certified up to 98% organic and their products are made up of an antioxidant rich organic base. Check out what products I am using (in order of preference) and my thoughts on each!

JB Blemish Clearing Serum

This was a free gift with my first order & I love it! I put a little on problem areas before I go to bed and sometimes in the morning. It moisturizes while clearing my skin!

JB Blemish Clearing Cleanser

I stuck this on a shelf in my tub and use it on my face & neck at the end of my shower (or every other shower). It leaves my skin feeling cool and soft but not overly dry.

JB SPF 30 Mineral Sheer Moisturizer - Sheer

At first, this moisturizer seemed a little thick but a little goes a long way! It's actually quite light and absorbs fast. I recommend dabbing with a towel/tissue 5 minutes after application to wipe off any excess. It keeps my skin feeling hydrated all day long!

JB Refining Finishing Powder - Sand

I really love this stuff. I use bareMinerals products normally, but I actually like this more! It is a little paler than I expected (but it's summer), so I tend to mix a little bronzer in when applying. 

JB Correcting Concealer - Sand

This was another free gift and, considering I don't normally wear concealer, I really like how it covers dark spots (if need be) and absorbs quickly into my skin. It works great with the powder!

JB Green Apple Peel - Sensitive

I bought this to use once a week to improve skin tone and texture. Facials can make me break out a little because my skin is so sensitive and prone to react to strong products, so I'm loving this!

JB SPF 8 Lip Moisturizers

Honestly, save your money. They are really dry unless I apply another moisturizer beforehand (which I do if I wear them). They are pretty colors but there are a lot of other lip moisturizers out there!

Additional Samples - Stem Cellular Repair Treatments

I liked both samples but I'm not sure I need to add this to my skin routine yet. However, both have received rave reviews, especially from older women!

Phew! It may seem like a lot (in my defense, all of the above make up two separate orders!) but these products were totally worth a little splurging! I am glad to have a variety of healthier ingredients to nourish my skin with. They not only boost my beauty regimen, but also my confidence :) Skin worries be gone!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

-Matthew 6:34

Images via Google

{Fashion Vault 102}

It's almost time for Fall! Boots, scarves, jackets, skinny jeans, oh my! Autumn is a glorious time of year and, although my credit card is currently on strike (but hey, at least Verizon isn't!), I'm looking forward to the days of trying on the assortment of colorful clothing & leather goods that are plaguing our favorite stores. But not too fast; now is the time to grab last minute summer items (think next year) that are on sale and reasonably priced. I mentioned here about my favorite budget-friendly fashion websites (i.e. ideeli and Rue La La - view the whole list under my Fabulous Finds tab), but check out these other great sites when updating your wardrobe or home!

ShopMamie

Everything on this website is $100 or less!

The Outnet

A luxurious online fashion outlet!

Gilt Groupe

An invite-only website with top designer deals!

I've said it before but it bears repeating: enjoy your money but be smart! Scout the internet for promo codes or online coupons when making a purchase. Be proactive and ask the sales rep at your favorite stores when they plan on having their next sale & make sure you're on their list to receive in-store coupons. If you have good credit and are well disciplined in the paying-your-bills-on-time arena, think about getting a credit card from your favorite store so that you simultaneously earn points towards future purchases while using it. At first, the thought of having additional credit cards made me cringe, but now I'm enjoying reaping the rewards!

“Clothes make the man.

Naked people have little or no influence on society."
-Mark Twain

Images via Google