Remembering

There's a lot of remembering going on today.  The easiest way for me to focus on the significance of September 11th is to look back to what I was doing that day.  Not because what *I* was doing was important or special, but because it's the best way to remember how the events of that day made me feel.

 

I was at home in my apartment in Dunwoody studying for the CPA exam.  The exam was my life back then.  I had the Bert Show on (local morning radio show) and they suddenly went nuts over something that was happening.  So I quickly turned on the TV - this was just after the first plane hit.  I remember thinking, OK how could a pilot be that off base?  Seriously.  How horrible.  And then the second plane hit.  And that confirmed it: this was no accident.  I imagine a lot of y'all felt what I felt... true fear.

 

I was on and off the phone with my dad all morning, giving him updates since he was at work with no TV coverage.  And we were trying to get in touch with my mom, who was in DC for work.  She was fine, and not even close to the Pentagon at the time, but it was scary not being able to get in touch with her.  She ended up having to get a rental car to get back to Atlanta because no planes were going out, of course.

 

A scary day.  A tragic day.  A day of tremendous suffering and loss.  And another big reminder that we live in a broken world.  I'm thinking of all of you today that lost loved ones nine years ago.  But I take comfort in the fact that we've got a big ole God.  He hurts along with us, but his glory is far greater than what any terrorist did that day.  So don't forget that.

 

"In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures on earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel." - Mother Teresa

"It's on, bitches."

So I got a positive read on my OPK test today, which means game-on for the IUI tomorrow. I was hoping to go one more day before getting the green light, but I think we'll still be in good shape. We're supposed to do another ultrasound tomorrow so I'm very curious to see how chunky my lining has gotten over the last 3 days. I've been drinking this nasty ass Noni juice that's supposed to help with implantation, among other things. It better. My acupuncturist warned me, "it no taste good." Yeah, she wasn't lyin'. Also, the hub's gotta give me a shot tonight. As many needles as I see each week, I still don't like them. Actually it's not that bad - I just have a hard time doing it myself since I have to look away. That kinda makes it hard. Anyway, here's to a fabulous turkey basting in the morning! Big prayers!

Moo Goo to the Rescue!

So I had my first mid-cycle check this morning... I'd been anxiously awaiting this appointment because I knew it would be rather telling as to whether or not the acupuncture, etc I've been doing the past 3+ months is working.  Well it looks like I have some nice cushy lining in the works!  It still has some growing to do, but so do my follies.  So I'm hoping ovulation holds out till this weekend - which it should.  But every ovulation test I take I'm like, "be negative, be negative!"  So far, so good.

 

Today, my lining measured at 6.5mm.  I pulled up my records from our last IUI cycle a year ago.  At this point in my cycle then, I was only measuring at 5.5mm.  So that is huge improvement!  They generally want you to be at 7mm at a minimum when they do the IUI (but closer to 8 is best).  So here's hoping that estrogen really kicks in and starts building some sweet ass sticky baby walls.  I go back again Friday morning for another ultrasound.  Go, uterus, go!

 

So all in all, I'm feeling much better this week.  Last week was crap.  Two hysterical crying fits (and several minis).  Dealing with my funk over a best friend's pregnancy.  And busy with work in the middle of all that.  On Friday morning, my sweet friend was having an ultrasound to hear her baby's heartbeat for the first time.  On that same Friday morning, I was having an ultrasound to assess just how effed up my uterus still is.  That was unsettling, to say the least.  I'm blaming all my mood swings on the drugs.  I'm much more with it this week so far.  It's only Tuesday, but I'm optimistic!

 

Oh and in completely other random news, we went to the NASCAR race on Saturday...hahhahha... (We had free tickets - don't judge.)  So while I did not become an insta-fan, I will say there was some fabulous people-watching to be had.  Just to give you a taste, the outfit of choice for the ladies was a string bikini top underneath denim overall shorts with one strap dangling.  It doesn't get any better than that!  Hope y'all had an excellent Labor Day weekend...  enjoy the rest of the week!

