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Color Run action shot!

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Steals & Deals: Target Leopard Loafers

I've been looking for leopard flats for awhile and haven't really found anything I liked that was also affordable. I stumbled upon these at Target for just $19.99! Love the price, pattern, and mens-inspired look. They are a little stiff, but I'm hoping I'll be able to break them in after a few wears.

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NOTW: Herringbone

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Buffalo Exchange

Has anyone been to Buffalo Exchange before? It's basically a thrift store where you can try to sell back your old clothes. If they like your items, they'll give you a price and then you can choose to get 50% of that price in store credit or 30% in cash. Also, if you don't want to take back any of the clothes that they didn't buy you can donate your clothes RIGHT there!

I went there last weekend to get rid of some older clothes and ended up only get $7 in store credit (womp) but I figured it's nice to get a few bucks back on something I was planning giving away for free anyways. I looked around the store, which can definitely be a hit or miss, and found a J. Crew shirt for only $22 ($15 after applying my store credit). And get this - I was in J. Crew yesterday (they're having additional 40% off sale) and saw my shirt hanging for $128! Unbelievable! Total win. I've been there a few times and once I even got a BRAND NEW - tags still on - Banana Republic skirt for like $15 (original ~$60).

If you're in the process of doing a closet clean out, I highly recommend checking it out. The lines to "sell" can be long, but there's a few stores in the NYC area! Have any of you guys gotten any great deals from there?

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Influenster Summer Beauty VoxBox

After signing up for Influenster months ago, I finally received my first VoxBox! For those of you unfamiliar with the website, first you sign up (totally free!), fill out some surveys about your social media presence and lifestyle to earn badges, and then wait to see if you've qualified for a VoxBox. If you meet all the requirements, Influenster sends you a FREE box filled with fun samples! I qualified for the Summer Beauty 2012 VoxBox and here are the goodies I got inside:

CLEAR Scalp & Hair Therapy (Shampoo & Conditioner), $4.99-5.99 - The sample was 3oz - AMAZING! The shampoo had a nice lather to it and the conditioner left my hair feeling soft. Overall the product has a nice, long-lasting smell and it's supposed to make your hair stronger in just 7 days.

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30, $8.99 - Great sample size and perfect for summer beach trips! The lotion has a lovely scent - like coconuts and pina coladas - and left my skin feeling smooth.

Sally Hansen Nails & Cuticles Hand Creme, $5.50 - Loved this sample since I'm always doing my nails. It has a thicker formula that hydrates the skin without leaving a greasy/sticky residue.

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color in Silver Elements, $9.99 - Very cool nail effect and super easy to use! TIP: Use the magnet immediately after you apply the polish! The polish dries relatively fast and then the effect doesn't really work. I also wish the magnet was more curved so the design wouldn't just be in the middle of my nail.

Quaker Soft Baked Bar in Banana Nut Bread, $3.29/package - Sorry there's no image of it but I ate it before I remembered to take a picture! The bar was crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. It's a sweet snack packed with fiber, protein, and great ingredients - perfect when you're on the go.

Tampax & Always Radiant Collection, prices vary - Hey, you can never have enough of this stuff. The packaging on these products are more stylish and trendy vs. other brands and their tampon wrappers are re-sealable for easy disposal (TMI? Probably.) Plus, the sample came with this little zipper case which comes in handy for storage and/or traveling.

Overall, pretty happy with the products and the sizes of each sample. I hope I qualify for another VoxBox soon. If you haven't signed up, you totally should!

Disclaimer: I received each product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

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An airplane inspired birthday card for Jacob. When you tilt the card the airplane spins back & forth!

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BIC® Soleil® Savvy™ razors Review

I'm not sure how familiar people are with BzzAgent, but essentially it's an online program that promotes new products. You must qualify for a campaign and once you do, you're sent free samples, coupons, and other relevant information. You're encouraged to test the product and share your opinions with friends and family via reviews, photos, social media, etc. I recently qualified for the BIC® Soleil® Savvy™ campaign and was sent a free razor with 4 refills, coupons, and an information packet.

