e.l.f. Haul ♡

My last online shopping package of the summer finally came in!

One of my most favorite makeup brands is Eyes Lips Face (e.l.f.). I love them because they're cheap, affordable and mostly very high quality items. 

Anyways, they were having a 50% off sale last week and I couldn't help but get myself a number of products before school starts! So lets get started. 

Note: many of these products are repurchases so I can actually review them for you guys!

Signature Makeup Bag - $8

I saw this bag online and it had a bunch of good reviews so I really wanted it! I'm happy with it so far, it holds a lot of makeup (pretty much all of my daily essentials) and it has a separate compartment to hold your brushes. I really like the feel of the faux leather and it doesn't have an annoying plastic scent. 

Only thing I'm not happy with: I selected the bag in pink, but they gave me silver instead. I would usually return it, but I only have 3 days at home and I don't want to go through all of that hassle.

Cream Eyeliner in Black - $3 each

This is a repurchase. I absolutely LOVE this eyeliner. It's probably the best potted eyeliner I've ever used and it's the only one I use on the daily. I currently have one pot, but I'm almost done with that one so I repurchased 2 more to stock up. They also added more product to the pots, so I am very happy right now!

Note: Do not use the brush it comes with, just buy another eyeliner brush.

Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain - $3 each

This, here, is another repurchase. I usually shy away from e.l.f.'s skin/complexion products since I've had some pretty bad experiences with a few items, but I always go back to this foundation. I love it. It matches my skin perfectly in the fall/winter/spring and it really does leave a flawless finish if you prime your face and then use a loose powder. The consistency is just perfect -- not too thick but it's not watery, either -- and the coverage is pretty full. I also really love the smell of it.

Note: the amount of product in the container is kind of disappointing. But for $3, I really shouldn't be complaining.

Concealer Pencil & Brush in Fair - $3

I decided to get this because there were some pretty good reviews and it was 50% off. I haven't use it yet, but the pencil part comes off very thick and creamy (what you expect from a concealer) and the brush end is super dense -- which I really like! I can't wait to use this.

Small Tapered Brush - $3

I bought this to use for contouring under my cheekbones. The size is perfect and, like all other e.l.f. brushes, the bristles are super soft! 

Flawless Concealer Brush - $3

I actually didn't buy this (maybe it was to make up for sending me the wrong color makeup bag?). But I'm sure I can put it to some use! It's a bit big and not dense enough to use with concealer, but I am thinking of using it for highlighting under my eyes and the bridge of my nose.

Professional Tweezers - $1

These tweezers had superb reviews and it was only $1, so I decided why not. Plus, I lost my old pair. These feel really good in my hands, but the tip is not as fine or pointed, so it might not be able to grab the stubborn small hairs.

Mineral Lipstick in (left to right) Nicely Nude, Cool Coral and Royal Red - $3 each

e.l.f.'s Mineral Lipsticks have always gotten great reviews. I have one that I got as a gift in Party Pink and I REALLY love it! The texture and consistency is great and it lasts almost all night. The color is super pigmented too. Because of the 50% off sale, I decided to get three of the most popular colors (these three). I really can't wait to try them out! Although, Royal Red isn't as red as I thought it would be. 

✿ College Living Essentials Haul ✿

Well, now that I finished all of my dorm decorations/furnishings/etc., it was finally time to hit Berkley & Jensen's (Costco's sibling, pretty much) and CVS for the living essentials. Meaning, things I actually have to buy to be able to live on my own. This was a pretty pricey haul, but it's everything I need for my day to day life! It was definitely worth it and I feel so grown up for buying these things that my mom usually shops for.
 I don't have all the prices for the things I bought at BJ's, but I will try my best to guess!  

Also, I had a bunch of coupons for BJ's, so I did save a bit of money! 

** For those of you who don't know what BJ's and Costco are, they are both wholesale superstores. They sell almost anything you can think of in bulk for some VERY reasonable prices. However, you need a membership (or go with someone who has a membership) to be able to shop at both places (typically $200 a year). It's an amazing place for every family (especially bigger ones or ones with college kids). My parents have been members for years. 

First stop - 

BJ's

Bounce Fabric Softener - $9.99

Tide Pods - $27.99 ($6 off with coupon)

What's college without the scene of students trying to do their own laundry? Luckily, I know how to do my own so I won't be struggling so much. However, I wanted to save myself the trouble of lugging a huge jug of detergent, so I purchased these Pods instead. All of my friends who have gone to college love these and say they're the most convenient things ever.

