Huge Milestone!

As of January 29th 2014 I officially have ten followers on bloglovin!  One follower for every finger on both of my hands! Now I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but to me that is absolutely amazing. I would love to thank everyone who has been reading this and commenting, and I want you  to know how much I appreciate the support.

Thank you for being a part of  this journey with me! 

Birchbox January 2014

Once again the new year has arrived, and with it a whole new set of beauty boxes to enjoy!

Birchbox is always one of my favorite boxes to open, and this month they did not disappoint.

 

These cute cards come with every box.  They give you a rundown of what products you got in this month's box, the full retail value, and a little snippet of info about the product itself.

 

My favorite fragrance is Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture.  When I opened up this month's box I saw a shiny pink package and immediately though it was going to be Viva La Juicy, but it was Couture La La.  I've always found the smell to be a little too prefumey (does that make sense?), but it is always nice to have little bottles on hand when you want to change up your scent for a day.  Maybe this will grow on me?

I have tried a sample of the Burts Bees Night Cream before, and I was super excited to see the day lotion in this month's box.  This was our add on item (what?!?! Best add on yet), and not only does it smell delicious but if it's anything like it's counterpart it will be gone in a few days.

The Inika product I received was an eyeshadow. It's a loose powder in the color Eternal Marine.  The best way to describe the color is blue/green/gray.  I think over a black or white shadow this would look amazing, especially in these winter months.

The Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream reminds me of a leave in conditioner more than a glossing cream.  It smells like lemons and feels slick to the touch.  I can imagine this being very easy to use too much product on your hair, but if it really tames fly aways it's a chance I'm willing to take.

When I first saw the Nail Rock product I squealed like a little kid.  I have been looking for a navy color for months and can never seem to find one, so the color for me is a huge hit (I'm actually wearing it now).  The flocking powder makes me nervous and excited all at the same time.  I have never been ballsy enough to go buy the flocking powder myself, but I have almost every other nail art product besides it.  I will definitely be trying this out in the immediate future, so look for a review!

I love love love love loved this months box.  I have never been happier with Birchbox, and hope this is an omen of good things to come this year with this subscription box.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox?

Getting Side Tracked

It seems like every time I try and plan out something in my life, something our of my control happens that sends all my plans flying out the window.  Today it was the snow.  

So instead of bracing the weather and trudging out in the fluffy white stuff I stayed in bed late, and have been surfing Pinterest all day looking at cute crafts I want to do and squealing over adorable kittens.  

For those of you who don't know what Pinterest is, it's Tumblr for moms, fitness junkies, bakers, DIYer's, and the lot.  Think of a super cool site with a bazillion pictures that can keep you entertained for hours and you don't have to worry about seeing anyone's naked parts or "inappropriate" things. (I can't lie though, I do love me some Tumblr.  I just haven't quite figured it out as well as Pinterest.  But I will, it's a goal of mine.)

Being the lazy sap I am today I figured I'd show you some of my findings, and if you are as much of a Pinterest fan as I am you can follow me and see what else I find awesome/amazing/adorable.

 

 

Monday Optimism

Today started off really well.  I woke up on time, got to work on time, and one of the first customers up to my desk said I was beautiful.   I thought to myself "Damn, today is going to be awesome."  

Then it all went south.  I left work feeling like I had been dragged through the mud, and looked at like I was a fool more times than I can count or wish to count.  Needless to say I got really down on myself and sorta snapped.  I threw up my hands at the end of the day and was like "I'm done!  I'm out!  No more!".  Talk about bad attitude.

By the time I got home, and had settled into this chair, I started thinking about all the ways my day was good, instead of the ways my day went badly.  I woke up this morning, I wasn't late for work, I had money to buy myself food, I had gas to get me to and from work, I have co workers who helped me out even though it wasn't their "job" to help me out, and I made it home safely back to my apartment to be able to share this with all of you, and those aren't even all of the things I have to be grateful for today.

I know not every day is going to be the best day ever, and some days may be just downright foul, but instead of wallowing in the bad moments we need to turn ourselves around and look at the silver linings.  All days have them.  I promise.

Sample Society January 2014

New year, new batch of beauty boxes arriving at my door.

The Sample Society beauty box is quickly becoming an obsession of mine.

 

I love getting these cards in beauty boxes. Sometimes I get a product and have no idea how to use it, and these give you an idea about not only how to use the product, but why.

 

I've gotten a butter LONDON product in this box before, and I love this brand.  This cuticle oil is something I have seen on other beauty blogs and really wanted to try, but $15 seemed a little much for me.  I can officially say I'm obsessed with this product and it is perfect to keep next to the bed on these cold winter nights.  Bonus, it smells like coconuts and yummy.

