A Subscription Box for "That" Time of the Month!

As a woman, that time of the month is an inevitable part of life - so why not make the most of it! Be prepared AND get some extra goodies to help you look good {no matter the time of the month}, with the Time of the Month Box from tomboxes.com! {Product sent for review/feature consideration}

Cheers To You with Beauty Box Five! (January 2014 Unboxing)

It was my pleasure {and total surprise} to be invited to be an beauty contributor for Beauty Box Five, a beauty sample subscription service, based out of Austin, TX! The mission of BB5 is to introduce subscribers to new brands and products by delivering five carefully selected beauty products each month. My unboxing was a little delayed this month, as I wanted to try each product before writing about them, so this is a review/unboxing all in one! So without further ado, here's a peek at what came in my January box! {Box sent for review consideration}

December 2013 Beauty Box Five "Unboxing"

It was my pleasure {and total surprise} to be invited to be an beauty contributor for Beauty Box Five, a beauty sample subscription service, based out of Austin, TX! The mission of BB5 is to introduce subscribers to new brands and products by delivering five carefully selected beauty products each month. Here's a peek at what came in my December box! {Box sent for review consideration}

"UnTubing" The Latest New Beauty TestTube!

I recently shared the revamped New Beauty TestTube and I have to admit, I was super impressed! I didn't think they could raise the bar any higher, but somehow with their latest TestTube, they definitely have! {Product sent for consideration}

November 2013 Beauty Box Five "Unboxing"

It was my pleasure {and total surprise} to be invited to be an beauty contributor for Beauty Box Five, a beauty sample subscription service, based out of Austin, TX! The mission of BB5 is to introduce subscribers to new brands and products by delivering five carefully selected beauty products each month. Here's a peek at what came in my November box! {Box sent for review consideration}

NewBeauty TestTube Gets A Makeover!

I've been sharing my affinity towards beauty subscription services for a while now, and I very happy to share this one with you now. NewBeauty TestTube was actually the first ever beauty subscription I purchased and I'm very happy to see that they've made an adjustment from their previous quarterly offering, to every two months! {A TestTube was sent out for consideration}

Quickie Review/Unboxing: August ipsy Bag!

My August ipsy Bag feat. Urban Decay, Michael Todd Organics, pixi, NYX cosmetics, and Pacifica!

I had a subscription to Birchbox for a little over a year, and in the beginning, I was really happy with it. But then the love sort of faded and I was becoming increasingly more disappointed in the contents of my monthly box. So I canceled and decided to put my $10 a month towards ipsy!

April's Julep Maven "Unboxing" Is Mighty!

Disclaimer: I am not a nail blogger or professional (so sometimes I color outside of the lines and my cuticles look a bit ragged). I am merely a girl who LOVES nail polish!

This is only the second time that I've deviated from my "It Girl" style profile with Julep in the 14 months I've been subscribed. Both times I've opted to try another profile, I've been enticed by a new beauty product; the first time it was a bottle of Argan Oil and this time it was the Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum. I figured that with a) my already overflowing polish collection {I'm not complaining or saying that I won't continue to add to it, but I do need to figure out a better storage/display option}, and b) my desire to do more nail polish posts here {which means that my digits need to be in tiptop shape}, picking a package that included 2 {instead of my normal 3} polishes and this intriguing serum was the best choice.

January Bulu Box "Unboxing"!

Bulu Box is the first vitamin, supplement and general health subscription sample box designed to help you feel your best. Every month, you'll get a box filled with 4 to 5 premium, curated samples from top brands. Look forward to a new mix of products for both women and men, including vitamins, weight loss, sports nutrition, protein, diet, energy, detox, digestion, sexual health, herbs, natural remedies, endurance and more. What's great is that they make sure you get enough to decide if the product is right for you. There's no shipping or shady fees and depending on your plan, you can cancel anytime.

Leave the Cold for Resort Living! AKA: January Julep Maven It Girl Unboxing!

(above photo via Julep)

This month, Julep wants to help you escape the winter blahs with a collection of vibrant neons and contrasting nudes to bring some color to your grey world! As an It Girl, my box came with 3 shades (other profiles received two shades and a brand new hand lotion), 3 bonus (super cute) hair ties, and a sheet of Julep's brand new "Swatch Me" stickers...

A Subscription That Can Help You With Your Healthy Resolutions! AKA: New Year, New You with Bulu Box

Welcome to my "New Year, New You" series, where we will share, discuss, and review topics, products, etc. that can help you be the best you!   

Nearly half of all American are on at least one supplement, so it makes sense that the next wave of subscription services would include supplements.