For a disposable razor, I thought the BIC® Soleil® Savvy™ was pretty good. It has a nice sturdy handle with a solid grip, 3 blades, and a pivoting head. While it didn't give the closet shave, it did pretty well for a disposable razor. The razor also comes in a variety of colors, which is very handy when you have a house with multiple users. I also liked how the product came with 4 refills, but the only downside is that they don't sell the refills separately - seems like a waste to throw out a perfectly good handle!

Has anyone else tried this product? What are your thoughts?

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BaubleBar - Crystal Cut Strand Necklace

My current fashion mission has been to expand my jewelry collection, particularly with statement necklace and bracelets. After reading some blogs I decided to check out what BaubleBar had to offer. They have tons of fun, interesting pieces, most at reasonable prices. Plus, when you first sign up you get $10 off your first order and shipping is always free! I picked up the Crystal Cut Strand Necklace for only $28 (after discount). It's a great glam piece that can dress up a casual outfit or add extra sparkle to any nighttime look.

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June BirchBox - Jet Set Edition

So yesterday I got my June Birchbox. This month's theme was Jet Set, so all the products are great to travel around with.

Here's what I got in my box:

1. John Varvatos Star USA, $55 - This was a Birchbox men's bonus sample. It was an okay smelling cologne; maybe I'll pass it off to JT 2. Band-Aid Bandages by Cynthia Rowley, $14/pack of 40 - This was a cute life-style extra. It's a practical product and the designs are super cute, although I'm not sure I'd spend the money on Band-Aids 3. Melvita Floral Water, $22 - I'm not a huge rose scent person, so I didn't particularly like this. Plus I think it left my skin a bit sticky 4. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner in Black, $15 - So excited that this was a full-sized product. The eyeliner goes on smooth and dark (almost like a Sharpie marker) and is pretty long-lasting 5. theBALM cosmetics Staniac in Beauty Queen, $17 - I believe everyone got this in their box and I think it was full-size as well. The color didn't show up very well against my skin tone, but it was a nice hue on my lips 6. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream, $16 - Nice consistency, not too sticky or greasy. The smell kind of reminded me of this Tiger Balm product my parents used to put on me as a little girl

Overall, I was quite please with the box. Even though I gave away the Floral Water to a co-worker, I still had 2 full-sized products! Next month they're partnering with Glamour mag so I hope I like it better than last month's Gossip Girl theme!

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I decided to stop by Duane Reade today during my break because they were giving away free Essie manicures! They were painting everyone's nails in the fun new Summer 2012 collection. I got mine done in Mojito Madness - a fun limey green!

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Target Beauty Bag: Summer 2012

Every few months Target gives away free beauty bags to their Facebook fans. All you need to do is like their page, look for the announcement and sign up! Pretty simple. It take a few weeks for the beauty bag to arrive, but it's definitely worth the wait. I just got mine in the mail yesterday and wanted to share all the fun goodies I got.

1. Blue zippered makeup case 2. Aveeno Daily Detoxifying Scrub 3. TRESemme Split Remedy Shampoo & Conditoner 4. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Sun Block SPF 70 5. Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shampoo & Conditioner 6. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait 7. Coupon book

I was pretty please with the samples - they're a good size! Can't wait to try the new products!

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I'm sure EVERYONE has already seen the J. Crew Bubble Necklace floating around the blogosphere. I've had my eye on it for awhile but couldn't bring my frugal self to spend $150 on it!

THEN, I saw my good friend, Ashley, wearing the yellow version of it. When I asked if she really spent all that money on it she said, "Nope, from an Etsy store for 1/3 of the price!" I visited ILY Couture's store and immediately bought the necklace in turquoise. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the mail - the owner has had SUCH amazing reviews and I can't wait to see it!

BONUS: Use the code "ILYTWENTY" to receive 20% off your order.

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Beekman Beer Garden

I decided to stick around NYC during the holiday weekend for a number of reasons A) parents are in town B) JT's birthday and C) I just couldn't make up my mind as to what I should do.

I spent most of my time relaxing and watching TV in bed (I'm almost ALL caught up with Grey's Anatomy!) but I WAS able to leave the apartment to check out some new places in the city.

Saturday I went with a few friends to Beekman Beer Garden by the South Street Seaport. The venue itself was pretty awesome - great views of Brooklyn, good drinks/food, SAND. I had a great time there and wouldn't mind returning, but hopefully the weather will be nicer next time!