The top 10 reasons you should shop at small independant online businesses this black friday

• You can stay at home in your pajamas and shop to your hearts content! No lines or rude shoppers to deal with.

•  You'll end up with unique gifts that aren't available in department stores.

•  Many stores offer free gift wrapping all year long... save your money & time!

•  They offer more generous sales than major retailers so you will get more than your moneys worth.     

•   Small businesses really care a lot about having stellar customer service because that is how they grow their customer base. You will almost be guaranteed to have a great and problem-free shopping experience. 

•     Have green animal-loving friends or a relative with allergies? Many small cosmetics companies are committed to 100% vegan mineral makeup made with high quality ingredients that haven't been tested on animals.

•   Want a customized gift?? No problem. Lots of artisans craft lovely personalized items perfect for that special someone in your life. 

•  Making a purchase intended as a gift for someone is a great way to help the businesses you love to grow! Chances are that if someone loves your gift they may want to make a purchase of their own. 

• Most importantly you are helping a small business owner ( many of whom are single parents, military spouses, college students and families just like yours) pay for their holidays. You'll get the satisfaction of knowing that you may have helped a mother to pay for her kid's Christmas presents or for a broke college student's bills that month. 

 In these tough economic times I feel it's more important than ever to support our indie shop owners and local businesses. For many people this is their lively-hood. Their shops put food on the table. Not only that, but you almost always end up saving money. I was spending at least $70 a month at Sephora before I started doing most of my shopping at smaller businesses. I wasn't getting nearly as many products as I am now, and I wasn't always happy with my customer service experience (although I would like to say that Sephora & the MAC counter in the Franklin Park Mall in Toledo, Ohio has some of the nicest employees ever!). For a mere $25-$30 I can get an entire eye makeup collection from Abigail's Boutique Designs whereas $25 will get you 1-2 high end eyeshadows if you're lucky. Who doesn't like saving money and getting better stuff?

In addition a lot of independent artisans use their skills to help others in need, not only during the holiday season..but all year round. In fact just last month I told you about all the wonderful auctions put on by TeamPinkEye to benefit breast cancer awareness. April's Army, a disgruntled group of hilarious crafters assembled by Regretsy-is constantly donating to charity. Often times to other etsy sellers and small indie business owners who have fallen on hard times. People who commit themselves to doing things like that on a regular basis really kind of restore some of my faith in humanity. So yeah, I'm pretty sure i'd rather visit their etsy stores this Friday instead of Walmart. It just makes sense.



Here are some of my top picks for practical gift ideas from a few of my favorite online shops :)



For the wild gal in your life:

Mango Tango Smoothie collection available for $15 at www.abigalsboutiquedesigns.com

Available from Pretty Addictions HERE

Available from My Sweet Escape HERE

For your girlfriend who loves earrings:

Available from Ma'iingan Treasures HERE

Available from Addie LaDawn HERE or HERE

For your favorite teacher/neighbor/work friend:

Cinnamon Sandalwood Bath Bombs BOGO this Friday at Abigail's Boutique Designs 

For the socially conscience:

 

 

 

$5 of each purchase of this collection is donated to the APBA. Available from Abigail's Boutique Designs.

$10 of each sale of this $15 collection will be donated to lung cancer research. Available HERE

ALL proceeds are being donated to the education fund of two little boys who lost their father this year. Available HERE

For your favorite vampire-obsessed teen:

 

 

Rag Doll's Bath & Beauty Breaking Dawn collection. Available HERE and HERE

JujuBead's Jewelry Vampire's Desire earcuff. Available HERE and HERE

For the little ones:

CC Bums cloth diapers & accessories available HERE and HERE

Resin vanity pendants available HERE and HERE

Ed Hardy Bow from Abigail's Boutique Designs. Bows will be BOGO black friday AND cyber Monday!

So there's my little wishlist for you guys. What is on your wishlist this year?

Alexeter Mineral Makeup Princess Collection review

I was really excited when the Alexeter Mineral Makeup Princess collection was released because I knew I'd love every single color it included. I was not wrong- and honestly the collection even exceeded my expectations if you can believe that. The Princess collection consists of the 4 AMM shades: Princess Buttercup, Princess Lala, Princess Cupcake, and Princess Toad. In my photos you are also seeing an awesome little lime green with a golden shift called Romp. Romp is not part of this collection, but I received it free during a sale event so it snuck into this review too.

Pretty labels!

L-R- Romp, Princess Buttercup, Princess Lala, Princess Cupcake, and Princess Toad. All jars came sealed with shrinkwrap, and contain a sifter.

Top right is AMM shade Romp-not part of the collection. L-R: Princess Buttercup, Princess Lala, Princess Toad, and Princess Cupcake. Used dry, no primer, natural light

Used over white base. Natural light

Oooo shimmery!

When worn dry these colors are shimmery, bright and nicely pigmented. When used wet or over a white base they are extremely vibrant. They all also look excellent over NYX black bean or a similar black base or pencil. Use these wet to bring out their crazy shimmery shine, or dry over eye primer for a sparkly soft look. They are high quality, vegan, and safe for eyes, face, lips, and nails.

I like to occasionally use Princess Lala as a browbone highlight and in the inner corners of my eyes. It's hard to photograph but it is a soft shimmer-packed pink with a very beautiful iridescent sheen to it. Princess cupcake seems to be an AMM fan favorite, and it isn't hard to see why. It's a rosey medium shimmer pink shade. Princess Buttercup is a gorgeous bright buttery yellow. When I ordered the collection I assumed it would be more of a gold shade and was pleasantly surprised by just how bright it applies. I love yellow eyeshadow in general and this one is definitely one that you have got to try for yourself. My absolute favorite color in the Princess collection would have to be Princess Toad. It is an amazing bright minty seafoam green filled with sparkles and shimmer. It looks great any way you apply it and compliments many other colors. It is particularly stunning over a black base or used wet as eyeliner.

Princess Buttercup, Princess Toad, and Romp

You can't see it that well in these pictures but I am wearing Princess Lala, and Princess Cupcake.

Other than having some great colors Alexeter Mineral Makeup has excellent customer service. She packs everything up neatly into a cute hand-stamped green bag filled with confetti, and instructions on how to get the most out of your makeup. Receiving your package from AMM is more like getting something from a friend rather than just another company. You can see the meticulous care that is put into packing every single order. It is evident by all the little details & finishing touches that this business really strives to provide you with a wonderful products as well as a good shopping experience with them.

In addition to those good qualities I also found their shipping to be fast, prices are great, website easy to use, and of course who doesn't love things like frequent facebook promotions and sales? . 

Overall my opinion of this collection is very high. It may be called the Princess collection, but it is totally fit for a queen ;)