My exciting 6 days off...

One thing I love about my job is that I only work 3 days a week. Those are loonnggg and hard 3 nights, BUT I can schedule myself how I want and I can strategically schedule myself to have a up to 8 days off in a row without taking any vacation time! This week I randomly had 6 days off and no plans to go anywhere. Let's see what I did...

Thursday

Friday

I think I didn't leave my couch for 18 hours! The night shift really takes it out of me! And it takes a day or two to switch over to "normalcy" If I ever really get to that...

Also Friday, I went with some friends to a local bar for a drink or two...

Saturday

POOL ALL DAY

Shopping around town for our Dr gifts {post to follow}

Dinner with some friends out on a patio. The weather was nothing but absolutely PERFECT! 

Downtown for some late night fun!

my picture taking has really been slacking lately...so sorry...

Sunday

Church & lunch with the fam

Then my trip to Lowes and my home decor project! {Post to follow...}

Monday

Cleaning/laundry

Made yummy desserts

My cousin sells Mary Kay make up and I hosted a party for her. There were 7 of us girls having a little facial party! Sadly I forgot to take any pictures...but really you wouldn't want to see my makeup-less face!

For hosting, I got $100 of product for $35!!! SCORE. I've never used their products...so I'll trial them and report back! 

I got...

Firming eye cream

Gotta stop those wrinkles before they start!

Microdermabrasion

Fights fine lines, boots collagen, refines pores, and achieve beautifully looking skin.

85% saw an improvement in skin texture

73% saw a reduction in fine lines

71% saw smaller looking pores

Pressed Mineral Powder

My powder is almost out, so good reason to get a new one now anyways.

Tuesday

Paid bills...no fun...

I went to Chase bank to pay the difference in an Escrow on my mortgage payment and I talked to the banker about the details...nothing I understand. Then I was about to stand up and leave and she says,"I see you don't have your primary banking with us, where do you bank?" I respond and say the bank that I use and she proceeds to turn into a sales woman for Chase bank. I sit and listen to everything she says while thinking...

-This was supposed to be a quick errand

-Her headband isn't very becoming on her

-Nod and smile

-What is a good question {not knowing banking information} I can ask that the current bank I use as a competitor does better?

-It's just a royal pain to transfer everything. I'm sure your bank is grand. I just don't want the hassle. 

Then I politely respond and say I'll discuss it with my parents because they are my financial advisors. Again, I stood up and tried to leave and she said she was going to go get the mortgage person to come talk to me regarding interest rates and see if he could get my interest rate lower. This would be a GREAT benefit...but luckily he was on a conference call. I do NOT understand this stuff and I really do need my parents present to discuss and TRANSLATE. My brain is medical trained. Not biz/banking. So she took all my info and wants to follow up.

NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT ANSWER UNKNOWN NUMBERS THIS WEEK!

Again, I'm sure your bank is grand, I just don't want the hassle of transferring. 

Then I went to the mall.........

I intended on buying 1 thing. 1 thing only. I repeat 1 thing only was my intention.

This is the 1 thing I went for: 

Eye primer

It was cloudy and overcast today. I blame the weather. If it had been sunny this wouldn't have happened.

While I was there I also bought my BFF's favorite lipgloss by Hourglass called Origami. She absolutely loves it and I've never found one GO-TO color...so, I'm trying this one this time around. 

I have about a zillion perfumes. Maybe a zillion and one. Because I have this many I've never used a whole bottle of any one of them...UNTIL NOW! I used my entire bottle of Chloe. I LOVE it THAT MUCH! So today I also bought a new bottle. One of sales girls showed me a gift set that was a perfume AND a lotion for the same price as a single perfume bottle. Good deal Lauren!

I'm very particular about hair volumizer. The worst probably. I have quite a few expensive salon root lifter, volumizer, mousse products under my sink that were basically used only a few times because in my opinion they were crap! I would really like to know how much money I've wasted spent on these worthless products. So, I'm always on the prowl for a new, better one! This is risky business here people! I was a little skeptical after all the failed attempts at salon caliber and expensive products. The best one I've found is...drum roll please...$4. So, I bit the bullet and paid the $26, but after using it today...I was pleased! I think I'll keep it! 

All these items ON SALE!!!

I also got a few other things, just no picture to show.

I'm really upset about this weather...I was hoping for sunny lay out weather on my days off...but no, they decide to show up when I go back to work...

Well that was my recap of the last week...

