Tag / Amazon Prime

by Kelly Mattei

Top LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Products for Holiday Gifting

Top LAURA GELLER NEW YORK products for holiday gifting.

Want to check off some Christmas or Hanukkah gifts for the women in your life? Wife? Mom? Daughter? Sister? Significant other? Laura Geller has the #1 Best Seller in foundation makeup on Amazon, because it works! Check out the holiday palettes and more offered by Laura Geller New York this season, and use your Amazon Prime membership for free shipping! This is a great list of outstanding products! Lots of great stocking stuffers here:

  • Laura Geller New York Annual Party in a Palette Full Face Palette Set in Jetset. Party in a Palette? Yes, please! This palette is great as a Christmas or Hanukkah gift, or maybe you want it for yourself to create a holiday party-perfect look! Just choose your shade! This palette is an all-in-one, meaning it contains six gorgeous eyeshadows, a blush, and a highlighter to create the perfect holiday glowing face! I have three in my Amazon cart now: one for me, one for my daughter, and one for my Laura Geller New York-loving friend. If you’re traveling, this palette has lots of essentials, making it easier to pack. It’s even easy to carry in a handbag for freshening up your look on the go. Plus, it’s 25% off at Amazon at time of writing. Get it here.

  • Laura Geller New York The Best of the Best Baked Palette – Full Size. This complete eye and face makeup palette includes three baked eyeshadows in beautiful neutral tones, a Baked Bronze-n-Brighten in Tahitian Glow, two Baked Natural Glow Highlighter in French Vanilla and Portofino and a Baked Blush-n-Brighten in Pink Buttercream. This is one of my favorite palettes offered by Laura Geller New York. It’s offered in two color sets, including a Baked Body Frosting that is better than any body frosting/shimmer I have ever tried. Just a light dusting of it sets your skin aglow! The Blush-n-Brighten blush goes on smoothly, not cakey, and it adds color while adding a little shimmer. I used it for a party last month and was asked about it by three different ladies at the party! Laura Geller knows her palettes. This one is convenient for travel too! This one is a no-brainer, but add in the fact that it’s 41% off right now (as of writing), and you’re getting a great palette at a great discount! Get it here.

  • LAURA GELLER NEW YORK The Best of the Best Baked Palette with Mirror, Tuscan Dreams – Full-Size – Includes Bronze, Blush, Highlighter, 6 Eyeshadows. Another awesome palette by Laura Geller New York, and this one features the Best of the Best Baked in Tuscan Dreams, and it includes a mirror for ease of use while traveling or for freshening up your day-to-night look! The colors featured in this palette are glorious! This is one of those universal palettes that looks great with lots of skin tones, and since it’s 54% off at time of writing, you can do a “one for you, one for me” for less than the normal price of one! But get it quickly, because this popular palette won’t last! Purchase from Amazon here.

  • LAURA GELLER NEW YORK The Delectables Earthy Essentials Baked Eyeshadow Palette | 14 Pigmented Eyeshadows Blendable Natural Look. We get my daughter a Laura Geller Baked Eyeshadow Palette every year for Christmas. The colors are not outlandish, and it keeps me from having to pick just one or two colors for her. She loves it! Create simple or stunning looks with ease using Laura Geller’s gorgeous Delectables eyeshadow palette. Add in the fact that they are creamy and crease-proof, and they are ideal! At time of writing, they are offered in a Black Friday Deal, so get them while they last here.

  • LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Classic Bronzer Brush | Fluffy Powder Brush, Contour & Define, Vegan Bristles. This brush, offered by Laura Geller New York goes great with any of the palettes above. I use it with the body frosting offered in the Best of the Best Baked Palette for a light dusting on my shoulders and décolletage. This makes a great stocking stuffer too! Get it here.

  • LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Primer – Original – Super-Size 2 Fl Oz – Hyaluronic Acid Makeup Primer for Mature Skin. Y’all, this is a great primer for “ladies of a certain age,” like me! I have a friend who swears by this primer, so I just purchased some for myself. It creates a great, smooth base for my foundation, and it isn’t greasy. Highly recommend for all my friends and family who are “of a certain age.” Let’s goooo! Get it today on a Black Friday Deal that gives you 29% off (at time of writing) here.

  • LAURA GELLER NEW YORK The Ultimate Palette Baked Eyeshadow Makeup Palette – Neutrally Natural – 31 Matte and Shimmer Shades – Pigmented Crease-Proof Eye Makeup. This is another great eyeshadow palette being offered this season, and it’s glorious! This incredible eyeshadow palette includes 31 shades in a mix of flattering neutral eyeshadow hues with matte and shimmer finishes to choose from. With this incredible eyeshadow palette, you can switch up your look from natural everyday eyeshadow to bold smoky eyeshadow in a flash. It’s every eyeshadow you need for subtle day or sparkly evening looks. Purchase here.

  • LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Jelly Balm Moisturizing Tinted Lip Color – Cocoa-Motion – Hydrating Vitamin E – Semi-Shine Finish. I have heard about this product from several friends who say it doesn’t bleed and offers color with a balm-like feel. Yes, it even hydrates like a balm, so it doesn’t get goopy or sticky. There are lots of colors to choose from. I just ordered it for myself in a shade called Brick House. This is another great stocking stuffer! Purchase here.

You can knock out a big part of your shopping list with these LAURA GELLER NEW YORK products! Get them before they are gone! Laura Geller New York is a best-selling brand lots of women love.

Happy Shopping!

***Sponsored ad. We receive commissions for items purchased through our links.***

by Kelly Mattei

Save 33% on KOIOS Air Purifier for Healthy Dorm Living

Kid moving to college dorm or dusty apartment? Have pets? A KOIOS air purifier could be a big help in air quality for you or your college student. Everyone who has ever been to college or sent a kid to live in a dorm knows sickness runs through dorms. Why not do everything you can to purify the air in your student’s space? Get one for the dorm room and a few for home! I saw a video recently in which about 50 college freshmen were asked, “What ONE item would you recommend for dorm living?” Most of them said, “Air purifier.” They are living it right now, so they know. This KOIOS model is “Amazon’s Choice,” meaning it gets great reviews, and as an Early Black Friday Deal, it’s 33% off! Get it for $59.99 (reg $89.99) here. It would be a great gift for a current or future college student! It helps purify the air in a large room…up to 1200 square feet! Use your Amazon Prime membership and get free shipping!

by Kelly Mattei

2024 Holiday Shopping Links (so far)

2024 Holiday Shopping Links (so far). These are links to posts we have made since the middle of November. THANK YOU for shopping our links! We are creating more links today. Click each title for link to more information:

HAPPY SHOPPING!

by Kelly Mattei

Safety/Wellness Items I Have Ordered for My College Daughter

Safety/wellness items I have ordered for my college daughter.

As parents, we never stop worrying, do we? Our daughter is a junior in college. A few weeks ago, she fell ill…mono/pneumonia/bronchitis. It was scary when I could hear deep wheezing through the phone, so I jumped on a plane and went down there. She is living in an apartment with three friends, but I was surprised they didn’t have some of the basics for illness/wellness and safety. I’m sharing, so you can double-check that your college student has the necessities if he/she gets sick. Here are some items I ordered or picked up for them while I was there:

