Game of Thrones Funko POP Haul!

Today I'm going to share my Game of Thrones Funko POP collection with you! Most I got from the Toy Fair I went to awhile back (read my post here). I had already owned Joffrey Baratheon, Tywin Lannister, Ygritte, and Tyron Lannister (battle version). The others are ones I had a hard time finding in stores and online for a good price.

Ned Stark: Paid $10
Khal Drogo: Paid $8.60
The Hound: Paid $8.60
Jon Snow: Paid $8.60
Robb Stark: Paid $8.60
Cersei Lannister: Paid $10
Daenerys Targaryen (wedding dress): Paid $8.60

I know how difficult it can be to locate an purchase Funko POPs in good condition at a good price. The reason Ned and Cersei are $10 instead of $8.60 is because I couldn't find a good paint job at the cheaper stand.

Barnes and Nobles usually has a great selection of Game of Thrones Funko POPs but they are always in bad condition whether is is their box or paint job. They also do not offer the best deal. I have had some luck with Barnes and Noble but I have other means of getting my POPs.

I got the ones listed from a toy show in my area. I have also had luck at Hot Topic. I have also seen them on sites like Amazon and Ebay.

I have never tried the HBO Store but it looks very promising. They also have sets and collections available on there at a discounted price.

I have full intentions of finishing this collection so I think I will try ordering from the HBO Store. I think I am too far along in my collection to take advantage of the sets but I hope some of you can. Thanks for reading! ~Alissa

Don't forget to take a look at my boyfriend and I's Funko POP Pinterest board!

Haul | Sally Hansen, Revlon, Too Faced, Malani, and Daiso

Over the past month I have collected some beauty products that I am really excited about and I would like to share them with you.

The first is a bunch of gel nail polishes from Sally Hansen and Revlon.

I'm really interested in the idea of a gel manicure without using a LED light. I have started putting these polishes to the test so you can expect a review soon. The Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy shades are All In and Hot Hand plus the Diamond Top Coat ($5 each at Target). The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel is in Style Maker ($14 for the pack at Target).

I also picked up some lashes from Daiso, a Japanese discount store ($1.50 each). I was searching for the Revlon lash glue for a long time but I settled for the Duo Lash Adhesive in Clear ($5.99 at Ulta).

I picked out these natural looking lashes that look very different so I can experiment with different looks. I have never used false lashes before so I will be posting my experience with them.

My boyfriend was so sweet to buy me this Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings Collection ($20 at Ulta). I was mostly interested in the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, the Better than Sex Mascara, and the Shadow Insurance.

This kit was a great value at Ulta! There were still a bunch when I was there so if you want it go and get it.

I was also looking for these gems from Malani. I have an obsession with brown eye shadows and I have been wanting to try a blush in this color.

The Baked Blush is in Delizioso Pink ($7.99 at Walgreens) and Gel Powder Eyeshadow is in Bella Bronze ($3.99 at Walgreens)

It's not often that I buy makeup but I do my research when I can. I have high hopes for everything I bought here and if there is anything worth mentioning you will hear about it again.

Thanks for stopping by! ~Alissa

Spotted! | LORAC Skinny Palette

If you've been watching Jen Form Head to Toe then you have seen her rave about the LORAC Skinny Palette that she found at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale a month or so back. Since then, it has been unavailable on the Nordstrom website.

To me, it seemed like a great deal that was a once in a lifetime offer but I found it! It's on Hautelook right now for $15! And there are three different shade selections! There is nude version Jen talks about as well as plum and navy! (The LORAC site and Amazon have the palette in navy and nude but not plum.)

The Hautelook website says that the palettes are originally $133 which sounds ridiculous but I wouldn't worry about that. I don't know if these palettes are limited edition so I would jump on this deal. The website says the event ends on 9/5/14 at 8am Pacific but there are limited quantities and items this hot tend to sell out quickly.

Just some info and tips in case you haven't used Hautelook before:
Hautelook is run through Nordstrom Rack. It's not some random site so don't worry.
They have these limited time deals called "Events" where they sell items at reduced rates.
You have to have an account to look at events.
There are always great makeup and clothing deals.
They also sell stuff for babies, men, and home.
You can buy things from different events at once but they might ship separately
They only allow you to keep things in your shopping cart for 15 minutes so you have to work fast.
Free delivery is given after you spend $100
Delivery usually takes 2-3 weeks.
You can return items to Nordstrom Rack.
Make an account to be notified daily about events.

Here is my referral link if you want to use it. There is no Ebates for this site but make sure to use coupon codes if you can find them.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope that you can take advantage of this deal either on Hautelook or at Amazon or the LORAC site! ~ Alissa

Beauty Schooled | August 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Overview

Hi! So I have been subscribed to Ipsy for over a year now. I started back in May of 2013 as a birthday present to myself and I have been happy to receive a monthly bag of makeup to my door.

Skip this paragraph if you don't need any of my Glam Bag background...

This is my first time sharing my Glam Bag on my blog so I'm going to explain a few things. First things first, I don't love everything I get in my bags and sometimes I don't use what I get. If I know someone will enjoy it more than I do then I will give it to them. I have thrown away a product and didn't even try it. I also don't force myself to use or even try the products as soon as I get them. Sometimes I don't even try them until the next month. That said I use Ipsy to expand my makeup universe and I am open to trying almost anything. I'm not going to focus on my past experience with Ipsy, this is just an overview of this bag. 

Starting with the polka dot bag... I love the bag! It came to me a little squished and sad looking from the mail but with some time to breathe it looks cute. I keep all the bags I get and I use them for different purposes.

You might notice I have six items this month, that is because I cashed in some of my IpsyPoints to get a sample of the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. I was a little bummed when I didn't get it a few months back so when I saw that they were offering it for only 500 points instead of the usual 1000 I jumped on it! 

The items that came in my bag were the Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Sample, Urban Decay Perversion Mascara, Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Lip Conditioner, Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, and Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo. 

The eye shadow palette colors were not ideal (there were many color options) but I do like to smudge some blue on my lower lash line now and then, plus I enjoy Costal Scents eye shadow so this will be a nice, small palette to reach for. However, I've seen this brand a few times in my bag and I would like to see something else. Also, I have placed a Costal Scents order recently and I got the same sample in a different color for free. 

I was really excited to receive the mascara! It's newly released and I really enjoy trying mascaras. I have tried this a couple times already and I can tell I already like it! I was hoping I wouldn't because of how expensive it is... I think I will review it on here soon. My one problem is that I have received a mascara is my past three bags, I would like to see a bit more variety.   

The lip balm seems average. It smells and tastes good and it does the job.

I haven't tried the dry shampoo yet but it seems promising. I have sprayed it in the air and didn't notice any weird smell or any other red flags. I find it hard to try things like dry shampoo for the first time before I have somewhere to be. What is it's a total disaster?! I am excited to try it though!

I also have not tried the highlighter or blush or whatever it is. I have swatched it and it seems really pretty. It does lean toward the highlighter side but it's subtle and doesn't have chucks of glitter in it. It gives a nice sheen. I don't wear highlighter everyday, I don't even own one but I have been wanting to try one so I'm glad I got it. 

I was missing the little card they usually send you so I hope I didn't miss any announcements or offers. 

I did really enjoy this months bag; I thought it had great variety and I think I will get good use out of everything in the bag. I was a little bummed I didn't receive some of the other items but there are coupons and offers for the items I missed out on so I could buy them if I wanted. I really wish they had an Urban Decay offer this month... all the other brands do.

In case you were curious here are the products I didn't get:

I paid $10 and the value of my bag is around $27.24

Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Sample $0

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara $5.50

Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Lip Conditioner $5.50

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk $8.99

Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo $7.25

If you want to join Ipsy here is my referral link:  http://www.ipsy.com/r/7bhk

If anything is worth a mention or a review you should hear from it again. Thank you for stopping by! ~Alissa

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner vs It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product

Hello all! I've been on the market for a new leave in conditioner/detangler. I have tried a few in my lifetime but today I will be comparing the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner and the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product. I found these both at Target and I have seen them at many different stores.

For some background I have fine, thin, long, straight, colored, hair with very little damage. It is also on the oily side and I wash it either everyday or every other day depending on how active I was.

The Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner is going for $16.95 at Target while the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product is going for $14.59. However, consider that the Healthy Sexy Hair one is 8.5 fluid ounces ($1.99 per ounce) and the It's a 10 one is only 4 fluid ounces ($3.64 per ounce). I also have to tell you that I bought my It's a 10 one in a double pack for around $20 at Target a couple of months back so it is possible to get good deals on these products especially if you do your research.

So here are the pros, cons, and general details of each product...

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner:
Product is very thin
It's a really good detangler
Doesn't add a lot of moisture
Have to use a lot to get moisture
The smell is not offensive or even noticeable
The mist is fine and narrow
It is bigger and cheaper
Not that great for travel because it can leak
Works ok on wet, damp, and dry hair
Is solely a leave in conditioner and detangler

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product:
Product is very thick
Not great at detangling
Good at conditioning and makes my hair feel soft
You don't have to use a lot to get moisture
Has a strange, strong smell (Doesn't linger)
The bottle is small yet expensive
There is a bit of residue that lingers for awhile
The mist is wide and thick
The bottle is thick, sturdy, and small so good for travel
Works best on wet hair
Also claims to do other things like act like a heat protectant

All in all I do prefer the It's a 10 one because I feel like I can use less to get results (which makes the cost difference better), I like that I can skip the heat protect if I use this, I travel a lot and I enjoy traveling with it more, and I think it does more for me (see the product's 10 claims). I also don't have bad tangles in my hair but I do need a lot of moisture; if the opposite if true for you than maybe you would prefer the Healthy Sexy Hair one.

Now, this is just my opinion and experience with these products. I know when I was standing in Target it was really hard for me to choose between the two and I hope this post helps those of you out there with your decision.  Thanks for reading! ~ Alissa

Awesome Moments | San Jose Super Toy & Comic Book Show 2014

So the day after the amazing Bruno Mars Concert my boyfriend and I attended the San Jose Super Toy and Comic Book Show! I spent far too much money! I bought so many Funko Pops and you can expect a haul to come your way shortly. :)

This is the second year in a row I have been to this toy show so I knew to expect great things (and for my wallet to cry). Like most toy shows there was a entrance fee (I always recommend you pre-order if you can). Since I was so preoccupied with the Bruno Mars Concert I forgot to pre-order so I had to wait in line.

This toy show was a two day show but I was only planning on going the first day. If I wanted to go to the second day it would have been free! Maybe one year I will take advantage of both days but honestly one day for about 3 hours was more than enough. I could only see myself going back for a guest appearance or if I changed my mind about an item. Sometimes, they have different sellers for the second day.

There was supposed to be a guest appearance from Steve Cardenas, Rocky DeSantos/Red Ranger from Power Rangers, but he was a no show and the other guest appearances were uninteresting to me.

I had a great time and saw a lot of great toys and collectables. There were a lot of Funko Pop sellers and comic book sellers. I was hoping to see some more art but sadly there wasn't. I did find a really cute chibi artist called Yojambo and bought up some of her art.

I love the type of people I meet at toy shows. They are so nice and friendly! They love to talk and connect with you about anything. Even the sellers are really nice but can be a little stubborn (they don't like cutting deals) but they are always accommodating. My boyfriend and I are really picky about our Pops' paint jobs so we like to compare as many as we can until we are satisfied. That said, the sellers were really sweet by letting us look at all their Pops and some even offered to bring more for the next day. A lot of the sellers also accepted major credit cards without any extra charge.

Some of the coolest stuff I saw that day were these Pop Asia figures! I had never seen them before and I thought they were super cute. I have a Japanese and Chinese doll collection so I would have loved to add these to my collection but I was unprepared to spend $30 on one figure.

My goal is to never spend more than $12 on a single figure unless it is limited edition, rare, or I just really really want it. Haha. Toy Fairs are a great place to get Pops for a bargain. I took advantage of deals like 4 for $35 with each pop after that being $8. I also saw 4 for $45. There were other sales like $10 each. Lots of places of course had more expensive Pops from $15 to $80. Some places were willing to cut even more deals but none really interested me.

Anyway! Here are some pictures I snapped at the show.

Their next toy show is in December so if you are in the area I highly recommend it! ~ Alissa

Awesome Moments | Bruno Mars' Moonshine Jungle Tour 2014

My boyfriend and I went to Bruno Mars' concert in San Jose on August the 15th and it was AWESOME! This was only my second concert so I was excited to be in a concert setting again. As I'm writing this, the tour is over and I am honored that I was able to see him.

We bought our tickets using StubHub because they had the seats we wanted and there was an Ebate for that website. All in all we ended up with a good deal. There was a tiny complication because the person we were originally getting our tickets from backed out; however, we were fortunate because StubHub has insurance and found us similar tickets. We had to contact them directly to get our delivery situation settled but in the end we enjoyed our experience with them. (Don't be confused because our tickets don't have out name on them or say StubHub. Check out their site to see how it works.)

We got there about two hours early for good parking and to secure out spot in line. Getting their early gave us first access at merch and food inside SAP. The merch selection was minimal and a little plain but I saw a few things I wanted. I ended up with a tank top and a foam fist (to use during the concert).

Like other people I should have been prepared to change into my new tank top but I wasn't. A white tank and a black bra wasn't going to look cute. Oh well!

