REVIEW: Smartfood(R) Selects

I'm always on the lookout for great snacks not only to eat but also to feed my family.  As I've mentioned before BzzAgent has been on a major roll with campaigns this year.  In all my years as a member, I've never been so busy and I'm thrilled about it!  But I digress!

Smartfood Selects are all natural snacks from Frito Lay.  Made with simple and all natural ingredients, the snacks have yummy flavor combinations that you can gobble up without feeling guilty. 

I was sent Feta Herb Hummus and Garlic Tomato Basil Hummus popped chips along with Cinnamon Brown Sugar popcorn.  The flavor combinations are really amazing and the chips didn't even funny as some natural chips can.  My husband and daughter loved the Feta Herb even though my husband is not a fan of low calorie chips.  He says the flavors they promise always feel "off" but he really enjoyed these.

The popcorn was also a huge hit.  It has cinnamon to give it great warmth but just enough hints of brown sugar to make it feel like a sweet snack - don't get me wrong it's not sweet at all - but it almost fools your mind in thinking you're having a sweet treat.  

I think some of the serving sizes are a little too small for the calories but overall, I think it's a good snack and I'm definitely looking forward to trying more flavors in the future. 

DISCLAIMER:  The products were furnished to me free for review but the opinions stated here are my own and reflect my true & honest opinion.

REVIEW: Glade Expressions Collection

I'm loving how great my home is smelling lately thanks to my new BzzAgent campaign!

Glade invites you to "open your home with lightly layered and long-lasting fragrances from the Glade Expressions® Collection. These true-to-life fragrance combinations are inspired by art and designed to open up note by note, filling your home and inviting life in."

Available as a fragrance mist and oil diffuser in 4 fragrances: Cotton and Italian Mandarin, Fuji Apple and Cardamon Spice, Lavender and Juniper Berry and Pineapple Mangosteen. Each fragrance has it's own unique scent so you can mix and match to your hearts content!

Oil Diffuser:

From the Glade website:

Glade Expressions^® Oil Diffuser releases a long-lasting fragrance for up to 30 days without needing to plug it in. The spill-proof oil diffuser infuses layers of true-to-life scents throughout living spaces, making them feel fresh and inviting. The trendy holder matches décor perfectly, making it a convenient and stylish home-fragrancing option.

My thoughts:

For my Oil Diffuser, I tried the Pineapple Mangosteen scent.  It reminded me of our Hawaiian honeymoon.  It was super easy to use and set up and looks great in your house.  I think the holder does a good job of "blending" in with your decor.  It looks like a cute decor item rather than a fragrance item.  I think the diffuser does a good job of distributing the scent throughout the room.  I used mine over the fireplace in our living room and every day I could smell the scent but not overwhelming or smelling overly processed.  My house just had a nice soft scent.  I wish it would have lasted a bit longer than it did because I don't think it quite lasted the 30 days.  

Fragrance Mist:

From the Glade website:

Glade Expressions^® Fragrance Mist comes in a stylish holder and releases a longer-lasting, finer mist of fragrance. The gentle mist creates layers of true-to-life fragrance that open up note by note, eliminating odors and freshening the air. The artfully designed holder blends with your décor and can be left out, letting you have a burst of fragrance that’s always right at hand. Just squeeze the neck of the bottle to spray, and refill the holder with your favorite Glade^® fragrance.

My thoughts:

My first thought about the fragrance mist was how much I liked the even distribution of fragrance, how fine the mist was and how easy to control the mister was.  I love that I can press the neck of the bottle to release the fragrance as I really hate when I end up with fragrance on my hands as can happen at times when the nozzle is on top.  I also liked that the fragrance completely covers smells and doesn't just mask them.  A small spray is enough to distribute enough fragrance throughout a room and lasts a good while.  

Overall I think both products are great and will continue to use them.  I especially like the diffuser and intend to purchase a few more to set up around my house.  

DISCLAIMER:  The products were furnished to me free for review but the opinions stated here are my own and reflect my true & honest opinion.  

It's beginning to look a lot like ....

FALL!  It was such a gorgeous day today.  It seems like we have two seasons in Texas.  Hot and Hot as hell!  I really love the first signs of fall and the cooler days.  

Kayla and I went for a run today to a little park I found by our house.  They have this lake with a ton of ducks and I wanted to snap some pics of Kayla looking at the ducks, but she fell asleep by the time I was finished with my run.   

