Scored at JCP with New Pricing Stratgey

A few weeks ago, I posted about how JcPenney was substantially changing their pricing strategy, and a lot of us didn't think it would work well (no promo codes, no sales, etc...).

A few days ago, I decided to check out the merchandise on their website, to see just how great their "everyday great pricing" was.  I was pretty surprised to see some great deals on a handful of fashionable items.  While some prices were (in my opinion), still a little too overpriced for what the items were, some items were marked with either a "Best Price" or "February Price" option, and these were priced as if they were sale or even clearance items!

I ordered 2 items, which I am having shipped to my local store for free (this is a service that they are permanently offering).  I hope I'm impressed once my items come in, but here's what I managed to nab:

Call It Spring® Teal Crossbody in Animal Print ($12) Pin It

 (a bit confusing because they call it "Teal", but I think that is just the brand's name of the style. 

City Streets® Layla Glitter Pump ($15) Pin It

I got a great deal on these two items - now, I just have to hope that the shoe fits! 

Have you scored anything good at JcPenney with this new pricing strategy in effect?

Your VIP Access to Dior Backstage

Today, Dior is launching their brand new Dior Backstage Makeup website.  Their new site invites you to get all-access digital beauty content, including behind-the-scenes peeks of fashion shows, beauty tips straight from the runway, and a variety of interactive content.

They separate the site into several categories (shown in the colorful boxes above), which also allow you to hover over them with your mouse to get a preview of what their respective page has to offer).

The categories include:

Front Row (Backstage fashion shows, fashion and beauty trends, beauty expert advice)

Must Have (Inside stories on Dior Makeup, online magazine with an in-depth look into Dior products, and application tips)

Collection (A look at the new Dior makeup collection, including star products and limited editions, what inspired the collection, Dior expertise, and color trends)

Wanted (Highlights the "It  Products", and how to use them)

Behind the Scenes (Videos to help you create your own Dior Beauty looks at home)

Dior Gallery (Currently, this has a super cool visual video of hands tossing around and playing with Dior products)

The site is officially launched, although, while playing on it this morning, I did notice a few quirks and glitches.  When I tried to click on the category boxes, it kept re-loading the homepage.  It took a few clicks of each for it to take me where I actually wanted to go - but I'm sure this will be perfected, now that the site is up and running.

Valentine's Day Skin Candy

I was recently turned on to a brand called Skin Authority.  They sell a full range of products for at-home, results oriented skin care.  What really intrigued me about this brand, is that they offer a very unique approach to customer service, which they call their  “360-degree customer service experience”.  They offer complete phone and email support from professional skin care experts, to answer any questions you might have about the products.  Skin care coaching is available to customers whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to be reached.

For Valentine's Day, Skin Authority has a Limited Edition (and limited quantity!) of their GO! Gorgeous Sweet Revenge kit (a special Valentine's Edition of their regular Go! Gorgeous kit).  This kit contains a full spectrum of cleansing and UVA/UVB protection products.  This portable yet powerful daily skin care kit is perfect for travel or the gym.

It contains four travel-sized versions of their most effective and popular products:

• Daily Cleanser
• Resurfacing Accelerator
• Tri-Power Peptide Hydrator
• Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30 

This kit gives you all of the tools you need to help produce healthier, younger looking skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and limit future damage and premature aging.  It's a great way to try out and test the products before purchasing the full-sized items.

Kit retails for $52 (regularly $68 if items are purchased separately).  Once the Limited Edition kits are sold out, you are still able to purchase the original GO! Gorgeous kit, which is part of their permanent product line.

I'm loving these products and am excited to see what else Skin Authority has in store!

**I received this item for free on behalf of the brand or PR company to give my honest review and opinion.

Your Valentine's Mani Style

Valentine's day is right around the corner, so it's time to decide what color and mood you'll be sporting for your own V-day manicure.  I tweeted yesterday that I decided to go with Essie's Red Nouveau:

For your manicure, there are several attitudes that you can decide to go with:

Sweet

Zoya Nail Polish; Erika

OPI; Pink Friday

from the Nicki Minaj Collection

Essie; Fiji

Essie's Fiji is one of my all-time favorite shades because it is a pale, almost white-pink, but it is opaque, so it isn't one of those pale sheer shades that takes 3 coats to get opaque and then takes forever to dry and ends up being a thick, gunky mess.

Classic

Zoya Nail Polish; Carmen

Essie; Pansy

Sexy

Essie; Scarlett O'hara

Zoya Nail Polish; Norra

OPI; Wocka Wocka
from the Muppets Collection

MIY (Make-It-Yourself) Iced Latte!

Almost every morning, I make my own coffee or iced lattes.  Working full-time, freelancing, and blogging, I sure do need my caffeine!  I love me some Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, but if I purchased my fancy lattes every time I wanted coffee, I would be spending A LOT of moola!

That's why I have figured out my own perfect (super easy!) recipe for a Make-It-Yourself Iced Latte.  After tweeting a picture of my Iced Cinnabon Latte this morning, and getting some great feedback, I wanted to share my recipe!

Here's the non-Instagram version of this morning's iced Cinnabon latte

Recipe:

• 1 heaping tsp of instant espresso.  I then add water until the cup is about 1/4 of the way full (if you have fresh espresso, but all means, use it.  But for me, this is quick and easy, as I don't have access to fresh).

• If you like your drinks sweet, this is the time to add sweetener.  Depending on which flavored creamer I am going to use, sometimes I add 1 to 2 packets of Splenda.

• Choose your favorite flavored coffee creamer (for this one, I used International Delight's Cinnabon Creamer).  I don't really measure this step - I usually just pour until the coffee starts turning lighter.

• Depending on the size of your tumbler or glass, add enough ice to where the cubes start to stick out above the coffee (since the espresso is warm or room temperature, you will want a lot of ice to keep your drink iced-cold).

• Finish off with a dollop of whipped cream (I also lightly sprinkled some cinnamon on top for effect).

• Bon appetite!

By the way, on International Delight's website, I saw that if you register for offers right now, they will send you a 55¢ off coupon!

Shielo Hydrate

I wasn't familiar with Shielo Hair Technology & Care until they reached out to me, and after doing some more research, I learned that they were created in 2001, to fulfill the need of voluminous, fortifying, and color protecting products that salons were lacking.  They debuted their Volume Collection online in 2007, so that consumers could achieve this same voluminous performance in their own homes.  They continued from there, and now have five separate lines sold through their website: Volume, Color Protect, Hydrate, Antioxidant, and Anti-Aging.

When asked which line would best suit my needs, I chose Hydrate, as my hair could always use some extra moisturizing attention.  I received Shielo's HYDRATE Moisturizing Shampoo and HYDRATE Vibrancy Conditioner.

I absolutely LOVE the smell of these products - they contain organic extracts of white tea, shea butter, as well as some other fruit and flower extracts including hibiscus and vanilla cactus.  It almost smells like a combination of sweet floral, fruity, and coconut.


The HYDRATE shampoo lathers up nicely and is moisturizing and refreshing.  It protects hair from possible UV and color damage, while sealing the hair to prevent moisture loss, and keep hair hydrated.  The HYDRATE conditioner contains proteins and peptides to strengthen hair while organic extracts and mineral compounds soften and hydrate.  Both the shampoo and conditioner are sulfate-free, meaning they are suitable to use if you have had a keratin treatment done.

Shielo also has some great hair style looks and tips on their site, including, Shielo Signature Blowout, Bouncing Touchable Curls, Tokyo Silky Straight, and Voluminous Style.  They give step-by-step styling instructions, and advise which Shielo products to use for each look.



**I received this item for free on behalf of the brand or PR company to give my honest review and opinion.