15 Minutes of Terror

So this morning started off a *little* rocky. About every other morning, the hub gets up around 5am to play racquetball with a buddy in the neighborhood. I hear him getting up and getting ready. The pups stay snuggled up next to me (because who the hell gets up at 5am?). I hear the hub whisper "I love you" as he walks out. I respond with my usual barely audible grunt. I hear the garage door go up and back down, pat Belly's head under the covers, and roll back over. ZZZzzzz....

Thirty minutes later, I wake up suddenly to some rummaging noises downstairs. I jump up and realize the dogs aren't in the room with me anymore. Oh great... Gertie's gotten into something. What now? So I throw on my glasses and head downstairs.

All the lights are on. TV's going. But no dogs. Hmmm... maybe the hub accidentally left them outside? The noise must've been them jumping on the door to get back in. I look outside (which is still dark as it's not quite 6am)... no pups. OK I swear I just heard them! I pull out their food in the pantry and start scooping it (because if anything will get them running to me, THAT will). No dogs. I turn around and see the hub's phone and racquetball bag on the kitchen island. OK... he left like 30 minutes ago. What is going on? No husband, no dogs. Empty house. What the HELL is going on?

Insert: MAJOR HYSTERICAL RAGING TEARFUL FREAK OUT

I just keep circling up and downstairs... and down in the basement. Check again outside. I keep saying "What is going on? Where are my babies?" Yelling my husband's name. Crying hysterically the whole time. So now I'm playing out these awful scenarios in my head. He's been kidnapped and the dogs escaped! OK that's ridiculous. He left without his stuff and the dogs accidentally got out. So now I'm picturing having to bury two other dogs. But I JUST heard them! What is going on?!?!??! Do I call 911?

Finally I think to go look in the laundry room where we keep the leashes for the dogs. And sure enough, the girls' harnesses and leashes are gone. Common sense would say, OK the hub decided to go on an early morning walk with the dogs. But common sense doesn't kick in till at least 7am. No, a robber has come in and stolen our dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now I'm trying to convince myself that the hub did indeed just take the dogs out. But why? Whenever we walk them, it's at night. So this is not normal AT ALL. I calm down some but am still pacing. A few minutes later (though an eternity in my state), the hub comes through the front door with our dogs. I meet him there and just break down. Sounding like a 5 year old who dropped her ice cream cone, I cry "I... didn't...know....where....you....were!!!!"

He of course felt terrible... he said he did come back upstairs and grabbed the dogs and told me he was going out for a walk with them since his buddy canceled on him. Yeah, no recollection of that. Snoozing away. Perfectly innocent on his part, but sheer terror on my end. He didn't think I'd be awake before he got back either... which I probably wouldn't have. Turns out it was the clatter of him getting out the door with the dogs that woke me up.

So now we have a new rule... leave a note. I think my heart is still trying to slow down. We had a good laugh over it, after I calmed down of course. "Well, at least I know you'd miss me," the hub said. "Or at least the dogs."

Hopefully the rest of the day will be a little more smooth sailing! Happy Thursday! :)

Another one bites the dust.

Remember one of my big fears I mentioned earlier this year? Well, it happened. It was inevitable. I had dinner last night with two of my best girls and sure enough, one of them (kuntry bride) announced she is pregnant. Both of these girls have been big prayer warriors for me during my struggle, and she was very gracious with how she gave us the news. (Lucky has also been trying since day 1 of being married and is already frustrated.) I know that all must sound ridiculously selfish if you haven't gone through the crap the hub and I've gone through - I mean I don't want friends to walk around on egg shells around us when it comes to sharing good news. But there are better ways to do it than shoving ultrasound photos in my face and saying "Surprise!!!" (Yep, that has happened before.)

I am truly, truly thrilled for my sweet friend. She and her husband are going to be amazing parents! But I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt. No worries, I didn't like make a scene over my enchilada or anything last night. Surprisingly, I haven't cried at all over it. All I can say is that it just feels weird. I had a hard time sleeping last night. It's hard not to spiral into a case of the why-me's and it's-not-fair's. It's really hard to not get frustrated with the fact that it comes SO easily for other people when we've spent nearly 5 years and thousands of dollars and we're still nowhere. It's hard not to get angry. And once again, it's hard not to feel left behind. Last night, trying to fall asleep, I just felt very... alone.

Dammit, now I'm crying.

