Cheaper TOM Box Alternative from Amazon

My last post was about My Cotton Bunny. I love the idea of a TOM box but don't love the price of the current options out there. I realize these subscriptions are probably doing their best, and maybe they are just more pampering focused, but I am cost focused. I want my money's worth!!!

I'm sure you've heard of Amazon but do you have much experience with their Subscribe & Save service? I sure didn't. I don't exactly need a surprise in a TOM box. Supplies are usually the same month-to-month. I thought I would play around with the service and see what I would come up with. I have always been nervous about Amazon Subscribe and Save. I suppose I just didn't have enough information. I totally trust Amazon as far as payment security goes so why not try it out!

Now with My Cotton Bunny-the packages are SAFE and hygienic. That's great but you also only get one box of supplies with no variance in size. No combos of regular and super there. I don't always need just one specific size. Sizes change as flow changes.

Now, I have a pretty good arsenal stocked but does anyone pay attention to how many supplies they use each month? It's always either I have some or I don't. It's hard to judge if you have "just enough". I don't ever feel like I use that many. It would honestly take me a couple months to get through one box.

Here are some facts about Amazon's Subscribe & Save service:

1. You can save up to 15% on already low prices by having multiple subscriptions.
2. You can cancel or skip a cycle with no commitments.
3. There are more options than just monthly-in fact, I set this up for every 3 months but there are many options.
4. You only pay when items are shipped.
5. NO SHIPPING COSTS

I don't need a whole box of supplies every month-end of story. While monthly shipping is an option-I don't need a monthly delivery. I set these supplies to ship every 3 months. I want chocolate and cheese during my time. I also take Aleve/Naproxen because it's the same active ingredient as Midol Extended Release but cheaper. So those are the basics I had for my box. Here's what I chose for Amazon to send me:

Tampax Radiant Super 16 ct.	$3.37
Tampax Radiant Regular 16 ct.	$3.37
Always Infinity Without Wings 16 ct.	$3.37
Bliss Dark Chocolate w/Caramel 8.6 oz	$3.13
Cheeze It Zingz 12.4 oz	$2.46
Aleve 24 ct.	$3.13
TOTAL:	$18.83

There are a variety of "supplies", some treats, and some pain reliever for yucky feelings. See how this will be $18.83? That is the cost for three months! That means I will average a cost of $6.27/month. In comparison to My Cotton Bunny-that's great saving. I would be getting the exact same amount of supplies-16 ct./month. No little presents but I'm sure I will have other opportunities to spoil myself throughout the month. A 15% discount is reflected because I am getting at least 5 subscription items delivered in the same month.

What do you think? Would you ever consider Amazon as an alternative to a subscription box? My first shipment with this service is expected March 7th and I am totally excited! The best thing-you don't like chocolate? Get gummy bears! It's your subscription so brands and items are completely customizable! I'm sure you can find several items that will work for you.

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

My Cotton Bunny February 2014

HERE WE GO. I am finally writing a post about My Cotton Bunny. My Cotton Bunny is a Time of the Month Box (TOM Box). Let me say this, TOM boxes are a WONDERFUL idea. I can't tell you how much I am in love with the idea. However, out of all my subscriptions, this is the one that I just can't wrap my head around cost wise. Normally, My Cotton Bunny is $16/month, there are some promo codes that float around occasionally and if you use someone's name at checkout-the "referrer" and the "referee" are supposed to get 20% of their order refunded back to them.

When I signed up for My Cotton Bunny, I had a promotional code for 20% off my order. I could have signed up for a monthly subscription but I would've only gotten the discount on one box and I wanted to give them a fair shot and judge the subscription over several months. I signed up for the quarterly subscription-which means I was billed for three months at one time. A quarterly subscription to My Cotton Bunny is $45.60 which averages out to $15.20/box. As I mentioned, I had a promotional code so I paid $36.48. This gave my boxes an average cost of $12.16/box

February is my second box so I will get one more. With the average cost of each box I have been completely satisfied with what I have received. Here's what I got in February:

I really like the bracelet in the top right. There were several colors sent out. I actually saw some very similar ones advertised though a "deal" site the other day. There is no brand or price attached to the one I received so I will use the price I saw for them in my price breakdown. 

The necklace was low quality. It's a heart-one side is a set gem and the other side is silver with love on it. I was not impressed. The gem looks like it is coming out and when I contacted the company, they said that all the necklaces were set like that-I doubt it but it wasn't worth picking a fight over. There was also no brand or price attached to this necklace but I'm sure it would bring the total up to at least $16-so you'd be breaking even if you had paid for this box.

The snack crackers are Back to Nature Crispy Wheat crackers. They are reminiscent of Wheat Thins. I am a fan of Wheat Thins so I did like these.

Who doesn't love Nutella? I wish there was more!

The Galleon Tea was a flavor called "Tart Berries". This tea was composed of dried berries and smelled delicious. I didn't even want to drink it because it smelled so good. I did drink it and it was also delicious, I didn't even need to add honey! There was no price associated with one lonely tea bag but definitely a high quality tea. 

I like a diverse supply. You can get the same box of supplies every month but I like to switch it up. This month, I chose a box of Tampax Radiant Super. My Cotton Bunny does not open any boxes. There are other TOM boxes but with My Cotton Bunny you can rest assured that no packaging was tampered with. 

There is also an option for a bonus as long as you complete the previous month's challenge (in my experience,  the challenges are through different social media platforms). I did the challenge on Instagram for January but no extra bonus. I contacted My Cotton Bunny and they said it would be included in my next box. We will see. However, if it is then the value of the box would go up!