Do you all have fun 4th of July plans?! 

feeding my habit

I have been kinda busy and haven't had much time to update on what's been going on in my world. But I've sorta got a new obsession which I can't afford and wish I could...Let's call it...
"Health {and beauty} maintenance"

I have a really tense neck, due to my job. NO, seriously, I do. Not an excuse! One day I walked into a massage center and had a wonderful hour of neck and shoulder work. For me, it's not relaxation...it's work! But afterwards I went to pay and this lovely lady asked me if I wanted to sign up for their membership program. I listened to her little speech...blah...blah...nod, smile, 20% off......WAIT...Wha she say? and to think I was just about to say, "No, thanks" like I do to everything else! But this was something different. This was something I could benefit from. This was something for my health. This was something I needed. Plus I got a discount! So, I joined! I was going pretty regularly anyways for my awful, painful, job causing tensed neck. Now, I could get a massage every month for 20% off. Here comes the cure!

my thinking:

Job ---> Stress ---> Neck & Shoulder pain ---> massage ---> less stress on body

Well, I've stayed in "da club" for over a year, but I've tried to find ways to save money lately and this was one of the things I decided I didn't need. {But my neck really hurts sooooo bad. I really do need a massage right about now!} So, I reluctantly called {because I know my weak self would cave if I was there in person and not go through with it} and told the receptionist I wanted to cancel my membership. Well, well, well...aren't they sly. She gave me the option to "freeze" my account for 3 or 6 months so I could decide what to do. PERFECT OPTION! So right now, my account is on hold for a couple fore months. That way I can get my finances under control OR FIND A MAN TO GIVE ME A FREE MASSAGE. Hopefully, the latter will happen so I can just cancel and I'll get:

1. a free massage

2. finances under control

3. a man in my life

*importance not in this order {wink wink}

A few months ago an awesome Groupon deal was offered. It was 50% off a facial service at a local skin medical spa. I was so excited to buy it! It was my first Groupon I bought! And I bought 2! Lately, I've had pretty bad uncontrollable skin issues and so I've been to see a dermatologist and I thought this would help as well. So, this past Tuesday I had my first facial appointment. With the Groupon you could choose a diamond head microdermabrasion, a chemical peel, or a regular facial.  The aesthetician suggested the microdermabrasion for me. This procedure boosts collagen, the fiber which minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. She described it as a cat licking you, but I don't like cats, so I don't know what that feels like! It felt weirdly good. Like a sandpaper suction cup was being run all across my face. Now, I'm interested in all the other other services: chemical peels, photorejuvenation, BOTOX and dermal fillers. 

And then of course there is the all important mani/pedi. I have a job which requires me to use my hands for 12 hours a day and I constantly and taking and removing gloves. SO, my nails look like crap most of the time. And, it's kinda a rule I'm not allowed to wear any kind of nail polish. So, when I'm not working, having my nails done is a treat. Along with this money saving {or less spending} kick I've been on, I cut out mani/pedis thinking I would do them myself. On vacation last month my sister took one look at my toes and said I needed a  pedicure like I needed food and water. Basically, it was a necessity. Last week, I finally broke down and treated myself to a mani/pedi and I'm wondering why I quit going...oh yeah, to save money. Dang! 

Another groupon I recently bought was for laser hair removal. It was for 77% off the original treatment cost. Hard to pass up. Dang you Groupon! I've decided I'm going to do my underarms. Who wants to keep shaving or in my case waxing in the summer?! But I'd like to have other things done too....ya know, bikini/brazilian {TMI?}, my arms and legs. Shaving is so time consuming. And it never fails I always cut myself. If I only had a few thousand dollars laying around...

After going to the dermatologist for the past few months and trying to get my skin under control I'm gonna give this bad boy a try. I've heard nothing but good reviews.

In Women's Health magazine I saw this on a beauty products page and I'm gonna give it a try. Maybe it can be the substitute to the expensive facial treatments?! Topical Vitamin A. This is what the magazine blurb says,"If you use only one anti-aging product make it topical vitamin A, which unclogs pores, prevents the buildup of dead skin cells, diminishes lines, lightens dark spots, and makes skin glow. Apply a pea-size amount of topical vitamin A cream to your face every night unless you're pregnant or breastfeeding-it can be toxic to babies. The trick is to switch your potions seasonally. Use a prescription retinol in the winter (Renova is an emollient, moisturizing option that agrees with sensitive skin) and downsize to a gentler, over-the-counter version during the summertime to minimize redness when exposed to UV rays. Try Roc Retinol Correxion Sensitive Night Cream $30." -Women's Health contributor Francesca Fusco, M.D. assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine

All of these procedures are great and leave you feeling refreshed and stop the signs of aging before they start--keep you looking young, but they are so expensive! I'm trying to be more financially savvy. And I need to realize I don't have an extra $100 a month for one of the cheaper of these procedures. What's a girl to do...!?

Do you have any cheaper beauty secrets or allow yourself any luxuries?!