A girl can dream...

On beautiful days like these, I wish I had one of these:

via

Oh yea! A Vespa!


And I totally would wear a helmet like this one with it:

via

Geek chic, baby!

Does the warm weather rekindle any of your dreams??



Shopping online = FREE money?!?!

Do you like to shop online? I know I do.


Do you like free money? I know I do.


Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could get free money for shopping online? Yes, please!

I realize this is starting to sound like a questional infomercial.

But in all seriousness, have you heard of Ebates? It’s a website that when you plan to do online shopping, all you need to do is start your shopping there after creating an account. Find your store of choice by doing a simple search. The percentage of money that you will receive back is listed. (Sometimes there are specials where stores will offer more money back for a short period of time.) When you click the link to your store of choice, a tracking number is created and all you need to do is complete your shopping as usual. Every three months, your money will be ready for you. A check will arrive in your mailbox or it can be directly deposited into your bank account.






I know, I know. I was skeptical too. But I decided to give it a shot. So a few months ago, I signed up for an account and started my online shopping there. After a few weeks, I actually got a check in the mail from Ebates! I was shocked. Even more shocking, the bank took the check and deposited the money in my account!! It really worked.






Since then I have received a few more checks from Ebates and good news… the bank consistently deposits the check into my account. Thank you Ebates for my free money!

Items I am currently loving:

Ok, it is really only one item…but I really love it:



1. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer.

via

This stuff is AMAZING! My foundation stays on sooo much better than it ever has. I no longer need to break out the powder compact over lunch for a quick touch up to make it through the work day. However, if I were going out after work, I would want to do a quick touch up. But only on areas that are frequently touched throughout the day(ex. my constantly runny nose or my chin from my desk phone). For your reference, I have been using this with a powder mineral foundation and my skin is normal/combination.

The Situation, part 2

After much more searching both online and in stores, I still have not been able to find a quality bag that not only fits my long wish list, but one that also makes my heart sing. I have begun to think that maybe rather than finding my “forever” bag, I can find a “just right now, until I do find my forever bag” bag.



So that took me down another path that ultimately ended with two options being ordered from Target. With free shipping and free in store returns, this was a no loss exploration. Here is what happened upon my door stop one lovely afternoon:

via

 The sizes of the bags are great. There are plenty of pockets to keep OCD me sane. Handles are a good length. The material I do not love (but I was expecting and accepting that). So that leaves me on the color options…



Option 1 is much closer to my color wish. However, it is a little darker than I had wanted. It is more brown, than it is tan. So it wouldn’t go as well with my ensemble on days that I wear black...although I am trying to get away from wearing so much black…but that’s another story for another day.


Option 2 is nowhere near my color wish. But it does go with everything. But is it too…juvenile?


I have since returned #1. The color just would not work with me and my tendency to wear black.


#2 still lingers in my home.

What do you think?

Keep it? Leave it? Keep searching?

We have a situation here...

Jersey Shore any one??


Any ways, I have been on the hunt for a new work bag for a while now. My current one, while I LOVE it, it has seen better days. I have been looking for a quality bag made of real leather that can last me for years to come. One that will only look better with age. One with many pockets for my OCD organization habits. One that has handles that aren’t too long, but aren’t too short. One that is classic in shape, but isn’t old ladyish.. One in that perfect shade of tan that matches everything. One with exterior pockets to quickly stash things….


So, as you can see, my list is pretty long. And unfortunately, I have not been able to find one that meets a majority of my requests, as well as be within my budget. While I realize that a real leather bag is pricier than their pleather counter parts, I still need to keep it within reason.


I recently ordered the Fossil Blackburn Tote from Zappos.com:

via Zappos

The color is great (perfect tan), the shape is great (classic), and the exterior is great (leather). The first issue I noticed before ordering was that it did not have big enough exterior pockets to stash my keys or cell phone. But, since I had been searching for quite a while, I decided to take a chance. Plus Zappos has free shipping and returns. So there really was no risk in trying it.

However, once it arrived to my home, I could tell right away that it would just be too small for my needs. But for those of you who might be looking for a larger purse, it would be perfect.

Off to find a new option...

Any suggestions on where I could find a contender?