  • Thermometer. I swear my daughter had one in her medicine box when she went to school, but it wasn’t there anymore, and none of the roommates could come up with one either. This is an absolute essential. In fact, go ahead and get two of them, because you know one will go missing.There are lots of them out there, but get the one I got from Amazon here. *Also, make sure they have the meds they need if they do get sick: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cough and cold meds, etc.
  • COVID/Flu Home Test. Y’all, I had the flu in January. I feel pretty sure I acquired it standing in line at Customs when I came home from Mexico City. When I started feeling badly, I thought, “I guess I’ll be going to a germ infested doctor’s office tomorrow to get tested for flu.” But then I checked to see if there is a test on Amazon. There is, and it was delivered to my home overnight. With one sample, it tests for COVID, Flu A, and Flu B. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ITEM! Soon after receiving the test, I knew I had Flu A. After that, I knew I wanted to keep those tests on hand during flu season at my house. I also got one for our daughter at her college house. If she tests positive for flu A or B, she can call her doctor or an online doctor and get Tamiflu. ***Also, encourage your child to get a flu shot!*** Purchase the test here. (While you’re thinking about it, go ahead and order one or two for home…you’ll thank me this flu season if someone gets sick.)
  • Cold Mist Humidifier. As soon as my daughter was diagnosed with pneumonia, I knew she needed a humidifier. When I mentioned it, she said, “The doctor recommended it too.” I actually ordered one at a local drugstore for her to pick up, even though she was sick, just so she could have it quickly. This is one of those things we should just have anyway. Order one at Amazon here.
  • Pedialyte. A proven brand for replacing electrolytes and staying hydrated, Pedialyte makes powder packets that you mix with water. Powder mixes are easier to store than bulky bottles, and these last a long time. They’re good to have on hand for mono, pneumonia, flu, or even stomach issues. Get them from Amazon here.
  • Multivitamin. When I had mono as a teenager, the only things my old-school doctor recommended were lots of rest and a good multivitamin. These college students burn the candle at both ends. Get them a multivitamin, simply because you don’t really know what they’re eating or how much rest they are getting. Get a good one from Amazon here.
  • Ring Doorbell. While I was there, one of my daughter’s roommates mentioned that she would feel a lot safer if they had a Ring Doorbell, so you know I had to get one. I opted for the wireless one for easy installation. It’s not cheap, but it’s the lastest model and easy to install. Get it at Amazon here.
  • Window Alarms. Another safety feature? Window alarms. If your kids have a ground floor bedroom, they might feel safer with window alarms on the windows. For under $30, you get alarms for four windows. Get the ones I purchased here.
  • Portable Safe. I know, the words “portable” and “safe” don’t go together, but this one attached to a fixed item. She doesn’t have any real valuables, but she does have some small items that might walk away if someone didn’t ask to borrow them and forgot to return them. No, I don’t mean her roommates. I mean other people who visit. Sometimes, there are lots of people in their apartment. This safe attaches to the shelving in her closet and has a combination lock. Get it here.
  • She’s Birdie Personal Alarm. You’ve probably seen these before. Highly recommend. At about $30, it does offer a little peace of mind. Get it here.
  • Pepper Gel Spray. If you’re really concerned about safety, pepper gel spray can be a great thing to have. Instead of the old school liquid spray, this won’t blow back on the person spraying it. A friend told me about it over lunch yesterday when she was telling me a story about a guy walking into her daughter’s room! The guy was friends with someone else who lived there, but that’s not OK. Get the pepper gel spray here.***Just make sure they don’t try to board an airplane with it.***
  • Door Security Bar. After the Idaho murders, our daughter became more aware of real dangers. We have door security bars on all our exterior doors at home, but she wanted one for her bedroom door in her apartment. If your child lives somewhere that people might be in and out of the apartment or house at all hours, it could be a good idea to have one of these to secure the door. Get it here.

This list, obviously, is not a complete list of everything they need for health and wellness, but it’s a start! Don’t forget you can likely order groceries for them through Instacart! ***Also, remember to check/replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors! *** Do what you can for your child!

***I am an Amazon Associate, so I am compensate for items purchased through my links.***

by Kelly Mattei

Air Purifier Promo Code…TODAY ONLY!

Does someone on your list need an air purifier for a room/dorm? If you know a future college student, this is a great gift. TODAY ONLY, get 70% off (MAKING THE PRICE JUST ABOUT $50 instead of $165, while supplies last. ***DISCOUNT WILL REFLECT AT CHECKOUT*** Get this air purifier using my link: https://amzn.to/3QOthgI (If discount doesn’t reflect at check out, use PROMO CODE: 7035CVJC)

  • ***As an Amazon associate, I receive commissions on items purchased through my links.***
by Kelly Mattei

Air Fryer Deal TODAY ONLY

Have someone on your list who needs an air fryer? Or maybe you do? This one is regularly $169.99, but you can get it TODAY ONLY for $69 (thats 60% off) with my promo code: 7035CVJC. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! Discount will reflect AT CHECKOUT…if it doesn’t reflect automatically at checkout, enter the promo code above. Purchase at this link, and add promo code above at checkout if it doesn’t reflect automatically: https://amzn.to/46qzrJA

***As an Amazon associate, I receive commission on purchases made through my links.***

by Kelly Mattei

College Cocktail Dresses, Part 4 (Amazon)

College Cocktail Dresses, Part 4 (Amazon)

For Part 4, I decided to find some good dresses on Amazon. Anyone with Amazon Prime membership knows the benefits of ordering from Amazon…free shipping, easy returns, etc. If I need something quickly, I often order from Amazon. Plus, some of these prices are so great that you won’t get upset if she only wears it once! Without further ado…I bring to you…cocktail dresses from Amazon:

