Leah Tackles

My No-Buy/Low-Buy Year-End Update and Results

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! And Merry Christmas!

At the beginning of 2023 I did a blog post about My No-Buy/Low Buy For 2023 and today it’s time to pay the piper and talk openly about how I did.

My No-Buy/Low-Buy Rules

This is what I posted in January 2023.

I will not be buying clothes. I will not be buying any makeup that isn’t replacing things like eyeliner, mascara, and concealer. I will not be buying skincare that isn’t replacing my basic skincare. I will not be buying any shoes. I am allowing myself to use gift cards or store credits. I have given myself one item/month, but I hope not to use this.

If you’d like to follow along or get updates, please let me know. And feel free to send me gift cards  KIDDING. Nah, serious.

How Did I Do?

I did fall off the wagon a bit at the end of the year and bought some clothes. I could rationalize them by saying they’re gifts that my husband will give me for Christmas, and it wasn’t more than 3-4 items, but I definitely wasn’t as on my game as I was the first half of the year. I did not buy any skincare beyond replacing what had run out. I did not buy any shoes, and in fact in 2024 I will be allowing myself to buy running shoes because I am in desperate need. If I use the “one item/month” I did quite well overall and even if I didn’t meet my goal, I was very close to it because most other things were gifts/gift card items.

How Do I Feel?

I did a post on contentment and I did realize that when I get overwhelmed or have something triggering happen, I want the quick feel better excitement of buying something.

Will I Repeat My No-Buy/Low-Buy?

YES! I will also continue to share my journey.

Have you ever considered a no-buy?

Custom Apparel

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

neuMASCARA Lash Enhancing Mascara

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I recently reviewed the neoLash which I have still been using nightly and really enjoy. I was sent a neoMASCARA and today I want to share my thoughts.

neoMASCARA

The mascara is very wet but I was amazed at how long my lashes looked after just one coat. My husband noticed! I typically use waterproof mascara, and so this mascara being a lash-enhancing mascara and not waterproof, I am a bit nervous about transferring. Reviews seem mixed, so I am hoping that it continues to wear well for me. I am excited to see how my lashes look and if I notice a change after 4-6 weeks. It is a pricy mascara, and I am a drugstore mascara girl most of the time.

Product Details

More than just color: longer-looking lashes in just 4-6 weeks! neuMASCARA™ brings together the instant definition of color cosmetics and the long-term benefits of our award-winning neuLASH® lash enhancing serum to create the ultimate lash-loving formula. The rich blackest-black pigment contains soft fibers to achieve your ideal level of intensity one layer at a time, whether you’re going for a subtle daytime look or head-turning date-night glam.

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

Brown Sugar by Kesha Janaan

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I typically buy whatever bar of soap is the least expensive but whenever someone gives me a nicer bar of soap as a gift, it is such a treat. I also love having them out during the holiday season. Brown Sugar by Kesha Janaan makes a beautiful gift. Today I want to share with you a little bit about Brown Sugar by Kesha Janaan and the two scents I love.

Brown Sugar by Kessha Janaan

With natural ingredients that I can read, beautiful simple packaging, and a powerful scent, I love the Oatmeal Spice scent for the holiday season. Pink Grapefruit is one of my favorite scents, and this natural soap smells refreshing. I have been loving it in the shower.

I also love supporting the owner, Kesha, who is a Veteran, army wife, singer, and entrepreneur!

Have you purchased your holiday gifts yet? This is a great hostess gift, teacher gift, neighbor gift…a great thing to have on hand for those “whoops, here is this I picked out just for you…” when someone stops by for gifts.

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

Angels and Tomboys Plant Based-Beauty For Tweens and Teens | Teen Girl Gift Guide

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Our daughter is 12 and getting more into her skincare, so when Angels and Tomboys reached out to see if I wanted to try a few products for review I was excited.

Angels and Tomboys was started by two teenage sisters and it featured plant-based ingredients and trendy packaging. The body butter is so thick and soft, that a little goes a long way, and when I tried a little I didn’t want to give the rest to my daughter (but I did). The body wash smells nice and my daughter was excited to have something of her own in the shower for bodywash beyond the usual shared family cleansers.

Fluffy Body Butter by Angels and Tomboys


Champion Body Wash by Angels and Tomboys

My daughter has loved these and it was fun seeing her so excited to use them.

Need wholesale screen printing, embroidery, and decorated goods? Gumseat Productions.

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

Dry See Bandages | Waterproof Bandage

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

During the holiday season, I get a large uptick in the amount of product offers that I get, and when I saw Dry See waterproof bandages I knew I wanted to try them. I know it seems random, but I was badly burned about a year and a half ago and it was very hard to keep my burn covered in the shower.

Dry See Bandages

DrySee Waterproof Bandaid Adhesive Bandages – Tattoo Aftercare Bandage, Wound Care Supplies, Waterproof Bandages for Post Surgical Care, Swimming, or Showering. First Aid Tape or Blister Pads.

These seal out liquid and germs, and they change colors when they get wet which is so genius! If you take them off right away, it does hurt a little, because they are very sticky, but that’s what makes them stay on in the pool, shower, or after a sweaty gym session.

It’s a random product, absolutely, but when you need something like this, this is the one. I am happy to have some on hand in our medicine cabinet.

Have you ever tried a product like this? What did you use it for? Let me know in the comments!

Need wholesale screen printing, embroidery, and decorated goods? Gumseat Productions.

