Reader Poll: Cash or Credit?

Do you prefer to pay with cash, or with your credit or debit card? Does it depend on the purchase?

Lately I’ve become a lot more keen on being frugal and guarding against spending my money. Because I tend to spend more when I’m paying with my credit or bank cards, I’ve decided to simply withdraw the money I “allow” myself to spend on discretionary things so that I can monitor more closely how I’m spending my cash. Bank fees have also grown quite ridiculous so I may be using my bank card a lot less from now on! For online purchases, there’s always PayPal.

PS – No need to worry about identity theft, either, if you enroll with life lock.

Make Money Blogging – You Can Do It, Too!

If you currently own a blog and have taken steps to promote and monetize your site – or if you are thinking about doing so – this article is for you!

Personal finance is my forte and I am always scoping out new, web 2.0 ways to make money online on top of my full daytime job. I keep a close eye on what is working (for me) and what isn’t by keeping a spreadsheet to tell me which programs my site is using are actually making money and which are not. I am going to present to you the four programs, in order of success ($$$!), that are making me the most money from my beauty, fashion, and fitness blog. (more…)

Long, Beautiful Lashes – Get The Look

There’s nothing more feminine than donning super plush, long eyelashes to complete your makeup look. Kim Kardashian makeup looks are defined by this. If you were not “blessed” with naturally long lashes, cosmetic brands are touting fabulously faux eyelash products just for you! Whether you reach for full false eyelash strips, individual false eyelashes, or lengthening and thickening mascara, the choice is solely yours. And many choices there are!

Get Long Lashes This Season:

For beautiful lashes on a budget, go faux with drugstore brand false lashes by Ardell (you can also pick these up at Sally’s). For a few dollars more, you can get a fabulous pair of MAC false lashes for a more natural look. Maybelline Great Lash mascara is number 1 selling drugstore brand mascara for plush lashes, but if you aren’t getting much bang from this mascara alone invest in a department store XXL mascara primer such as Lancome Cils Booster XL mascara base for super long and thick lashes. Volumize your lashes with DiorShow mascara by Dior cosmetics or be brave and try the “comb” with Lancome Fatale Mascara in Noir.

Photo credit: Glam.com

Thanks, Mom!

Mother’s Day is less than a month away and I hope you have your mom in mind! I know I do…

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

• Let her know how much you care. How often do you take the time to let mom know that you appreciate all the ways in which she has loved you? Thank her with kind words, a hug and kiss, and/or a cute trinket or card to show mother just how much you thank her.
• Have a Girls Day Out. Share a spa treat with mom such as a day of manicures and pedicures, facials, or a massage. You can catch up on things you may have missed in each others’ lives lately and come out feeling pretty right along with her.
• Have a Picnic. Set up a nice picnic in the park or garden and share deli sandwiches and spring water (or mimosas!) with mom over conversation and laughter. Have a good time!
• Make a Scrapbook. You could go all out with an elaborately put together scrapbook with the works or simply create a photo album in a pretty binder with photos, clippings, and other memories that would make mom smile.
• Give Her Flowers. Mom may very well receive a couple bouquets that day, but perhaps you’ll the the first or only one to brighten up her day with a bouquet of beautiful, vibrant flowers.

For a bit of Mother’s Day fun, you can vote for your favorite Mom in one of several categories on 1-800-FLOWERS.com! The contest is called “Celebrate Mom For Who She Is” and there are over $30,000 in prizes. Simply tell them which Mom you vote for and why to automatically be entered to win. Hurry, because the voting ends May 1st!

Maybelline Mineral Powder Foundation

Yes, a drugstore makeup review!

I actually stumbled upon this product by incident. A coworker had forgotten her blush and asked to use mine. I was in such a fine mood that morning that I volunteered to finish her entire face! I began with my spiel, “You know, I was beauty counter gal at one time…” as I began swiping blush across her cheeks. When It was time to set her face, she broke out her new, drugstore mineral foundation: Maybelline Natural Perfecting Mineral Power Foundation. I admit to being a wee bit skeptical at first of its coverage. But as I set her cheeks and eyes with with this mineral foundation powder, her face looked perfectly put together.

This is good stuff, girls! And for less than $20, I call it a steal (and one worthy drugstore makeup buy at that).

California Dreamin’

I am very excited to be visiting the west coast next month! I will be in Los Angeles for vacation/business and am totally stoked. This post about beach makeup was inspired by my surprise vacation as well as more beauty and fitness posts to come. I have never been west of Ohio so this will be a much anticipated experience for me!

Starting next month, Frappelattes will also feature a guest blogger who resides on the west coast and is totally fitness (and beauty) savvy, you’ll love her I’m sure! She has been blogging for years now and has recently started contributing her fitness articles to online ‘zines around the web. Her fitness contributions to Frappelattes will keep everyone in gear, building their beach bodies with healthy eating habits and easy workout routines you can incorporate into your daily agendas (including tips involving treadmills).

If, like I, you will be traveling to LA at some point this year, Trusted Tours & Attractions has you covered! On their website you can find all kinds of fun, exciting things to do in Los Angeles and other sightseeing tours in major tourist cities (you can even get San Diego zoo tickets).

Get this, you can even win a handheld GPS navigation system just by signing up for their newsletter! How cool is that?

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Beauty How To Video: Summer Makeup

Summer Beach Makeup Tutorial

In this skincare & makeup tutorial video I cover:

- How to achieve clearer skin (this post is a good start)
- My favorite skincare miracle (Origins A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian)
- How to mix a DIY tinted moisturizer using an SPF makeup primer (MAC) and a sheer shimmer fluid
- How to get a glam, summer makeup look for beach or warm weather season including sheer base (DIY primer), cream blush, lip gloss, mascara, and how to contour the face

Here goes!