Here's what I estimate the box to be worth:

Bracelet	$7.00
Galleon Tea	$1.00
Back to Nature Crackers	$0.45
Nutella	$0.50
Tampax Radiant	$4.00
Heart Necklace	$3.05
TOTAL:	$16.00

What do you think? Would this box be worth it to you? It's so convenient and a package in the mail is always a pick-me-up! Would this make you (or someone you know) smile during that time of the month? My March box will be my last box but I did try something new as an alternative to a TOM box. Make sure you follow so you know how to get started on your own personalized, cost-efficient TOM box!

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

Beauty Box 5 February 2014

Ok, I am finally getting around to these last couple boxes. I suppose it's hard for me to write about them because I am just not too excited about them.

First off, I should say that this box has extremely loyal followers and the majority of their subscribers are pleased month after month. So, this box might just not be my cup of tea. However, I will get a March box to give it a fair shot.

Hmm....Beauty Box 5, what can I say? This box was recommended highly on the internet. It was really hard to find any complaints but I do have a theory about that after this month. I got a couple coupons, I used one. I am waiting for a good sale to use the others. This box is $12 a month and comes in a relatively small box. There are minor variations from subscriber to subscriber. In some unboxings, I noticed that the nail duo color varied and that there were a couple alternatives to the Aveeno body wash.

Okay, can you see what I got? I got some Elizabeth Mott mascara, Aveeno body wash, Rockstar nail caviar duo, John Freida shampoo & conditioner samples, and a couple coupons. I did use the coupon to Mynamenecklace. The coupon was for $10 off with promo code: BEAUTYGIFT The site never charges shipping from what I can see. I did use the coupon so I will include it in my box break down. However, that also means that I can say I paid $26.95 for the box this month. 

I ordered a monogrammed sterling silver bracelet with the coupon. I do really like the bracelet. Monogramming is very "in" right now and getting something personalized for only $14.95 (including shipping) was in fact a good deal in my opinion.

The Rockstar polish duo-the color is cute and pretty but felt like a cheap formula, almost plastic. The caviar is not really my thing. I did try a cute black and teal manicure, but it was ugly so I immediately took it off. Beauty Box 5 made this product the "feature" product this month and it was February's sneak peak. Beauty Box 5 was intentionally misleading concerning this product. These bottles are most definitely full size. However, the printed cards said full size retailed for $14.99. This duo does not cost $14.99. A set of four polishes, four caviars, and a caviar funnel retails for $14.99. Companies trying to be sneaky is really off putting. 

I have received the mascara before through Ipsy and have yet to try it.

The shampoo & conditioner is the volumizing version. My hair needs no extra volume. These were foil samples and there were two of each. In addition to the samples, a $2 off coupon was also attached to each set. So, there was a coupon total of $4 on these samples. I haven't used these coupons so they will not increase the product value for this post.

Here's what my box was worth:

Elizabeth Mott Mascara	$8.48
Rockstar Nail Duo	$3.74
Shampoo & Conditioner	$0.82
Aveeno Body Wash	$0.87
Mynamenecklace	$24.95
TOTAL:	$38.86

With my bracelet, I paid $26.95 for this box and it ended up being worth $38.86. The Mynamenecklace coupon and bracelet really saved this box. I did not get the bracelet with the box, I placed a separate order and waited until the bracelet came in. When it came in, coupon codes for 10% off were included. Those codes were: NOW10 or SAVE10 

Do you want to see a picture of the bracelet? Leave me a comment and I will gladly put it up for you! Do you think you will try this subscription out? If you do, use my referral link. I am not sure what the rewards program is for this box but I'm sure it would benefit me slightly! Until next time!

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

Ipsy February 2014

How was everyone's Valentine's Day? Mine was pretty good and I was in a great mood all day!

Today's topic of blog is Ipsy! I have been an Ipsy subscriber since August 2013 and this subscription literally makes me feel as if I am multiplying my money. I have been more excited about some products than others but I have never been disappointed.

February's Ipsy glambag theme was, "The Look of Love". It's for Valentine's day, get it? Ok, so kind of comical and not too original but still cute. Being a redhead, I was terrified of a Valentine's theme bag because a Valentine theme makes people think of PINK and RED. I don't know if any of you all know any redheads or are redheads yourselves, but those colors typically make us cringe. So, while the general population of Ipsy subscribers couldn't wait, I was really apprehensive.

Here is what came in my shiny pink bubble envelope:

1. Zoya Nail Polish in Odette-0.5 fl. oz. (full size)
2. Jcat Eyelashes in EL15-1 ct. (full size)
3. City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon-0.314 oz. (full size)
4. Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in Starshine-0.04 oz (full size)
5. Pop Beauty Pout Plump in Peony Petal-0.14oz (deluxe sample)
6. Ipsy Makeup bag 

I think that's a  pretty good picture. Can you see that blush? Man, that was a scary color for a redhead to pull out of a makeup bag. Some people trade their samples personally through the mail, but not me (I might consider it if I had a good friend who wanted to trade every now and then), I like to see how colors work and play with them. So, I opened it, it smelled really good and my idea is that I can pull this stuff off with a pale lip and a natural eye. Does anyone else have a better idea? How would you make that color work for yourself? I'm excited because I would never buy that color for myself so it'll be fun. However, if I get much more of those colors, I might knock down my quiz to not that adventurous in the makeup realm.

I mention quiz because Ipsy tries to personalize bags but at the same time, make no promises. Honestly since I feel like I'm getting a bag of such worth, I never have a problem handing down some makeup items to good friends. Here's what my Ipsy bag was worth this month:

Zoya Polish	$9.00
Jcat Lashes	$3.99
City Color Blush	$2.99
Mally Liner	$15.00
Pop Gloss	$8.00
Makeup Bag	???
TOTAL:	$38.98

I am most excited about the Zoya polish, I have found that keeping my nails polished makes them so much stronger and Zoya is a brand I have came to appreciate! If you are thinking about ordering some Zoya polish, use code: IPSYZP4 this code is for buy 2, get 1 nail polish and a free 1 oz remover.

