New Years Giveaway! $50 Gift Card *Citi Trends*

             Come one, come all. There's a new giveaway in town! Starting tomorrow and going until January 1, 2016 @11:59 pm. My Influenster Journey is giving away a $50 gift card to Citi Trends! How exciting?! So in case you get bad gifts or just feel like you deserve to be pampered a little after all the gift giving you've done, enter to win this for yourself! 

Citi Trends has everything from women's, men's, and children's clothes, to toys, household items, shoes, and handbags. They have a wide variety of items to choose from. Here is an example of a handbag they sell that I thought was just darling, and a few pair of sexy shoes. ;) 

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, I just wanted to pass the love along to one lucky reader! To see what they currently have on their website, click here! Below you will find a gleam widget for entering the contest. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

**Note, gift card will be mailed the day after the giveaway ends! It is for in store use only.**

New Years Giveaway!

Lake City Amusement Park *Guntersville, Alabama*Opens April of 2016

              Lake City Amusement Park
      Opening April of 2016 in Guntersville, Alabama. 

(Not a ride at this park, used as example)

Lake City Amusement Park is located at 302 Reed Rd. in Guntersville, Alabama. This 70 acre park is going to bring a great deal of revenue to the area, while offering an amazing time for families. There are a good mixture of Thrill rides and Kiddie rides alike. Some of these thrill rides include:

Giant Wheel

This huge Ferris Wheel contains 18 different Gondolas for people to ride in, and an impressive LED light show. 

Zero Gravity

This ride allows you to spin around fast enough to achieve "zero gravity" all while the rider is in a standing position.

Frenzy

The Frenzy is a giant swing that sways 40 feet above the ,midway, offering an interesting view and a good deal of a rush!

Pirate Ship

Swing and sway on this beautiful ship piloted by a wild pirate and a beautiful enchanted mermaid at the hull.  

Cliff Hanger

The cliff hanger allows the rider to lay flat (as if they're really hang gliding) while the ride spins and swoops. This is probably my favorite ride!

Sizzler

This ride swings you around 65 mph in semi circles and makes for quite the fun ride if you enjoy fast and thrilling rides!

Fireball

The Fireball is basically a giant ring (think roller coaster that only goes in circles!) that spins you to 40 feet in the air and back around many times.  Make sure to hold onto your hat!

There are also Kiddie Rides for those who are too tiny for the thrill rides. They are as follows:

Puppy Roll

The Puppy Roll has four puppies that you can be seated in as it rotates in circles, all the while you are in control of how much spin happens in your individual puppy!

Orient Express

This adorable Oriental Dragon mini-coaster is fun for kids and parents alike. It's just like a roller coaster, only mini for the little ones to enjoy some amusement park fun!

Quads

The quads are probably the best kiddie ride in my opinion. They come equipped with real horns and lights! Who doesn't love noise makers? Especially when you get to ride without the fear of getting dirty! 

(A reflection of the Orient, The Wheel, and the Area 51)

Let's not forget food! The best part of an Amusement Park is always the food. From savory treats to sweet delights, there's something for everyone at Lake City Amusement Park! 

There will be a Water Park built in the future as well, something else to look forward to! If you'd like more information on the park, you can visit their facebook page here! You can also visit their beautifully created website here!  So, check it out and spread the word! A new family fun adventure will be here soon!

Target Beauty Box (Men and Womens) Review!

Target Beauty Box - December/Winter Edition!

   Beauty sub boxes continue to grow in popularity. Target followed suit with their own box! I finally managed to get my hands on one Men's box and one Women's box before they sold out (I have been trying since they started.) 
   The Men's box was $5 which is a heck of a deal for the man in your life. 

$5 for all this, I feel like this is definitely a steal. It shipped in a beautiful heavy duty cardboard like box. Perfect for wrapping, if you can wait that long. The items included are as follows:

Gillette Clinical Wave Deoderant which claims to offer 48 hour protection from sweat and odor. ERV $11.97 at Walmart.com. 

Axe Shower Gel Deluxe sample  promising revitalizing fragrance and a nice lathered clean!

ERV:$3.59 (for a full size) 

Up&Up 5 Blade System Razor which offers a double coated blade edge and one heck of a close shave.

