NOTD: Nicole Peas & Qs

I'm actually kind of amazed I've managed to use polishes that I've recently hauled! Usually polishes, will sit in my untried for weeks, oh who am I kidding, months before I try them out.

A lot of nail bloggers aren't a fan of the Nicole by OPI bottle, but I actually really like it. It reminds me of an old style inkwell and well, I have an affinity for old artsy things as my primary concentration in Architecture school was Historic Preservation. I also like that the base of the bottle is large (like an inkwell) so even though I'm clumsy, I haven't managed to nearly knock it over like some other bottles of polish.

Peas & Qs reminds me of something else from Architecture school: our studio fridge, an ancient avocado green fridge. This is more minty but with the bottle and the color combined, I get pangs of memories from school.

This was 2 coats. And yes I managed to score this for just under $2.

TJmaxx Haul

I've been on a bit of a spending diet recently. I don't put myself on complete bans or no-buys because I am horrible at sticking with them, and I'll just likely go spend money on something that's not makeup. I've decided to keep my spending at under $100 a week. I know this seems like a lot of money as it is, but I'm including meals out, drinks snacks and the like, clothing, shoes and gifts (and if I'm more than likely to actually succeed than I'll keep doing it). I really have to stop giving in to every sale or deal that I find (that's why you'll notice me posting sales but saying I'm not going to be participating) and if you try to hit "free ship" on orders, they add up quick!

Anyway, I've been doing really well the last couple of weeks so I decided to stop by TJmaxx today after work to see if they had anything interesting in stock. I gave myself a budget of $50 to play with and went to town.

I missed out on Goldie nail polish before they were discontinued so I was thrilled to find a set of three for just $4.99

I've heard excellent things about the Barielle nail treatments so when I found a whole slew of them for $3.99 a piece, I picked up 3 to try. No way was I going to pay the $16 retail price!

This cute little pack of Essie minis was missing a bottle so it was marked down from $7.99 to only $3 and includes the infamous Ruby Slippers that's been on my "to try" list!

I've never tried Willi Smith (you know, for years I thought this was Will Smith's clothing line, haha, I just caught the extra 'i') makeup, in fact, I wasn't aware there was one, but each of these palettes was only $3.99 and they come with a real brush. Apparently, you can buy palettes on... amazon? For the price, I picked up 2 to try.

Nic's Sticks. I've heard these were awful but I wanted to test them for myself (for the record, I've heard the formula was good but the brush is crap though they can be "de-penned"). Anyway, for $2 a pack, or $1 each I'm willing to take the chance to try them myself.

Do you see the little $5 clearance price tag in the picture above? Sure you do. Eyes by Design used to be carried on HSN... is the brand gone already? Their website isn't working? Anyway, these palettes retail(ed) for $20+ so I grabbed this one brand new, untouched for $5.

I spent $43.39 including tax minus the $3.99 KitchenAid egg slicer which we actually needed so really under $40 for the makeup/beauty stuff. I'm excited to play with and test my new goodies.