  • Pretty Garden Short Satin Dress. This one is super cute and comes in lots of colors. Priced at only $53.99, maybe you’ll get more than one? I tend to do that…when I find something I like, I get it in lots of colors. See this great short dress here. Or you can find the same basic dress from Zesica here for only $45.99. However, I prefer the colors on the Pretty Garden listing, but that’s just personal preference.
  • BTFBM Satin Maxi Dress. $35.99??? This awesome dress starts at just $35.99. It’s a maxi with a gorgeous halter neck that comes in 13 different colors, with each color priced differently, but the wine color is $35.99. All the others are under $55. See them all here.
  • BTFBM One Shoulder Ruched Mini. It’s not sparkly, but it’s gorgeous with one sheer sleeve. Priced at just $36.99, this dress comes in 15 colors, so pick one or two or three at this price! Purchase here.
  • Lyaner Satin Mini Tank Dress. I have actually seen this style on several girls over the past year. It’s another one that’s offered in 15 colors and priced right at just $38.99. Purchase here.
  • Pretty Garden One Shoulder Long Dress with slit. Need a full-length dress? This one could be the answer! Priced at just $52.99, it’s offered in lots of colors. Purchase here.
  • Wenrine Women’s Mesh Long Sleeve Square Neck dress. This dress is flattering for lots of body types, and the long, sheer sleeves give it a more fall/winter look for cooler months. Priced at just $39.99, this one comes in lots of colors, some of which are great for now, and some of which are perfect for fall/winter/holiday. The square neckline gives it something different. See it here.
  • Caracilia Satin Maxi. Another long dress, this one is a classic and priced under $45. See it here.
  • Lots of dresses on Amazon. If none of the above feature what you’re looking for, you can see lots of offerings on Amazon here.

Happy Shopping! Get those dresses now, so she won’t panic at the last minute!

by Kelly Mattei

Wardrobe Boxes Make Dorm Move-In Easier

Wardrobe boxes make dorm move-in easier.

With wardrobe boxes from Amazon. I ordered them last year when we moved our daughter into the dorm, and they were awesome! In fact, she told me yesterday that she wants to use them when she moves into the sorority house this year! Basically, they are boxes with a bar across the top, so your clothes remain hanging for transport. Sure, some of the dresses wrinkle at the bottom, but most tops/pants remain unwrinkled. You can hang a lot of hangers on each one. When we arrived at her dorm room, we simply lifted the hanging clothes from the bar and put them in the closet! So easy!

They’re just $34.99 for three boxes! Order from Amazon here to get them in time for move-in!

by Kelly Mattei

Sorority Rush: Last Minute Items

Sorority Rush: Last Minute Items.

If you’re planning to participate in sorority recruitment in the fall at a southern school, you likely registered already. Mark that off your checklist. You likely have your recommendations done. You probably have picked out your wardrobe and are just finishing up assembling your rush bag. What else is there to do?

Well, you have to wait, of course, but while you wait, there are some things you can do:

  • Shore up your wardrobe. Yes, you have a few dresses for rush, but depending on the school you are attending, you might need/want more than one dress per round. At The University of Alabama, for example, Philanthropy Round takes place over three days. You won’t know your schedule until everything gets started, so right now, you don’t know if you’ll have parties on one day, two days, or all three days. It’s best to be prepared for all three days. Sure, you can wear the same shorts/skirt to all three days of Philanthropy Round, but what if you sweat a lot in it? Will you want to wear it again? What if you spill something on it? Same for Sisterhood Round: if it takes place over two days, can you wear the same dress both days? Yes. Do you really want to? There’s still time to purchase another dress or two if you think you need it. Just remember, it’s hot in the south in August! Amazon has some cute dresses at these links:
    • Smocked Mini Dress. Y’all this inexpensive dress comes in several colors. I love all of them! They’re great for those really hot game days too! Priced under $30, these are adorable! See them here.
    • Love Shack Fancy. I know lots of girls love their Love Shack Fancy dresses. Get their cute Russ dress here. It’s pricy, but it’s cute!
    • One shoulder dress. Pretty Garden has an adorable one-shoulder tiered dress in several colors for under $50. Check it out here.
    • Another one-shoulder dress that resembles Love Shack Fancy, in my opinion. It also comes in lots of colors and is less than $50. See it here.
    • Amanda Uprichard dresses. Amanda Uprichard makes lots of great dresses for rush. See a selection here.
    • Belle Maison Collective. This boutique is out of Huntsville, Alabama, and they have some great options for rush…dresses, shoes, skirts, and shorts. Take a peek here.
    • Revolve. Check revolve.com for some great dress deals, since they have put a lot of seasonal items on sale! Click here.
    • Shopbop. Another great resource is shopbop.com. Click here.
    • Zara. At our house, we love Zara. Click here to see what they have.
  • Pick shoes. When picking which shoes you want to wear with which outfit during rush, remember you don’t need to be uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting throughout the process, you won’t feel your best, and likely won’t project your best self. This is not the time to try a new pair of stilettos. Also, don’t forget to have some comfy slippers/Crocs/flip flops in your Rush Bag, so you can wear them between parties.
  • Accessorize. It’s important to accessorize but not over-accessorize. Understated elegance is best…pearl earrings, small gold hoops, etc.
  • Rush Bag. Don’t forget to put together a Rush bag to help you freshen up between parties in weather so hot it feels like the surface of the sun! To see what you need for the bag, click here.

