~Haul~ Ulta Goodies...

Hey Everyone!

Ulta has just opened a new store only 30 minutes away from me. Before, the closest store was about an hour away in a very heavy traffic area. I'm not the girl I used to be, a hour away to shop used to be nothing to me but I don't do that now, unless I'm in the car RIDING with someone.lol!

My first trip into the new store, I didn't want to leave. lol! This time I didn't want to leave again either!

I did pick up a couple of goodies, keeping all under $30 and feeling good.:)

 Grabbed some cuticle remover for my weekly at home pedis and favorite reconstructing conditioner, Joico K-Pak. I've never seen the small size of this product.

 I used to love Ulta store makeup line and I haven't had much of it in a long time. Seems like the price went up on it a bit. They had a sale on the some of the lip products...$4 a piece of these glosses.

I've had one Essence Cosmetics product and it was a polish and really like it, so I got three more polishes and lipstick and I'm going back soon to pick up some the glosses...and polish.

I'm still excited to have a store soooo close to me I could SCREAM!!! LOL! Now if we can get a Sephora between Charlotte and Atlanta in my area, my life will be complete.:)

~Review and Giveaway~ Dove Damage Therapy Daily Moisture Conditioner and Win A $1000 Spa Finder Gift Certificate!!....

I love conditioners and I love adding new ones to my stash. I got the chance to try out Dove Damage Therapy Daily Moisture Conditioner to see if it could fit in my rotation of products.

I used Conditioners, especially ones that sold "on the shelf" ( mass market, drugstore, beauty supply) for deep conditoning. I know that tons and tons of natural hair girls co-wash with basic, inexpensive conditioners. But I find that most conditoners, that were formulated to be used AFTER a shampoo wash and not for shampooing, irritated my scalp. I do use a shampoo that is almost a no-poo shampoo but its not a conditioner. Got it!?? lol!

Here are the Pros and Cons I found with the Dove Damage Therapy Daily Moisture Conditoner. I have Natural, No Chemical Process( except for color) African American 4C textured hair(for those who are unfamiliar with "natural hair").

Pros:
- smell great, similar to most Dove products
-softened my hair
-great for a deep conditioner
-good slipage for detangling

Cons:
- wasn't keen on the ingredients. Not a silicone or -cone lover when it comes to conditioners

Overall:
-I'm tucking this Dove conditioner away as a back up when I'm out of my favorite deep conditioner. I enjoyed it though!

GIVEAWAY!!

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Question: What is your favorite Conditioner?

Click on the link below, answer the question to win a $1000 Spa Finder GC!

Enter to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 9/4/2012 - 9/30/2012

Be sure to visit Dove^®Hair.com to get a coupon for $1.50 off Dove Hair Therapy products.

~Sale!!~ Tarte Fashion's Night Out Flash Sale! Shop Now!!!

Tarte is having a Fashion's Night Out Flash Sale!!! Click HERE to check out the deals from 6pm-12am tonight!!!

~Rural Style~ Look For Less: Jill Scott's October 2012 Essence Magazine Cover Necklace.....

Hey Everyone,

I'm LOVING Jill Scott's Necklace on the cover of October 2012 Essence Magazine. However, I found the LOOK FOR LESS!! Click HERE for the details!!

Rural Living: ~ Picking the Perfect Engagement Ring From Your Fine Jewelers~

Inspired by love and the promise of marriage, an engagement ring symbolizes more than just a pretty ring. However, who doesn’t want a pretty engagement ring?  How do you pick it? What should you look for? Where is Jonathan's Fine Jewelers? Even I want these answers, for future reference, of course.  Instead of doing my classic online research on what tips you should have in selecting an engagement ring, I went to my Facebook page for the answers. My status read:

“Hi friends and family! I'm writing an article for a site on how to pick the perfect engagement ring and I would love some insight and opinion on this topic! Please let me know you would (or will) pick your perfect ring! You even hit my inbox if you don't want your business out there! Thanks!!”

Well I will say, that my Facebook friends and family did not fail me. I received an awesome outpouring of stories and comments that made my heart sing. So here are some real life tips on picking the perfect engagement ring!

1     1)      Consider her personality in choosing what ring she would love to wear.

“When Jacobee and I went to look at rings I had no clue what I really wanted. I decided on a princess cut bc in my opinion it looked "alright." Well. He did not get it. Instead he took his roommate and my roommate and picked out a ring, which was ten times better than my pick. It was the three diamonds across the top which meant today, tomorrow and always and a diamond band. #lovethatguy:)” --Roshanda

“I was so shocked he asked my roommate to go along to help. It was my style, my personality and the meaning behind it… very big on that kind of thing by the way was the perfect choice!” ---Roshanda

“Some guys know their girls style, esp if she's the type to throw hints by walking you into a ring store to show you what she'd want to have. Then again she may tell you what she wants by bragging about what one of her friends has on her finger. All the guy has to do is get the type that she says she wants.”—Jerrod

2    

      2)      Stick with the money you have, don’t go in debt to buy a ring.

“I would think it shouldn't matter how much he spent on the ring. It's just a symbol. you definitely don't want to get credit to pay for a ring…..As proud as I am of the ring I wouldn't spend that much again knowing I can't afford what I'm buying. Credit means you either can't wait or can't really afford what you're getting in the first place.”--Jerrod

   

3      3)      If she’s happy with the ring, she will let you know, eventually!

 “Jamie do not listen to Jerrod... Though he did pick the perfect ring, pink in the middle and diamonds all over the band…but please tell men not surprise women and not give them time to settle into the ring;)”—Molly, Jerrod’s wife

“When he tells the story he says I didn’t give him the reaction he expected.. I tell him I just needed a minute to "see the ring on or settle into it"!”—Molly

There you have it.  Real life tips on how to pick your engagement ring! Thanks to my great WU Alumni friends Jerrod, Molly and Roshanda. 

Do you have a sweet or funny story on your engagement ring? Let me know in the comments!

 This is a sponsored post for Jonathan’s Fine Jewelers, however, all the

         points and views are my own.