Posts from — August 2008

Juicefairy.com is a budgeting blog about how you can stretch your money and live fabulously on less but I understand that the economy is hurting and a lot of people right now are not worried about living “fabulously”.  They just want to be able to pay their bills.  MSNBC has reported that the number of U.S homes heading toward foreclosure more than doubled in the first quarter from a year earlier.  CNN Money said that the unemployment rate was at a 4-year high right now. With the price of gas and food rising some people are facing the reality of not being able to pay off outstanding debts.

Being in debt can make you feel as though you are drowning.  There are places you can turn when facing possible bankruptcy.  Freedom Debt Relief specializes in debt consolidation and credit counseling.  They can take an aggressive approach to relieving your debt so you can avoid bankruptcy. Bankruptcy will scar your credit report for 7 – 10 years.  It can stay on court records for over 20 years.  Every time you apply for credit, whether it is a home, a car, a lease, or insurance, you will be impacted. Typically Freedom Debt Relief can negotiate balances down to 50% of what you owe.  If you are in a bad situation financially and can’t find a way out contacting Freedom Debt Relief for their free consultation can’t hurt.  Be comforted by the thought that there are options.

This is a Pay Per Post Opportunity. 

I have been struggling to come up with something useful to write this week. I could gripe about how much catering is costing for my wedding (too much) or about how I got totally sucked into buying two pairs of jeans at Buckle for more than I have ever have spent before (they fit so good) but I think that is just too much negativity. So I decided to share a couple of good blog posts I have collected in my reader that you may like. Here it goes …

• I always like looking at what the Frugal-Fashonista has going on at her blog. She takes an outfit she has seen a celebrity wear and searches out a more affordable, attainable version for the average woman. It is always fun to see where she has found a cheap version of something chic and expensive. Here are a few of my favorites …

Ali Larter’s red skirt and turtle neck top.

Kiera Knigtley’s high waited pencil skirt and floral top.

Lauren Conrad’s little red dress with white cardigan.

• Design*Sponge had this really cute DIY bird mobile with instructions, that she found at Spool. It looked pretty easy to make if you know your way around a sewing machine and would make a really cute baby gift.

• In the spirit of engagements (congrats Lovesbug) I am including Just Something I Made’s post that featured her friends video proposal. I thought this was so cute a creative. It is right up there with the iPod commercial proposal which I love!

• I love this new Dwell for Target nightstand that Apartment Therapy gave a sneak peek of (available on Target.com now). It’s too cute! Not a terrible price at $149 either.

• Does anybody else read Go Fug Yourself. I swear that site makes me laugh so hard I think I am gonna pee sometimes. They specialize in displaying celebrities caught looking like hell. Here are a few of my favorites with their special commentary …

Patricia Arquette “was sponsoring another legendary three-day Square-Dancing and
Macrame-Animals Exposition and Food Fair.”

“Kirsten Dunst has been lying rather low lately. She’s been far too
busy getting her house-painting business off the ground.”

“DebMess looks amazing here. But I find it hard to believe that Town and Country didn’t
have a workable shot in which she didn’t look like she just got poked with a cattle prod.”

your monthly guest post from Rather Be Shopping …

As we quickly approach September, I have been given a bunch of great online coupons for Fall apparel and shoes. Since I am not a fashion expert, nor do I play one on TV, I will leave the fashion tips up to JuiceFairy! But hopefully you will find these coupons helpful. If the retailer you are looking for is not listed here, please take a look at my ‘Apparel Coupons Section’ for a list of over 50 clothing stores that offer online coupons. Happy savings!

American Eagle Outfitters

Get 15% off your entire online purchase

Coupon Code: 68497504

Expiration: 8/27/08

See All: American Eagle.com Coupons

Alloy.com

Get Free Shipping on your $25 or more online purchase

Coupon Code: AHJAFF

Expiration: 9/10/08

See All: Alloy Coupons

Lane Bryant.com

Get $25 off your $75 or more online purchase

Coupon Code: 025002577

Expiration: 10/14/08

See All: Lane Bryant Coupons

Online Shoes.com

Get 20% off your entire online purchase + Free Shipping

Coupon Code: PICKONE20

Expiration: 8/28/08

See All: Online Shoes Coupons

New York & Co.

Get $25 off your $80 or more online purchase

Coupon Code: 9442

Expiration: 9/30/08

See All: New York & Company Coupons

Rampage.com

Get 10% off your Entire online purchase

Coupon Code: RBS10

Expiration: 9/30/08

See All: Rampage Coupons

Shoebuy.com

Get 10% off your order + Free shipping and NO tax

Coupon Code: RBS10

Expiration: 9/30/08

See All: Shoebuy Coupons

Wet Seal.com

Get Free Shipping on your $15 or more purchase

Coupon Code: None Needed

Expiration: 9/03/08

See All: Wet Seal Coupons

OK. So which do you like better. On the left are a pair of “Lizzie patent-leather driving mocs” I saw in the J Crew catalog and kind of liked (despite the fact that they are very preppy, and very expensive at $135). On the right are a pair of Women’s Merona Marcela Moccasins in Mustard at a mere $22.99. But I got to tell you, I saw them in person and hated them. Why are the ones on the left cooler than those on the right? Is it just the brand name? The color?

(Left) J Crew Blue Mocs $135; (Right) Target Isaac Mizrahi Rory Moccasins $29.99

(Left) Printed Calf Hair Ballet Flats J Crew $268; (Right) Target Merona Meadow Ballet Flats $24.99

Wow! (Left) Penelope Mary Janes J Crew $235; (Right) Mossimo Vester Mary Jane Pumps $24.99

You may remember that I have an unhealthy addiction to lipgloss. I was thinking recently that although I own more lipgloss than your neighborhood ULTA, you will rarely catch me wearing lipgloss. I love to have it, and wear it out, but I hate reapplying. So I only put it on once a day. Therefore, I am rarely wearing any. Plus on weekdays I do all my makeup and then eat breakfast so I am rarely wearing it to work either. I am weird. Well, here are some more lipglosses that I own, and love, but rarely wear.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Lemon & Chamomile

Rating (1-5, 5 being my least favorite): 4
Color: This is the only reason why I gave this lipgloss a 4 rather than a 5, because it is colorless. A little tint would be a good idea. Hint
Stickiness: Smooth, not sticky at all. Feels a lot like Vaseline but not as greasy.
Lasting: Decent amount of time.
Flavor: This is the part I love about it. The lemon and chamomile combination is really nice. It doesn’t have a taste but the scent is like honey and lemon. Very refreshing. Overall: Technically I think this product is for men because Jack Black also makes shave lotions, hence why it is colorless. But the scent is so refreshing and it is so moisturizing, I don’t care if it is for boys.

L’Occitane Lip Glosses

Rating: 3.5
Color: The Cherry Blossom has just a hint of pink, kind of like cherry Chapstick. The Honey & Lemon and the Rose Petal did not have color.
Stickiness: Not sticky at all, glides on smooth (See note below about Cherry Blossom).
Lasting: Not the greatest for lasting quality
Flavor: No flavor to taste but once again this one has a great mild scent.
Overall: I got a three-pack as a gift that included their Cherry Blossom lip gloss, Rose Gloss Petal and Honey & Lemon. I couldn’t tell you which one was my favorite because I liked them all. But I will note that I got them at Christmas time and the Cherry Blossom one has gotten sticky on me. Bummer.

CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint (No. 1136)

Rating: 3
Color: This has a sheer tint. I highly recommend the color that I tried (No 1136) Stickiness: Not sticky
Lasting: about an hour
Flavor: This is another one of those minty glosses that make your lips tingle. The taste is very good; minty and fruity at the same time. But if you don’t like that cooling feeling of a minty lipgloss you wont like it. I don’t love that personally, although this one is bearable. Overall: Not a lover of the minty tingle, but the light color tint is nice.

Origins Once Upon a Shine

Rating: 5
Color: All the colors are really sheer which I like but they do have a nice color. Once again, I got this in a three pack with the following colors (thanks Kim): Sheer Ruby, Sheer Caramel, and Sheer Fruit Punch. Fruit Punch is my favorite. Ruby has a lot of color, so beware if you are pale and darker colors make your nervous.
Stickiness: Not very sticky.
Lasting: Lasts a few hours.
Flavor: It actually is a little minty but nothing like the CO Bigelow or lip plumper. It tingles way less.
Overall: I love this lipgloss. I would say it is right up there with MAC lipglass. The colors are more subtle, so it is more like gloss than lipstick but test the darker shades to make sure you like them.

Logona Lipgloss

Rating: 2
Color: A lot more color than most glosses. I had Strawberry Red and it was pretty dark.
Stickiness: Smooth but went on thin. I couldn’t get very even application. Maybe because they don’t use petroleum or mineral oils to make it?
Lasting: Not very long. The gloss will fade to a tint, leaving color but no shine and the appearance of faded lipstick.
Flavor: This is my worst complaint. The smell was bad. Like lipstick that was passed its expiration date. Big turnoff.
Overall: I tried this product from the German brand because it is an affordable organic brand. Their lipgloss is a natural cosmetic, 100% naturally fragranced with pure essential oil. So this is a good option for people that have super sensitive skin. That being said. I think the product needs some tweaks.