Items I am currently loving:

1. Loreal Ever Pure Volume shampoo and conditioner.

via Loreal

 I recently decided to give this newer line from Loreal a try because I had a few coupons to go around and after all, I keep hearing about how sulfates are a bad thing and how they damage your hair. After a few weeks of use, I am in LOVE! While my hair was already healthy (I use a LOT of conditioner), I have noticed that my roots do not get greasy. I can go 2 days without washing my hair and it still looks super fresh at the end of day 2! I used to have to use a dry shampoo to get me to the 2 day mark, but not anymore! Also, I used to go for the products that are listed as smoothing or moisturizing, but I have changed my tune and decided that bigger hair it better. But that might be because I’m watching too much Jerseylicious…







2. CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain

via CoverGirl

This also is a recent addition to the lineup.  I have been very consistent for the last decade (literally!) with what lip product I use. My go to is Bonne Bell Lip Smacker in Pink Lemonade.

via Bonne Bell

Yes, you read that correctly. No, I am not still in the 5th grade. I realize most people think of tweens when Bonne Bell comes to mind, but I love the stuff. And until the last few months, I thought that was all that I needed. But then I decided that my lips needed more color, especially with all the drab winter weather central PA has been seeing lately. So I did a little research and tried many products from local drugstores. I probably tried 10 different lip glosses and lip sticks. But no matter the brand, formula, or color, I kept running back to good ol’ Bonne. Then one day the light bulb in my head turned on. Lipstain! This way I can have my cake and eat it too….aka, have color on my lips and still hang with my BFF Bonne!

I think I have finally chosen Sassy Mauve (420) as my color. Don’t let the online reviews fool you. It seems that people are trying to use this stain are more of a gloss (which it is not), so it is not getting high ratings. But I am in love.

Sassy + Bonne = a very happy Mrs. Moore

Best of all, a lot of drugstores will let you return beauty products that you have tried and are not satisfied with. And that makes it a lot less painful and frightening when trying to pick out a new product or color. Just be sure to read the return policy before hand and hold on to your receipt!



Do you have any new products that have made it into your daily line up?

It official… I am 26.

My 26th birthday was a few weeks ago. Looking back over the past year, I must admit, it was a rough one. I really began to notice the aging process taking affect.
 Yea. Yea. I know. Everyone is telling me that I am crazy for thinking that I have wrinkles. But I see them. And I want them to go away.



I came across an article in Real Simple that recommended this product:

Photo courtsey of Target

So I decided to give it a while. I must tell you, I love it. It works incredibly well. I am so happy with the results that I have been seeing. My brow no longer has a permanent furrow and my skin is much softer. For ease of application, I mix one pump with a bit of my daily moisturizer and smooth over my face twice a day.


While I really enjoyed the product, I decided that I needed a pair of Boots. So I also added this eye cream to my regime:

Photo courtsey of Target

It adds just a bit of shimmer around my eyes that lights up my face after too little sleep and further to help keep those wrinkles at bay. Perfection!


The final addition to my 25+ beauty routine included a heavier moisturizer that I apply only at night. I use the Target brand version of this:

Photo courtsey of Target

So there you have my altered beauty routine. Have you added any new products to your beauty routine lately? Have and recommendations to share with the class?

Confessions...Wedding Shoe Search Part 6

I have to admit something.

I have been holding out on you.

When we last spoke about my brother's pending nuptials, I led you to believe these would be the footwear I would be sporting:

Photo courtesy of Shoebuy.com

Comfortable and practical.



But, I changed my mind. I came across Endless.com and their wonderful shoe selection. And I fell in love with this pair:

Photo courtesy of Endless.com

With an online coupon, I couldn't resist ordering them and at least taking them for a test ride around my home. As it turns out, they were comfy too. And they wiggled their way in to my heart.

So there you have it. I'm no longer feel weighed down with this secret. I promise there will only be one more post about the shoes and the wedding. After all, I do have to share the entire ensemble!

Stay tuned...

Budget Finds: West Elm Wannabe

The new West Elm catalog arrived in the mail the other day. And this is what I found on the back cover:

Photo courtsey of West Elm

Doesn't it look awfully similar to this pillow that I made earlier this summer??

West Elm version: $39
My verson: under $5

The goods

You may recall my upcoming Ikea trip. Well that day has come and gone. Reusable shopping bags were packed and meatballs were enjoyed.


You may also recall the shopping list I prepared before the trip. Unfortunately, I did not leave the store with all of the contenders. In fact, only one item on the list came home with me.


Let me explain…


1. The curtains. I had actually planned on taking 8 pairs of these home with me. They are great and lightweight. Could be perfect for almost any room. My concern was of the possibility of little kitten toenails playing with them. I need to find something with more weight and texture (to hide the potential pulls).


2. The frame. The mats were cut to fit a 5x7. My pictures are 4x6. Therefore, a no go.


3. And lastly, The mirror. I did not even see it in the store.


The search continues for other items like these. But that is ok because here is what came home with me:


The picture ledges.

But, I also happened across this fabric.

Hopefully, Mr. Moore and I will have some time in the next few weeks to hang the ledges over the desk in the living room. I am going to leave them white for now and revisit painting them after a few months. 

I plan to use the fabric to make throw pillows (yes, more pillows. here and here) for our master bedroom. I am thinking the big, oversized variety.

Counting down the days...

