My fave new products under $10

In this double-dip recession, belts are still tight and income is still at a loss. Many of us have been forced to look at where our money goes and where we can maybe reign it in a little. But we still need to take care of ourselves and look good.

One of the ways I've cut back over the past year is on the purchase of products. Looking at my drawers you would never be able to tell (thanks, BlogHer!) but I'm (sigh) no longer a Sephora-Whore and I've trained myself to walk right by the new MAC make-up store at my local mall. Little changes here and there add up, but they've also introduced me to things I really love that I may not have looked at before.

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express (Flared)  

Maybelline just makes a great mascara. I know that their basic pink/green Great Lash is always tops on make-up artists' lists, but this one takes my cake. I do think it makes my lashes look longer and fuller. As for the "flared", the design of the brush is said to take your lashes up and out - flaring them as if you had on false eyelashes. I've gotten tons of compliments on my lashes since I've started using this, and its just enough to dab on before going to work-out or school drop off to look presentable and not too made up.

Beauty Rush by Victoria's Secret - Luminous Bronzer and Wet Dry Eyeshadow (in Smokin')

 A few days ago I dropped my favorite Bobbi Brown gray/stone eyeshadow and it shattered into a gazillion pieces. I was mourning its loss and due to the love that I have for that eyeshadow was planning a trip to the mall to replace it. Before that happened, I was standing in line at Victoria's Secret and while waiting going through their 2 for $12 bins of make-up when I saw the eyeshadow in the color "smokin." And because I'm a sucka' for all things BOGO, I also grabbed the bronzer. I've been wearing both daily since.

Dry, the shadow is shimmery and light and when wet it creates a dramatic line. It stays on nicely and it also blends well. The bronzer is also perfect for me. With the gold undertones and I feel like it gives me a "kiss" of sun without looking like I spent 3 weeks in a tanning bed.

E.L.F Shimmering Eye Liner Pencil (Gunmetal)

In all honesty, I bought this pencil for Halloween. I was planning elaborate make-up for both Zoe and I and in a last minute Target rush I picked this up because it was ONE DOLLAR.

And if Zoe smeared it all over her face I wouldn't care - because it was ONE DOLLAR. Surprise, surprise, I really like this pencil. I've been wearing it a lot. It goes well with the Smokin' eyeshadow and it's not a hard line around my eyes but makes it sparkle. And, did I mention it was ONE DOLLAR.

Emi Jay Hair Ties

I always laugh that different workouts require different styles of workout wear. While Lululemon is always a staple, over at The Dailey Method (my latest workout craze) they have a Lulu/Hard Tail combo look that is perfect for the moves we do but also cute enough to walk around in. Sitting on the counter, right next to the sign-in form are these Emi Jay Hair ties and Headbands, and while at first they look like a fabric just tied together, I started to notice them in everyone's hair and HAD to have one. Or two. And maybe a headband...

With a huge celebrity following like Jennifer Anniston and Gwyneth Paltrow, they are one of the hottest trends in hair accessories at the moment. The main reason? They don't leave that dent in your hair when you take down your pony at the end of your class. And if your one of those girls who used to wear scrunchies around your wrist, you will LOVE these as they almost look like some hip new bracelet when you put them on your arm. Now when I work out, I need my hair out of my face. I've tried EVERY headband out there and all of them slip on my baby-fine hair. I don't know why, but these don't. I heart these hair bands.

Do you have a new favorite product under $10? Share your obsession with me...

REALLY? With Beth. (title borrowed from SNL)

Over the past few weeks I've been introduced to a few things that make me launch into a Seth and Amy "REALLY?!" type rant. There are just some things out there in the world that make me scratch my head and want to scream/punch something at the same time. Of course, I'm going to share them with you.

Doggie Doo - 

The commercial for this game came on during a marathon of My Little Pony and prompted Zoe to jump up and scream "Oh! Fun!" I looked up and seriously started choaking on the coffee I had a just sipped. A GAME about a DOG POOPING. Yes. DOG POOP: The Board Game. 