But I have to remember that nothing has changed for us. We're still plugging along - we've got our plan in place. And I must say I'm grateful... grateful that I've been in such a good place mentally and spiritually lately that I feel I'm really able to handle this news peacefully. A few months ago, I would've taken it a LOT harder. This journey has been a true roller coaster, so I'm thankful to be soaring high for the time being! The news is still uneasy. And I don't know what it's going to look like tomorrow, or a few months down the road, but I can't worry about it. I'm just going to do what I can with what I'm given today and lean on God for tomorrow. I'm going to love on my friend and pray for a happy and healthy pregnancy for her. And continue to pray for peace for me as we charge on. So hopefully the "weirdness" will soon fade and this new normal will become more... normal.

Emmy Favorites

Y'all know I'm an awards show junkie... and the Emmy's last night did NOT disappoint! Jimmy Fallon did an incredible job hosting. Lots of great laugh-out-loud moments. And of course seeing the stars glammed up is at least half the fun. Probably my favorite moment was the Glee-inspired opener...




Another fab moment was Jimmy's musical tribute to the shows we lost this last year. I of course especially loved his Billie Joe Armstrong imitation. He totally nailed his quirky head gestures - haha!




And of course there was the obligatory "In Memoriam" segment highlighting all the lost actors and TV crew members. But one of my favorites, Jewel, performed her song "Hole in my Heart" as the images played in the background - wow. This obviously isn't an Emmy clip of the performance (couldn't find one), but this is the song. I've seen her in concert several times. She's simply amazing. She usually just stands up on stage casually with her guitar, as in this video, and does her thing. Incredible...







I of course had E! on with red carpet highlights as soon as it started, but was running around the house getting stuff done. So I wasn't as glued to the tube and probably missed a lot of the glam. But the standout star for me? Claire Dane! WOW! My so-called hotness! Congrats to her for her big Emmy win for Temple Grandin.








And also big Hoorah's! for Jane Lynch taking best supporting actress in a comedy for her role as Sue Sylvester on Glee! SOOOO deserved and what a gracious acceptance speech...



Great show overall. Kudos, Jimmy Fallon! Loved it! What did you guys think?!

Alright, time to get this week rolling. Hope you all have a great one!

Lame.

So Flo totally faked me out yesterday.  Thought she had arrived yesterday morning, but really she's still in my driveway unpacking her things... while I sit here and wait on her slow ass.  So I had to reschedule my Femara check.  Well, technically it hasn't been rescheduled just yet, but point is I'm not going today.  No big, but it would've been super efficient and convenient to go today after my Moo Goo appointment.  Saves me a trip into town.  But whatev...  hopefully I'll get on with it tomorrow or Friday!  I'm ready!

Go Uterus, Go!

Alright, my bloodwork and first ultrasound are both scheduled for tomorrow to get this last IUI cycle rolling!  And I've got an HSG scheduled next week with my doctor to see if my girly parts are in working order.  If not, I'll need another surgery if we have to do IVF.  Not looking forward to all the stirrup time, but we're really excited to get things moving.  My friend asked me what the heck an HSG was... I just said it's more prodding at my nu-nu to see if my uterus is in good shape.  Pretty sure that's the textbook definition. 

 

So that same friend has been chanting "Go uterus go!" to the Go Diego Go theme song via e-mail today.  (I had to You Tube that one since I don't have kids.)  But I'll take all the praying and cheering on I can get!  So yeah... go uterus!  This is your freaking reason for existence.  Get it together and do your job, dammit!  Gawh!

 

I'll keep y'all updated as we progress along...  xoxoxo

More on Diapers

So y'all should see this kick-ass spreadsheet I'm putting together with diaper prices. I'm neurotic, I know. I'm basically recording the regular prices for each size in the different brands y'all suggested - but only in the largest quantity available at a given store. I'm doing Pampers, Huggies, Kirkland (Costco), Publix brand, and Target brand. Pampers seem to be the fave though... not as much love from y'all for the Huggies.

And I've only scratched the surface here... apparently there are different *types* of diapers. Like someone please explain Huggies Snug & Dry vs. Little Movers (or whatever they're called). And Pampers Cruisers vs. whatever the other kind is called. I see a price difference, but what is THE difference? Is one a Toyota and the other a Lexus? Please explain, mommas.