It’s almost time! So exciting! When my daughter went through the recruitment process last year, she made some great memories!

by Kelly Mattei

Modern Love

Modern Love…

Back when I subscribed to The New York Times, one of my favorite regular columns was the one titled Modern Love. The Times describes the it as “a weekly column…about relationships, feelings, betrayals and revelations.” I had been struggling to find the words to describe it, but that sums it up.

The column is different every time, because it is written by readers. Readers submit their own personal stories. I can only imagine how many stories they receive, because I can only imagine how many I’ve read over the years. Sometimes they are poignant. Sometimes they are touching. And oftentimes, they are even funny!

I cancelled my subscription to The New York Times several years ago when I realized I was paying about $80 a month for the daily paper. It was the last newspaper subscription I had; at one time, I received three papers a day, but I had stopped subscribing to the other two when I realized how much I was spending on newspapers. I was sad to drop the NYT, but I just couldn’t justify $80 a month for a newspaper…and I didn’t like how the price seemed to continually climb…it started to feel like I was being ripped off. And it seemed excessive. So I cancelled it, and I have missed it.

This past weekend, I had coffee with my friend, Jennifer. She is my TV/movie guru friend, and she sometimes recommends things for me to watch. This time, she asked, “Have you ever read the Modern Love column in The Times?” I told her I had, indeed, read it many times over the years…and how much I used to look forward to it when I had my daily subscription. And that’s when she told me about the Amazon Prime series based on the stories in the column. It’s called, of course, Modern Love, and Jennifer said it is a must see.

Based on Jennifer’s recommendation and the fact that I love the column, I sat down and watched a few episodes from Season 1 of the series last night. It seems the stories are based on stories printed in The NYT over the years, with some fictionalization added, of course. And the stories are great ones…riveting, even…very well-written.

The first episode is about a young, single editor looking for love in all the wrong places while living in a rent-controlled apartment in Brooklyn. Early on, we learn the apartment has been in her family for some time, so we don’t wonder how she can afford the lovely apartment in a doorman building. And the doorman is central to the story, as we learn early on that he is omnipotent and can “see” if each of the editor’s dates will turn into something more. Without giving away too much, I will tell you it will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions during the half-hour episode.

Episodes that follow are based on different characters…an entertainment lawyer’s struggle to find love, a seemingly perfect love, a betrayal, and more. The series is good, because the acting is good, but also because the stories seem real. You might even see your own story in some of the episodes.

And I think it’s the “seeing yourself” that makes it especially interesting. It made me think of my own “modern love” story. I’ve been married for 21 years, since I was 33. But before that, I was the perfect example of someone “looking for love in all the wrong places.” Or maybe I just had some growing up to do. I met my husband through some friends at work…not a very interesting start, unless I tell you I had gotten out of a years-long relationship just three weeks before meeting him. Because of my own experience, I always tell young people who are in an iffy relationship, “You won’t meet Mr./Miss Right as long as you’re with Mr./Miss Wrong,” meaning if you stay in a dead end relationship, you won’t meet someone with whom you might have a meaningful, lasting relationship and start your own family. I was just lucky I didn’t meet the man who became my husband three weeks earlier, because it would have been a missed opportunity…I was still with Mr. Wrong. I choose to think it was divine intervention that brought him to my office three weeks later. That’s my Modern Love story, in a nutshell. Maybe I will write it in detail one day…

For now, I’m recommending you take the time to watch Modern Love on Amazon Prime. Each episode is about a different set of characters, so if you find yourself not enjoying an episode (like the one starring Anne Hathaway), you can move on and not miss a beat. I will warn you, though, that while I was initially annoyed by the Hathaway episode, it ended up being a good story, so stick with it if you can.

And because I have fallen in love with Modern Love, the series, I might resubscribe to The New York Times. I used to love reading it…not so much for the news, but for the fashion, the entertainment, the well-written columns…like Modern Love.