ERV: $8.19 at Target

Dove Men + Care Body and Face Wash deluxe sample offering micromoisture technology for clean soft skin.

ERV: $.59

Degree Men Adventure Dry Spray a woodland scented dry deodorant. 

ERV: $4.99 at Target 

Estimated value of this box: $26.33 and I only paid $5.00!

Onto the women's box!

This box was $10, and included 8 products. 

All the products were as follows:

Hair Food Dry Shampoo which is paraben and sulphate free! And it smells like kiwi, and who doesn't love kiwi?! 

ERV:$11.99

CoverGirl Star Wars Lipstick in the shade 30 full size these are Ltd. edition for the new Star Wars movie. There are 6 shades available. Mine happened to be the burgundy shade with shimmers in it.

ERV: $5.99 at target 

Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara full size it promises to give your lashes instant volume and curl.

ERV: $7.49

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream Sample size supposed to hydrate the skin and repair any damage around your eyes.

ERV: around $3 or $4

Goody Ouchless Elastic Sweat Stretch sample size (3 bands)  promises to be moisture-wicking, allowing for a sweat free ponytail. 

ERV: I'm guessing $1-$2 

Pacifica Love Eyeshadow Trio Full size coconut infused as all of their products are. A beautiful little trio.

ERV: $8.99

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream I believe sample size. Gives you 24 hours of hydration!

ERV: around $10 for a 20mi sample

Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream Full size I believe. 10 layers of moisturization and wrinkle erasing magic! 

ERV: $9.99

Total Value of this box $58.45 and it only costed $10.00!

I hope you enjoyed this post. Comment below with any questions or suggestions!

First Nordstrom Rack (mini) Haul!

   Okay, of all the beauty groups I frequent on facebook I kept hearing about this magical place called Nordstrom Rack. Every time I'd hear it my curiosity would peak. I searched far and wide and lo and behold we have ONE whole Nordstrom Rack store in all of Tennessee, located in Brentwood, Tennessee (a little out piece of Nashville.) So when I went for my last oncology appointment, we snuck off to this magical land of Nordstrom Rack! I had hope to find UD palettes (since I won none!) But to no avail. I did find a few pretties though.

   I picked up a Toofaced single shadow in Cop A Teal. It's a pretty (incandescent almost) shimmery shade of teal. It is gorgeous! They go for around $19, but I scored this one for $4.97! That's a massive discount.

Next up, I was searching for UD palettes but they had none :(. My husband knew how badly I wanted one, so when he saw UD 24/7 liquid liners he ushered me over pretty quickly. I ended up getting Siren. It's a beautiful turquoise-ish shade. I found it for $4.99! 

They did have quite a few different palettes there. Smashbox, Stila, and Lorac, from what I gathered. I ended up picking up a Stila "The Natural" palette since I own nothing from Stila yet either. All of these shadows are so creamy and buttery, I just couldn't get over that. It came with 6 shadows, a bronzer, and an all over shimmer. 

And the last palette I picked up was the Lorac 'The resort Palette'. I believe it was a special at Ulta at some point. I picked it up for $14.00 anyway. It's a decent little palette. It came with 6 eye shadows, 2 blushes, a bronzer, and a highlighter. Can't beat Lorac quality for that price!

Over all I'd say this was a decent score for $40 bucks. I definitely cannot wait to go back to Nordstrom Rack, they've gained a lifetime customer.

If you know of things they carry that you think I should try, leave a comment below and let me know, or any other comments or concerns. <3

 **This is NOT a sponsored post. I bought these products with my own money.**

The beginning of a sub box addiction!

   Everyone has known someone who's mentioned subscription boxes, or bought one or two. I tried Birchbox for a while, but even with the amazing points system- I grew tired of tiny samples. They were totally worth the $10 a month, just not what I desired in a sub box. So, then came Ipsy and Lip Monthly. Ipsy is $10 also, and again small sample sizes, but worth every penny and then some if you're out to try many brands. Lip Monthly on the other hand, let's just say they got their customer service skills from sharks. They want to take your money and send you broken or expired lip products. No thanks! That brings us to Boxy Charm.
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   This company claims to send 4 to 5 full size or deluxe samples each month for $21, and the value is quite a bit more normally. I was sold on full sized. I received my first box mid May. I looked at all the sneak peeks, so I already knew what I was getting, but I was excited nonetheless.
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   Mays theme was Bold & Beautiful, and they encouraged going beyond your comfort zones. Here is a list of the products in this box (photos included).

