Hi beauties! I wanted to write a short post to say 'hello' to you all and give an update about the happenings of the blog.

Lately my personal life has been quite difficult, which has left me busier than ever with travel and the bustle of everyday issues (no Internet, family drama, etc). As always, I appreciate your kindness and understanding as I know I don't always get to reply to comments as promptly as I like to. If I seem a little absent here and there, it's simply because other things are occupying my time. I have the new Thrifty Tips series that will be up on certain Fridays so look forward to that, and also many reviews, fashions posts, and even some new makeup looks on the way!

If you haven't yet, don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a Flower and Tonic mask from Mario Badescu.

If you follow me through Google Friend Connect, please also do so on Bloglovin', Twitter, or Facebook since I'm not sure if it is going away with Reader soon. 

I'm currently enjoying the sunshine in Florida, so follow me on Instagram to see some cheery palm trees.

Let me know how you are doing or what's new on your blog in the comments, I'd love to know :)

Talk soon loves, xo

 Maybelline Limited Edition Blush in 210 Coral Burst / .09 ounces / $6.99

This bright blush by Maybelline is part of a limited edition collection Color Goes Electric, which included the release of shocking neon shades earlier this spring. Recently on a road trip I ventured into a Walgreens and spotted the display, which resulted in picking up the eye catching orange blush. An intense tangerine, almost coral shade, Coral Burst has a subtle golden sheen and a soft, satin finish.

Color
As you can see from the swatch, this blush is extremely pigmented and vibrant. On my pale skin it almost appears as more of a pink than a true orange like shown in the pan. The light golden shimmers gives a very luminous, almost airbrushed looking finish that appears flattering even on a bare face. I think this color would be especially suitable for darker complexions where the rich tones and bold pigmentation would really stand out. For lighter complexions, a very gentle hand is needed during application as you can look a bit like a circus clown if it's overdone.

Texture
The powder is soft and finely milled, however it is a bit difficult to blend on the skin. Using a regular blush brush it looked patchy on my cheeks, and as the shade is so pigmented it wasn't easily fixable with a touch up. The best way I found for a easy and flawless application would be to use a stippling brush in layers to evenly build up the color without any streaks.

Lasting Power
This blush had an impressive lasting time, once applied it stays on through an entire day until I wash my makeup off. There is some fading on my oily skin after about seven hours, however it still looks decent after that amount of time.

Find
Coral Burst was part of a spring 2013 limited edition collection, however it has only started to appear in drugstores near me (New England) as of recent. So far I have only seen it in Walgreens, however I have heard that is has been spotted at Rite Aid and Ulta as well.

Conclusion
If you are looking for a bright coral blush with intense pigmentation at a drugstore price, then Coral Burst is worth trying. I think it would look especially gorgeous on deeper skin tones, however lighter ones can rock the bold color by just dusting it on the cheeks with a stippling blush. It's not too often I see such a unqiue shade in the drugstore so if you don't have much orange makeup in your collection then I would try to grab it before the limited edition selection disappears.

In today's world, the unforgiving economy and expensive cost of living forces many people to penny pinch in hopes to save every bit they can. Being thrifty and frugal is now more of a necessity than a choice for many, and women in their early 20's such as myself can try their hand at it just by planning out expenses more wisely. To me, being a thrifty 'recessionista' is a chic label that proudly describes someone who is economical, smart, confident, and creative with their paycheck. In this series, I will discuss some of the simple ways that I save money and live a little more consciously in this crowded world.

One of the most simple and effective ways to save money is by using coupons. For awhile I use think that clipping the Sunday paper was exclusively for old ladies, however once I began to become more careful about spending I realized that they are one of the best ways to save a lot of money.

In Store
 The first way I find coupons is to check the inserts in newspapers, consult coupon websites, and also niche blogs that lay out the sales as well as links to coupons that can be used along with them. Some of the favorites I frequent are Coupons.com, The Krazy Coupon Lady, RedPlum, SmartSource, and also the coupon sections of company or retail stores's websites such as Wal-Mart and Target. If you have the extra time, scope out the weekly ads to see if there are any sales on items you have coupons for, as this equals more savings.
Extra tip: Some stores such as Target and Walgreens allow you to "stack" which means to use one manufacturer coupon along with a store coupon on the same item.

Online
When shopping online, I always try to find a promotional or coupon code to use on the website. I typically use the popular RetailMeNot.com as well as a simple Google search to see if I can score a quick discount before checkout. Also, sometimes if you search the word "coupon" on a particular shopping site there are hidden deals that will pop up.

Mobile
A great way to save money on the go is to use mobile apps. If you forget your clippings at home or want to do a quick search to see if an item has a coupon for it then having an app is very convenient. The ones I currently use are CouponCabin and GeoQpons which both come in handy on some impromptu shopping trips.

Other
Some other coupons I like to use come from the sites Groupon and Living Social which allow you to purchase products and services at discounted prices. I've found a voucher at a high-end salon before that included a shampoo, deep conditioning treatment, haircut, and blow dry/style all for $20! It was a great experience and I saved a good amount of money while trying out a new place that was trying to reel in new customers with affordable prices.
Extra tip: These types of deal sites usually have far out expiration dates when purchasing, so if you see a good deal in advance grab it right away and use it when you'd like.

#2 will be out next Friday! I hope you enjoyed the first part of this series and will come back next week for another thrifty topic.

How often do you use coupons and what is your favorite way to find them?