Method Bathroom Cleaning Set - $11

Lysol Wipes (set of 4) - $14 ($10 with coupon)

I'm going to be living in a suite-style dorm, so I have to get bathroom cleaning supplies.

Nivea Lotion - $8.99 ($5 with a coupon)

U by Kotex Pads - $13.99 ($7 with coupon)

Olay Body Wash - $11.99

Secret Deodorant - $7.99 (Olay & Secret had a $6 off coupon if you bought one of each brand's product)

Lil Critters Gummy Vites - $11.99 ($6 with coupon)

I love the size of the lotion and body washes, they're not the huge bottles usually sold at wholesale superstores - they're perfect for a single person.

As for the deodorant and pads, they're every girl's necessities, no need to further explain.

And lastly, I love gummy vitamins. 

Q-tips - $6.99 (in a 3 pack - $3 with coupon)

Arm & Hammer AdvanceWhite Toothpaste - $7.99 ($4 with coupon)

Efferent Denture Cleanser - $6.99

More bathroom/grooming essentials. I can explain the Efferent! I recently got my braces off, so I need a denture cleaner to sanitize my retainer every night. And this pack will last me the entire school year and then some. 

Lipton Tea & Bigelow Green Tea - $7.99 each

Oreos (30 6-cookie packs) - $6.99

Frosted Flakes - $8.89

Mediterranean Medly - $9.99

Brookside Dark Chocolate Acai with Blueberry - $9.99

I.Love.Food.

Final Stop:

CVS

TRESemme Anti-Breakage Shampoo & Conditioner - 2 for $7

They were on sale and they're both in huge bottles. I couldn't resist.

Covergirl Lashblast Mascaras (Volume & Fusion) - $10.49 + $4.50 (buy 1, get one 50% off)

Revlon Just Bitten Stain Balm - $9.99

I really love makeup (especially drug store brands) and when I saw the mascaras were on sale, I had to get them. Covergirl Lashblast is my second favorite brand (my all-time favorite is Maybelline Great Lash) it works very well and each tube lasts me all 3 months. And I've been looking for this stain balm in a plain red color. I really love the stain balm - it's super pigmented and stains your lips without the dry brittle feeling since it does work as a balm as well. 

Regular Size Cotton Balls - ~$3

Exfoliating Nail Squares - ~$3

Just some cottony beauty essentials.

Simple brand ($2 off all Simple products sale):

Radiance Wipe - $4.79

Light Moisturizer - $11.29

Eye Makeup Remover - $6.49

Foaming Cleanser - $6.49

Exfoliating Wipes - $4.89

I absolutely love Simple skin products. They're specifically for people with sensitive skin and all hypoallergenic. All of the products I've tried are very light weight on my skin and does improve its overall health and appearance. Best of all, they're unscented except for a slight cucumber scent. Be sure to try it, even if you don't have sensitive skin!

Pronamel Mouthwash - $6.29

Sensodyne Toothpaste - $6.29

Toothbrush (2-pack with travel caps) - $4.19

Keep your smile nice and shiny! 

Like I mentioned before, I got my braces off very recently and have to start retainer wear. Along with wearing a retainer, I am whitening my teeth with this set my orthodontist gave to me for free (it's called Opalescence). What I didn't know that teeth whitening makes your teeth SUPER sensitive, so my mom suggested I get soft brushes and products made for sensitive teeth. I already had some at home, but I bought extra for college. 

CVS Receipt = my wallet is very sad. But I'm completely DONE with dorm shopping!

Dorm Haul: Part 3 - Target Edition

Okay guys, one thing that is everyone should know about me is....

I love Target

It's my favorite store and it has everything that you could ever possibly need at very affordable prices. And if some of you haven't heard, Target has amazing dorm needs/furniture that are of great quality. The other day I went to Target because they were having a "Bonus Black Friday Sale", however it wasn't that amazing, things were only reduced by $1 or $2. But, I picked up a bunch of things that would be pretty pricey elsewhere!

Medibag Family First Aid Kit - $13.29

Safety First! A first aid kit is on EVERY college packing list that I've looked over. And if you're a huge klutz like me, definitely invest in one. I must admit, I did get this because of its appearance, but it does include everything you do need! And there's a free refill card included that you mail in after you run out of supplies.

(It comes with stickers)

Highlighters - $1.32

Paper & Binder Clips Set - $3.39

Stapler Set - $2.99

Tape Dispenser - $4.69

Not Shown - 2 notebooks for $1 each

College is all about education, so I do have to buy office/school supplies. I have a lot of extra school supplies from last year, so this is all I really needed to buy.

Small Storage Tub - $1.99

Medium Storage Tub - $2.99

I need storage tubs to hold my make up and other smaller things. And these were perfectly sized that I can keep them on my desk and they won't take up a lot of space.

Clip Lamp - $9.99

Is there anything else that has to be said about this? Your life needs light.

Belt/Scarf Hanger - $2.99

I was originally just going to store my belts and scarfs in a drawer - however, I found this. It's perfect and now nothing will be bunched up in a pile. Plus, it'll take up very little space in my closet.

Itso Storage Boxes - 

Small - $6.99 each

Large - $9.99 each

I needed some storage boxes to keep everything neat in my closet. And when I found these, I was in love. They matched the color scheme and floral theme I have. I plan on storing nail polish in one of the small ones; make up palettes in the other. The large one  will hold laundry detergent, extra toothpaste/toothbrushes, extra deodorant, etc. 

Brita Water Jug - $18

My roommates and I are splitting up who's bringing what kitchen appliance, and I've volunteered to bring this. Thank goodness it was on sale.

Desk Storage -

Drawer Organizer - $7.99

Cups - $1 each

I'm using the white tray to hold makeup/hair accessories, the silver cup to hold makeup brushes and the green/blue cup to hold pencils.

Bobby Pins - $1.94

Hair Brush - $5.99

Eyebrow Kit - $3

Just some beauty essentials. 

Pops Peel & Stick Wall Calendar - $15

I thought this would be a lot smarter than bringing a corkboard/whiteboard because it's foldable and it won't fall if Command strips fail. 

Decor Pillow - $19.99

My aunt bought this for me because it matches my bedding perfectly!

Alright guys, this will be my FINAL dorm haul as I've bought everything I need. 

So I'm very excited to move in already! I just hope everything will move quickly and smoothly when August 17th comes. 

xoxo

Dorm Haul: Part 2

I've been shopping for the last month or so (right after I graduated high school) and I've gotten most of my dorm items! I finally got to taking pictures of all of my purchases for this haul. Please bare with me as this post will be pretty long, BUT I promise you it'll be worthwhile. I got pretty much all of my items for AMAZING prices and I am more than happy to share where I bought the items and for how much. 

You've seen part one of my haul, now here's part two!

Bedding

In the picture to the top, there is an Ikea bag full of linens and things for my mattress. I chose not to take individual pictures of each item because they're all just essentials. In the bag I have an Egg Crate mattress pad, mattress cover and a sheet set that I bought in a value pack for around $45 from Dorm Co. I also bought another set of sheets from my local Target for $15, which I'll use because its quality is a lot better than the one that came in this value pack.
In the bottom picture is my comforter which I am VERY excited to start using. I bought this Plum and Bow Duvet cover from Urban Outfitters when it was on sale for only $39! Sadly, it is now sold out and I forgot the design's exact name.

As for the actual comforter, I bought mine from Amazon for $44 with free shipping because I have a Student Prime account (which I absolutely love). 

And I bought my pillows from a local Kmart for $7 each.

Closet

I bought these Heavy Duty Velvet Hangers because they were the most suggested item on multiple College Checklists. I bought this huge box on Amazon for $30. 

These adorable hooks are from Urban Outfitters for $14. I bought them to place on my closet door to hang my towels, coats, purses, etc. They have a felt covering so they won't damage or scratch the door. I plan on sharing these with my roommate if she needs them. 

I've had this shoe organizer for years now, and I'm bringing it along to college to keep in my closet to hold my shoes, scarves and wallets. I cannot recall where my parents bought this, but local Targets usually sell them for $7 each. 

Laundry

In this picture, there is a Woolite delicates bag ($7), Woolite Bra Bag ($9) and a Laundry Hamper ($12) all to do my laundry with. I chose to get delicates/bra bags because I've heard of so many stories of people getting their undergarments stolen or socks getting lost. Also, this will prevent me from dropping socks and underwear all over the laundry room floor.