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

neuLASH Lash Enhancing Serum Review | HUGE BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is almost here. If you’re looking for a gift for yourself, your friend, your sister, your mom, MIL… consider taking advantage of the neuLassh, neuBROW, and neoMASCARA which will be BOGO to the first 50 customers on Black Friday and after the entire website will be 25% off! I received neuLash lash serum and I was excited to try it and compare it to the other lash serum I’ve used previously.

neuLash Lash Enhancing Serum

I love how easy this was to apply with an eyeliner-like brush. You simply apply it to your lashline, just like you would with eyeliner, after removing your makeup in the evening. I did not experience any irritation or darkening of my undereye area when using this. I had used another serum in the past and while it did make my lashes longer I felt that they were straighter than my normal decently naturally curled lashes and they didn’t hold a curl as well. I found that the neuLash worked better than the other serum because my lashes looked thicker, I could even see new lash growth in less than a month, and the neuLash didn’t make my lashes go straight. neuLASH is a hero product!

I think this would be a very nice stocking stuffer but it’s very nice, and a bit pricy for a stocking stuffer, and could absolutely be a standalone gift for any woman in your life!

You can purchase it right from the neuLASh website or I love that Nordstrom, one of my favorite and most trusted retailers, carries it. I love this set on Nordstrom because it comes with two, one for you and one for a gift.

Have you tried a lash growth serum? Let me know in the comments!

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

Morning Glamour | Stocking Stuffers For Women and Teen Girls

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I am so excited to share my FAVORITE new brand for stocking stuffers. Morning Glamour reached out to me and as soon as I saw the products I knew I wanted to try them. Morning Glamour offers satin pillowcases, satin sleepmasks, satin scrunchies, heatless curling kits, shower caps, and several other giftable products.

I picked out three products from Morning Glamour that I was so excited about and can’t wait to share them with you.

Morning Glamour

The Satin Pillowcase

I’ve been using satin pillowcases for years and I won’t go back to a regular pillowcase. I love that my hair doesn’t get frizzy, and as a woman in my 30’s I want to use something that is the least likely to wrinkle my skin or cause breakouts. And I don’t want my skincare absorbing into the regular (cotton) pillowcase. This pillowcase has cute packaging, and it feels so nice.

5 Pack Hair Scrunchies Gift Box

This is super cute, I am a total sucker for the packaging! I love having scrunchies like this when I need to wear my hair up in a loose topknot when sleeping or in a pony when hanging out in the evenings, especially after I’ve put on lotion or self-tanner and need my hair up but don’t want it to crease.

Satin Heatless Curler

I was so excited to get this! I saw the legging curling method go viral on TikTok and my daughter is 12 and will absolutely love this. I am excited to try it, too. The packaging is nice, it’s a fun and large item that would make a fine standalone gift for only $15!

Have you started your holiday shopping? What are your favorite stocking stuffer ideas for women and teen girls?

Need wholesale screen printing, embroidery, and decorated goods? Gumseat Productions.

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

HarlanMD SmartLotion | Eczema Relief

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Our son has eczema so when HarlanMD offered to send me HarlanMD SmartLotion I was excited to try it.

HarlanMD SmartLotion

If you have eczema and dermatitis then HarlanMD SmartLotion is something I would suggest you try. Our son has suffered from eczema since he was a baby, he is now almost 11. Dr. Harlan a board-certified dermatologist, has made creating a product and bringing hope of an eczema-free America his life work. I appreciate the postcard-sized informational pages included, and the fact that if his support staff cannot answer your questions, Dr. Harlan has committed to doing so personally. I spent some time on the website and it’s very well-done and informative.

I have been using this in place of our other favorite eczema, sensitive skin lotion and have been impressed. We apply this lotion after our son bathes and has toweled dry.

You can purchase the lotion here. I think this would make a thoughtful gift, and I appreciate that it supports a small start-up business in America with a positive product they’re hoping to share.

Do you have eczema? What has helped you?

Need wholesale screen printing, embroidery, and decorated goods? Gumseat Productions.

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

5 Stocking Stuffers For Women From Target

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I know, it isn’t quite Halloween, but we have now entered the time of year where every time I buzz into Target, Walmart, or another Big Box store I try to pick up at least one stocking stuffer type item for someone on my holiday shopping list. Today I am sharing stocking stuffers from Target for her.

5 Stocking Stuffers For Women From Target

Carmex Daily Care Moisturizing Assorted Flavor Mini SPF 15 Lip Balm

These are great! I always have one on me, and this set is easy to split up. They cost $1/mini lip balm.

Avatara Niacinamide Water Gel Face Mask

Affordable facemasks that are fun to do and make your skin look and feel so nice.

Tweezerman Glass Manicure Set 

I swear by my glass nail file, and while this set is a bit more expensive at $25, it makes for a nice gift that many wouldn’t have or think to buy themselves.

e.l.f. Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow 

I love to add a dab of this on the center of my lid when going out for a fun event. This is something my 12-year-old loves, too.

Lip Smacker Lip Balm

I will never get over Bonnie Bell shutting their doors, but this helps ease the pain. SO.MUCH.FUN.

WHen do you start Christmas shopping? Let me know in the comments!

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

How-To Style Curtain Bangs

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I got curtain bangs in early summer, and now I have a more extreme curtain bang, and I love it. Today I wanted to share with you how I style them.

How-To Style Curtain Bangs 2023

How-To Style Curtain Bangs

I style my curtain bangs the same whether I wear the rest of my hair down, curled, straight, or pulled back. I use my favorite drugstore heat protectant and then a straightener (*note: This is not my straighener, but I had a T3 for years and it was my favorite). I hold about a 1-inch section of my bang (I usually do each side of the part separately but you can do it all at once for a quick one-and-done) straight up and go straight up above my head with the flat iron and then flick my wrist up at the very end of the hair. That’s it. I spray with my favorite hairspray and let it set for a bit before I run my hands to fix them.

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare