Amazing Party Looks and Deals

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://moms.dailybuzz.com/channel/style.

It is pretty common knowledge that my other job is writing and testing out beauty products. I am not choosy either. From lipstick to liner, sunless tanner to hair serum I will give it a try. If it works I am on board. When the holidays roll around I go into a sort of hyper-drive in the make-up department. For amazing party looks and a break from the cold weather blues one of the first places I stop is my local drugstore.

One of the best places I have found to look my best each holiday season is Walgreens. I'm a sucker for their Essie nail collection. This month they have the brand new Cocktail Bling collection and soon to be released Luxeffects glittery top coat with texture. I cannot wait! You can find the whole set right there from "Bangle Jangle" to "Set in Stones". Did you know that setting off your nails with a bit of color is one of the easiest way to complete your party look?

Have more time and want more shine?  Check out the luxury hair care line from Frederic Fekkai.  It is a personal favorite of mine that I always keep stocked in my bathroom. Even better is that I can restock my own shelves from Walgreens.  The Fekkai Glossing Starter kit will get you on the right track for gorgeous hair.   Made with olive oil the shampoo, conditioner and glossing cream create gorgeous shine and help get rid of static cling in your hair. I use it almost year round because it is perfect for fine or color-treated hair that gets easily weighed down. 

Don't stop there though, creating the whole package for your office holiday soiree takes time.  You want your colleagues and your boss to see you at your best at and away from your desk.  This is where my absolute, all-time favorite mascara can help.  Lash Blast Fusion is a great volumizing mascara that stays put.  It has a tiny bit of glitter to it that gives lashes another dimension that works just like you.  The whole Cover Girl line at Walgreens is simple to use but adds a polished look that works for any party, be it holiday, office, happy hour or out with friends. 

So the next time you are looking to stuff some stockings, perfect your look for an upcoming event or simply try something new check out Walgreens for some really amazing deals and looks this season.

Saving Starts with a Pig

This post was underwritten by BMO Harris Bank, which offers a matching $25 on a new savings account opened for your child through their Helpful Steps for Parents program. Learn more at bmoharris.com/parents.
It might be safe to say that none of us really understands money and saving given the current economic crises and the Occupy Wall Street issue that is currently in play.  However, as a parent to three kids, my husband and I feel it is our duty as parents to try to impart some wisdom, understanding and value to the subject of saving your cash money.
As a child I was a lot like Montgomery Burns.  I tucked my money away like a squirrel.  I had a savings account, kept things in a safety deposit box, two piggy banks (one for coins, one for the paper), a sock and I even had a Christmas Club account each year.  I liked holding onto my fistful of dollars.  I would save for things that were extremely important to me.  A set of Cabbage Patch Twins, anyone?  Yes, I plunked down $110 1980's dollars for that purchase.  Money I had impatiently saved.  It was also the first purchase I chose to regret.  I wish I had kept my cash.  Still, I learned and I valued saving.  It was a nice little safety net that I knew was always there comforting me.  For what, I have no idea.  I was ten but I kept doing it well into my teens. 

Now with my oldest getting an allowance we have tried to impart on her why money and what you do with it has value.  One of the best ways we have found to do this is by purchasing a compartmentalized piggy bank.  Broken down into four categories- Save, Spend, Donate and Invest it has been a bit easier to explain to her why we need to do these four things with our money.  At the same time we are giving her examples of what each category can do for her and others. 

1.  She gets her allowance and each week has to choose a different section to place her money in the bank. 

2.  She can pick something big to spend her money on which means she is also saving it instead of continuously spending it.  The American Girl catalog comes in real handy for this. 

3.  When her 'Donate' section is full she can choose a charity to pass it on to. In the past it was the local ACTS/United Way center.

4.  The Invest section is a bit harder to explain but the girl is already all about going to college and this has been a really great way to help her understand why she might want to invest money.  That and buying her own place.  She's five but she has two younger siblings.  The girl is already looking for her own space.

5. We have told her that once she has filled the 'Save' section we will take it to our bank and she can set up her own savings account.  We have explained to her how we will continuously deposit money into this account each time that portion of the bank fills up.  As her piggy bank compartment fills and "grows"  so will her money in her savings account. 

It's not something she grasps all the time or right away. She's still little and it will take time.  The conversations will get more complicated and we have two smaller ones to teach as well.  In fact, we just bought another one of those piggy banks for the second kid's upcoming birthday. I think we can all agree that the lessons of savings can never be taught too soon. 





I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. To learn more about BMO Harris Bank, visit their website.