After I loaded her back into the car, she woke up of course, so we headed to the playground by the house.  She loved playing by in the toddler playground and wanted to slide in the big kid slide.  She has no fear!  Of course, she also threw a temper tantrum when we left and scrapped her little elbow.  We're definitely in the throes of terrible twos...we've actually been there for quite some time.  

Still, she's adorable and I'll leave you with a few pictures of her at the playground.  

Yes, she's wearing a Kiss Me, I'm Irish shirt - we dressed in a hurry!

She looks like a little boy here but so cute! :)

I can't believe my baby is nearing 2! YIKES!!

Glossybox USA - September 2012

Glossybox has definitely been on a roll lately and after that August box, I wondered if this month's box would be up to par.  I'm happy to report that it was!  

In the box

Goodies out of the box

My box is a little different than the boxes I've seen by one product - but you really can't beat 3 full-sized products! :)  All of the companies are new to me and I'm really looking forward to trying out the shampoo and conditioner! The value of this months box is about $70 so again EXCELLENT VALUE!

Here's what I got (from left to right):

Koh Gen Do Cleaning Spa Water - Made with Japenese hot spring water, this spa water is infused with six essential herbs to protect and nurture skin.  I'm faithful to Chanel's eye makeup remover as I have never found anything that works as well.  I'm definitely looking forward to trying this out and will report back with my thoughts.  This was a full-sized product worth $13 (although I do believe they also make a larger size) for 3.38 oz.  

GK Hair Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner - This hair taming system shampoo & conditioner has something called Juvexin which is the only protein compound scientifically proven to protect and restore hair back to its youthful state.  Works on all hair types and leaves hair protected, more manageable, soft, shiny, smooth and frizz-free for up to 5 months.  My curly hair will is definitely excited to use this!  The bottles are a nice deluxe sample size so I'll be able to get a few uses out and hope to see some results.  

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 - This BB cream (or Blemish Balm) is from a Korean manufacturer and provides light coverage that soothes, protects and moisturizes.  It's SPF 42 which is great.  My color is No. 13 (Bright Beige) which at first glance, looks a little too light for me.  I'll try to use a bit of it all over my face and see how it blends.  This was a full sized product valued at $29.99.  I like that it has a pump so hopefully I'll be able to control how much product is dispensed.  

Kryolan for Glossybox Moisture Rich Lipstick in Glossy pink - Treat your lips to a creamy, long lasting lipstick enriched with Vitamin E to stimulate and hydrate lips.  This is a neutral pink which is pretty but not really my color.  It has great pigmentation and color payoff and but I didn't like the way it looked on my lips.  

Overall, another great month for Glossybox.  It's fast becoming my favorite beauty subscription, although I hate waiting until the end of the month to get it.  Their shipping policy really needs help - I was billed in early September so I was pumped that I would get the box early.  Nope, it arrived on Friday the 28th.   I will review the products in depth when I've had a few weeks to use them.  

Glossybox is available for $21 a month.  All products were purchased by me and these are my initial honest opinions.  

REVIEW: COVERGIRL & Olay

BzzAgent has been on a roll with some great campaigns lately!  If you haven't checked them out yet, you really need to!  

Being a huge makeup freak, I was thrilled to be offered the COVERGIRL & Olay campaign. COVERGIRL & Olay teamed up to create Tone Rehab 2-in-1 foundation and pressed powder to provide coverage for ageless, radiant looking skin!

Summers are scorching in Texas, so I tend to lay off liquid foundation but I was intrigued with the foundation's claims that it smooths out "rough" surfaces and gives a radiant finish.  I'm in my early 30s so I'm starting to notice a few lines and thought this would be perfect to try out.

The kit arrived in this cool little box

All the goodies inside the box!

I received a full-sized sample of the foundation in shade 125 (buff beige) and the pressed powder in shade 320 (fair/light) along with a ton of coupons to share.  As you can see from the pictures, I received it in late August and now that I've had some time to try out both products I can share my review.  

COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation
From the BzzAgent guide:
- One pump instantly covers discolorations, lines and wrinkles while the bottle will help improve skin tone over time 
- Available in 14 shades with an MSRP of $13.99

My thoughts:
I've been using the foundation for over a month and have only used about 1/3 of the bottle.  As the product claims, one pump really DOES cover a LOT.  One pump is usually enough to cover my entire face and I pump out a bit more to get extra coverage in certain areas (like my dark circles.)  I prefer a very LIGHT coverage though but you can definitely build up to whatever coverage you want.  Again, the color I received was Buff Beige and at first glance appeared a bit light for me, but once blended it's beautiful on my skin.  I absolutely LOVE how lightweight the product is and how silky my face looks.  It's almost as if I'd used airbrush.  

Although the foundation has a built in serum, I've continued to use a separate moisturizer to hydrate my skin.  The first time I used the foundation without any moisturizer, my skin felt tight and the makeup didn't look good at all.  I don't have any discolorations so I can't speak to the improvement of those nor have I seen a dramatic increase in hydration in my skin but then again I haven't used up the entire bottle.  If I see a difference in this later on, I will report back  I do know that the few fine lines I have are perfectly covered up when I use the foundation.  


COVERGIRL & Olay Pressed Powder
From the BzzAgent guide:
- Gold pearls, yellow iron oxide and silk mica work together to provide natural looking skin with an energized appearance and healthy radiance
- Instantly brightens skin tone and softens look of imperfections
- Provides a tough of brightness without feeling heavy or cakey
- Available in 6 shade

My thoughts:
The only real purpose of this powder is to set the foundation.  The color I received Fair/Light was actually a bit too light for me so I used it sparingly.  It does have a little shimmer to it which gives the radiance it promises.  However, as a setting powder it's not that great.  At least for me, I had to apply the powder a few times throughout the day to keep my face looking bright and radiant.  I would much prefer to use my mineral veil or a different setting powder to this one.   

I used it one day over a BB cream after running out the door and forgetting my foundation and I was pleasantly surprised how nice the powder looked on my skin on it's own.  It provided no coverage at all so I wouldn't use the powder alone but the powder definitely enhanced the little bit of coverage I got from my BB cream. I will definitely continue to use it with the foundation and with my BB cream for low maintenance days but I can't say that this has become my holy grail of setting powders.  

Overall, I'm glad I tried both of these products and I would definitely recommend the foundation.   I have a ton of coupons to share - if you're interested in trying out the foundation & powder, let me know.  I'm more than happy to share.  


DISCLAIMER:  The products were furnished to me free for review but the opinions stated here are my own and reflect my true & honest opinion.  

Sample Society - September 2012

I finally received my Sample Society box for this month.  According to them, it was because of the labor day holiday but jeez, it's almost the end of the month.  

As a small recap, Sample Society is another monthly sampling subscription similar to Birchbox.  It's $15 a month and you receive 5 deluxe samples from higher end brands.  Something I recently discovered, was that I'm actually being charged tax because Beauty Bar has ties of some sort in Texas so I'm actually being charged $16.24 with free shipping.  I hate paying taxes but it's not that bad.  Included in each membership is a subscription to Allure magazine. 

This is my second box and I'm pretty pleased with it.  I like the black box and how the samples are nestled in the paper. 

So what did I get? 

Cellceuticals Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser - Gentle cleanser that removes all makeup without irritating your eyes or skin.  I've never tried this brand so I'm definitely looking forward using it and I'll get several uses out of the bottle since it's 2 oz. 

Borghese B Gloss in the color Fiore - Lush, glossy colour that accentuates lips providing high shine looks.  I've never tried Borghese makeup and this color looks a bit pink in the bottle but it's a beautiful color on.  It's pretty a pretty neutral mauve and not something I would have picked for myself.  It has a nice consistency and is not sticky on the lips at all.  It lasted a good while on which is rare.  I may actually buy the full size of this.  The sample is almost full size at .16 oz.  

Ahava Purifying Mud Mask - I've heard nothing but great things about this mask and I'm really looking forward to trying it out!  I love trying out different masks and will report back on this. 

Diptyque Eau de Toilette - I also received a sample of the Diptyque perfume in Tam Dao.  Launched in 1968, Diptyque is the first unisex line of fragrances. This scent is from the "woody" family and smells of sandalwood.Tam Dao pays tribute to the most sought-after of the sacred woods: the sandalwood of Goa (from the company's website.)  It has a clean scent but a little goes a long way.  I think the first time I used it, I may have used too much and it overwhelmed me some.  Today, I wore it and it's pretty pleasant. 

Stila Smudge Crayon - As much of a makeup junkie as I am, I've never tried Stila so I'm looking forward to trying out this smudge crayon. I received the color Umbre which is a coopery-bronze.  It's a gel based primer, shadow and liner that lasts.  And it really does.  It goes on super smooth and doesn't budge until you remove it.  I don't know how you could use it as a shadow as you'd have to be super fast to be able to blend it, but as a liner, it worked great.  

There you have it!  Overall, I was pleased with everything I got and give Sample Society thumbs up for September's box!

9/11

I will NEVER forget where I was when I heard about the attacks.  As a senior at Baylor, I had major senioritis and regularly decided I didn't need to attend classes.  That day, I remember we were having a big review for an accounting final and so I deigned to wake up on time.  The first plane had just hit the tower when my alarm went off that morning, so I woke up to the radio hosts breaking in about the "accident" - at this point we didn't know that that fateful day would lead to one of the most catastrophic events of our lives.  I immediately turned on my television and watched the live coverage as the second plane hit the second tower and I thought 'oh my god, we're under attack.'  I just knew it wasn't an accident and I knew this wouldn't be the end of it.

I immediately started calling my family in New York - especially by cousin whose campus was a few blocks from the towers.  I called for hours and couldn't get through.  I called my parents to check on them and my siblings but was told everyone was okay and as far as they knew, Kevin and Jenny were safe at school.  I decided to go on to campus and found out classes were cancelled.  We congregated around the tv in the lobby and couldn't believe our eyes.  We watched in disbelief as the towers fell to the ground.  I cried like I have never cried before and wanted to head immediately home to my family.  

Today, eleven years after the attacks, I woke up and kissed my daughter.  Remembering all those who lost sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and countless others, I said a prayer for all the innocent people who lost their lives to senseless fanaticism.  I am extremely saddened but blessed to be able to hug and kiss my daughter daily when so many others are not.  And I wouldn't be able to do that without all the heroes of this country.  I am grateful for all they give up to keep us safe.  

For me, it's not just a slogan.  I WILL NEVER FORGET.

I carry your heart ...

My little sister started at UT this past week.  I'm so thrilled that she's off having her college experience.  My brother decided to stay in town so he's at UH this year.  I am the oldest of four kids but there is a huge gap between my brother and sister and I after my little brother passed away.  I grew up basically an only child until I was 11 when my parents had my brother Kevin. Two years after that Jenny was born.  I remember going off to Baylor and missing my little siblings dearly.  I can still remember my brother and sister sitting by the window waiting for me to come home for the weekend.  

At Jenny's graduation party

We've always been close - no matter how we much we fight or disagree at the end of the day there's nothing I wouldn't do for my brother or my sister.  I don't know if it was because I didn't grow up with brother Dennis, but I sort of envied the relationship between Kevin and Jenny.  Don't get me wrong - not in a bad way but in a "I wish I'd had that too" way but I also think it made me appreciate them that much more.  When I was hospitalized before Kayla's birth, Kevin and Jenny were there every day visiting me and checking up on me.  When Kayla arrived ahead of schedule and I was discharged, Kevin and Jenny made sure to visit her with me and helped take care of me while I recovered from my c-section.  I sometimes felt more like their parents than their sister when I had to lecture them about something and felt proud that they were comfortable enough with me to come to me with problems or when they wanted me to buy them something! :)

So, I knew this day was coming but I still felt unprepared for Jenny to leave.  Who was I going to have my Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings marathons with now?  Is this what empty nest syndrome feels like?  If it is, I guess I'll have a leg up on parents when Kayla goes off to college.  I know she's just few hours away and I can only imagine this is how they felt when I moved out after I got married.   Still, I feel like a little piece of me is missing.  I'll leave you with a poem by EE Cummings.  If you've seen In Her Shoes, you'll recognize it.  I think it summarizes my relationship with Jenny and Kevin perfectly.  

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) 

i am never without it (anywhere i go you go,my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) 

i want no world (for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

I love you Jenny!  I hope you have a wonderful year at UT.  I'm very proud of you.  

Glossybox - August 2012 (Updated)

I received my Glossybox for August (yes, August even though it's almost September) yesterday.  It annoys me that they don't arrive until near the end of the month, but you know what?  The box was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It totally made up for being so dang late!  

I love the box!

Goodies!

The theme for August is Pure Luxury and let me tell you there was luxury to go around in this box!  It's probably my favorite box of all the ones I've received so far.  The value of this box was upwards of $90 so best value yet. 

Here's a recap of what I received (from left to right):

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum - High powered vitamin C complex helps smooth out lines and wrinkles. Keeps skin moisturized and protected.  I had never tried anything by Ole Henriksen but this serum was pretty good.  It smells citrus-y and makes my skin feel very refreshed.  The sample was 0.5 oz which is half the full-size so the value was $24.  

Illamasqua Nail Varnish - Full-sized valued at $14.  I've always heard great things about Illamasqua and was thrilled that it was included in my box but the color is awful!  I received Purity which is a peach color that would be prettier if it didn't take so many coats to be opaque.  Maybe on someone else it would look better but on me, it doesn't look right.  

Biolage ExquisiteOil Replenishing Treatment - Versatile serum infused with Moriga Oil Blend to give instant shine and weightless replenishment for all hair types.  I love how this makes my hair feel.  It really is weightless - my hair doesn't feel weighed down at all but I can feel the softness and shine even after a couple of uses.  

Touch in SOL Feel Like Honey Moon Skin Base - This was an interesting product that combines your moisturizer with primer.  The base has a sticky consistency - you apply it all over your face and pat it to let it dry.  Be very careful how much you use though, because if you use too much, you'll end up with fuzz all over your face.  This product was almost full-sized so again a very nice sized sample.  

Ellis Faas Ellis Lip - Another full sized item, this one valued at $35!  Lightweight and long-lasting lip products in three textures: creamy, milky and glazed lips which all have different finishes.  The products are all paraben-free  and are infused with Vitamin E.  I received the glazed lips variety which is like a lip gloss and gives a touch of color.  I received shade L305 which is a sheer rusty orange.  I'm not a big fan of the color and wish I'd gotten a different one.  I like the consistency and LOVE the packaging (looks like a long bullet to me) so I may order a different color.  I've worn it a few times and it's looked okay but not a color I would wear every day.  

Besides being disappointed in the color choices I was sent, I was very pleased with this box.  I discovered a few companies that I'll definitely be trying out soon.  

Kayla's 18 Month Pictures

I wanted to share some of Kayla's 18 month pictures.  I know I say this all the time but I really can't believe that my daughter is grown!  

She just loves being outside

Those rosy cheeks

It's amazing how much she's grown.  She is completely addicted to the iPad and iPhone and seriously amazes me with how much she knows.   I feel bad that I never did an 18 month write up but at least I remembered to do the pictures! :)

Beauty Bar Sample Society August 2012 Box

My addiction to beauty subscriptions continues.  My latest one is Beauty Bar's Sample Society.  

For $15 a month, Sample Society will ship you 5 deluxe-sized samples from brands like Murad, Stila and Oscar de la Renta along with a code for $15 off a $50 purchase that includes any item from the brands you sampled that month.  In terms of pricing, it's in the middle of the pack.  August was my first box and I'm pretty pleased with everything I received. I have not included in referral links, since I want to form my opinion based on three months' worth of  boxes.  

I took these pictures after I'd already used some of the products so forgive the quality of the pictures.  Next month, I'll try to do better! :)

Elemental Herbology Cool & Clear facial cleanser.  I've never heard of this brand before but I liked the cleanser.  It's great for sensitive skin and smells a bit like lavender.  It's sulfate and artificial fragrance free and uses water lily, green tea and alove vera to soothe skin as well as olive oil to cleanse and purify.  I think it did a great job cleaning off my make up and it was very gently on my skin.  I have a ton of cleanser samples right now, but I'll keep it in mind when I run out.  

Jane Iredale Longest Lash mascara - this little mascara sample came in a tube and though I've heard great things about Jane Iredale, I wasn't too impressed with the mascara.  The mascara is supposed to be thickening and lengthening but honestly, I didn't see much length.  It was also a bit dry.  I am very picky with my mascaras though and have quite a large collection.  This one just didn't make the cut for me. 

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Private Dancer - This was a full sized item valued at $18 so worth the price of the box.  It's a very pretty purple color that has a chrome finish. I'll come back and post pictures of the lacquer on my nails.  The polish glides on very smoothly and the brush picks up just enough lacquer to finish your nail in a few strokes.  Love it! 

Phyto Phytonectar Oil - another brand I'd never heard of.  This is an ultra nourishing oil treatment for hair.  I've never admitted on here, but I completely ruined my hair trying out a free keratin treatment from a certain company.  I mean ruined with a capital R - enough that I had to chop of most of hair.  Since then, I've been very particular about what I use on my hair.  I've never used an oil treatment on my hair at home (I have done it before at the salon but it's been a few years) so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I honestly didn't see that much of a difference in my hair but I don't think I used enough product.  I'll try it again and report back. 

Arcona Cranberry Toner - I've tried a moisturizer from this line before and while I don't normally use toner (I know I should) I was pretty excited to try this.  The bottle was full but I'd already used some when I photographed it.  The three-in-one formula hydrates and tones your face while also working to remove your makeup, oil and dirt from the day.  I love the way it feels on my face but it does have a strong scent that lingers long after you have used it.  I can't describe what it smells like - it's like cranberry but not fruity.  I like it but then I don't.  I'm weird like that.   

I also received a small packet of a moisturizer that I used up and don't remember the brand. LOL..  

I was sort of disappointed that I only received one full-sized item but the value of the box (based on sample sizes) was still about $48.  We'll see what next month brings!

Kayla turns 20 months!

Dear Kayla,

It's amazing that in four short months you're going to be two years old!  I feel like I say this all the time but it feels like just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant and now here you are.  It's been a few months since I've written, and I fully intend to go back and post-date your letters, but since this month is fresh on my mind, here goes.  

At 20 months, you are:

• growing like a weed -- I don't have your exact height but at your last check up you were 32 1/2 inches tall!  Here's hoping you're as tall as your daddy! :)
• starting to use words a bit more - you regularly say thing like more (as well as signing them), woof woof when you see a doggy, happy (because it was mommy's birthday and we sang happy birthday), dame (Spanish for give me)
• you can high five on command as well as point to your eyes, nose, mouth and ears - you can say eye and trying to say nose (we're working on it)
• a very picky eater! Your favorites are turkey franks, Annie's Mac & Cheese  and chicken nuggets but that can change at any point in time.  Your favorite fruits are strawberries, bananas and raspberries.  
• Your sleeping habits need some help but we're working on them.  You nap one to two times a day for about 30 minutes to an hour.  I wish you napped like other babies for hours at time.  You sleep about 5 hours at night before waking up to comfort nurse.  Yes, your are still nursing but only during the wee early hours of the morning.  Mommy is trying very hard to wean you but so far no luck.  I think we need to revamp your sleep schedule!
• You love dancing and reading books, playing and being around people.  You're one of the friendliest babies I've ever seen.  You just love attention you little ham! 

The weather has been crazy hot so we haven't had too many adventures but we're heading to San Antonio next week to relax for the weekend, so I'll be sure to take lots of photos of our first official family vacation.  I'm so looking forward to it!

Love you with all my heart,

Mommy

My First Glossybox

I finally did it - I gave in the sample box craze and signed up for a few monthly subscriptions.  If you're not familiar with the sample box craze, you've been living under a rock.  Just kidding.  There are a ton of companies to choose from, and depending on what company you choose, you get anywhere from 5-7 different samples for a fee of $10-21 per month.  Some companies offer deluxe sized samples (meant to last a few uses so you really get the gist of the product), while others offer regular samples - like those you'd receive at Sephora or Nordstrom with a purchase.  Most companies also include full-sized samples in their boxes.  You're probably asking yourself why anyone would pay for samples and the truth is I LOVE nothing more than getting samples with my purchases because there is no better way to discover a new product than actually trying it out! Being the makeup junkie that I am, I figured what the heck and dove in.  


The most popular of these is Birchbox, but since they have a waiting list, I signed up for Sample Society and GLOSSYBOX.  GLOSSYBOX started out in the UK and just recently started it's subscription service in the US.  At $21/month, GLOSSYBOX is the most expensive of the monthly subscription boxes but is also touted as the most high end featuring the crème de la crème of international brands.  Each month, you receive a box of 5 travel-sized beauty products shipped directly to your door.  I signed up for the box about mid-July so I wasn't sure if I'd receive a July box or an August box but since GLOSSYBOX sends out their boxes at the end of the month instead of the beginning of the month, I received the July box.


The packaging is super cute and I wish I hadn't undone the bow before I took my pictures. Since this is my first box, I'm not sure what grade to give this box yet, but I definitely think I got my money's worth since I received two full sized products and the total value of those was over $28. 

The products are (Summer Nights theme):

• Alessandro International Pedix Heel Rescue Balm
• Figs & Rouge Lip, Face & Body Balm (full size)
• Sebastian Color Ignite Multi-Tone Shampoo
• Sebastian Color Ignite Multi-Tone Conditioner
• Senna Cosmetics Double Dose Lip Lacquer (full size)
• Extra treat: Blushed fragrance

I'm really looking forward to trying out the shampoo & conditioner, as well as the lip/face balm.  Once I've had a chance to try out the products, I'll post my thoughts.  

What about you?  What boxes are you subscribed to? Do you feel they're worth the price?

Happy Independence Day!

Getting in trouble, who me? 

I can't wait to see how she does with the fireworks tonight.  It'll be her first time actually seeing them since she was only 6 months last year.  I can't believe my baby is almost 19 months!  Yeeesh..  I have so much catching up to do and I hope to start blogging a bit more often.  

Wordless Wednesday

Being a princess is hard work...

 

REVIEW: Neutrogena Cosmetics

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I love makeup.  It's not an uncommon thing for me to rush out and try the latest lip gloss or makeup quad.  So when BzzAgent sent me an invitation for the Neutrogena Cosmetics, I was pretty ecstatic!   I've always been a bit of a makeup snob and don't really purchase very many drugstore brands as I've been disappointed in the quality of the products but I've never tried Neutrogena products before.  

As part of the campaign, I received the full-sized products pictured above to sample.  I received a concealer, eyeliner and three shades of lip balm.  Now that I've been using the products for a while, I can give my honest opinion of them.

Neutrogena^® Nourishing Eyeliner   

From the product guide:

• Built-in sharpener and smudger create your perfect look, from precise definition to smoky effect
• Glides on smooth and wears all day; won't smudge or fade
• Dermatologist & ophthalmologist tested
• 4 shades: Cosmic Black, Brushed Pewter, Spiced Chocolate, Twilight Blue
• Retail price $7.99

My take:

This is by far my most favorite product from the line!  It so super easy to use and just glides on.  I think liner gives your eyes a dramatic but instantly opens them up.  It really does last long and the built-in smudger/sharpener are genius!

I like to line the inner rim of my eyes instead of the outside - it makes them pop a bit more so I hate eyeliners that are stiff and make my eyes watery.  The only liner I've found that (besides the fluidliner from MAC) that is this easy to use, is one from Tarte cosmetics which is twice as expensive.  This liner does just what my Tarte liner does at half the price!  I'm thrilled to have found this and have already purchased one for several of my family members.    

Neutrogena Healthy Skin^® Brightening Eye Perfector

From the product guide: 

• Instantly brightens, conceals dark circles, and evens tone
• Flow-through brush allows for flawless coverage on-the-go
• Clinically shown to reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness and dark circles
• Broad spectrum SPF 20
• 4 shades: Fair, Buff, Light, Medium
• Retail price $13.99

My take:

My second favorite product!  It's a concealer that also doubles as a brightener.  As a night owl, I've always had dark circles under my eyes and very few concealers actually cover them up.  The concealer I absolutely love is pricey - $70 - but does a bang up job of concealing my circles.  So how does Neutrogena compare?  Like a CHAMP!!!  With just a little bit of product, I've got concealed dark circles and bright eyes that make me look awake no matter how tired I am.

If you're a make up junkie, I'm sure you're familiar with the YSL Touche Eclat.  I absolutely love this radiance pen but have always felt it'd be a holy grail item for me if it concealed better.  Now, with the Neutrogena Brightening Eye Perfector, I get the effect I want in one product at one third the cost of both products I'm currently using.  WIN!

Neutrogena^® Revitalizing Lip Balm

From the product guide: 

• Sheer, silky formula gives a hint of color
• Exclusive ion2complex™ instantly moisturizes lips
• SPF 20
• 6 shades: Sheer Shimmer, Healthy Blush, Sunny Berry, Petal Glow, Soft Caramel, Fresh Plum
• Retail price $8.99

My take:
I wouldn't necessarily say that I hated these lip balms but they weren't as awesome as I'd hoped.  I mean they do a good job of keeping my lips moisturized but they felt sticky and weird on my lips.  The SPF is nice but I think there are better products out there that moisturize much better.  


I received Healthy Blush, Sunny Berry and Petal Glow.  The colors were very pigmented with Healthy Blush and Sunny Berry being much more colorful than I expected.  Petal Glow was the most subtle of the colors and was nice for days when I just wanted a pop of color without going overboard.  I probably won't be buying any of these. 


FINAL VERDICT:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the eye liner and concealer and will definitely be buying those again.  Thank you, BzzAgent for giving me this campaign!  It was AWESOME!!!

If you're interested in trying any of these products out, BzzAgent has generously provided me with a coupon to share.  Just click the link and it'll take you directly to the coupon. 


DISCLAIMER: I was provided the products free of charge from BzzAgent but the opinions listed here are my own honest thoughts on the products. 

Coming up for air....

I have so much I want to write and yet so little time in which to do it.  If I'm not taking care of Kayla, I'm busy with a job search that is not going well.  I get frustrated, depressed, determined, you name it, I feel it.  Where are all these jobs that everyone talks about?  You'd think two degrees and all my experience would net me at least an interview but so far nada.  I feel like I'm drowning and I retreat from the world.  If it wasn't for the support of my family and my awesome husband, I have no idea where I'd be. 

I often wonder how people who blog regularly do it.  I have a back log of posts that I'm determined to get posted.  Hopefully, I'll get them going soon and you'll see a lot of back dated posts.  I'm working on making my blog a little better and trying to become a more regular blogger.  

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a wonderful day today!  First a brunch at my mother-in-law's house followed by a lovely dinner at my moms.  We cooked up some enchiladas that were DELICIOUS! It was my first time making beef enchiladas and I was a bit nervous, but thankfully my mom was there to help and they were amazing! I'm a genius and forgot my camera, so I couldn't snap a picture of Miss K and I until tonight and she was just NOT cooperating!  This is the best I could do!

I hope you all had a great day today!

Sixteen Months!

Dear Kayla,

Seriously, you are growing far to quickly for mommy!  Every day you learn something new and leave behind my little baby.  You are becoming such a little personality, it's hilarious to watch.  I can't wait until I really understand what it is you babble about but I'm sure at that point I won't want to hear what it is!

At 16 months you are:

• cutting TWO more teeth - this brings us to a total of 14! We are thankfully behind the hell of molars! Those were NOT fun nights for you or mommy and daddy.
• learned to climb on/off the couch AND off the bed (you're smart and know to do it butt first so if you fall, you land on your little head - so far, you've only had one fall at Grandma P's but you dusted off your little behind and were climbing back up again!)
• babbling away - you're starting to put together real words every know and then but still not saying anything consistently other than mommy and daddy which are very clear; you did say "doggy" when you saw the neighbor's dog and this made mommy very proud :)
• LOVE to read.. I repeat LOVE - I recently posted how much you love your books - especially How Do I Love You?  I don't know why, but out of all your books, you'd decided this is the one for you.  
• went on your first Easter egg hunt! I think it's safe to say, you had a great time and the Easter bunny brought you a fabulous new phone to play with among other things (so now you can leave mommy's alone)
• played in the bluebonnets for the first time and had a ball

Because mommy was a slacker, I don't have a picture if you on your birthday, but here's one from the following day.  Look at this face?? I know there's trouble brewing! :)  

All my love,
Mommy 

Sick as a dog

I've been so lucky that Kayla has been so healthy this past year.  I'm sure that part of it is that she isn't in daycare and except for our play dates, she isn't around other kids.  However, the weather in Texas is crazy! We can go from one end of the spectrum to the other in a matter of days! So, it's no surprise she managed to catch a cold and was super congested last week and had a hard time breathing which affected her sleeping.  We ran the humidifier and used some vapor stuff in her bath and that seemed to help her some.

What REALLY sucks is that Rene and I will often catch the same cold and pass it to each other.  Rene seemed to get just a slight touch of it and was fine in a few days.  On the other than, I've been super congested and (TMI) felt like I was drowning in my own snot the other night.  Add to this the fact that a major storm blew through Houston Sunday-Monday and any time the barometric pressure shifts, I get the worse migraines and you get me curled up in the fetal position wanting to die.  Migraine has passed thankfully but I'm still congested and have a bit of a cough.  I'm no longer running a fever and I slept much better last night.  I realize I have a ton of posts I want to do and I need to play catch up with Kayla's 16 month post, Easter and all my random thoughts. 

We have a reader on our hands

And by reader I really mean she loves having books read to her! I know she's ready when she comes up to me and hands it to me then proceeds to get comfortable on my lap and that's probably my favorite part!  I love those snuggles. While she has a ton of books, she clearly favors one. 

 

How Do I Love You? By Marion Dane Bauer - we seriously read this book at least 10 times a day.  I can quote it by heart now.  I love reading it to her!  I wonder what it is about that particular book that she loves so much.  Is it the colors? The drawings?  I have no clue, but she's got a shelf full of books and this is what she picks.  What book does your little one prefer?