When you're in debt...

... It doesn't matter how you got into it. Whether it's school related, disaster, unforeseen events, emergency, job loss, over-spending it doesn't matter. What does matter is if you have a plan to change things. For the better.

... It doesn't matter if your belief of a debt-free day waivers. What does matter is having more good days than bad. Then increasing that percentage. 

... It doesn't matter if you make mistakes, it matters if you make up for them. What is important is to go with the flow, and then restrategize.

...It doesn't matter if you don't listen. Sometimes the universe will give you a nice ol' wake up message.

That's right. I was humbled from my "feeling bad about myself  so I'm going to go shopping at a very elite indie make-up store", then my continued stress about a new topic to more spending, and then just a little bit more when I felt really bad about my actions going agaisnt my words. And then, yup, three orders at this indie company in one week are just not allowed, and they cancelled all of them! I felt like a queen with my first order because the shop is never open, and somehow I got a sneak in. And then I just couldn't wait and the greed monster took over, and another order.

Time to refocus, and redirect that money I didn't need to have spent, tried to, and in a week or two paypal will give back to me.

And damn it, I'm not going to shed tears over my "no more shinies for you.

Darling Girl Glitter and Who Ya Gonna Call?

I decided the husband equivalent should get me a Valentine's Day Present, and picked out for him out a few  several goodies for me from a fantastic Indie Beauty company - Darling Girl.

I LOVE the mailer. The husband equivalent left it in plain sight and it was impossible NOT to rip into. 

It's totally like my birthday. I'm probably going to place a huge order for a birthday this year. Because of this. I'm also thinking I might use some the duck paper in the baby book I'll be making once the renovation slows down or get closer to finished.

My order came with a GWP (gift with purchase) and a sample from the newest mini-collection released on Valentine's Day. .. I like this shade too.

All the pretties! I wanted to try the Diamond Dusts so I picked up a few of those (the first four) and two of the Rainbow Bright shades as they looked pretty and I wanted to see if they did change from white to (name of colour).

Sirena
Moondust
Hope
Persuasion

Indigo
Lucky

and Grand Pabbie
Walkers

One COTM (Colour of the Month) - Grand Pabbie (a new love, see below) and one special edition (also a love) - Walkers. 

Four Glitters - all ground very fine. All with a lovely fairy sticker. I've been pleased with these.

Caribean Cutie

Winter Berry

Gilded Balerina

Mirage

That's right. Mirage IS a taupe glitter. 

Who Ya Gonna Call Collection - petit size.

The jars and lids. Amazing. The sticker for the set is on my phone. I love it. I also think the colours match nicely with the names, and the collection is a cohesive set.

We have: He Slimed Me

Ghost Job
That's a big Twinkie
There is no Dana
Key Master
The flowers are still standing
Mass Hysteria
Don't Cross the Streams
Spiritual Turbulence
The Tragic Death of Mr. Staypuff

Yey! Darling Girl Glitter Glue! I'm so happy I could get some as usually when I check it's out of stock. And a nice thank you note.

A first look using the more neutral and very lovable colours. I have That's a Big Twinkle, There is no Dana, Mass Hysteria and the Tragic Death of Mr. Staypuff. I may have also used Walkers because, well, that colour is amazing.

Some Grand Pabbie and He Slimed Me Love over glitter glue (GDE Fade to Fall in crease) in a simple look:

In case you're thinking some of these colours are too bright, they're not. Inside when I'm trying to capture the beauty, maybe. Outside in the "real world", not at all. 

I'm thinking I might be in love with Darling Girl. Because life does need more glitter.  I'll also get to swatches and looks as soon as I can. But not today, because, renovation.

Beauty Bar Baby Anti Valentines Day Order

Once I saw this cute set I knew it had to be mine. It's inspired by the candy hearts. You can find Beauty Bar Baby on Esty. I first heard of them through Glamour Doll Eyes in my December OTM. 

The Anti-Valentine's Day was four eye shadows in special jars.

Bite Me - a mint green.

Be Someone Else's - a bright candy pink.

Your Money's on the Dresser - a matte red.

You'll Do! A matte(r) purple.

I think these colours perfectly match the theme, and I love the candy heart tops.

....And no order is complete without glitter.

 Glitter Top Row: Twinkle Twinkle, and Elsa Baby. A silver holographic glitter and a blue/silver glitter. Glitter bottom row: Razz my Berries and Chocolate Ice. A red/silver glitter and a brown/silver glitter.

Beauty Bar Baby also makes glitter adhesive.
I ordered both version of the Bling Bling Glitter Sealer to see which application type works best for me and my routine. I'm very glad they included a "how to" guide. I still feel like a total newbie and I appreciate all the help I can get. :)

All items were shipped in bubble-wrap, and these adorable stickers (already re-stuck!). The package was very professional, and all items were included. Shipping was fast - within 24 hours after I made the purchase.


