Tag Archives: ballin on a budget

May20

Bath & Body Works May Freebies

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Bath & Body Works May Freebies

Howdy! I was running desperately low on my beloved foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and was excited to hit the store for a reup. I had a percentage off coupon and could cash in two freebies that were burning a hole in my pocket and walked away with seven products for just twenty-two dollars. You can’t beat that! Tune in tomorrow to discuss some new hand soap fragrances but, first, let’s take a look at these fab freebies which equaled out to twenty-five bucks that I didn’t pay a dime for. Score!!

My family is going to Italy this year and it is my goal to get everyone in the party a travel size shower gel before our big vacation. I already have two for my mom and I and next on the agenda was Johnny! It is not often that I shop for men’s fragrances at B&BW so it was fun to dip my toes into their different collections. Speaking of dipping my toes in, I chose the Ocean scent for my main squeeze! Ocean features fragrance notes of “blue cypress, vetiver, and coastal air”. I’m not sure what blue cypress and vetiver are supposed to smell like but the coastal air rings true. I loves me an aquatic scent and Ocean is sun, sand, and surf to the T. It is so invigorating and fresh and I could definitely get used to Johnny using this shower gel! 😀

Thanks to my rewards points, I was also able to snag a full size freebie for myself and went with a new body lotion. It was a necessity because I only had a travel size lotion freebie left in my hoard and I’m saving that for Italy too. And, while I am a huge fan of B&BW’s body cream, it is much too heavy for the summer months ahead. I was amped to find that additional fragrance lines from Gingham were back in store and I opted for Gingham Fresh. Although nothing will ever surpass the OG Gingham, Gingham Fresh is a very close second with notes of “juicy pear, sparkling clementine, and fresh daisies”. There is no floral about this fragrance – only sweet/tart fruity delight and I just adore it! Gingham Fresh has all of the softness of a pear scent with the bite of citrus and it is perfect for summer. Highly recommend!

Next B&BW shopping plans? The summer Semi Annual Sale, of course! Bring on those sweet, sweet savings so I can rebuild my beauty care stock pile!

Do you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sales? What do you normally purchase? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May16

A Treat For Johnny!

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A Treat For Johnny!

Howdy! Whenever Johnny and I are out and about running errands, we love to surprise each other with little treats. It could be anything from a candy bar or snack to clothing or a plushie. Whatever it is, it’s always fun to return home with treasure in tow to brighten each other’s day. This past week, I was at my beloved 5 Below with a client and it is the perfect store to purchase little treats at. Everything is so cheap that it’s literally a guilt free shopping trip! 5 Below was decked out in Memorial Day swag and as soon as I saw this shirt, it was as good as Johnny’s. ❤ Check it out:

^^^ LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!

My Johnny is a hot dog loving guy lol. So much so, that he even has a tattoo of one on his arm! It is one of his favorite foods and he was so proud to have a hot dog with my niece when we took her on her birthday treat day. He said it’s one of his favorite memories with her! As you can see, a good hot dog is never far from his mind and when I see literally anything hot dog related, Johnny is not far from mine. I was beyond excited to gift him with this hilarious shirt when I got home from work and his reaction was better than I could have ever hoped for…

When I presented Johnny with this T, he told me how much he loved it. What’s more, he informed me that a hot dog truck was coming to his work for lunch the following day. Talk about perfect timing! Johnny and I have been together for over six years and, at this point, I think we are both a little psychic. Several times throughout each day, we say something that was just on the tip of each other’s tongue. However, I’m not so psychic that I knew his lunchtime plans for the next day! I am pleased to report that his shirt was a hit and he deeply enjoyed his hot dog lunch. Lol, this freaking man of mine! 🙂

Huge shout out to 5 Below for blessing my husband with this shirt. I am honestly still amped up with the serendipity of this purchase!

