Welcome to the Party!

What the heck is a Jamberry? I'm so glad you asked!!! Jamberry nail wraps are high quality, vinyl, heat and pressure sealed nail wraps that last for weeks, at a fraction of the cost of a salon visit! No harsh chemicals, chipped polish, or damage to your natural nails. There are over 350 adorable style options! One sheet of nail wraps will give you up to 2 manicures and 2 pedicures!

Order under Charli's party at http://katesmith.jamberrynails.net/!

Oh and here is how to apply Jamberry nail wraps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaykpuMe53w

Coach Factory Sale!!

I know this isn't goo related but I am going to blog about it anyway! I am on an email list to receive emails when the Coach Factory store has their online sales. Unlike the regular Coach site, the factory site is only open during special sales. I had been actively hunting a new bag for several weeks as my very large leather MK bag was really starting to kill my shoulder. I was hoping to go to something lighter but still offering the same quality of a designer brand.

I reallllllyy want a LV speedy, but the $900 price tag is just not in our budget right now. I was searching for quality replica bags (don't hate) but I was surprised to see the cost associated with those bags. I was just not willing to pay $100 or $200 for a replica bag.

When I received my email about the Coach Factory sale (with an additional 50% off), I was over the moon thrilled! I found several bags I liked and purchased two, spending less than $200. If you would like to be put on the Coach Factory private email list, comment below with your email and I will send you an invite.

I knew the the Factory bags were not the same quality as the main stream Coach bags, but I will not lie, I am somewhat disappointed in one of the bags. The other bag was a multi-function bag that I am utterly in love with, but do not have the chance to use yet. Okay, I will call it like it is, it is a diaper bag. Once God blesses us with a little one, I will post a review about that one!

But without further delay, here is one of that bags I purchased and I am currently using. I think I would give this bag about three stars...

SIGNATURE STRIPE TOTE
style: F21950BKHMA
color: BKHM
price: $79.50

Stock Photo

Pros: 

• The bag has some super handy features inside, including a great cell phone spot. There is also an external pocket that I am going to put my keys in...less digging, yay! 

• The bag is lighter than my MK bag, and is smaller in size as well. It is also slimmer and much sturdier, making it much easier to find the things I need (things got lost in my MK bag).  

Cons:

• The biggest con for this bag is the handles. They are too short to fit comfortably around my shoulder and are too long to carry on my arm. They are also very plastic feeling, there is no way they are genuine leather. I actually did not find any leather on the bag, which was frustrating. Synthetic leather just does not soften and break in the way genuine leather does. Now, this could be a pro for my friends who do not like to carry leather bags for ethical or moral reasons. I actually do not think I would mind if parts of the bag was not genuine leather if I had a heads up (and did not pay $80 for it).
• This is without a doubt an outlet bag (not a mainstream bag on sale). It did not come with a dust bag, and the quality is just not as good as a Coach bag. I was pretty disappointed. I knew they would be different, but not this different. I feel like I could have bought this same bag without the Coach stamp at Target. 

My First Birchbox...boo hiss?

I was really, really, really, REALLY excited when I received an email saying that I had a spot in the Birchbox program. For those of you who do not know, Birchbox offers a monthly subscription based "goo hoard builder" program, mailing out a selection of products. You pay $10 each month and they send you a sampling of some of their favorite products (however, you do set brand preferences). Along with the products, they provide web videos about products, provide tips and inspiration, and have a very diverse online beauty shop. Fabulous idea, right?!

Well, here is where my "boo hiss?" comes in. I was well aware that many of the products I would receive would be sample sized and I was okay with that. What I was not expecting was that ALL of the products would be sample/trial sized. I could easily run to my local Macy's and rack up a ton of samples for free, why am I paying $10 for samples? I believe the nail polish was intended to be the "full sized" product offering, however, it was still a very small bottle of polish (plus, I actually do not really buy much nail polish - I am a "get my nails done" kind of girl, so I was still bummed). Oh and I had never heard of the brands for any of these products. I am all for brand exploration, but to have never even heard of at least one brand was somewhat disheartening.

I haven't actually tried any of the products yet, but I will be soon (okay, I did paint my partner's finger nail with the polish - that was fun). I think it is a really fun concept, and actually would have been happy if I received mostly samples but at least one real full size product. I am going to give Birchbox another month to decide if my $10 should be spent purchasing goo from somewhere else!


Products I received:
amika Obliphica Hair Treatment  (.01 fl ounces)
COOLA SPF 45 Sport - Mango (.169 fl ounces)
Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish (15ml/.5 fl ounces)theBalm® cosmetics InStain® Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush  (.5 grams)uniqONE All In One Hair Treatment  (.3 fl ounces)

Ion Inspired by Nature Reviews (Sally's Haul)

Right before we went home for summer vaca, we went into Sally Beauty to try to do something with my "cool of hair" (as my Dad used to call it). My hair was fried. F.R.I.E.D. I am not sure if it was the summer heat, sun, or just life, but my hair was a wreck. These products were recommended by the lovely sales representative, but they feel short for me. I was promised moisturized hair but I actually feel like the products dried my hair out more. I am going to give these products one more shot when the weather cools down some. It could be that no product could keep up with Houston's crazy heat! I will post an updated review as well as some more images of the product soon!

Brand: Ion
Product(s): Shampoo, Conditioner, & Deep Conditioner.
Price: $7.99 each ($6.99 with Sally's Card)
Pros: Really pleasant scent, very thick rich product, no over lather on the shampoo, decent price point.
Cons: Did not really moisturize my hair, was a pain to get out of the bottle.
Where to buy:  In store at Sally Beauty or online at http://tinyurl.com/nqw2nbj

Goo Hoarders Unite!!!

Hello Cyber Space!!

As many of you know, I am a "goo hoarder"...what exactly is "goo" you ask? Goo is the definition my lovely partner assigned any beauty product, whether that be shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, or makeup. The "hoard" part comes in with my overwhelming desire to stockpile these products! And I am not the only goo hoarder out there! Jenna Marbles is a self proclaimed goo hoarder and there are tons of ladies out there enjoying (ugh - fighting against) the compulsion to buy more beauty products than one woman could ever use in her lifetime. 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Goo%20hoarding

I do not know what drives me to try so many products, but I just love buying and trying products! A trip to CVS, Target, WHEREVER, is not complete without some sort of goo purchase. Oh and bla bla bla social hierarchy and the patriarchal society forcing women to feel compelled to buy beauty products...listen up here, I buy these products because I freaking feel like it and I enjoy them, not because I am attempting to "DO gender" in any way. I am just "doing ME". Thankyouverymuch. 

Sometimes the products I buy are fabulous, other times....they suck (although I do keep them for emergencies). I am going to do my best to share some reviews of the products I buy and save you from adding the crappy products to your goo stockpile. I hope you enjoy my crazy obsession!

My Goo Hoard At It's Most Organized and Minimal State