As you can see, I definitely got more than I paid for. I love Ipsy and that is why. Now do you understand?  It's an investment that always pays off! Do you want to know more about any of my Ipsy items this month? Leave me a comment and I'll get back to you!

If you would like to join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag you could help me out by using my referral link! You will get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10!!!

In addition to the products, you will always get a makeup bag! These can accumulate so I'm going to start having to get creative with how I use them! How do you use extra makeup bags that you have accumulated?

XOXO,
The Redheaded Life

Beauty Army February 2014

Happy Valentine's Day! My subscription boxes have all rolled in and I am trying to figure out the order I want to tell you about them. Oh, I think I'll tell you about Beauty Army first because I am thoroughly excited about it! Beauty Army is a fully customizable box, you set up your sampling profile and then you select every single sample you receive. I believe they come up with nine choices, and you pick six! I've only received one box, but for now, I am excited about it! Here's where you can see my kit on Beauty Army's site!

I'll start by telling you what I picked:

1. Amlactin Mosturizing Body Lotion-2 oz.
2. Nelson Argan Oil 7 in 1 Mon-Foaming Shampoo-1 oz.
3. bhcosmectics California Collection-3 mini pans
4. EVERY beauty Makeup Remover Pads-5 ct. but I will cut them in half
5. Remington Suede Head Wraps-2 ct.
6. Vidal Sassoon Repair and Finish Spray-5.07 oz. (full size)

Now I'll show you!

Beauty Army actually has a couple really cool features that are very different from any other subscription service that I have came across. The first of which being that you get to pick your samples! This is really cool, there are a lot of complainers out there and it's nice that Beauty Army actually cares what you want so that you are completely satisfied. Second, they tell you exactly how big each of the samples are when you are picking them. I know some people really enjoy sampling higher end items for the fact that the items are kind of a luxury that most could not regularly afford. Me? I like to get my money's worth, so more than one use out of a sample is what I'm after. Third, you can keep an active subscription and SKIP a month! Don't like what shows up for you? You don't have to pay for a box that month! There is no guess work. I would think that also motivates Beauty Army to get some good sample choices so people actually pick them! Last, the box. See the box that my items are in? The white box with the pink camp inside? So cute. I am totally considering it a bonus item because it is a good size to keep stuff in. and they actually go through great lengths to make sure it gets to you unharmed.

Remember when I wrote about all my current subscription boxes? Well I told you that Beauty Army was $12 a month. Here's what it was worth!

Nelson J Argan Oil 7 in 1	$2.75
Amlactin Moisturizing Lotion	$2.62
Remington Braided Headwraps	$7.25
Every Beauty Remover Pads	$1.29
bhcosmetics California Collection	$3.00
Vidal Sassoon Finish and Repair	$4.00
TOTAL	$20.91

I know these aren't the most high value items but I know I will use every single one of them! I will actually probably use them all up as well! I am satisfied because I got a say in what I wanted. I completely feel like I got my money's worth! The thing that I'm most excited to try is the Nelson Argan Oil 7 in 1. I love multi-purpose items and this specific one is a shampoo, conditioner, detangler, argan oil shine, color sealer, smooth serum, and a pre-styling lotion. All seven of those are things that I would regularly use separately!

If you want to know more about any of these products, leave me a comment! I would recommend that everybody sign up for Beauty Army. There is only one downside, since they are revamping of sorts, there is no referral or rewards program currently. I really believe they are working on one as it says there is one in their FAQ's. In my opinion, Beauty Army is a go! Check it out and let me know what you think! Are you going to subscribe?

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

Silver or Gold State Necklace for 77% or More Off

Hi again! I must have been bitten by a shopping bug the last couple of days. I just keep finding these great deals! Today I got an e-mail for a LivingSocial promo code for 10% off. They have had a state necklace advertised and I had my eye on it! The code is one time use or else I would share it with you. That being said, even if you don't have a code, sometimes you can get a flashing pink screen on LivingSocial that automatically applies a 10% discount!

You can get these necklaces for any state in the United States. I am getting an 18" sterling silver Oklahoma! These necklaces are from NameJewelrySpot and are available in gold vermeil or sterling silver. These are listed on NameJewelrySpot for $133.99 for the sterling silver necklace and $143.99 for the gold vermeil. You can also customize chain length and get either a 14", 16", or 18" length. If you get this deal though LivingSocial, the necklace is only 34.99 (including shipping).

Now that deal was fairly easy to find but I of course saved even more! I used Ebates (*side note-if you create an Ebates account and make a purchase of $25 or more, you get a $10 gift card of your choice*) to purchase my LivingSocial purchase and I got back $1.80! I remembered to use my promo code on LivingSocial for a discount of 10%! Here's how it turned out:

NameJewelrySpot Price	$133.99
LivingSocial Deal	($103.99)
LivingSocial Promo	($3.00)
Ebates Cash Back	($1.80)
Shipping	$4.99
TOTAL	$30.19

If you are not a current Ebates user, you can really cash in with the addition of a $10 gift card to potentially get this necklace for as little as $21.99!!! Ebates is where I start all my online shopping! I got this necklace for 77% off! What a great deal!!! I've tried to make the process as simple as possible for you. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to comment. How did you get to my blog? Did you get this deal? What state did you get?

Happy Shopping! 

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

Pacifica Products and Promos

*update* The lip quenches are amazing!!! I will review them on their own in the weeks to come!

I got my Ipsy bag! Yay! I know I've mentioned Ipsy before, it's a subscription service that is only $10 and you get 4-5 "samples" from beauty brands every month! I put the word sample in quotations because with Ipsy, a lot of the time you get full-size products that are worth much more than $10 by themselves! I will review and break down my Ipsy bag by price later this month. If you would like to join me on Ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag you can by using my referral link! Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out!

Ipsy not only sends you samples, the brands they partner with usually offer exclusive promo codes for that month's featured brands! I usually check out the brands searching for extra good deals. I have found several over the course of my subscription, but this month I found one I am particularly giddy about! The brand is Pacifica and they are a 100% Vegan-Cruelty free beauty brand. 

They are currently running a promotion for buy 2, get 1 free lip products. I checked out the lip products and found these tinted lip quench products that are $7.00 a piece. I wasn't convinced that I wanted them so I explored the site a little more and found that if you sign up for the e-mail list, they will send you an offer for a free gift. I put my name on the list and received a promo code for a free Guava Berry lip quench with a purchase of $25 or more! I also noticed that you get a free sample of a solid perfume on orders of $30 or more.  So I decided that was my target: $30! It should also be noted that at $50 you get free shipping.

Here's what the Ipsy/Pacifica offer was this month, 20% off ANY purchase. So with all that knowledge, now we're cooking. I knew I had to get two lip products-which would qualify me for the third, free lip product. The lip quenches are right up my alley in terms of beauty so I added the Coconut Nectar and the Sugared Fig lip quench. I chose the Vanilla Hibiscus lip quench as my free lip product. I needed to spend $16 more to hit my target so I added a Blood Orange Take me there set which included a Blood Orange lip quench, lotion, and a roll-on perfume. I got all five lip quenches! I had a total of $32 in my cart. I chose the Hawaiian Ruby Guava solid perfume free sample, added the promo code for my free guava berry lip quench, and added the Ipsy promo code: ipsy20 for 20% off.

Here's what I got and what it was worth:

CN Lip Quench	$7.00
SF Lip Quench	$7.00
VH Lip Quench	$7.00
GB Lip Quench	$7.00
BO Lip Quench	$9.00
BO Travel Lotion	$7.00
BO Roll-on	$12.00
HRG Solid	$3.00
Shipping	$5.95
TOTAL:	$64.95

Here's what I paid:

Basket Total	$32.00
Free Gift	$0.00
Free Sample	$0.00
ipsy20	$(6.40)
Ebates	$(0.58)
Shipping	$5.95
TOTAL:	$30.97

I got 52% off! My Ebates cash back was finalized (*side note-if you create an Ebates account and make a purchase of $25 or more, you get a $10 gift card of your choice*)! So, the total that I paid went down even more! I wanted to get this up while these promos and discounts are still available.  It's definitely worth a try!

Give it a try! Let me know what you purchase and what coupons work for you! How much did you pay? Make sure you follow this blog for more goodies and deals!

XOXO,
The Redheaded Life

Cleansing System and 64% off Replacement Brushes

Have you heard about the hype surrounding those little cleansing systems like the Clarisonic or the Olay Pro? Well last month, Ulta ran a sale on nearly all of their skincare and I found that Ulta has their own cleansing system. As usual, I was getting a really good deal on top of the sale so I figured, why not?

I have a problem with big, visible pores on my nose and chin. The pore thing is hereditary in my case! I get it from my dad and grandpa, believe it or not! The cleansing systems are COMPLETELY worth it! I always thought I did pretty well cleansing my face with my hands and a washcloth, apparently not. The pore reduction from using my Ulta cleansing system is nothing short of miraculous for me! I am not kidding, I have struggled and been so self conscious over this for years and this little brush kicks butt!!!

I seriously stopped writing this just to go wash my face with the brush! It is incredible.

The other thing this brush seriously helps with is dry skin! I have such dry skin in the winter. I am completely over the cold and dryness. Putting makeup (specifically foundation) on dry skin is a nightmare, not to mention a waste of money when it turns out so flaky. I still use my serum, moisturizer, and night cream but this little brush exfoliates so nicely!

To think! I was actually considering purchasing a higher end brand but thought I should give this a go at first to see what I thought! I can tell you what I think, I completely stand behind these puppies, any cleansing system! I firmly believe everyone should have one. I have TWO. My Ulta cleansing system by the sink and an Olay Pro Cleansing system in the shower. I think I actually prefer the Ulta system, honestly. Both are pretty great!

This is the Ulta system that I love! Ulta is currently having a skincare sale of buy two, get two free and this system along with extra replacement brushes are part of the sale. If you are purchasing a lot of Ulta skincare, use code: 103757 for 30% OFF. Otherwise, the $3.50 off a $10.00 coupon is on their website. See which coupon has the most value for you!

Now that that's out of the way let's get to what this post is all about. While I was perusing for deals the other day on LivingSocial, I found a deal on replacement brushes. Here's the deal I'm talking about: Brush replacements These brush replacements are from a company called Vitagoods and they sell the exact same system as Ulta only with their logo on it! The replacement kit include four brushes.

1. Cleansing brush
2. Exfoliating brush
3. Body Brush
4. Pumice stone attachment.

This replacement package is listed for $34.99 on the Vitagoods website! Here's what I paid:

LivingSocial Price	$15.00
USA10	$(1.50)
Ebates	$(0.90)
Shipping	N/A
TOTAL:	$12.60

By using Livingsocial and Ebates for cash back, I received a discount of $22.39, that's nearly 64% off! Get the brush and grab this deal! If you have the brush, get this deal, fast! Make sure you create an Ebates account to get the cash back as well!

I have so many more deals to share with you! So, if this one isn't for you, stick around for others!

**UPDATE: The LivingSocial promo code has expired but you can still probably catch this deal in one of their flash sales if you keep an eye on it over the next few days!**

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

Get Rewarded for Watching TV

Ahhh! I just realized this post from yesterday never went live! I'm trying to figure out how to write posts in advance and have them scheduled to post. Any help with that would be appreciated.

The Olympics begins tonight! Whoo! I can't wait! Go U.S.A!!! With these games beginning, I'm sure everyone will be a little more attached to their televisions than they usually are! I thought I'd write about one of the rewards programs that I enjoy. This rewards program is an App for iPhone, iPad, or Android and rewards you for watching TV!

The app is called Viggle and it works by recognizing what you are watching by "checking in". You get rewards points for every minute you are checked into a show! The rewards are pretty expensive so for some of you it might take awhile to be able to redeem for anything but why not make your TV time worthwhile? The rewards are not cheap little gadgets either! Rewards are thing like iPads, Dyson vacuum cleaners, cruises, red box rentals and gift cards-my favorite! The gift cards that I have personally seen featured have been from Home Depot, Apple, Starbucks, Amazon, Best Buy, and Barnes and Noble!

Since I have been using Viggle, I have leaned a few really cool pointers! They tell you about special bonus point events on their Facebook page and through e-mail. I estimate that for watching the Opening Ceremony tonight, I'll earn around 500 points! It's totally worth keeping up with what will really rack up the points! Viggle also features a rewards spotlight which is where they will feature a really nice rewards for less points!

Recently, Viggle has partnered with NextGuide to make sure you remember your favorite shows so you can check in! It seems like this will be a really innovative partnership so if you downloads one, you should download the other to see what they have in store!

I have the giggle app on my iPad and it functions quite nicely! What devices will you be downloading Viggle to? I hope you try out Viggle and tell me what you think and how it works out for you! Check out the rewards catalog and tell me what you think would be worth saving up for!

Vigggle's Website
Viggle's Facebook Page

If you would like to find out more about Viggle, I have provided the links to their Facebook page and their website. Viggle does have a referral system but I am unsure of what it consists of exactly. If you want me to refer you, which may include bonus points for you, then comment below with your e-mail address! If you are my friend on any social media site, you can also PM me about Viggle! Until next time!

XOXO,
The Redheaded Life

Homeward Bound Pug Rescue

I'm writing about this so you can get to know me better, it might help some pugs, and I want to keep my promise of writing every day for the first week of my blog. Belle is my dog and I rescued her from Homeward Bound Pug Rescue on December 15, 2013. 

I had wanted a pug since I moved away from home. However, when I went to college, I lived on campus (no dogs there), I lived in my sorority house (no dogs there), and then I lived in an apartment (absolutely NO dogs there). I had known about the pug rescue the entire time but it just wasn't the right time. I finally started putting a little more thought into adopting and I had several friends that were involved with other animal rescues. Then I got nervous-could I take care of a dog? What if I don't know how to house break a dog? Do I want a puppy? Do I want a more mature dog? I had all these questions but I still pressed forward. 

I filled out the adoption application, had a volunteer from the rescue come and do a house check, and had even picked out the little girl I wanted! I was ready! I was excited and nervous all at the same time. I was put into contact with the woman who was fostering the sweet little girl and found out some things about her that made me apprehensive about adopting her. I contacted the rescue and was completely honest the entire time about how I was feeling. They suggested I come to their pug meet and greet in a few days. I went and one of the first pugs I met was a timid girl named, Maggie. They were all so cute, and it was heartbreaking at the same time. None of them had a forever home and the rescue only had a fraction of their pugs there.

Maggie didn't like the commotion of a room full of dogs. She was definitely nervous and she hung out right under my chair the majority of the time. I knew I wanted to adopt, I was still unsure of whether I wanted a puppy or an older dog though. I sat right by Maggie's foster mom and talked away. I asked her questions about Maggie and I could tell she loved her. I didn't see much of Maggie's personality that day but the way her foster mom spoke about her, I knew she was something special. I took Maggie home that day! 

I'm pretty particular on pet names-I don't really like common people names, nothing weird, nothing that ends with an "ie" or a "y", and I like short names. For the first four days I had her, I called her pug. Four days was long enough to be nameless-I tried Paige, Basil, Sage, and I even considered Pug-I finally pulled a name out of nowhere and it stuck! Her name is Belle. Meet my BABY BELLE!

Belle and I, we are a packaged deal. I'm hardly ever separated from her and vice versa. I can't even explain how much I love this little girl. We went to the vet and she is healthy but she has some arthritis in her left back knee. It kills me thinking that this might eventually be painful for her so I make life as comfortable for her as I can. I got her some little doggy steps for my bed and I set her back on the ground instead of letting her jump if she gets in the recliner me. Belle is around 6 years old. The rescue estimated around 5 or 6 and my vet estimated 6 or 7. I decided on 6. She is not a poor little rescue dog. She is my companion and after she got acclimated, we started getting into a schedule and training. I don't think too much of my trainer skills so I think she is just really smart. She was house broken when she came to live with me, that was a plus, but didn't have any other training. 

It's been tricky teaching her how to sit because of her rickety knee but man did she catch on fast once I discovered a way she could move! She knows which toys are which and it's really cute. She fetches, plays, and comes when I call her. Belle knows what's about to come when I ask her if she's hungry and gets really excited for meal time. She barks to tell me somebody's here. I think she know that I am visually impaired, so when someone goes in to hug me from a blind spot, she warns me. She gets a little jealous of the cat sometimes but he's really her best friend. 

Here's my happy girl playing with her toy penguin

I am so thankful to Homeward Bound Pug Rescue for introducing me to Belle, my life would not be complete without her! The people who operate Homeward Bound Pug Rescue and their volunteers are delightful. They love all their dogs so evidently much. I can't imagine the joy and heart break that would go hand in hand with running an animal rescue. Homeward Bound Pug Rescue recently had a breeder release 21 pugs to them-three of them were pregnant-and they do have the puppy pictures up on their Facebook page! That 21 + puppies is in addition to the many pugs that they were already caring for. They've been asking for donations in the form of supplies and money, foster homes, and adoption applications. 

Homeward Bound Pug Rescue's website From the website you can donate through Paypal, view the available listing, fill out the foster and adoption applications, buy from the rescue's amazon wish list, and find out more information about the rescue in general. The rescue is in Oklahoma but they have really tried to work with people from all over the country.

Homeward Bound Pug Rescue's Facebook Page The Facebook page is where you can get the most current information from Homeward Bound. They are able to more quickly communicate immediate needs and former adopters love to stay in touch. 

Have any of you ever adopted an animal? I can say the only regret I have is not getting the adoption process going sooner, but then again-maybe it was perfect timing that led me to Belle! I encourage you to get to know this beautiful recuse online and through Facebook. 

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

A Box For You, A Box For Free

Have you ever heard of subscription boxes? They are pretty hot right now so I will definitely be surprised if you haven't. With me, I have always absolutely loved the mail so with a service that's guaranteed to come every month but still be a surprise, I'm practically giddy over them. I subscribe to six different subscription boxes, they are: Ipsy, My Cotton Bunny, Graze, Goodmouth, Beauty Box 5, and Beauty Army. There is some variety in these boxes. I will go into a little more detail about each one of them as well as price.

Ipsy was my very first subscription service. This is what got me hooked. Ipsy is a monthly beauty bag. For $10.00/month you get 4-5 samples of great products. Here's why I have fallen hard for Ipsy, these aren't foil sample packets-they are good size, sometimes even full size products. It is not uncommon to receive 5 products from Ipsy with just one product being worth $15-$20. With Ipsy, boy have I gotten my money's worth. Now, If you are extremely particular-you might not like this service because even though samples are personalized to an extent, you don't get to pick out what you receive. The point of Ipsy is to try new products, so sometimes you might get a color that you really don't like. However, I bet you can think of someone to give beauty products to every now and then. If you are interested in joining Ipsy, click my referral link in this post. Typically there is a wait list for Ipsy but they have recently added an option to share you're subscription on Facebook and skip the wait list. If you are impatient, this might be a good option. Ipsy also makes the whole process really fun with sneak peeks before the bags are released and options to participate in challenges to win prizes every month.

My Cotton Bunny is a TOM box. In this box, you receive a sealed box of pads or tampons, some tea or some chocolate, a little gift, and possibly a few extras. My Cotton Bunny also has a challenge each month where if you complete it, you will get a bonus in your next box. You can also customize your shipping date to some extent. I will probably not stay subscribed to this box but I found a promo code when I subscribed to a quarterly subscription, it made the boxes around $10/month. Mind you that when you subscribe for quarterly subscriptions, money is taken out in advance for future boxes. The only reason I probably won't stay subscribed is because my main concern is value and I could purchase all this stuff every month for less. If you are in to paying for convenience, or the delight of a surprise pampering gift every month then by all means, subscribe! I have had a pleasant experience with them and their customer service is a joy to work with. I still have two boxes to receive so I will review them further in depth when that time comes! If you use my name at checkout, Angela Cook, you will get 20% of your purchase refunded!

Graze is delicious! Four perfectly portioned, healthy little snacks. Graze can pretty much be set up to be delivered however often you like. Graze is $6 a box. I have my graze account set up for monthly deliveries. Upon setup, the accounts are set up to deliver twice a month but this is a no hassle change to make to your account. Graze is by invitation only but if you use my friend code: 19FMT539B you do not have to wait on an invitation AND your first and fifth boxes are completely FREE!!! You can easily cancel at any time, even after your very first, free box. I actually received my second box today, I ripped it open and had the cookies and cream right away. The cookies and cream had these delicious chocolate cookie pieces, white chocolate buttons, hazelnuts, and sunflowers seeds. It was really good! If you get something you don't like you can trash it in your account and you will never receive it again! Seriously, sign up, you have nothing to lose on the first go round! If you want to see what I got, click here, isn't that cool! I can always show you exactly what I received!

Goodmouth is actually a really interesting subscription service. Goodmouth is a dental subscription service and the subscription cost is $36 a year. The cost breaks down to $3.00 a month but you are charged to whole amount in advance. Here's what you get:  Every other month you get a replacement toothbrush, dental floss, and a mesh little bag. All the toothbrushes Goodmouth has to offer are soft, which is so much better for your enamel. I always have used a medium brush but have found I prefer the soft bristles. You can choose the toothbrush that's right for you! I chose the green chameleon and I love it! I believe they are a fairly new company but I have had no problems even though I have only received my first brush so far. If you subscribe to Goodmouth, you are also helping someone in need of dental care. For every subscription purchased, Goodmouth donates to someone in need! How cool is that?

Beauty Box 5 is one of my newest subscription boxes and there is no variance from subscriber to subscriber. I signed up last month as part of a promotion and got the January box for free. Yay! I am patiently waiting on my February box. I will cancel either this box or Beauty Army depending on which I prefer over the next couple months. I got some really neat cuticle oil and some loofah gloves in the January box that I really enjoy. If I would have paid for the January box though, I might not have been too pleased. Nothing bad as of now though! We will all see how the next few months of service are! Stay tuned!

Beauty Army is a subscription service that I am still trying to figure out. You get to select six samples out of 9 based on a sampling profile that you create. This subscription is BRAND NEW for me. So new that I have not even received my first box yet. I did add up the value of what I chose the other day and it will be a value of over $20 when the subscription only costs $12. I have seen reviews of this box and their subscribers seem pretty loyal. They do ship in an adorable box that can be used for storage anywhere around your house, which I am actually really excited about!

Stay tuned to see what these boxes have in store for me this month! I have not received any of my subscriptions for February besides Graze so there will be a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks! Some of the links on this post contain my referral links, which may help you out if you're thinking about subscribing to any of the services listed. Do you have any subscription boxes you think I should try? Leave a comment below with any you think I should have my eye on! I've been thinking about Birchbox because I hear their point system cannot be beat! If you've been thinking about Birchbox, go ahead and use my link, you can create an account to look around on the site until you decide if you want the subscription or not!

XOXO,
The Redheaded Life

Ipsy	$10.00
My Cotton Bunny	$16.00
Graze	$6.00
Goodmouth	$3.00/month
Beauty Box 5	$12.00
Beauty Army	$12.00

How to Win

If you're my friend or follower on any social media site, you know I share a lot of contests. You know why? Because my theory is that you can't win if you don't play. I realize this coming from me is a bit ironic because I don't take a whole lot of risk in life. However, what do I have to lose when referring to this specific topic???

I win a lot of things. Some call it luck, I call it playing smart. I've won fair tickets, parking passes, concert tickets, meet and greet passes, t-shirts, hats, candy bars, and recently, some cuticle oil from Nubar and Beauty Box 5. You might be wondering what in the world this blog post is even about. Hold your horses, I will tell you right now. This post contains a few tips to get you in the winner's ring.

1. If you see a photo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter that says, "Enter here", then by all means, ENTER. Someone has got to win, why shouldn't it be you?
2. Follow your favorite brands and stores on social media. We are in the age of social marketing. Your favorite brands want to connect with you and they are constantly announcing contests, sales, special promotion codes, and even FREEBIES.
3. If you are out to score, do some research and take an interest in some smaller companies, the prizes might not be huge but your chances of winning great prizes from them are!
4. Instant win games really are cool. My Coke Rewards has quite a few instant win games and most of the time, if you read the Terms and Conditions, you can get up to 5 free chances to play, everyday. I've won a couple $5 gift cards from My Coke Rewards!
5. Be smart maybe even borderline sneaky. There is nothing wrong with asking your friends to "like" something of yours so you can win! That's what companies want, traffic to their brand and site!
6. Blogs. Lots of times when bloggers are just getting started and want to increase their loyal followers, they will host giveaways. Sometimes companies will provide the products for these bloggers to give away and sometimes a blogger will relinquish her personal stash of goodies for you to enjoy.
7. Text-to-win. Pay attention to radio stations with text to win opportunities because if you save the number as a contact in your phone, all you need to win is a pair of fast thumbs. 
8. Put in a little effort and you just may be surprised at what you can walk away with!

If you don't have any contests on your mind, here's one from Beauty Box 5 that you can enter right now! A short post today but I know you're on the edge of your seat, waiting to enter the next contest you come across. I don't want to keep you a second longer. If anyone wants to share some really cool winnings or has any other tips, feel free to comment below! I'd love to get to know you and any winning strategies you might have! Get out there and win! Good luck!!

XOXO,

The Redheaded Life

Free Glasses

In honor of my new blog, I decided I'm going to commit to post everyday for a week straight. Lucky for you!

Recently, I had a family member tell me about trouble with insurance and her daughter's glasses. This brought to mind a deal that's an oldie but a goodie. Coastal is an online glasses company. I have always been pleased with the products and the customer service from this company. I have received two FREE pairs of glasses from this site. The first pair was from the promo that I am writing about. The second pair was from a fall promo that they ran and if I come across another, you can be sure that I will inform you all of it as well. There is a picture of me wearing some of my free glasses at the end of this post!

Here's what you're going to need: a prescription and the pupillary distance. Prescriptions are generally valid for one year. However, if you're like me there hasn't been any significant change in the past four or five years. To obtain your pupillary distance, looking straight and at a mirror, measure from the center of one pupil to the center of your other pupil. The pupillary distance is in mm.

Let's get down to the money! This offer is for a free pair of glasses, which means frames and lenses. Yippee! All you will pay for is shipping and handling and in my case, I paid around $14-$16, remember that I live in Oklahoma so this would most likely differ depending on where you are.

As if that's not good enough, that's not all that's worth mentioning. The first time I placed an order, to my surprise, it was a complete glasses kit. I had no idea that I would get extras but it was so much nicer that they came with a case, a cleansing cloth, cleansing solution, and a glasses screwdriver. How much sweeter could this deal get! So click on the link for Coastal and use the promo code below to get a free pair of glasses. If you complete a purchase through this link I might get a $20 credit even if you use the promo code. If you create an account, you will get your own referral link to use!

The promo that is still active is FIRSTPAIRFREE

Coastal has men's, women's, and children's styles available through this promotion with a few name brands in the mix. They also carry goggles and things of that nature even though they are not a part of this promotion! Thanks to Coastal for being such a great and generous company!

XOXO,
The Redheaded Life

All about Influenster

It's Groundhog Day! However, there's a huge snow storm outside. I think I could've made my own, "Winter is not over" prediction! What does everyone think of the prediction? I'm ok with it! If you can't beat them then join them, right?

While it's the beginning of the month, there's not too much shopping wise going on for me. The stores are packed the first week of the month and while I like people, I'm not too fond of crowds. Today I want to share a little bit about Influenster. I've linked to the about section because it will do a better job of explaining Influenster than I ever could.

I want to tell you about my experience with Influenster. Influenster has multiple different programs throughout the year. They call their programs a Voxbox. I joined Influenster July 10, 2012. Since I have been a part of Influenster, I have participated in three Voxbox programs. These Voxboxes have been:  College Voxbox '12, Slimfast Sexy Summer Voxbox, and the Violet Voxbox. Here's the cool thing, each of the Voxboxes I have received have been packed full of products to try and review through social media outlets and through the Inluenster community itself. You can link your Influenster account to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Pinterest, Youtube, and yep-you guessed it, your personal blog.

I've received pens, candy, press on nails, Slimfast, hair products, hair accessories, make up, nail polish, skincare-all for free, all from Influenster. Now these things all seem pretty relevant to me and my lifestyle. This is the innovative aspect of Influenster. You  complete surveys and gain expert and life style badges based on who you are. Influenster does not waste my time ever. To give you an example, upon joining, I got to choose five expert badges. My expert badges are : Decorator, Tastebud, Mosquito, Eco, and Beauty Queen. Here's a little more information about my badges-decorator is about home decor, tastebud is food and drink, mosquito is camping and outdoor type things, eco is recyclables and green products, and beauty queen is where the make up lovers go. See, I mentioned I had a wide array of interests. Lifestyle badges are unlimited and can range from "I voted badges, to bookworm, to dog lovers.

When you receive products from Influenster, there are very few required tasks. The tasks are to check in your Voxbox when it is received and then after the testing period is complete-do a broad survey on the products you received. However, when you fully utilize Influenster and review the products through the social media channels, your score goes up (which increases the chances to participate in more and more Voxbox programs) and there is an opportunity to win prize packs from the brands tested. I have not won any prizes to date but my fingers are crossed!

Influenster is not for females only. There are badges that are for the men and as you can see, a couple of my badges would also be appealing to men as well as women. In fact, this past November, Influenster had a campaign to attract more male members titled Movember. Influenster is after a broad community so when companies want feedback about their products, Influenster can get into some depth with the proper target market. This is when I might geek out a tiny bit about the marketing aspect of this. It is genius,  I love it and I wish in addition to testing the products, I could see some of the data that Influenster acquires.

If you are interested in joining the Influenster community, I have a few invites-so you can immediately join, otherwise you have to wait on an invitation. You can leave your e-mail in the comments or message it to me somehow since I'm still getting the hang of all this. I encourage you because I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Influenster nation. You never know what you will get to try out! If you don't want to join, next time I am invited to a Voxbox program I will happily share my experience and the product reviews with you!

XOXO,
The Redheaded Life

      

Get to know me and my blog!

Who's going to gain a legion of loyal followers without establishing a little credibility and sharing about themselves? No one. With that being said, I am dedicating my very first post (hopefully not my last) to that, so here goes nothing. I live in Oklahoma and I do not drive. Therefore, I do a lot of online shopping but I do get out every now and then to see what the brick and mortar has to offer. Usually I am disappointed, but nonetheless, I find some good stuff-things that make me happy. That's why I'm here. I want to share my triumphs with YOU. Yes, you. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets excited about these things, so I invite you to share with me, as I will share with you.

I graduated college with a B.B.A. in Marketing and have a minor in Professional Sales. That being said, I do not have a lot of money to throw around. I like to make what I do have last and really get the most out of it. I do this by doing a bit of research. I use a couple sites frequently that I will gladly share with you. I will only tell you about three today since there will be plenty of time to share the rest.

The first I will tell you about is Ebates. Ebates has a few commercials so you have probably heard of them but are unsure if they are credible or not. Let me tell you, they are completely legitimate and the whole process is really interesting. Ebates has hundreds of stores that participate with them and if you do a lot of online shopping, it is a community you must be a part of. For every purchase you make, if you complete the purchase through an Ebates link, you get cash back. Essentially, you get paid to shop. They have several different ways to get the cash back such as donate to charity, through paypal, or you can opt for them to send you a check (if your cash back is $5 or more) quarterly. I opt for a big fat check and a few days ago, They gave me the option to immediately redeem for an Amazon e-gift card. Amazon is a site I frequent (I will talk about it shortly), so I took them up on the offer and successfully used the balance on a purchase yesterday.

The next website/store that I want to share my love for is Ulta. Ulta is a beauty store and they are definitely a go to for me due to their coupons, special offers, and rewards program. I have included a link to the earning page of the rewards program. Here's my tip: redeem your rewards at the 250/350/450/etc. balances. Here's why: 100 points=$3.00, which means that every 50 points would be equivalent, to $1.50. However, at the 250 point mark, the reward is $8.00, but when you add it up in 50 point increments, The reward would only be $7.50. You get $0.50 extra if you redeem at 250/350/450, I realize that's not a lot but it is how to maximize Ulta rewards. The entire reward system is consistent with that. It's also worth mentioning the special weeks, birthday months, and promotions where you can take advantage of up to 5X the points.

The last site that I will talk about today is Amazon. Who doesn't love Amazon? Amazon has recently upped their free shipping offer. The offer used to be free shipping on Amazon fulfilled purchases over $25, now the offer is free shipping of Amazon fulfilled purchases over $35 dollars. However, Amazon offers several programs to make purchases even more affordable such as Prime, deals of the day, AND coupons. Yes, Amazon has coupons! With all coupons, some are better than others. Recently, I got 2.00 a Kotex product and got the 24 count wipes for a little over $2.00-shipped, that was a good coupon! Could I have gotten it cheaper? Yes, some people have in fact, by opting in for "subscribe and save" and being Prime members. I am not a prime member, nor have I played around with subscribe and save but the deal I got was good enough for me. I'm not always out for the best deal. If it's a good deal and convenient, I am usually sold.

Hopefully, I have communicated what I want to do. I hope even more, that you enjoy it and are interested enough to give me some opinions, share your stories, share my blog with your friends, and get to know me even more! Stay in touch for good deals, freebies, product testing communities, and subscription boxes. I look forward to next time!

XOXO,
The Redheaded Life