Rock & Republic Sale

Look what showed up on my doorstep!

Isn't it beautiful?

Tease and Foreplay

I have quite the addiction to high-end makeup. I can't walk by a Sephora without convincing my boyfriend to let me go look at all the pretty things, and I certainly can't pass up a good sale. I caught wind of a fantastic sale at Rock & Republic, a company known for it's sky-high prices but great-quality cosmetics.

Enter code ROCKCOSMETICS at checkout for 50% off your total makeup order and $0.99 shipping. But the savings don't end there! If you invite a friend to sign up for the website, both of you get a $25 credit towards your next purchase of $75 or more.

Since I'm on a blush kick, I decided to go for Foreplay and Tease, which were $40 each. Let's do a little math, shall we?

50% off $80 = $40

$40 - $25 credit = $15

$80 of makeup for $15.99 shipped! For the credit, leave a comment with your e-mail address and we can send you an invite.

Shop Savvy: Online Shopping

We all have our vices, and some of us like to spend our leisure time (and money) perusing the virtual aisles of online shops. While this little habit can become quite costly, there are plenty of ways to get your fix without shelling out too much of your hard-earned dough.

• Social Media - Most companies have a presence in social media, and if they don't, they're doing it wrong. It is a key marketing feature these days and a lot of brands are connecting with their customers via Twitter and Facebook. Besides updating whenever there is a sale, some brands even offer special discounts for their friends or followers. Also, follow users who post sales like @slickdeals or @grouponboston.

• Mailing Lists - Sure, it can be annoying to get a ton of promotional e-mails every day, but instead of sending them straight to the junk folder, take a peek first. For makeup junkies, Sephora and MAC emails often have a code for a free deluxe sample or free shipping at the bottom, and others brands like Too Faced and Stila send you a notice when they have excellent sales. A few weeks ago I bought seven items from TF for $21!

• Coupon and Rebate Websites - Do not, I repeat, DO NOT click the checkout button before you visit RetailMeNot and eBates (or similar sites). Search for the website you're shopping at RetailMeNot to find a list of coupon codes you might be able to add to your order. You could also be getting money back if the company is affiliated with eBates.

There are plenty of perks to shopping on the web, too, beyond the online-only discounts. You get a wider product selection and access to stores that aren't in your area, as well as the luxury of crossing items off of your Christmas shopping list without having to wade through a sea of Black Friday freaks.

Recap: StyleFixx Girls' Night Out

One great thing about living in Boston is that you don't need to spend that much money to keep up a city lifestyle. There are plenty of ways to update your summer style into a fall fashion statement by visiting boutiques selling gently used clothes (a la Rescue on Newbury Street) or heading over to a sample sale.

Otherwise known as "Girls' Night Out," sample sales are the best way to try high-end products for a bargain price. Earlier this month, your resident City Slickers went to the Style Fixx Girls' Night Out in Boston to see what it was all about.

We were warmly greeted with our five drink tickets for the night and a ticket to go and redeem our "swag bags." They were full of goodies ranging from two magazines, Luna bars, makeup, nail polish and coupons for local businesses, which was just the beginning.

Snacks from Upper Crust, Haru, Pinkberry and Finale warded off dinner-time hunger (we couldn't get enough of Haru's tuna ceviche samples!) until we caved and bought a plate of sushi for $6 (also delicious).

But before we got started on the food, after-work drinks were in order and we had five tickets to put to good use. Barefoot Wines, DonQ Rum and Stella Artois provided the beverages, with Stella handing out their pints in a collectable glass. We liked the Raspberry Mojito and Strawberry Mojito from DonQ, which made the line for our free Joint Therapy massages go by a bit more quickly. (Shout out to Anthony Dalessandro who works out of Commonwealth Sports Club. His five-minute massage made me melt.)

Plenty of vendors were selling hats, jewelry, purses, dresses and even True Religion jeans. There was truly something there for everyone's taste, whether your style begs for a chunky, bear-inspired winter hat to a glamorously gaudy cocktail ring. Local shops displayed their wares for us to try on and purchase for a great discount.

Beyond style, health and beauty were also main focuses. For $10, Amanda picked up a 12-visit pass to Healthworks Fitness, which is a crazy deal considering Kristen's monthly membership is $79. We also entered a bunch of raffles, but only Amanda had the luck and won a free facial, microdermabrasion treatment and $25 gift card from Mary Kay! It's scheduled for the 31st, so she will let everyone know how it goes!

So StyleFixx, in our minds, was a success. But for those who weren't able to attend - don't worry! On October 27 and 28th, there will be one of the last sample sales of the fall season - Shecky's Girls Night Out. So grab your girl friends and get ready for an awesome night on the town.

Obligatory Introduction Post

City slicker - noun - "Someone accustomed to a city or urban lifestyle and unsuited to life in the country. The archetypal city slicker is depicted as a spoiled, selfish, lazy, rich person ... they are depicted as being unaccustomed to hard labour."

After reading that definition, you might wonder why we chose this derogatory term as a name for ourselves. With this new venture, we aim to rework the definition of city slicker into something positive. Something that we live up to.

Our kind of city slickers are certainly accustomed to urban lifestyle, but do not dismiss country living. They are no strangers to a 60-hour work week, and spend money wisely as they know the value of a dollar. They are resourceful, crafty and have a great time in the city among the big spenders, while managing to stay within their means.

This is where we come in. We've managed to experience plenty of Boston's best shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure activities by being "slick" with our spending habits. It's become a lifestyle and second nature for us to explore the town on a budget and we want to help you do the same.

Who are WE? Click here to find out.