One of the downfalls of living in rural PA, is that there is not an Ikea nearby. And unfortunately, Ikea does not ship many of the things that I would like to purchase. So when I do get a chance to go to the mecca of inexpensive home furnishings (once a year, if I am lucky), I need to make it count!

Later next month, the pilgrimage will be upon us. I have been preparing for months: scouring their website for new ideas/products and trying to envision them in my home.

The best item I have across during this time? Ikea’s online shopping list feature. You are able to create a list of the items you would like to purchase and best of all you are able to see if they are available in your store of choice!


Needless to say, I have created, recreated, edited, and changed my list more times than I can count.

Here is the current list of what I hope will make it into my shopping cart in August:
Curtains.

Photo courtesy of Ikea

I have slowly been putting curtains up in my home this year. When I purchased my house back in 2007, my first priority was to put up blinds, as to not give the neighbors a free show. After they were installed, I lost momentum and chose to simply enjoy the coverings that were up. Plus, I really was not sure what type or color of curtains I even wanted and could not justify purchasing curtains for the sake of having them. Fast forward 3 years. From what I have read on other blogs and websites, most people seem very happy with the Vivian curtains. They are not too heavy and not too sheer. And best of all, they are a great price! Since I love a good bargain and am only really looking to soften the edges around the blinds in the living room, kitchen, and dining area, these seem like a good fit.






Picture Ledges.

Photo courtsey of Ikea

 As you know, I have been looking at picture ledges for a while now. I am finally going to take the plunge. I am after 2 of the 22 inch ones. They will go over my little “office” nook in the living room in a staggered arrangement. I have debated on whether I wanted 2 of the shorter variety or 1 of the longer variety. I have decided on 2 shorter ones, because, well, if I want longer one, I can simple butt the 2 up against each other. Problem solved!

Frame.

Photo courtsesy of Ikea

Last summer I went to a local art festival and purchased lovely photos of common items that look like letters:

In case you can’t tell, it spells out “Moore”.

While I love the pictures themselves, I never cared too much for the “frame” they are in. It has really no presence and is almost cold. I have a few Ribba frames from Ikea already and they are great! So I plan to find one with 5 openings to give our name a new look. And who knows, it may just end up on the lovely new ledges that will live above my desk…






Mirror.

Photo courtesy of Ikea

Our master bedroom has been a work in progress for quite some time. I am not one to simply purchase new items just because I don’t like the ones I have. We have a great big tv that sits on top Mr. Moore’s dresser. It takes up ¾ of the space available and has to be pushed up against the wall to even fit from front to back. I would love to purchase a new flat panel model, but can’t justify it when the one we have works just fine. Since it is so large, this makes it quite difficult to put anything on the wall above the dresser. We inherited a mirror from a family member with the hopes of it working in the space. Unfortunately, it is simply too large for the space and still would not fit even if we got a smaller tv (which won’t happen until the one we have dies…). So rather than mount a mirror on the wall, I am thinking that a standing mirror may be the way to go. My only concern is that since they are fairly tall dressers, I may not be able to see my self in it…


So there is my list. Although chances are a few other items will be leaving the store with me as well. Now I just have to hope that they have everything that I want in stock.

My plea to Ikea? Love Harrisburg as much as you love Philly and Pittsburgh. Open a store in the middle of the Keystone State!

And yes, I plan to consume a plate of their meatballs before I begin to fill my cart.

Wedding Shoe Search

This fall I am a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding. The dress process was simple. The bride gave us a line to choose from and wanted the length to be “short”. Here is the dress I chose:

Photo courtesy of After Six

However, the bride did request it in claret, but still, simple enough:

Photo courtesy of After Six

Here comes the hard part...the shoes. She wants us to wear gold shoes. Here are the shoes that my brother’s fiancé suggested:

Photo courtesy of Sears

Now, I am not a rhinestone, strappy, gold shoe kind of girl, but I realize this is their big day, so I am willing to play along with the gold part.

After searching all of the local establishments for an acceptable pair of gold shoes, at a reasonable price, and completely striking out, I was forced to begin online shopping. As of today, I have ordered over a dozen pairs of shoes from various websites with no luck. Unfortunately, since I am trying to keep the price as low as possible, most of the shoes are very cheaply made and are extremely uncomfortable. I cannot see being able to wear them for an entire wedding. Granted, I will probably change out of them at some point.

Here is what I would ideally like to wear, but very unwilling to pay for:

Photo courtesy of Amazon

I am hoping that as summer goes along more gold shoes will come out in stores. Please cross your fingers with me!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Along with the traditional festivities of this holiday weekend comes SALES!!! In line with yesterday’s post, Lowe's and Home Depot are having paint sales. Both stores are offering $5 off gallon cans and $20 off five gallon buckets. Deck, fence, and wood stains are also included in the sale.



The sale ends at the end of the month (5/31), so be sure to hurry in!