  1. ModelCo Bronze Shimmer (full size) retails for $22.
It's said that it's perfect for creating a warm tan with a hint of shimmer. As scare as shimmer bronzer sounds, it's actually not too overpowering. You can find this bronzer at www,modelcocosmetics.com
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   2.  The Lip Bar Lipstick (full size) retails for $20- in the color Purple Rayne.
A blend of vitamin E, Shea butter, and avocado oil, they definitely leave the lips moisturized, while leaving you with a nice wash of color. With just one swipe, you get a hint of color. With 2 or more swipes, it becomes a beautiful opaque purple. The packaging is to die for. The lipstick even comes in a soft protector pouch. Photo below of swatches (1 swipe vs 2 swipes)
****

   3. Bodycology Essential Brow Trio (full size) retails for $19. 
For those of you who can't leave the house without doing your brows, this is one of those products you must have! There is a shade for every skin-tone / complexion.
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4. Bodycology Brow Brush (full size) retails for $19. 
This is a dual ended brush. One end has the slanted end perfect for applying the powders to your brows, the other end has a spoolie for distributing the color better.You can find these at www.bodyography.com I will leave a photo below to show the beautiful packaging. 
****(pictured above with the trio)
   5. Lauren B. Beauty Nail Polish (full size) retails for $18. Color- Sunset Blvd
It claims to be quick drying, chip resistant, and long lasting. It's also vegan-friendly which I love. It's an orangey-coral color, perfect for spring and summer. 
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   The Verdict? I was highly impressed with BoxyCharm. This is my new go to sub box. The over all value of this box was $98!  If you would like to sign up, I will leave my referral link below. Just click it and it will take you to sign up, here!

Framedart.com is it worth the investment?

   I've been looking into getting my beauty room in order, looking for odds and ends to make it more beauty-friendly. I was approached by a company rep from Framedart.com to review a print, any print of my choice. Of course, I chose a lipstick print. I just knew it would look gorgeous in my beauty room! As you can see below, I love it!

 I thought it was quite beautiful, and fitting for a beauty room.You can customize it for your self.  You can choose the backing and matting, whatever colors you want. You can even choose the frame and the glass. I chose the red over white, since the lipstick is red. It is a well built art print. It's sturdy, the metal frame isn't sharp around the edges, and it's lightweight so it can be hung just about anywhere. It even comes with these fancy metal wires, so you can hang it properly.

I am absolutely in love with this wall art. I can't wait to buy a few more, as they have an array of choices. Nearly anything you can imagine, they probably have it available-from makeup to movies, sports, actors. It really is a vast list. If you want to check out other lipstick prints (or makeup related prints) click here! But beware, you're going to want to buy all of them. 

I just can't get over the professional quality they put into this wall art. Not to mention their customer service team rocks.  If you're wondering if you should try them out, YES YOU SHOULD! :) They have amazing products at affordable prices that fit any budget, and they work with you to make your print the best possible for you. 

**Per FTC rules, this was a sponsored post. I did receive this product for review in exchange for my honest opinion.** 

Big Gay Ice Cream book review

   I love ice cream, and we eat it year round. As you can imagine the cost adds up fairly quick. We decided to compromise and attempt making our own ice cream. Upon receiving Big Gay Ice Cream by Bryan Petroff and Douglas Quint forward by Anthony Bourdain, I realized that delicious treats would no be too hard a task after all. Firstly, look at this book. It's beautiful!

It reads like a yearbook, which was interesting. It follows Bryan and Douglas throughout their relationship and into buying and running an ice cream truck. 

There are simple recipes from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, to complicated recipes like rocky road and Bea Arthur chunky ice cream (all of which sound delectable.) There are instructions on how to make toppings and sauces, even their well known "awesomesauce".

   We tried our hand at making plain chocolate.  It looked more like poo, but it was creamy and yummy. 

If you want to find out more about this book, click here.

If you're curious to know more about the authors, click here.

**I received this book free to review for my honest opinion from Blogging for Books**