Also, what I love the most about my laundry bag is that you can fold it down so it's tiny (like in the picture), but when you open it up, it's pretty huge. 

Bathroom

Every college student's essential. I got this even though I'm going to be in a suite and only sharing a shower with one other girl. I don't know if there'll be shelving in the actual shower stall. I bought mine on Amazon for $14. 

(Can you tell what my favorite color is yet?) 

I bought these towels on sale at my local Kmart. The large towels were only $2.99 and the small ones were (I believe) $1.99. And the loofah was regularly priced at $1.50. 

I got this bathrobe from a relative as a graduation present. I love it, it is very plush and soft! Also, many people on blogs, checklists, etc, have advised people to bring a robe just to avoid having to walk from the shower back to your room in a tiny towel.

Kitchen/Dining

This is the cutest dorm dishes set I have ever seen. Not only are they non-breakable, they're also made from plastic leftover take-out containers, so they're earth friendly. I bought my Preserve Dining Set for $16 when they were on sale -- however, they're back up to $24. 

This flatware set was from my local Kmart for $12. I love how it comes in a little holder and there are 4 sets -- one for each of the girls who live in my dorm. 

The little plastic rectangle leaning against the flatware set is my little portable set of chopsticks for my ramen. It came in a lunch kit that I got years ago but I never used. 

I got both of these both of these a while ago -- so I'm sorry I can't give you any information where to get them or etc. On the left is my Contigo Mug (which is amazing) and on my right is my trusty Camelbak. I also have another Camelbak that I'm bringing with me that has a filter. 

Others (that I can't categorize)

I know that you can get these Ikea bags from an actual Ikea for a couple of cents. However, the closest one to me is 30 minutes away. I bought these on Amazon for $8 for a set of 5. I am going to use these to pack things up instead of using cardboard moving boxes, since there'll be very limited space in our car. 

I found this Hair Appliance Holder on Amazon for $21. I decided to get one since my room is pretty small and there isn't much storage, so I didn't want to risk my hair appliances burning the furniture or anyone that walks by them. I chose this one since it can stand up on its own or hang off of a towel rack. And it holds more than just hair appliances, there are compartments for brushes, hair sprays, etc.

My dorm has very strict rules on what you can use to hang up items, so command strips are the best option and they're reusable (the plastic hooks). I bought hooks, the strips (for posters) and light clips (for Christmas lights). I bought all of these at my local AC Moore for $4 and $6 each. And I bought the strips for $8 on Amazon. 

Here's just an idea of what I'm going to be hanging up on my side of the dorm..... ;) 

This Birds on a Wire Picture Hanging Set was so adorable and I just had to get it. And for the teensy price of $10, it was truly unbeatable. I can't wait to hang up my pictures now. 

What the heck is this for, you might ask. Well, I got these for a DIY project that I plan on doing when I move in. I will definitely do a DIY post on this later on to show you guys the results. 

The twine was $3 and the clothespins were $3.99, both at AC Moore. 

I am absolutely addicted to Vera Bradley, so I had to get one of their Large Duffel Bags. It wasn't as big as I expected it to be, but it's perfect for visiting home during breaks. I am going to be using this to bring my undergarments, gym clothes and pajamas when I move in. I got mine on sale for $55. 

My friend actually bought this popcorn bin a while back for me. It's actually pretty huge (as you can see, it holds a lot of DVDs). I'm going to be using this to hold popcorn bags and DVDs. The DVD collection I'm bringing includes all of the Harry Potter movies, Legally Blonde, Lilo and Stitch, Stepbrothers and a bunch of other ones. 

You've got to have a surge protector if you're going off to college -- especially if your school doesn't allow extension cords. I bought mine off of Amazon for around $18. What I really like about this one is that each one of the heads rotate, so plugging things in will be a lot more convenient.

This is my favorite purchase so far. Lilly Pulitzer patterns are adorable, and I really wanted something in their print that I can use daily. When their 2014 agendas were coming out, I got really excited and bought one. I absolutely love my Large Agenda that I got for $28 -- I got really fast and free shipping along with it too!

Well, if you actually read the whole thing, I really appreciate it. And if you're going off to college this fall, too,  I hope you're having as much fun as me dorm shopping! 

Feel free to comment with your amazing dorm finds or any ideas of what you want your room to look like!

xoxo