It's So Glitterful! AKA: December Julep "Unboxing"/Mani Monday!

I was super SUPER excited about this box as soon as I saw the preview! Literally, I was in anxious anticipation of the "shipped" email, and when I began to see photos of other mavens with their boxes, I eagerly awaited the arrival of mine! The offerings this month were so bombdiggity in my opinion, that I even opted to get an add on purchase (which I'll cover in a separate post)! Behold the glory that is the December Julep Maven It Girl Box...

November It Girl Box! AKA: My Julep Maven Unboxing

One of the things that I absolutely love about Julep is that the box is PROMPT!!! My It Girl box arrived today. The theme for the month is "Stay Warm in November with Suedes" and of course, "Gratitude."  Honestly, I was tempted to skip this month-I've not been a fan of suede/matte color in the past. But I didn't skip when they wanted to put a crackle polish in my box, so I didn't skip now. Plus I'm trying to be more adventurous with my selections (in general) so I decided to stick with it.

Another Month of Meh...AKA: My October Birchbox + goop Unboxing

I'm not going to ramble on ad nauseum about this month's Birchbox. I was excited for it, since I opted to receive the goop collaborated box, but perhaps I would've been better off sticking with the regular box. For better or for worse, here are the deets on the contents of my October Birchbox + goop  box...

October It Girl Box! AKA: Julep Maven Unboxing

My October Julep Maven It Girl Box was actually full of surprises! Not only did I get the 3 lovely polishes that came with my profile (Caroline, Leslie, and Glenda), I received an add on polish (Sofia), two glitters (y'all know I'm all about the glitters), AND some candy corns (which I don't generally like, but my girls enjoyed them). 

I Guess There's a 1st Time for Everything... AKA: My September Birchbox

My September Birchbox arrived on Tuesday, and maybe because it felt like it took longer than usual to arrive, or maybe because a few other packages arrived with it, I just wasn't as excited about it as I usually am. Unfortunately, seeing its contents didn't increase my excitement level but c'est la vie... I guess they all can't be winners (and maybe I'll like it more after I use the "goodies" inside).


Here's what arrived:


21 drops (Focus Aromatherapy Blend; Full size $29)- Stay sharp with this mind-clearing blend of rosemary and peppermint essentials oils. Apply to pulse points and breathe deep (meh... I want makeup from Birchbox-not aromatherapy stress relief).

Color Club (Birchbox Custom Polish in Status Update; Full size $8)- We teamed up with Color Club to create this custom shade, inspired by the Fall 2012 collections (the shining light of this month's box; y'all know I love me some polish).

Nexxus (Pro Mend Split End Treatment System; Full size $9.99-$14.99)- Infused with coconut oil and amino acids, this shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment work together to fix unsightly split ends. (This is actually a set of products that has intrigued me whenever I've seen ads for it. However, I may be a bit spoiled when it comes to hair products-the size of these samples definitely leaves something to be desired).

twistband (Birchbox Custom Lace Hair Tie; Set of 6-12 $14-22) Designers went gaga for lace this season and we don't blame them. Get on board with these ouch-free hair ties (Um... yeah. Been there, done that with Birchbox. Once again, makeup makes me happy, fancy ponytail holders-not so much).

Vasanti (Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator; Full size $34)- This exfoliating cleanser uses professional grade (read:effective) microderm crystals and papaya enzymes to brighten dull skin. (The other star in this box-make up and skin care, that's what I love from my beloved Birchbox).

Lifestyle Extra 

Mighty Leaf Tea Company(Teas; Box of 15, $9.95)- Swap your afternoon latte for these yummy tea blends, made from natural, ethically sourced ingredients (Once again, been there done that with Birchbox, and it was cool the first time, but this time, not so much).

I also received a digital download of two songs from singer-songwriter Tristan Prettyman, a discount from Madewell, and a cute little Fall Trends mini magazine. This is the first time I've received a Birchbox that I didn't absolutely love. But it was bound to happen eventually I suppose. I'll still be faithful to Birchbox and I still think that you should give them a try too! Until next time...

Yes, I Would Love It If Christina Applegate Dressed My Daughter! AKA: Kenzie + FabKids + You!

Kenzie *modeling* her brand new outfit!

This is precisely why I love Facebook! Perhaps I would have found out about it in some other manner, but it just so happens that I discovered it via a post on Facebook last Tuesday. I read something about a 3 piece outfit for little girls for $39.95 shipped and I had to find out more. So I clicked through and was introduced  FabKids, and I found myself (happily) sucked in to another subscription service...

Trina Turk + YSL, Oh My! AKA: Julep Maven September It Girl Box

No doubt with Fashion Week on the brain, this month Julep collaborated with noted fashion designer Trina Turk, to create a beautiful collection of nail colors inspired by her Modernist Maverick Collection. I literally had to restrain myself, as I wanted to buy the entire collection-it is utterly perfect for the fall and with all the beautiful creme colors-it's right up my alley! I showed some self control and settled on the It Girl Box, and as usual, I am not disappointed.

August Birchbox

This month's Birchbox was Back to School themed. I loved the No. 2 pencil yellow color of the outer box, and the Beauty School Supply Kit theme maintained throughout, complete with a Beauty 101 booklet (not pictured) with tips on things like how to read the labels on your beauty products and how to achieve a close shave. I'm not going to lie, while I'm pretty happy with the contents of my box (especially the fragrance sample), I was mildly disappointed at the lack of cosmetic goodies. Overall, I'm satisfied with the box though, but it's definitely not my favorite turn out from them.

Here are the details on the contents of my Birchbox:

Sabon Foot Cream (Full size: 12.8 oz for $16)-Show your feet some love with this indulgent foot cream from this Israeli brand. It's packed with antioxidants and relaxing aromatherapy oils. Hardworking moisturizers like aloe and glycerin work to soften rough calluses and camphor and menthol give an anti-fungal punch to leave your feet fresh and clean.

Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue and Creme de la Creme (Full size: 8 oz for $22 and 12 oz for $16, respectively)- The Curly Meringue is a styling cream designed to calm stubborn kinks and tame frizzy curls. It's a custard like formula that is perfect for finger styling, coiling, twists, and braids. It delivers lasting hold, lightweight hydration, and shine. It's made with avocado, coconut, sweet almond and olive oils as well as aloe extract. Bonus: it smells like fresh pineapples! Creme de la Creme is a curly girl cult fave that will soften frizz prone hair without weighing it down. It's loaded with softening ingredients that help tame unruly ringlets and frizzy waves. It enhances your hair's natural bounce while adding manageability. It also doubles as a leave-in treatment for when you need an extra dose of hydration. 

Talika Lipocils Experts (Full size: 10ml for $55)- This gentle-yet-effective botanical formula is clinically proven to help curl, darken, and grow lashes by up to 2.5 mm in just one month. An updated version of the bestselling Lipocils formula—which has been French women’s best kept secret for over 60 years—it features a double-sided applicator that’s truly goofproof. Finally, there’s no need to go to great lengths to get ooh-la-la lashes. Mainstream lash serums derive their power from chemicals, which can cause everything from redness to side effects like darkening the skin on your lids or even your irises. But Lipocils Expert is different. It’s only made with botanical ingredients that have been tested to meet meticulous French safety standards. Nettle and horse chestnut stimulate growth and boost circulation to your capillaries, while soy lecithin and apple extract condition your lashes. Independent lab trials show that the serum lengthens lashes by up to 36 percent while curling and darkening them by up to 50 percent.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy La Fleur (Full size: 2.5 oz for $70)-  This new scent from Juicy Couture is a fresh update on the brand’s best-selling Viva La Juicy. The sheer perfume has the original’s fruity top notes combined with heady honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. The uplifting scent opens with a sparkling cascade of mandarin and wild berries. Next, sweet notes of honeysuckle, gardenia petals, and jasmine peek through, followed by a lingering trace of waterlily.

Birchbox Extra: Schick Hydro Silk Razor ($9.99)- This innovative new razor has a water-activated moisturizing serum that moisturizes for up to two hours after shaving. Plus, the five blades have skin guards that follow the natural contours of your body to smooth skin and help prevent irritation. The result: silky legs, every time. Made with an innovative compact oval-cartridge head, each razor is equipped with five blades for an incredibly close shave. The blades work with your legs’ natural curves to make shaving tricky spots like your knees and ankles a breeze. 

Part of my slight disappointment in this box probably stems from the fact that I look to Birchbox for more makeup type goodies, and I try so many different hair products already, so receiving 2 hair products was kind of redundant in a way. But, Miss Jessie's is a hugely popular brand for curly girls and I haven't tried those particular items from the brand so I guess I'm excited to try them out. I am super stoked with everything else though (I'm totally buying a full size bottle of the Viva La Juicy La Fleur). What was in your Birchbox this month? Was it a hit or a miss for you? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

August Julep Maven "It Girl" Box- A Chromatic Anniversary Celebration

My August "It Girl" box from Julep just arrived and it's my favorite one yet! This month marks Julep's  year anniversary, so they sent out an extra special box...