Also, there are apparently night-time diapers. Well, they make night-time maxi pads, so I guess that makes sense. My question - are these necessary? Maybe that question has an "it depends" kind of answer. I have no clue.

Some also mentioned their babies having sensitive little booties... is this really a diaper issue or a wipes issue or both? I did notice some "sensitive" diapers on the shelves. Dear me. This is hella confusing! I'm having a hard time figuring it out and I'm not even a mom yet! Seriously how do you guys decipher the diaper world with a screaming kid on your hip?!

Lastly, the stores I've checked/am checking are: Publix, Kroger, Target, Wal-mart, Babies 'r Us, Costco, and Sam's. Oh and diapers.com. Any other stores/sites you frequent that I should definitely check?

One last question... if I come across a really slammin' deal on diapers (in any given size or brand) - would it make sense to buy some ahead of time or is that completely stupid? Oh shit - are there different diapers for boys and girls? I didn't notice! OMG.

Financial Goals: Eye on the Prize!

The difference between a dream and a goal is a plan.

 

I either heard that on the radio or read it on twitter earlier this week (via Dave Ramsey, duh)... love it!  And it's so true.  You can't get to your destination without a map.   Stuck-in-the-mud right now or not, what keeps us going and plugging away each day is focusing on where the hub and I want to be 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, and 30 years from now.  It's incredible to think about!  Creating financial goals together is so important (and fun!).  It's about asking, "Where do we want to go, what do we want to do?" and then putting together a plan to get there. 

 

For us, the quick and dirty version is to rid ourselves of all debt, stay out of debt, build wealth and give.  Obviously our strides are short right now as we're still in *income crisis* mode while the hub is searching for full-time work.  But even with our tiggity-tight budget, every decision is made with these goals in mind.  And of course we have other "fun" goals mixed in... things we want to do with the house, traveling, newer cars, a boat.... I could go on!  Every goal of ours, big or small, has a strategic plan.  And just to share with you all, here are some of our biggest and uber exciting goals for the not-too-distant-future...

 

1.  Become debt-free (but the house) by the end of 2011.  The absolute dates here are fuzzy right now since our income is up in the air.  Once the hub lands a new job, we'll be able to knock the shit out of this one.  Progress right now is very slow - but there is still progress every month.  And we're throwing one heck of a party when we finally get there!

 

2.  Get college and wedding accounts rolling for the (future) kids.  Wedding?  Oh hell yeah.  I told the hub the other day, "OK, if we have a daughter and put $100 away each month, with 10% growth we'll have $100,000 for a wedding by the time she graduates college!"  Of course by then, $100k will only be worth about $50,000 or so in today's dollars.  But we can easily do fabulous on $50,000!  I love weddings, you know.  These are the crazy dreams I come up with!  Also, we plan to get college funds rolling as soon as possible too.  Pigs will fly over a frozen hell before we let our kids get a school loan.  And I would love, love, love for our kids to go to my old junior high and high school, which is private... so that of course would be figured in there too.  But none of this can happen before #1 (getting debt-free) is done.  And there's some other stuff that's gotta happen first too (emergency fund, etc.), but this is a fun one to think about!

 

3.  Pay off the house.  I get a head-to-toe rush through my body thinking about this one.  Maybe it's the Holy Spirit saying, "Git 'r done!"  Who knows... but wow, can't wait to get there!  Again, it's a little hard to speculate in our current income situation, but we expect to be able to accomplish this by my 40th birthday.  I'm about to turn 33.  But I look 19!  (So I was recently told. Thanks, checkout guy at Costco!)  All these goals - this one especially - have refueled my drive and energies at work.  Well, and my job being the only full-time one between us right now kinda forces us both to appreciate it more!  But having this goal in the back of my head, everyday, helps me plug away.  And we've also discussed that when the house is gone, I'll have the freedom to be a SAHM or do whatever I want.  So that's incredible to think about too!