What do you like to treat your partner with? Do you have any Memorial Day plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May10

5 Below Finds

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5 Below Finds

Hello! As you all know, I am freaking obsessed with 5 Below and go there fairly frequently. It’s the perfect spot to pick up treats for my nieces, myself, and honestly anyone when I see something that reminds me of them! The prices are just too good to pass up and I’m genuinely amazed by the quality of everything that I have purchased from there. During one of my last trips, I couldn’t resist a new K-Pop Demon Hunters crop top for myself as well as a Britney Spears T-shirt for my sister. Unfortunately, the shirt didn’t work for her but it SO works for me! Check it out:

The K-Pop Demon Hunters crop featuring Rumi is basically the same K-Pop crop I already have from 5 Below with a different pattern. That was A-okay by me because my other crop top is just the best. It fits like a glove, is soft as can be, and shows off my shape without being too tight. I was so excited to find the Rumi one because I already knew that it was going to work and I loved rocking it on a mini golf outing last weekend. I always have to rep my Huntrix girls and 5 Below is the spot to find all of the K-Pop swag. They are constantly releasing new clothing and I am constantly SO there for it! ❤

And, of course, we have Queen B. My beloved Britney Spears. The sweetest angel in all of the land. My sister and I grew up on Britney Spears and she was and always will be our favorite. There is nothing toxic about this T although it features lyrics from her banger! It is just pure pop amazingness! I am so blessed to add another Britney Spears top to my wardrobe as I only have one other one and it was lonely lol. While I am sad that this top didn’t work out for my sis, I am sort of happy that it wound up with me… I was kicking myself in the butt for not buying two of them so all’s well that ends well. 😀

Need a pick me up? 5 Below. Need to find what you didn’t know you needed to begin with? 5 Below. I love that damn store!!

What is your favorite discount store? Who is your favorite pop princess? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr22

New Chrome Riot Skort

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New Chrome Riot Skort

Hi! I have been enjoying updating my spring wardrobe and it’s always fun to add in a few new pieces to shake things up. Yesterday you all saw the beautiful Lark + Grey dress that I purchased from Ross and I also walked away with one of my favorite spring and summer staples: The skort! I don’t know about all of you, but I LOVES me a good skort. No one is any the wiser that the majority of skirts I own actually have shorts underneath and I like the comfort that they provide. It’s nice to know that I can go about my day without anyone getting a sneak peek at my underoos lol. 😀 This Chrome Riot number is going to be perfect for a date night out and I can’t wait to rock it! Take a look:

Like my new dress for an upcoming wedding in May, I knew that this skort was an instant winner. The price was right too as it was only eight dollars. Yes please! This is a relatively simple piece but that lace just hits different. There are several different kinds of lace – dreamy and ethereal, classic and timeless, and sexy too! This lace definitely falls under the sexy category and I am so excited to break it out on the next date night with my main squeeze. Fine dining at Taco Bell, perhaps? *Fingers crossed*!!

Although this skort can definitely be worn for play with a cute crop or tank, my date night fit will feature a lovely black lace cami top by mittoshop. It is a bit flowy but that is no matter because I plan on wearing it tucked in to form a pseudo dress. For the shoes? A darling pair of Nine West kitten heels with an adorable pop of bling! When I try clothes on, an outfit comes to mind like a That’s So Raven vision. This is the look that magically appeared and I just know it’s going to be fab. Keep your eyes peeled for a brand new OOTD showcasing my Chrome Riot skort soon!

For just a little over twenty dollars I walked out of Ross with two new gorgeous additions to my wardrobe. And, I have to say it, I am SO sorry, TJMaxx. I will be back soon, I promise! ❤

How would you style this skort? Do you have a date night coming up soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr21

New Lark + Grey Dress

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New Lark + Grey Dress

Howdy! Although I am a TJMaxx girl through and through, I do love popping into Ross from time to time. My family will be attending a wedding in May and I wanted to find a pretty little something to wear to the ceremony or the reception after. I scored big time because I found the perfect dress for the reception and it only costed thirteen bucks! Talk about a steal!! I cannot wait to dance the night away in this adorable ruffly, polka dotted number by Lark + Grey. Check it out:

The racks of dresses at Ross were jam packed and I was very hopeful that I was going to find something that spoke to be amongst all the fabric. For the most part, there was a whole lot of nothing. Then, my eyes locked on my Lark + Grey dress and it was game on. When I am shopping, I tend to know instantly if something is going to work or not and this was an instant winner. In fact, I was SO confident in this dress that I almost didn’t even bother trying it on. Of course I did anyway lol because that would have been breaking my “always try clothes on at the store” golden rule!