Now, being a parent of a fur-baby for about 11 years now, I can testify that there is nothing fun about dog poop (key-in Jason ranting about how I never pick it up) but I think we can all agree that dog poop is gross, not fun and not something that anyone wants to play with. So who thought for 2 minutes that this would be a good board GAME for kids?

Apparently Adi Golad and David Norman did. They are the people that brought you Pop the Pig, and under the thought that every kid loves a good fart noise, they went about producing Doggie Doo and betting that it would be THE new toy sensation. 

Yea. I know what Santa will NOT be bringing my kids this year. On the flip side? This would be a fabulous present for the stoner college kid in your life. 

Pox Parties - 

I'm not going to turn this into a vaccination debate. I've been around the internets long enough to know that you just. don't. go. there. That being said, when Aaron Hier posted about Pox Parties, a new trend where parents are using Facebook to find kids in their area that have chicken pox to expose their kids to the virus for natural immunity, I just had to say something. But the words.. they are just not coming. Nothing besides jsut shouting "SERIOUSLY?!" that is. 

The Facebook group is called “Find a Pox Party in Your Area.” According to the group’s page, it is geared toward “parents who want their children to obtain natural immunity for the chicken pox.” Parents are trading live viruses through the mail in order to infect their children.

Parents also use the page to set up play dates with children who currently have chicken pox. On the page, parents post where they live and ask if anyone with a child who has the chicken pox would be willing to send saliva, infected lollipops or clothing through the mail.

Maybe it's the fact that I had a kid that was dealthy ill and in the hospital. Maybe it's that the same kid then came down with MUMPS a year later due to the fact that some parents are chosing not to vaccinate their kids, leaving everyone susseptable to strains of diseases that should have been eradicated years ago. But this is disgusting to me. To willingly expose your child to an illness as serious as chicken pox? I can understand not vaccinating in hopes that because everyone else does, your kid will never be exposed to the illness, but purposely exposing them in hopes that they GET SICK? That is something I will never understand. 

Courtney Stodden - 

I know this is probably old news at this point, but I've refrained from talking about her. Hoping that if none of us give her attention she will just go away, I really try to not follow this horrific story. But then I came across the pumpkin patch pictures. And honestly, I want to just ask HOW IS THIS GIRL ONLY 17?!

I was 17 once, a long time ago, and neither me nor any of my 17 year old girl friends looked like that. And I grew up in LA. Many of my friends had boob jobs and nose jobs, but none of us looked anything like that. I think it's BS - I bet she's really a 25-year old transgendered. 

Please feel free to let me know your thoughts.

It's PUMPKIN TIME! *Pumpkin Station Pumpkin Patch Giveaway*

I will admit it. I have Halloween decorations up already. Not too many...but a few. I usually try to wait until October 1st, but this year after a quick trip to Home Goods that netted me a beautiful little headless horseman and a gorgeous black "Halloween Tree," I buckled and started putting a few things up here and there. 

But now Fall is officially here so LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.

Pumpkin Station is now open! If you haven't been in the past, Pumpkin Station is a kid's Halloween dream. Rides, pumpkins, a petting zoo and a corn maze - it's fun Halloween craziness. It's the perfect fall outing - and right now BuyWithMe has fantastic offer to save on the fun - 12 rides for $15! That's up to a $30 value. 

$15 gets you 12 rides at four Pumpkin Station locations (up to $30 value).

Loaded with kiddie rides, Jack-O-Lanterns-to-be, petting zoos, and more, Pumpkin Station is the perfect choice for Halloween-themed fun the whole family can enjoy. Little ones will love the giant slides, pumpkin jumps, and inflatable play centers, not to mention the colorful main attraction – the pumpkins, of course. From the smallest baby pumpkin to their famously enormous Bodacious Pumpkins, there’s one to fit every stoop and satisfy even the most intense Halloween fanatic. Pumpkin Station hours and attractions vary by location (Del Mar, Mission Valley, El Cajon, and Chula Vista), but parking and admission are always free. So get in on the All Hallows’ Eve fun while you can – they’re only open ‘til October 31!