 

4.  Become millionaires within 10 years.  This one is just fun, right?  And really, all these steps we are making will easily lead us here, so it is really just icing on the cake.  This should happen very quickly after #3 is done.  I'm a nerd, so you know I've run the numbers!  Millionaires with no debt.  No payments to anyone.  Can you imagine the amazing things we will be able to do?  The giving we can do?  The fun we can have?  The wealth we can build?  I saw a segment on the local news this week where a nearby Boys & Girls Club location was vandalized and all of their A/C units were stolen.  In this incredible heat!  That made my blood boil.  I want to be in a position where we can cut them a check and make them whole again.  That's the kind of stuff I get PUMPED about!  That is true life, right there.  And we cannot wait!  As much as the hub and I love *stuff* and love to do fun things and travel and whatnot, we really have a heart for giving.  I so cannot wait!

 

You guys always hear me talking about the budget, cutting corners, NOT shopping, paying off debt... well, this is WHY we do it.  Because we've got somewhere to be and we want to get there as quickly as possible.  It involves a lot of sacrifice today.  Saying "no" a lot of times to friends who want to go out, taking "staycations" instead of the real thing, driving a 12 year old car that locks up every time you try to put it in gear... but we're content.  We're content because we know where we're going.  We have to say "no" a lot right now so that one day we can say "YES!"  And my sweet 98 Accord will get us there just fine, won't ya, girl?! 

The Dad Life: A little Friday Funny

In honor of my wonderful Dad who turns 63 tomorrow, here's a good laugh to get your weekend off on the right foot! Our friends showed us this video last week - hilarious. Each of the guys is a dead ringer for the hub and his three buds up here. The black dude is totally my husband (sans the actual "Dad" part).

Diapers.

Something I obviously know nothing about. (Though I have changed a bunch before.) Anyway, I'm doing some research. Mommas, give me the dirt on diapers. What are your favorite brands? Are any of the store brands any good (Target, Publix, Costco, etc.)? I'm personally a coupon freak, so on a lot of products I'm not very brand-loyal. I buy what's on sale. Anyone do this with diapers? How many do you go through in a day? Any secrets to getting a good deal? How many freaking sizes are there? And I know there are lots of options for cloth diapers. Not what I'm asking. Just interested in the 411 on disposable diapers for now. Spill!

Moo Goo News

Midway through another week already... and it's my last 4-day work week of the summer!  I am so ready for Fall though.  Bring on the cooler weather, please.  I am over this heat - it's exhausting and hard to freakin' breathe out here.  Anyway, we're also coming up on the completion of our 3rd cycle on Moo Goo.  That is, my acupuncture-diet-herbs regimen.  And we've decided to go ahead and move forward with our last IUI cycle next month.  I'm still going to continue on with Moo Goo alongside all the fun in the stirrups though.  It can only help!  Plus I still feel great on this diet and I know I'm doing great things for my body.  Dr. Liu also says Fall is the best time to do IUI/IVF and that summer is the worst - interesting.  (All 3 of our last IUI attempts were in the summer.)

 

So our plan is to do this final attempt with IUI next month on Femara.  I am very curious to see how my mid-cycle check looks after having gone through all this acupuncture!  Hoping for some really fabulous lining, since that has been a big issue for me.  Also during this IUI cycle, they'll do a mock egg-transfer test to see if my wonky uterus looks OK for IVF.  I think I'm thinking of the right test.... they're doing some sort of test to see if it looks good.  It's been a while since we devised this plan, so I may be calling it the wrong thing.  Good thing I'm not the doctor.  Anyway, they should be able to determine whether or not I will need a 3rd surgery before moving on to IVF.  I know... IUI, IVF, WTF.  Basically there are three scenarios:

 

1.  IUI cycle is a success. (Oh, that would be great!)

2.  IUI flops, mock-transfer looks good... immediately move to IVF.

3.  IUI flops, mock-transfer not good... have a 3rd surgery, then IVF.

 

We haven't met with the *financial* people yet at my RE's office about IVF, but we are planning to do one of these money-back-if-you-don't-get-a-baby plans.  From what I understand, you pay a flat fee up front for 3 regular (retrieval) cycles and 3 frozen cycles (for example).  If no live birth results from any of those, you get the bulk of your money back.  I don't think it includes any of the meds involved (which are also very $$$), but it can end up saving you a lot.  It's kind of like insurance.  Risk is, it works on the first try and you've way overpaid.  But either way, I think there's a lot of peace of mind there knowing you get some cash back if it doesn't work.  It definitely gives me a lot of peace.  It is a total gamble, after all.  My parents are stepping in and helping us make this happen - which is incredible.  And we're so, so grateful.