This dress was even better than I imagined once it was on. I just love the fitted tank top into that glorious cascade of gauzy, ruffly, polka dotted goodness. I am all about clothing that offers a unique silhouette and the one this dress provided is insane! The movement of this dress is just divine and visions of me cutting it up on the dance floor swirled in my head. Sans falling like what happened at the last wedding I attended! SMH. I plan on pairing my Lark + Grey dress with a darling pair of Barbie pink platforms by Marc Fisher and I cannot wait to show you guys the end result. I hate to toot my own horn, but I know for a fact it is going to be magical!

I feel a little bad about cheating on my beloved TJMaxx with Ross but I know TJs will understand because this dress was just too good to pass up!

Do you prefer Ross, Marshall’s, or TJMaxx? Do you have a special event to attend soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr19

Random 5 Below Finds

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Random 5 Below Finds

Hi there! Johnny and I delight in being the fun aunt and uncle and love spending time with our nieces. This past weekend we took our middle niece out for a special morning before meeting up with her big sis, mama, and their Uncle Andrew to see the new Mario movie. Our little was so sad she couldn’t join us for her sister’s birthday treat day and we promised to take her on a solo outing ASAP. Before the movie we shopped till we dropped at 5 Below, visited the animals at Petsmart, and went to Mickey D’s for lunch and Play Place time. It was a blast!

At 5 Below we let her pick out anything and everything and got some treats for ourselves and her sisters too. It was a full fledged shopping spree! As you all know, I loves me some 5 Below and just couldn’t say no to the following:

I saw the freaking hilarious Pitbull shirt the last time I was at 5 Below with a client. I was going to purchase it but they only had extra larges at the time. Am I a huge Pitbull fan? Isn’t everyone secretly? Lol I will be the first to admit that he has some straight BANGERS! During this shopping trip I was so happy to see that the sizes were restocked and I just had to get it. How could I not when it was only five bucks?! Mr. 305 happens to be coming to my neck of the woods in September and I am SO trying to go. I already know exactly what top I’ll be wearing! 😀

And, of course, the K-Pop Demon Hunters sticker went into the cart immediately to decorate my laptop with. My nieces love that movie so much and I do too! We are always listening to the soundtrack together and singing and dancing like crazy. It’s just pure joy and I honestly tear up every time I hear Golden because it makes me think of them. I adore the Huntrix girls and now I get to see them every morning when I work from home. This was the very last K-Pop Demon Hunters sticker on the shelves so we visited 5 Below at the perfect time. Great success!

These Random 5 Below Finds featured two very different musicians for sure. Future Mr. Worldwide/Huntrix collab? I think YES!

What is your favorite song from K-Pop Demon Hunters? How about Pitbull (lol)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr18

Bunny Pug!!!!

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Bunny Pug!!!!

Hello!! While Halloween will always be my favorite home decor season, Easter is a very close second because I love all things BUNNIES!! I am a proud bunny mom to my precious Melvin and Penelope and I always like to get a few pieces of bunny decor per year to honor their existence. A few weeks ago my mom and I went on a shopping trip to TJMaxx and I just might have found my favorite bunny statue to grace our knick knack shelves yet. I present to you the bunny pug:

^^^ Look at that wittle face!!!

As my mom and I browsed the home decor department, I was so pleased to see that all of the Easter items were marked down significantly. Surprisingly, I didn’t even notice the bunny pug and I’m genuinely not sure how because it’s quite the statement. Thanks to my mom’s eagle eye she pointed it out and it went into the cart immediately. This sweet statue was just six bucks and that is a steal! I thought it was the funniest thing and I knew Johnny would love it too. Especially because it looks like the pug is wearing the pink bunny suit from A Christmas Story – one of our faves!