The seats we had were pretty good! We were directly across from the stage and only one tier away from the main floor. We were in the very back of the tier so we had a concrete wall behind us. This actually worked in our favor because I didn't have to worry about my bouncy, dancey self bothering the people behind me. :)

The concert started a little late, about 15 mins late. Nico & Vinz opened up the show. They had great energy and stage presence. I liked all the songs they preformed but the only song I had heard before was Am I Wrong which had a lot of people on their feet. 

When Nico & Vinz were done there was more waiting. It was a common theme though the night. Bruno kept us waiting about 30 minutes. It kinda left my energy from Nico & Vinz wasted.

However, after Bruno came out the night was amazing! He did all the songs I was hoping for and did them beautifully. He was so good live with all his charm and talent. His band was full of energy and kept us entertained with their little dances and their chemistry with Bruno. It was also very cute to find that Bruno's brother was on drums. :)

I danced and laughed all night long! It was a close to perfect night. I would definitely see him in concert again!

Now to the fashion beauty stuff! If you care. :) Here is my outfit from the night:

I wanted to wear something comfortable but Bruno Mars-like. I thought the flannel around my waist and the boots really made the outfit. 

I used my Conair hot rollers for a bit of wave a volume and then curled it a bit more with a hair wand for longer lasting waves. I used my Revlon Colorstay Foundation and creme blush so I wouldn't sweat it off. I also went with a neutral smokey eye and red colored tinted lip balm. My everyday look us usually minimal so I went all out with bronzer and eyebrow product. As you can see, I take advantage of occasions to play with my makeup.   

Post show hair and makeup! It lasted! However, you can see that the SPF in the foundation gave me a bit of white-cast in flash photos.

Thanks for reading ~ Alissa

Oto's Marketplace | My Japanese Market Adventure | Funko Pop + Beauty

So last weekend I was in Sacramento, CA hanging out with some friends and family when we stopped by Oto's Marketplace. It was one of the most amazing Japanese Markets I have ever been too! I love the Japanese culture and traditions, I even learned Japanese in college! おはようございます！They had an awesome food selection at great prices. I would definitely recommend!

Most importantly, they had amazing beauty and toy sections! I was able to find a bunch of Pops there as well as some of my favorite mystery boxes! They were pretty well priced at $11.99. Unfortunately, the Pops they carried were either one's I already owned or one's I was uninterested in.

I've found Pops in lots of places you might not initially think of. There are the obvious places like Hot Topic, comic shops, collectable shops, and conventions. I've seen huge vendors at flea markets, fairs, etc. I've also seen small selections at Walmart, Target, Barnes and Noble, and now Japanese Markets. Also, if you like a particular show, check out their website because they sometimes sell a good selection of the show's Pops (I've seen great selections on HBO's shop).

Now, toys aside, lets get to their beauty section! Being able to read Japanese was a big help in navigating this sections but I think you can manage with some patience. They had face masks, lotions, eye creams, eye lash curlers, lashes, etc.

I was most surprised to see Dolly Wink products there! I was so excited because I have never seen Dolly Wink in any of my local stores. However, nothing else caught my eye but I might so some research into some of the brands I saw and come back.

I wanted to pick something up from Dolly Wink but at the price, (their famous Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner was $18.99) I decided that I would come back later after some research. I've seen their products online for a slightly cheaper prices but this also seems like a good deal if I don't have to deal with shipping costs.

I had a great time going through this store, buying some snacks and browsing their shelves. I would stop by again if I'm ever in the area. You never know what you will find so always keep your eyes open! I hope you enjoyed my little adventure! ~ Alissa

Deal Watch | Drugstore.com Beauty and Personal Care Sale

Drugstore.com is offering 20% off of their Beauty and Personal Care departments until August 16th, 2014! This is a really awesome site if you've never used it before. It has almost everything you can find at any drugstore but online at one site. They also have a really cool international beauty section.

This site's cart is also shared with Beauty.com (though the sale doesn't carry over). Beauty.com has more high end products, like things you would find at a Sephora.

I have linked to Drugstore.com in other posts so if you saw anything that you wanted but can't find at your local drugstore, here is your chance! They have a lot of ELF's recent limited edition Disney princess stuff and other limited edition collections.

The sale also includes jewelry, nail stuff, contact lenses, acne care, etc. There should be something for everyone so stock up on your favorite moisturizer, sunscreen, bronzer, and shaving cream from the comfort of your computer chair.

Enjoy the sale before time runs out! Remember there is no coupon code for this sale. It is applied at checkout. Make sure to check the exclusions before shopping! Also, check out what other promotions they have (like free shipping) to see if any of them stack with your order! Always start at Ebates when shopping online for cash back on your shopping trip.

Happy shopping! ~ Alissa

Better Habits | Makeup Organization/Storage Doesn't Have To Be Expensive

So today I was snooping around Marshalls and I saw a bunch of makeup storage options. I love stores like Marshalls because they have great home goods for really good prices. In this post I'll just show some pictures of what I saw and how they could help you in storing your makeup. Enjoy!

First off, I saw this whole section of acrylic storage. This is the biggest selection I have ever seen in store. If I hadn't already ordered similar products online, I would have taken advantage of these awesome deals. From what I saw, these ranged from around $9 to around $25. They had a lot of lipstick storage available; I also saw a lot of brush storage too. With acrylic storage, you can put anything you want, so be creative.

I also saw a bunch of these cool spinning storage containers. Think this would be great for brushes, palettes, eyeliners, foundations, etc. I would put this on my vanity and put my everyday makeup on it that I reach for most often. 

One of the coolest things I saw was this hair styling tools storage. Depending on how much hair products you have you could also put other skin care and other stuff in this container. 

I also recommend that you check out their glassware and ceramics sections. There are some really cute glasses to store brushes and some adorable tiered ceramics to display nail polish. Of course, be creative and store what you heart desires.

While you're there don't ignore their beauty section! You might find some diamonds in the rough.

I guess my point is that you don't have to spend tons of money on items to store the makeup you already spend tons of money on! Hit up a TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or any other discount store to find some awesomely inexpensive ways to store your goods. Happy Hunting! ~ Alissa

Deal Watch | Special Student and Teacher Discount at Forever 21?!

I was just on the Forever 21 website and saw that they have been offering a 15% off student and teacher discount when you show your student/teacher ID in store. Why don't they advertise these things!?

The special has been going on every Friday since July 25, 2014. The last day to take advantage of this sale is on August 25, 2014. The details only show up on their site on Fridays so here they are so you know before you go into a store on Friday.

"Show your valid Student/Teacher ID card to receive 15% off regular priced items only at select Forever 21, XXI, or For Love 21 stores in the U.S. on the following dates: July 25, August 1, August 8, and August 15, 2014. Not valid online. Valid for purchases up to $300 USD, before applicable taxes. Cannot be combined with any coupons, promotions, discounts, or other offers. Cannot be used for gift card purchases, returns, or promotional or sale items. Offer is nontransferable. Student/Teacher ID must be valid to receive offer. Forever 21 reserves the right to modify or cancel this promotion at any time without notice. See store associate for terms and details." - from the Forever 21 website

They are also having some other deals and sales so make sure to check out their site to see if there's anything that works for you. 

Though the student/teacher discount only works in store there is a 4% cash back deal on Ebates right now if that also interests you. 

Lucky you right? Two Deal Watch posts in a day! This one was just too interesting to keep you waiting! There are a bunch of great clothes, shoes, accessories, and knick-knacks awaiting you at your local Forever 21. ~ Alissa

Deal Watch | Costal Scents Palette Sale + COUPON CODE!

Hello all! So here's the deal... Costal Scents starting tomorrow (August 8, 2014 - August 15, 2014) all the Costal Scents 88 Palettes are only $8.88! No coupon code needed! Their other large palettes will also be on sale. Costal Scents' large palettes are a great inexpensive way to get a bunch of different shades in your collection.

I also got a coupon code along with my Ipsy Bag this month: BLUSH25OFF (Should be good till the end of the month). This code will take 25% off your entire purchase! So you can stack this with the 88 Palette sale or buy some of their other products. (There isn't an Ebate for Coastal Scents right now)

Some of their products that I love are:

Hot Pot Shadow Pots - I own a bunch of these that I keep in a Z Palette (They also have their own custom palettes that you can order)

Classic Blender Natural - it is one of the best blending brushes I own

Classic Shade and Fluff Medium Natural - great basic brush

Some that I really want to try are:

Forever Blush - heard these are really good. The shade Enchanted looks beautiful

10 Blush Palette - it is included in the sale

Mystery Box - looks cool

They also have a great natural products section where you can pick up things like Raw Virgin Coconut Oil and Unrefined Shea Butter.

If you happen to spend over $50 you can also get free shipping in the USA (more shipping info here). Plus, they have a reward points program so be sure to use that if you plan to shop their again! Also, they have special discount groups so check if you qualify here.

Everything at Costal Scents is at a great price so you're in for a deal no matter what! However, if you shop smart and stack deals you will walk away with great savings!  Happy shopping! ~ Alissa

P.S. Check out their return policy if you have any questions.