February 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag

Let me first start by saying that I'm sorry there wasn't a review for the January Ipsy glam bag posted but, at the risk of sounding cheesy and above all lazy, I just wasn't feeling it. I know, I know that's horrible but the bag was really sub-par last month and it took me forever to even try all of the products. Hey, we all have our bad days you're forgiven, Ipsy.

Ahhh!

Whew, that is literally the only way I can express how much I adore this month's glam bag! If you read through this review and like what you see then wait till the end and click the link to check out Ipsy for yourself.
Not only am I so excited to tell you about each product but I'm even more excited to bring back my partner-in-crime, Danielle!
That's right, ladies, Danielle is back and she had this to say:
Let me start off by saying I apologize for my lack of posting in the last few months. I have been super busy with sorority stuff,  & my junior year of bowling coming to an end this season! 

On a lighter note, this Friday I am going to begin my journey as a brand new Mary Kay consultant! I am so very excited to sell some amazing products that every woman needs in her possession! I will be writing some post about those products here soon! 

Now real point of this post, the AMAZING February Ipsy glam bag! I was beyond excited to open this bag and I was even more excited when I found all of the goodies I received this month! 

As, you can probably tell Danielle and I felt very similarly about this month's bag now let's get to it!

- Merisa's Bag -

- Danielle's Bag -

With the theme of the Look of Love, Danielle and I both loved the bag this month's products came in, a hot pink makeup back with leopard print lining!

Both of us got a few different products but let's start with the one's we had in common...

The first product I opened up and tested out was the Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in the silver shimmery color, Starshine! I love this eyeliner, it goes on extremely smooth, and adds a great sense of color and pop to the normal bronze shadow I wear. 

-dSl-

The Mally eyeliner is definitely a standout for me and is probably the first Ipsy product that made me want to try other items from the brand featured outside of that specific product. Seriously, I need more Mally in my life. I love the color, which is a metallic silver that just blends so smoothly and glides on. I've used this product as an inner corner highlight and even as a substitute for my usual black liner on my no makeup makeup days. 

-aFm-

I am obsessed with this lip gloss...actually I wouldn't even call it a traditional lip gloss. This product from POPBeauty in Peony Petal has been on my lips ever since I got my bag in the mail! I love everything about it from the sleek matte black packaging to the stain like application. I think the color is a really great pick for me which is something I was a little worried about upon first impression. I say a stain like application because it really does look like a gloss at first until you actually put it on, it's not sticky at all and almost feels like a melted down lipstick but stays super moisturized.

-aFm-

 This gloss is a good pop of color. It gives you just enough to add something to your everyday look. I really loved the container that it came in. The tube has a handle on it that is really smooth and glides on easily! 

-dSl-

As you might have noticed in the picture of my bag above, I got a few extra products...that's not because I'm particularly special even though I totally am, it's because I traded in my Ipsy points from reviewing my products in my Glam Room online to receive a BeautyBlender and BlenderCleanser! I LOVE the BeautyBlender and must say that it's totally worth the hype but not worth the price...I'm sure you can find an off brand that would get the job done just as well. I really liked the Zoya polish in Odette and thought that it almost looked gel-like on my nails after a 2nd coat even though it didn't act gel-like in the chip department.

I'm still on the fence about the Rituoil for my hair but hair products are always testy for me.

-aFm-

The J.Cat Beauty Eyelashes & Eyelash Glue were some of the best lashes I've tried. It added so much to my natural lashes and made them appear fuller. I love them so very much and even wore them for my Valentine's Day dinner last Friday night!

 I love the City Color Be Matte Blush, I have never tried any of their products and I am not sure why because this is the best blush I have ever used thus far! It blends well, has a great color, called Fresh Melon, and simply warms up your face to create a "sun kissed" look! It is definitely a product worth purchasing especially because it runs for only $2.99 regular price! Can't wait to continue using this product.

-dSl-

I hope you've enjoyed this review of the February Ipsy Glam Bag, to get your own Glam Bag next month click the link below!

Ipsy Glam Bag

until next time, darlings.

xo

The Monogrammed Magnolias

PS: 

RueLaLa vs HauteLook

So, it should come as no surprise to you by now that I am a serious lover of online shopping. Well, what could be better than having designer digs and luxury items all in one place at low prices? I really can't think of anything and that makes these two sites an online shopper's dream!

RueLaLa
RueLaLa is a site that holds daily boutiques of well, anything and everything pretty much, at "Members-only" prices (that means seriously on sale!). 

Featuring everything from vintage Louis Vuitton (I die!), Ray-Bans, Little Rue kids' boutiques, and the perfect weekend getaways RueLaLa holds the things dreams are made of. 

Their boutiques stay open anywhere from a few hours to a whole week and you can even get a sneak peak at what's coming soon and set reminders directly to your phone. 

I've gotten several items from RueLaLa over the years (mostly Lilly Pulitzer, they now send me reminders every time there's Lilly in a boutique) and I have to say that their customer service is by far the BEST I have ever encountered across the board. I'm just going to say it, there really is no one better than RueLaLa when it comes to customer satisfaction. Anytime I've ever had a problem with an order or needed a question answered my RueLaLa concierge (makes me feel so sophisticated just saying that) has been there to help almost immediately. That's a wonderful feeling and just adds to the luxury of RueLaLa.

Like a lot of invite-only shopping sites, RueLaLa will give you a credit every time someone you invite accepts and makes a purchase. That's like free money people, come on!

The only downside I've ever encountered with the site is...the shipping, but they've got a solution for that too.

As far as shipping goes, at $9.95 for basic 5-7 days, this site is kinda on the steep end, however, after paying shipping for your first order you get a period of free shipping for 30-days after known as The Rue 30.

Plus, they have really fast shipping. My items usually arrive before their estimated date and they're boxes always have cute sayings on the inside and sometimes you score stickers!

HauteLook

I was really excited to try out HauteLook after a friend mentioned that she got Urban Decay make-up for uber cheap on the site and I found out it's a branch of Nordstrom's. They have an awesome variety of items and boutiques at prices that are a little more user friendlier than other sites but also carry luxury goods like vintage Louis when you're in the mood to splurge.
Just like RueLaLa, HauteLook offers a credit for every new member purchase from someone you've invited. I'm not entirely certain but I believe HauteLook's boutiques stay open a shorter amount of time than other sites causing their items to be in higher demand which in turn creates a unique situation with their shopping cart feature. I have mixed feelings about this feature but I'll go ahead and explain it before diving into that.
Unlike most sites, HauteLook offers a hold on items you place in your cart, however, (and that's a big however!) the hold is only 15 minutes per item!
Uh, I don't know about you but I'm hard pressed to make any decision in that amount of time let alone one where my credit card is involved. Also, while you're only charged shipping once per order you're items are shipped by boutique so if you end up purchasing a bunch of items from different boutiques on the site then your items will come in different shipments which is a major inconvenience especially when shipping takes forever! By forever, I mean close to 3 weeks, which is ridiculous when you're so used to 5-7 business days and when the products finally arrive on your doorstep they sort of lack luster on the whole packing front.

How boring is it when you open up your package to find this?

However, unlike RueLaLa, the shipping is a lot more reasonable and they offer free shipping when you spend $100 so all that blah can be forgiven really.
I'm a huge fan of the variety of products and brands HauteLook offers. My first purchase on the site was from a Stila cosmetics boutique that was out of this world! I got some seriously great deals on some seriously amazing makeup!

Nothing was over $6 and because of that I was able to get a lot of shades to experiment with with!

Overall, my experiences with both sites have been really great and I hope this information has helped you out. If you like to sign up for either site just click the invite links below!

RueLaLa Invite

HauteLook Invite

until next time, darlings.

xo

Merisa

My Obsession: The Olympics

I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!

Even in all caps and bolded letters that is still an understatement. 

I have been an Olympics enthusiast ever since the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. Yes folks, at the tender age of 5 I became an Olympic junkie!
Being from the South, my parents were really excited for the Games, my dad even lived in Atlanta for a few years when he was a kid. I remember bits and pieces of the games but my favorite part was definitely the Opening Ceremony...I was 5, I was only focused on the fireworks!

When I got a little older I got way more interested in the actual Games themselves, I even remember taking a whole grading period to learn about Australia in third grade just in time for the Sydney games. Remember when Mary-Kate & Ashley tried to road-trip to Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Games in Getting There? Not even gonna lie, I loved that movie and it also ensured that I was completely hooked on the Olympics no matter what season it was.

So, it should really come as no surprise that I am so excited that it is Olympic time again!
Bring it on Sochi! By the way, I am I the only one that felt like Anastasia during that Opening Ceremony the other night? Can't be.

How sad was it that the 5th Olympic ring glitched out?

Fun Fact I learned from the NBC broadcast: apparently this glitch was taken out of the Russian broadcast and replaced with footage from rehearsals when the ring was completely functional. Kinda crazy, right?

Let's not forget those crazy kids on Team USA!

I must admit that at first I was not too keen on the Ralph Lauren Christmas sweaters but as the ceremony continued (and I saw the adorable Shaun White) they grew on me a little...

...to the point that I kinda want one now. I could do without the patchwork front but nothing says 'Merica like a mega dose of red, white, & blue!

Well, I'm off to catch the recap of the figure skating medal ceremony!

Comment below and let me know what you thought about the Opening Ceremony, Team USA's getups, and who you're keeping an eye out for on the medal stand!

until next time, darlings

xo

Merisa

A Very Special Birthday!!!

So, I'm currently studying for a Russian history exam (anyone wanna tell me why I'm a history major again, please?) but I just had to take a moment and let y'all know that today just so happens to be a very special day for Monogrammed Magnolias!

Today is the lovely Danielle's 21st birthday!!!

In honor of her special day and her all around awesomeness I thought I'd share this with you:

I honestly don't think I ever would have made it through this past year (or just college in general) without this girl! She's amazeballs-fabulous and I'm so proud that she's my friend!

I love you so much, girly, and I'm so beyond blessed to have someone that shares the same interests as me and understands me like you do! Have the best birthday ever!!!!

Check out the super cute birthday bouquet Danielle's roomie, Alexis, and I put together!

Head over to Twitter and wish @daniloulou a happy birthday too!

until next time, darlings

xo

Merisa