I know my kids already saw the Del Mar location off the side of the freeway and are already asking when we can go.

While this deal is a great one - I have a BuyWithMe deal package to giveaway! 

To enter, leave a comment below telling me what your favorite costume (yours or someone elses) of all time was. That's it!

The contest will run through Friday Sept 30th at 5:00 PM.

What a great way to kick off the Halloween season!

CONGRATS NICOLE! Enjoy your time at Pumpkin Station!

Random Monday

Random Thoughts for a Monday:

Revenge of the breast pad:

This weekend I actually threw away about 25 disposable breast pads. Not so random, except that I haven't nursed in about 3 years - and I moved last year. So, yes. I actually packed, moved and unpacked and put away old breast pads that I had no need for.

Organization:

I have a Mac with iCal, an iPhone, an iPad and synced google calendars on all of them ... and I couldn't stay organized. After using a few paper reminder items from the Blue Sky company, I actually went out and bought a paper planner again. Some things are not easier with technology.

Deliciousness:

Saturday night we went to a wine bar who's weekend specialty is gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. I have now decided that wine, charcuterie and a grilled cheese sandwich may be all I need to take me to my happy place. 

Food:

It seems that in my life, someone or something always need to be fed. The fish, the kids, the dog, the newt, the kids, the husband... someone around me is always looking to eat. No wonder I'm not a size 2, even though blood worms really are not my thing. 

Trends:

Last week I posted on MOMfia about Fall nail trends... tons of fun things to do with your nails this season. But the one I didn't mention is trend I apparently propagated. A few weeks ago, my friend Juli had on glitter nail polish. I commented on it's cuteness and she said the best part about it was that you didn't need to do it perfectly for it to look good. Coming off a gel mani I picked off myself (BAD BETH, BAD!) I needed something to make my nails not look so disastrous. Stopping at ULTA I picked up Sally Hansen's gold glitter polish "set the stage" to try out. The glitter is big, and goes on kinda spotty. I honestly couldn't tell if it looked totally lame or super cool, but I was desperate and I went with it. I got MORE compliments on my nails than I had in 5+ years of pricey manis. Then my friend Maria started wearing it, then my friend Fawn... then Maria's neighbor... Moral of the story? I may have more style than I give myself credit for. 

Birthday Parties:

Each of my kids have had birthday parties for each birthday, their entire lives. I get crazy. I get obsessive. I go overboard. Because of this, I've determined that niether are having parties this year - but instead get to do something that they really want to do. Zoe wants to go the American Girl Doll store in LA, get a Kanani doll and have tea at the store with her best friend. She's probably fine with it, but me? It's KILLING me to be planning a party for her this year. Oh well, the Kanani doll and lunch at the AG store will probably cost just as much. 

That squealing you hear? It's because the My Little Pony App is now available in the iTunes Store

Today, the My Little Pony app “Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day,” became available in the iTunes store. I was lucky enough to sit next to the PR person for Rukus Media at the Clever Girls Collective CleverTech Brunch during BlogHer and she was nice enough to send me a free download of the game. 

This is a little video I shot of Zoe today, as she was anxiously awaiting the download of the game. Please note, this is what she had on today - I did not change her outfit for the taping of the video. 

Seriously. 

The game is cute. It's a read-along story book with interactive games mixed in. I may never get my iPad back. 

Also note - there is another My Little Pony "Pro" game available in iTunes. This one is NOT for kids. I think this one is more for the Bronies of the world. 

The app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is going to be available on iTunes for $0.99. My Little Pony fans, young and old,  can also tune in to the animated series “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM EST and Fridays and Mondays at 1:30 PM on The Hub TV network.