 

So after all that, if we're still at square one... I think we will probably go in another direction.  Not give up, but take a different path.  Like to Ethiopia or something.  Have you seen those little babies?  OMG.  So damn cute.  That's thinking way, way ahead though (which I tend to do).  We'll tackle that if and when we get there.  For now, I'm focusing on getting my body ready for the turkey baster.

 

I'll keep y'all updated!

e.l.f. - A Love Affair

I know, I haven't gabbed about a product or gushed over some new accessory in ages. It's funny how much my blog has changed focus over the last three years, but so goes my life! I write about what's going on, and there's really not much of any shopping going on here... so yeah. I usually send my J. Crew catalogs straight to the recycle bin. BUT one thing you can't deny me is my makeup. I still gotta look good, right?!

I found out about e.l.f. several years ago when they first came on the scene. The whole "everything is $1" intrigued me... could this be for real? Uh yeah, it was. Of course now they've totally expanded their line and have different collections with higher price points. But even the highest ones are ridiculously cheap when you compare them to drugstore makeup brand prices, much less swanky high-end cosmetic lines. At only $1 an item, I grabbed a ton of products on my first order years ago - I mean, what's to lose? If it sucks, you only wasted a dollar, right? Well, fast forward to now... and nearly every single item in my makeup drawer is stamped with "e.l.f."

I've always been big into makeup - it's just fun. And I've tried all kinds of brands and labels when it comes to cosmetics. I was a pretty tried and true Estee Lauder fan in high school and beyond, with a little Bobbi Brown mixed in... and maybe a dash of MAC, Sephora, and other trendy brands here and there. With the exception of my liquid base and/or concealer (which has always been Almay), I was an exclusive department store brand makeup girl. I was a sucker for the free-gift-with-purchase. Even though I'd maybe use like *one* item out of that bag - ha! But like I said, when I caught word of this online cosmetic company where everything was $1 - I had to give it a try.

Little by little, my department store cosmetic items were being replaced by e.l.f. products. The last to go? My automatic eye pencil from Estee Lauder. It was quite the revelation, if you remember. Now the only items I use daily that are not e.l.f. are my Almay wand concealer and whatever mascara I'm using. Mascara is the only product they haven't quite mastered yet. I'll be happy to switch when they do, but for now I stick with Maybelline - either the old faithful pink and green bottle or the new Stiletto one.

If you're not familiar with e.l.f., there's a few things you should know. First, there is always ALWAYS a promotion going on. Never ever check out without entering some kind of coupon code. By always, I mean there is at least one promotion/coupon code available every single day. And often more than one, so you have to choose which one is the best deal for you. The best way to stay in the know is to become an email subscriber. The promotions are advertised via email, twitter, etc and most often are NOT made known on the website. I usually order from e.l.f about once every 3 months, spending about $30 (including shipping). And that's for A LOT of stuff. I wait for the bigger promotions to come out and then I jump on and order everything I need and more. As I'm about to show you, most of the products I use come from their all natural mineral line. Unless I'm just desparate and out of product, I will only purchase new items when they're at least 50% off. They will usually run promos by specific collections... like one week all Studio items are 50% off, then a couple of weeks later all Mineral items are BOGO 50% off, etc. But like I said, I try to hold out for the bigger ones... like 60% off the entire site (that's the last one I took advantage of) or 75% off all Minerals. Point is - there is always a promotion, so never ever pay full price.

Second, the company now has four main "collections" of products...

• The main e.l.f. line, which is your basic everything-is-$1 stuff. I still snag some of these items whenever I'm purchasing. And you can actually find some of these at Target. I've seen a small selection at Kroger also. But whatever you've seen in stores is a teeny, teeny sampling of what's online. These products are great stocking stuffers and I've seen brides use them a lot to fill goody bags for bridesmaids. Great fun! And an excellent way to experiment with fun new colors on the cheap.
• The Studio collection, which they dub as their "professional" line. I've used a couple of these products, namely the eyeliner and shadow stick which led me to dump my faithful Estee Lauder liner after 16+ years. Price point on this line is generally $3 (but again, wait till they go on sale).
• The Minerals collection, my personal favorite! I've tried just about every product in this collection and have fallen in love with most all of it. I'll reveal my top personal picks below. The collection is all natural and 100% mineral based. Price point for most items is $3-5. (Don't make me mention the sales again.)
• The Bath & Body collection, which is basically your bath gels, lotions, etc. Items are generally $4 each. No real steal of a deal here except for the body butter. Compare it to The Body Shop's Body Butter for $14 and up.... yeah, I'll go with the $4 tub from e.l.f., thanks. As for the hand soap? I'll pass. I refuse to pay more than $1 for a bottle of hand soap.

Third, shipping costs are a flat $6.95 (for U.S), no matter your order. There are often free or reduced shipping coupon codes too, so keep an eye out. And because it's an online-only retailer, there are no sales tax charges (except for NY, probably - where the distribution center is located). They also often throw out freebies with your purchase, like a complimentary magazine subscription. And it's a true freebie - not a thing where you will be billed after 3 weeks if you don't cancel. I was just reading my freebie US Weekly this morning, actually! Do be aware that they do not accept returns or exchanges unless items arrived damaged. I've never had anything arrive damaged, nor have I ever wanted to return anything. Folks, stuff is like $1. Again, if you don't like something, do a shoulder shrug and move on. It's a friggin' dollar. As for my personal favorites, here are the top 5 items I'm currently crushing on...

1. Mineral Eyeshadow, $3 each. OMG, so fun. Such a great rainbow of colors to choose from, and they go on beautifully. I love the texture and they're easy to apply as lightly or as heavily as you want. Most colors have a subtle shimmer to them, but a few (labeled matte) do not. These are the only thing I use for eyeshadow anymore. Love, love, love them.

2. Mineral Lip Gloss, $3 each. It took me a while, but I found my perfect lip gloss. I've tried every other lip gloss e.l.f. has to offer - this one is the best by far. My favorite shades are Trendsetter, Pageant Princess, and Sorority Girl.

3. Mineral Concealer, $5 each. Yes, it's called "concealer" but I actually use it as my foundation. I've tried the Mineral Foundation as well, but none of the shades seemed to work just right for me and my skin tone. But the "light" shade of the concealer does... and I can't tell the difference between the concealer or foundation really. So I use my Almay wand concealer to help cover up any blemishes or discoloration on my face, and then I apply the Mineral concealer lightly on top (which is basically a very fine loose powder). I don't use liquid foundation anymore after having discovered this stuff. If you've been wanting to try a mineral foundation, e.l.f. is a great way to do it without breaking the bank.

4. Mineral Eye Liner, $3 each. Yep, as soon as this product debuted I gave it a try and immediately fell in love. It tops the Studio collection liner that I mentioned, but I still use both since they offer different shades in each. LOVE this product a million times over. I have every color but most often wear Ash or Midnight.

5. Mineral Blemish Kit, $8 each. I know, quite the *splurge* on this site! But you won't go through this product nearly as quickly as a foundation or regular concealer. (And hello, again, these are list prices - not what I actually pay.) I don't use this everyday. It's basically a very, very fine powder that helps cover up blemishes or red spots. It only comes in one shade, and may not work if you have very dark skin - I don't know. But for me, it's awesome. Sometimes my wand concealer won't completely conceal a particularly stubborn zit or blemish. Mineral Blemish Kit to the rescue! It also comes with a special brush for application.

So those are my faves. What are some of yours? If you don't have any, you need to get some. Hop on their site and find some goodies. The great thing is, they have tons of reviews on their products. So it's easy to get a feel for what people like and don't like. Enjoy!

Are you ready, Atlanta?!

In less than two months, Dave will be here! Get your fist pump going! If you're on the verge of wanting/needing to make some big financial changes in your life, this is the event that will kick your butt into gear. I know I've mentioned this before, but it wasn't until we saw Dave live two years ago that everything really *clicked*. But no matter where you are with your money, this show is for everyone. And the icing? It's incredibly entertaining and hilarious. It will change your life. Promise.