Special Anti-Valentine's Day set <3

Here's my first Beauty Bar Baby look using the Valentine's Day set (Money's on the Dresser, You'll Do, and Be Someone Else's), Bling Bling Glitter adhesive, and Razz my Berries glitter. As usual the colours look better in person than in my photo. I'd say my first try of a overdone red look came out pretty good.

My eye bling bling matches my nail bling bling. Using Julep's Julie birthstone polish over-top Sue or Margit. 

I was impressed with the service from Beauty Bar Baby and I already placed a second order during the Valentine's Day sale for the Pin Up Girl Neutral eyeshadow trio. 

Hello Waffle

I ordered the sample baggies only option to try a few more Hello Waffle shades (I've had one or two as free gifts before). As I won't be able to open it for a week or so, I wanted to share how adorable the envelope it was shipped in is! 

Sunday Funday Working it out

I'm really trying to get back in the grind again. I haven't had ANY weight loss of the pregnancy weight. I feel like I am close, and I want to push it over the edge. I'm so grateful my husband equivalent is on board. I've ran through the 21 day fix twice now (when I could) and I'm actually starting to feel like I move a normal pace now. Only took me 3 and half months.

Monday - 30 minutes of weights 

Thursday - 45 minutes of weights

Friday - 3.3 or 3.5 km run (depending on device) with a pace of 8 min 15 sec or 9 min 18 sec per km. A great start to this year. I'm counting this as my first run and ignoring the previous ones.

I looked a bit mismatched with my pigment blue gustbuster vest, inspire pullover, black swan ear warmer. black herringbone runder unders, and love red fluffed up skirt. But, I was out there! 

I am very much looking forward to losing those remaining 40 lbs of baby weight gain. As my weight hasn't budged in the almost four months since my daughter was born, my new optimistic thought is it will happen as soon as she starts transitioning to solids. Or it could be this really IS just a plateau and u need to keep pushing. 

What were your workouts this week?

Fortune Cookie Soap Box, Spring 2015

This month was inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The spring collection launches on February 27th, 6:30 PM CST.

Sorry to cut this short due to continuing renovations. 

A super cute sticker on the outside. It makes more sense once you see the inside.

Cute green crinkle paper, a detailed card and plently of small samples. All of these scents were quite strong with the exception of "Almost Alice". 

My favorite scent, which is not welcomed by all in the house, was "It's only a dream". The formula is nice, the scent is strong. A bath tea as include and likely not be used by us here. The incense was alright, but completely fits with an Alice in Wonderland feel. The bath bomb appears to have real roses and will be used as a treat for the toddler. The body wash is very strongly grapefruit scented, and again not really for me. The perfume oil smells intially like cake, then pineapple takes over. Also not my thing, but lovely. The OCD "We're all Mad Here" is nice, but when it's time to get more hand santizer I'll be picking a different scent.

Even though this box wasn't a big hit for me, I'd still recommend them. A box 4 times a year doesn't seem excessive, and I'm able to use most of the products so I do feel I get a reasonable return on my investment. It's a well curated box, and if you use products like these (or most of a box) and you can afford $120ish US a year, I'd sign up. If you can control your inner spenderella, you can even use the $10 coupon code sent with each box. I used mine to pick up a Game of Thrones Lotion. And that was it. A well behaved splurge. 

Glamour Doll Eyes OTM February

Glamour Doll Eyes has a subscription which is totally awesome. I mean, $15/month for Canadians (varies for US and international) for one monthly eyeshadow colour, extras and shipping. The popularity has grown so much it literally is a lottery each month. 

An adorable brown lace bag for February. <3

I'm sorry I thought this cute lil' charm was in focus. I'm also looking forward to a few months were I can update my computer to something a little faster and actually be able to edit my photos*. *without wanting to pick up a heavy object to heave at the screen.

Another bonus this month: Coastal Scents Liquid Eyeliner in stone. I've received this in Ipsy in black, and I really liked it. I'd open it but renovations.

This month is a lovely reddish brown called "Not to be Truffled with". Again, I would open it, but with massive renovations this week, it will be safer left sealed.

The treat this month was Hersey's Kisses in Truffles. So so tasty!

TMI was for Savour, an indie soap company you can find on Etsy. Their products look really good, and reviews indicate they smell good too. 

Another bonus was a Gothic Gala Lacquers polish in a beautiful reddish-brown with red and blue sparkles. Similar to Julep, this polish required several thin coats, but did dry quickly. It's held up okay with minor chipping on most nails but the thumbs. It's very pretty and I have a code to check them out. 

 February was another awesome month for me. I gladly hand Glamour Doll Eyes $15 US every month - which is about what this month was worth dollar-wise according to the OTM website. What I would want to change is I'd like to pay upfront so my OTM could be mailed sooner (like it was before the lottery system) so that I might get the package as the same time as US residents and not see previews of the monthly surprise. I am so eager for the drywall dust is vaccumed up. 

I've made $300,000

A few weeks ago I read a bunch of posts on calculating your life time earnings. I was reviewing my rrsp room, and decided to go a quick back calculation.

In Canada (as far as I know) you earn rrsp room at a rate of 18% until a maximum currently around $24,000. I know I've never hit this maxium so I used the rrsp room I have available and what I currently have to estimate what I roughly have earned. I then estimated what affect my pension would have my using the same rrsp room removal from last year's taxes times the number of years I had a pension. I'm aware this method has a TON of errors. But I'm looking to ballpark, not bullseye.

It's about $300,000.

Then I think what do I have to show?

Lots of debt. Acquired mosthly via student loans, court costs and a short sale on my home.

Can I make this up?

Hell ya. It's going to take blood, sweat and tears. I'm getting back on course with the knowledge that boats are tippy. I am going to get back to a positive net worth, and I am going to build a future.

Current debt total: $34,000
Estimated debt total in March 2014 $65,000.

Topbox February Review

Topbox is a Canadian beauty subscription box that sends 4 samples monthly for $12.00 plus taxes. Shipping this month was incredibly fast again! I also suspect the shipping date has changed from the 15th. I received the box and confirmation of delivery on the same day, with another email updating my card information, and the next day received my Topbox shipping notice. I love it. I paid $12.60 for this box, and added on a surprise for $10.50.

This polish, I love the nightlife, was my surprise. Valued at ~$20, I'm not thrilled with it. I have better glitters in my collection. 

An angled Teeez brush! I can't wait to try this out. This is about ~$20 from what I can tell, and it is beautiful. Some bristles look loose, but I'll see how it handles wet for foiling.

Eyeko Hydrogel Eye Patch. $12g for $18, sample size 3g, ~$4.50. I don't mind trying these out. I've lot lots of under eye circles from the baby.

DERMAdoctor KP duty lotion. 30 ml. This was the product that was mislabeled. I was suposed to be sent a pore minimizer from DERMAdoctor instead. I'm happy with the hand lotion.

L'Occitane almond shower oil. I've heard really good things about almond oil and headaches - as in reducing them. 250 mL for $24, value of 35 mL sample ~$3.36



I'd say this was a pretty good month for Topbx. I come up with a total of over $27,68 for the regular box, and $20 for my add-on surprise meaning I am getting about double what I paid plus I'm excited to try all the items.

What did you get in your Topbox? Did you opt-in for the surprise?

Notoriously Morbid January Vanishing Cabinet Review

Notoriously Morbid offers a subscription for $17 per month (my costs, domestic or other locations may be different) called the vanishing cabinet. A few limited edition shadows are included, maybe extras and maybe a sneak peak of the next month's cabinet. From what I've read these are all themed, and usually quite clever.

This month is based on 80's cartoon Jem and the Holograms (which I've actually never seen). 

This is was my first month.

The baby loves it!

In total: 5 shadows, one sample, and one gloss.

Gloss: Starlight. Bubblegum pink with gold sparkles. Love. 

From Top to bottom. No primer.

Enticing Elba (sample). This blue was pretty in the bag, but didn't swatch on my skin very well. 

Pureheart - purple, beautiful.

Showtime - a very light pink, you can't see it on my arm well. I think it might look great on me. 

Show's Over - I love this one too. A very pretty sparking blue.

Rebel - a burnt red/orange. This one has the least sparkle.

Headstrong - a lovely teal with pink sparkles. Also love!

I'll try to upload a video of the sparkles again;

And, the true challenge. I'll try these in a look and see how they stay.

Look one:

I decied to let the sparkles shine front and center. And to try out this miracle primer from my last Birchbox. They colors were gone by six hours. Not overly surprising as I had lots of stuffed toys shoved in my face that day.

Look two:

This look was using control freak and glitter fix (both from Glamour Doll Eyes). I noticed some creasing but headstrong stayed in place as long as I needed it to.

update: I love headstrong (teal) and show's over (blue). I want to love pureheart (purple) and showtime (pink) but even with glitter fix, they won't stay on my lids. It could be I need to find a better primer/glue solution for these kinds of glitters and my eyes. They are very ... hooded?   

Oh, I also thought it was extremely generous of Notoriously Morbid to include a coupon code for this month. A great way to thank customers who love your product.