I was so excited to show Johnny my find when I got home from work and walked through the door with TJs and grocery bags in tow. Then, the unspeakable happened. As I put my shopping down, my bunny pug knocked into one of my curio cabinets and my heart sank. I just knew that something broke and, indeed, one of the ears came clean off. I was SO sad! In a flash, I broke out my emergency super glue in case of a broken acrylic and set to work to fix the whoopsie daisy. Sadly, the glue was not strong enough and my heart sank further. 😦

I am pleased to report that the broken ear surgery was only postponed to the following day compliments of my Johnny. He got some super strength super glue after work and fixed it for me as soon as he got home. When I got back from my shift a half an hour or so later he surprised me with the repaired bunny pug and I was over the moon! It made me so happy and it was so thoughtful of him to see the problem and solve it the very next day. What a guy! ❤

My bunny pug recuperated nicely after his ear surgery and I can’t help but smile every time I see it! 🙂

What is your favorite holiday to shop home decor? What is your favorite discount store to shop at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar9

New Truth By Republic Top

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New Truth By Republic Top

Howdy! Being able to spend time with my mom is just the best and we had a blast getting our nails done and going shopping on Tuesday. Ever since I was little, TJMaxx has always been my favorite place to go with my mom and literally nothing has changed. In fact, I feel like we still shop the store the exact same too: Start with the handbags, move onto jewelry and skin care, browse through shoes, make a round in home goods, and end up in the clothing racks. There were a lot of pretty spring clothes to pick from and I tried a handful of tops on. All of them were so so except for this super cool little number by Truth By Republic. Check it out:

^^^ You can’t beat that price!! 😀

While I love bold and quirky statement pieces, I am also extremely partial to classic clothing with a twist. Timeless staples that have been freshened up. IE: A trench coat in emerald green, a blazer that’s actually a cape, or sweet kitten heels with some bling. There is something about these classic pieces with a modern update that really speak to me. At the end of the day, fashion comes and goes. However, I always know that my upgraded wardrobe staples will forever be in style! Which is why I went with my new Truth By Republic top amidst all of the billowy blouses and pastel shades of spring.

When I saw this shirt, I instantly knew it was going to be a winner as a collared long sleeve top is a universally flattering shape. The bonus points were scored with the stiff denim collar and cuffing on the sleeves. How awesome is that?! Something as simple as a navy top was elevated into statement status with the addition of that blue jean color and material. This shirt fit snugly without being tight, was soft as can be, and is perfect for work or play. I plan on wearing it with a navy blue skater skirt for a pseudo dress appearance and a gorgeous pair of brown toned snakeskin boots. The movement of the skirt will provide some sass and the snakeskin and form fitting top will add in a dose of sexy for a fun take on a date night ensemble!

Keep it posted for a brand new OOTD featuring this fab new top soon. See you then! ❤

What is one of your favorite classic fashion staples? Do you like to follow fashion trends? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb26

Pajama Party OOTD

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Pajama Party OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a Pajama Party OOTD! I was so excited to start a new job last month and couldn’t help but treat myself to some new duds from 5 Below – AKA the perfect spot for all of your little treat needs! I decided a year or so ago that I was desperately lacking in the pajama department and 5 Below offers the cutest and most comfy PJs for a song. In fact, I have yet to find cheaper at TJMaxx. During my past haul, I couldn’t say no to a pair of their fuzzy pajama shorts in an adorable Winnie the Pooh motif as well as a hoodie to match. The hoodie is way too sweet to just save for bed though and I am wearing it as I type this to go to work in! Take a look at this cozy little combo that was just twenty-two dollars in total:

Who? What? Wear?

Winnie the Pooh hoodie: 5 Below

Winnie the Pooh shorts: 5 Below

The Wicked slippers were a gift from Johnny’s aunt even though I have never seen the movies lol. Hey, they are comfy AF!