The Nicole by Nicole Riche smells like any adult perfume you stole from your mom when you were a kid, albeit a little more flowery and fruity.  This is a perfume I will definitely keep of fancy dinners and parties.  It makes me feel like a grown up.

I rmember being a kid and buying the blue and green color changing lipsticks that were huge in the 90's.  Like most things 90's, this has come back in a more sophisticated way, which is less shocking to the eyes and more of a descrete party trick than a full blown magic show.  While the sample is small, it packs a punch, and I am totally in love with it. Bonus, it smells like strawberry lollipops.  Really?  Amazing.

I have the night version of the Hope In A Jar moisturizer and I love it.  This... I do not love.  Not one bit.  I will be dedicating a post to it later.  

The StriVectin moisturizer is supposed to help with fine lines an wrinkles.  I think early prevention of wrinkles is a great idea, but the size of this sample is very deceiving (this tiny sample came in such a big box) and I'm not sure how much it will actually help.  But I do love a good moisturizer. 

I like all but one of the products in this box.  I always feel like I get a great deal when I open up this box, and it only seems to get better every month.

Have you tried any of the products in this box?

Blush Mystery Beauty Box January 2014

January is the start of a new year, and a new round of beauty boxes!

The first box I received this month was the Blush Mystery Beauty Box.

Even before I dug into the bag I got a sneak peek of what I would find inside with this cute little card.  Not only does it tell me what's inside the bag, but also a little about what the products do.  I have a bag full of the cards from all of my beauty boxes hidden under my vanity in case I ever need to remember what something does, or where it came from.

 

Cetaphil reminds me of a cold cream, or something you would use if you were sick to make you feel better.  I'm not sure why, but that's what I associate the name with.  Apparently I am wrong in thinking that though, and it is actually a skincare brand, and I got a sample of their cleanser and lotion as my added bonus mystery item this month.  Not super thrilled, but I know it will get used. 

Side note: I hate lotion foil packets.  I never use the whole thing in one go and it usually leaks all over the place. Does anyone else have this problem?

 

The smallest sample I got in this month's bag is the Jane Iredale Lipstick in Tokyo.   It is a sparkly pink color, and even though most people think this is too small for anything and a waste, I love it.  I never use a whole tube of lipstick, and this little gem fits in any sized clutch or pocket.

The Glytone Hydrate Eye Cream is a welcome surprise in a beauty box.  I hear bloggers rant up and down about eye creams but you rarely find one in beauty boxes, unless it's in the dreaded foil packets.  This is great because it comes in a tube, you can reseal it, and you have more than enough to fully experience the product.

The Goldfaden MD Wake Up Call is a serum/lotion you apply at night to help you look more awake and refreshed in the morning.  I can tell this will be a welcome addition to my flu season (or hangover) makeup/skincare collection. 

The Klorane Leave In Conditioner smells delicious.  I don't like to use leave in creams as much as I like leave in sprays, but it is definitely worth a shot.  Especially on the weekends where I stay inside I can put some of this in my hair and not worry about it being too greasy.

The LeeDee is a very strange product.  It is an exfoliator, but to me it just looks like a thick dull metal blade.  You're supposed to run it along your skin in the shower and it is supposed to take of dead skincells.  Who knows.  I'll try it and report back.

The final thing I pulled out of the bag was the oddest thing I have ever gotten in a beauty box... ever.  It's Harmonized Water.  It's supposed to help regulate your digestive system (think along the lines of activia).  I'm extremely skeptical about this.  I don't want it to make me sick, and I don't know if it's another snake oil product that people bought into with the new health kick probiotic thing happening in the US.

Overall I thought the box was okay.  I liked last months box a lot more, and hoped they would stay on that trend into the new year, but if this box is representative of what's to come I'm a little nervous. 

Would you subscribe to the Blush Box after seeing the contents of this month's box?

Alterna Bamboo Kendi Oil

I am a newbie to the world of hair oils.  I thought I would be a forever devotee to the Moroccan Argan Oil, and then to the Ojon Rare Blend Total Hair Therapy oil.  Boy was I believing in a false hair idol.

The Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Oil Pure Treatment Oil is absolutely amazing.

It claims to help repair split ends, repair from environmental damage, and help keep colors vibrant.  It is made with bamboo extract to help reduce frizz and prolong color, and Kendi Oil to make weak hair strong again.  It has a dropper in it so you don't have to pour the product out onto your hands, making it less messy and you don't end up wasting it.  You only need two or three drops to coat the ends of your hair, and a little goes a long way, trust me.

This stuff lived up to it's claims in every sense of the word.  It makes my color treated, damaged, frizzy hair all smooth and pretty and shiny and lovely. I actually went around and made people touch my hair because it was so nice.  Seriously.  It's amazing.

At $25 a bottle I think it is more than worth what it costs.  I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a hair oil at an affordable price.  Especially if you are new to the hair oil world like myself.