This past weekend was a practice in vegging out after a very long few weeks. All Johnny and I wanted to do was relax and play our new video game, Reanimal. (Spoiler alert: It’s freaking awesome!) As luck would have it, I had my brand new Winnie the Pooh gear to lounge in for the ultimate in sitting on the couch. I know I’ve said it before, but how absolutely adorable is the Winnie the Pooh line from 5 Below?! Not only does it have the “aw” factor but this hoodie and pajama bottom are so well made that it’s hard to believe it was barely over twenty bucks for the set. I could not imagine finding any Winnie the Pooh merch like this for a lower price! Could you imagine how pricey it would be at Hot Topic or Boxlunch?

I got hip to the fuzzy pajama bottoms from 5 Below during spooky season and my only regret is that it took me so long. They are soft as can be and fabulous for wearing all year round if your place is warm enough. I actually could have benefited from wearing them over leggings this weekend because Fake Spring ended and it starting snowing again. That’s nothing my Christmas gift heated blanket couldn’t solve, though! While my legs were nice and toasty with that extra warmth, my upper half was so not complaining in the fleece lined hoodie.

The Berry Sweet hoodie is literally out of Goldilocks – It’s not too hot, not too light, but just right! Sometimes a garment with fleece lining can be stifling and that is not the case at all with this hoodie. It’s thin enough without bringing on the sweats while still feeling like you can just wrap yourself up in it. Like I said earlier, I’m wearing it right now and am so comfy I could just go back to bed lol. That crystal blue color and Berry Sweet motif is enough of a sugar rush though that I swear I’m wide awake! *Fingers crossed* 😀

I may not be a Wicked fan like my slippers would make you think but I just love that honey obsessed Pooh Bear. Shout out to 5 Below for keeping me styling whether awake or asleep!

What was your favorite show growing up? Are you a 5 Below fan too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb15

5 Below Clothing Haul

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5 Below Clothing Haul

Howdy! You all know I ball on a budget and absolutely live for 5 Below. As an avid fan of giving myself and gifting others little treats, it is a one stop shop to have some fun and find a perfect pick me up. I wanted to snag some V-Day gifts for my littlest valentines and decided that 5B was the move. Everything at the grocery store was SO expensive – a small box of chocolates and palm sized plush was over twelve dollars so I was delighted to find some small V-Day prezzies for a steal price at 5 Below. I also couldn’t resist a couple of purchases for myself as they just dropped some of the most adorable clothes ever. I considered it a “way to go, me” surprise for starting a new job! Take a look:

Serious question – who doesn’t love Winnie the Pooh?! I know I sure do! As soon as I walked in the store, I saw a spring display being created that was filled with Winnie the Pooh accessories, clothing, and collectables. The darling hoodie and pajama shorts were front and center and it went into my cart without a second thought. The Berry Sweet motif on the hoodie against that pale blue was too sweet to pass up. It was also only fifteen dollars and I don’t think I would find a better price for something like this at any other store. I’m unsure as to if it was meant to be worn with the pajama bottoms but it is way too cute to just wear to bed and I can’t wait to break it out in the spring. Speaking of the pajama bottoms, the uber soft fleece short shorts from 5B can’t be beat. I have a pair in a Halloween pattern and they are my freaking favorites. I always meant to buy another pair or two for bed and was so happy to add the Winnie the Pooh one to my lineup. Once again, the price was just right at seven dollars!

Last but certainly not least in my celebratory haul was a K-Pop Demon Hunters cropped tee. My lil nieces are Huntrix girls through and through and it was so special to watch the movie together. I loved every minute of it! The graphics, the story, and the amazing music all made for such an incredible experience. I live for our dance parties to the soundtrack and I may or may not cry every time I hear “Golden” on the radio. I seriously can’t help myself because I instantly get flooded with the happiest memories and it’s just a beautiful song. I knew my girl squad would get a kick out of seeing their TT in a shirt featuring their favorite gals and cannot wait to show them. Luckily, all three of them know that TT forever has dibs on being Mira. Classic Lil Red lolol. ❤

I got to spoil my nieces and myself during this shopping trip and it was a GREAT SUCCESS. I’ll be so eager to bust out my new hoodie and T as soon as spring hurries up and gets here!

What is your favorite song from K-Pop Demon Hunters? What is one of the best things you have found at 5 Below? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah