Review: ZenWise Hair Growth Vitamins

Since having my twin girls last December my hairdresser and I noticed my hair falling out and becoming “gummy” in texture. It was very alarming to me! My hairdresser told me it was due to the pregnancy hormones in my body going back to pre-baby levels and my hair was re-adjusting. She suggested I take biotin to get my hair healthy again. 

I had been taking a grocery store brand of Biotin to be “cheap.” Then I had the opportunity to review the Zenwise Hair Growth Vitamin plus DHT blocker, and for that I am so grateful! Initially I was pleased to learn that this vitamin is vegetarian (I don’t eat meat or consume meat by-products). It is advertised as containing a distinct blend of 27 ingredients, including 5000 mcg of Biotin, which helps promote hair growth and overall hair health. Not only does this product contain biotin, but it has other vitamins in it that contribute to your overall health (like Vitamin A and C). The biotin vitamin I had been taking before did NOT have that; it just had biotin in it. 

I have been using this product for a few weeks now and I can already tell a difference in my hair. The recommended dose is two pills a day so I usually take both at breakfast. I’ve noticed new growth next to my temples and my hair feels thicker. Due to the DHT blocker (which I’ve read is the culprit of 95% of people’s hair loss) I’ve noticed less strands falling out when I shower and brush my hair. My hair just seems to be overall healthier. 

I would definitely recommend this product to anybody who is concerned about hair loss or needs to improve the health of their hair. If you would like to learn more about this product or company, please visit http://www.ZenWiseLabs.com. 

*This post is powered by Brandbacker and sponsored by Zenwise. I received this sample product to test and write an honest review.

Review: InstaNatural Cellulite Cream and Stretch Mark Cream

Recently I had the opportunity to review two InstaNatural cream products-their cellulite cream and stretch mark cream. 

I'd never heard of InstaNatural before. On their website www.instanatural.com I read that they started their company with "the hopes to provide safe, effective, and affordable skin care products. They also focus on using premium organic and natural ingredients in their formulations without the use of harmful alcohols, parabens, or sulfates. At present, they are the leading online distributor of a collection of nature-inspired beauty and cosmetic products".

I was very eager to try the products out since they use organic and natural ingredients. It is so important to be cognizant of what you are putting on your body! It's a little embarrassing to have to admit to using cellulite and stretch mark creams, but I've had twin girls a year ago and my body is still readjusting back to normal. 

The first item for my review is their cellulite cream. This is the first time I've ever used a cellulite cream! I have to admit I was skeptical about using it-it seems like people pay big bucks to get rid of it at spas. My problem areas are my upper leg and thigh regions. I've been using it for a few weeks now so I feel like I've had the opportunity to see how effective it is. I use it twice a day; once in the morning and then again before I go to bed. I like the consistency of the product-it's creamy and not greasy at all. It comes out easily from the bottle and since it contains organic cocoa butter, shea butter, avocado oil and organic jojoba oil, it has a nice pleasant smell to it.

After using this product for a few weeks I do notice that the "problem areas" are more firm and the skin has less dimpling. This can be attributed to the retinol, caffeine and vitamin C in it. My skin is sensitive and I am happy to report that there was absolutely no reaction when I used it. I will continue to use this product to tighten and firm my problem areas. I am curious to see what my skin will look like after a longer period of time. If you would like more information about this product, check it out on Amazon. 

Now on to my second product for review-the stretch mark cream! As I mentioned earlier, last December I had twin girls. Now I don't even want to begin to tell you what damage that does to the skin around your stomach! I've got some pretty obvious stretch marks that have gradually started to fade but haven't disappeared yet. I've used stretch mark creams before but unfortunately haven't had good results with them. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this product!  

I've used this product for a few weeks along with the cellulite cream and I do notice my stretch marks fading. I would take before and after pictures, but due to the rather unflattering area of the stretch marks, you will have to take my word for it! I use it twice a day; once in the morning and again at night. The key ingredients in this product are vitamin c, cocoa butter, rosehip oil, mango butter, grape seed oil, and evening primrose oil. Just like the cellulite cream, it has a nice pleasant smell to it. The consistency of this product is creamy and makes my skin feel so soft after using it. There is no sticky residue or grease left on my skin like other stretch mark creams have left. It soaks into the skin pretty quickly. I've been pretty happy with this product and will continue to use it! If you would like more information about this product, check it out on Amazon.

My final impressions with the InstaNatural creams is overall happy. I think for the quality and quantity of the products you are getting, they are worth it. If you would like to learn more about these products or any products that InstaNatural has, please check out their website www.instanatural.com. Become a club member today and take 15% off your first purchase!

*This post is powered by BrandBacker and sponsored by InstaNatural. I received these products to test and write a review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

November Ipsy

I'm on my 3rd month of Ipsy now! I was excited when I heard that this month's theme was "Girl Meets Glitter"-I LOVE glitter/sparkle. Funny; it doesn't really go with my personality. When people ask me what my favorite color is I always say SPARKLE! I love that the bag is sparkly and made by Forever 21, but the plastic is a little cheap and has a few weird wrinkles in it. I've had a few people tell me how cute the bag is. 

Here are the items that I received and what I thought about them: 

*be Delectable from Cake Beauty ultra nourishing hand cream in coconut & cream-It's crazy-this hand cream smells EXACTLY like coconut cream pie! Delicious! I've only worn it at night because I don't want the smell to interfere with my perfume. My husband has been using it as well and he's crazy about the smell. It's very nourishing and isn't greasy at all. What a great cream, and definitely something I wouldn't normally buy for myself! 

*J. Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion- I was hesitant to try this lip paint out because it's darker than what I normally wear. It's a little messy to apply but as soon as I put it on i fell in love with the color. Such a pretty red/pink tone and perfect for the winter time. It's got great staying power but I should have exfoliated my lips before putting it on. I also think the application could be more user friendly. 

*Starlooks gem eye pencil in Ultra Orchid-I'm such a sucker for eyeliners and currently working on building my collection. The color looks so pretty and even has sparkles in it! I thought it would go great with my green hazel eyes. Unfortunately it's just not working out for me. I applied it to my top lid but it doesn't go on very dark. It also smeared or flaked all around my eyes and made me look like a raccoon. I also tried it on my bottom lid but it had the same effect. I'll maybe use it as a shadow and if that doesn't work I'll be tossing this item :(. 

*Temptu S/B Highlighter-I was so confused when I saw this item in my bag; I wasn't quite sure what it was! I had to look up the product and how to use it. I've never really used a highlighter before and did one of their recommendations, which was to mix it in with your foundation. To be honest I haven't really seen much of a difference when I've used this product. The formula is a little watery and to their benefit I could be using it incorrectly. Im going to try using it without mixing it into my foundation and just apply it directly on my face to see if it makes a noticeable difference. 

*clariSEA Sea Salt Solutions Instant Glow Powder Exfoliant-Another product that I was confused about what it was! It ended up being my FAVORITE item in the bag. It's made of salt and you either use it by itself or mixed in with your normal nighttime cleanser. The first time I used it I thought for sure it would irritate my sensitive skin. That was not the case! It buffed away all the gunk on my face and left my skin feeling incredibly soft. The more I use it the more I love it! Like I said; definitely my favorite item in the bag. 

Overall I was happy with this month's bag and thought they and a really great mix of makeup and skin care products. If you get Ipsy, what did you think of your bag? Ddi you get the same items as me, or different? If you would like to check out Ipsy, make sure to use my referral link!

The Return of Swap-bot

A lifetime ago (which means before a husband and three kids) a co-worker told me about www.swap-bot.com. If you've never heard of it, here's a description from their website:

What is Swap-bot?

Do you like sending and receiving snail mail? Do you like writing letters, making crafts, or putting together fun packages? You should try swapping! Swap-bot is a online service that organizes group swaps and a community of creative individuals. Swap-bot takes the hassle out of participating in group swaps by organizing all of the participant information and doing all of the partner assignments. On Swap-bot, you can host swaps, join swaps, and chat with other swappers from all over the world. Give it a try!

I did Swap Bot for a while and really enjoyed it. I love getting actual mail in the mailbox; nobody takes the time to write letters anymore. I had to stop because life got in the way. Recently though Swap Bot has been on my mind and I decided to give it another go-around! If you know me you know I'm not a "crafty" person so I'll stick with the postcard or written swaps for now. I can't wait to share with you what my swap partners send me! 

Birchbox Home Sweet Homespun Limited Edition Box

Happy Thanksgiving week! I'm enjoying this much needed time off. Today I've been lounging around the house with my girls-it's very much "Home Sweet Home" here today! And what better way to kick off the holidays than with a review of the Birchbox Home Sweet Homespun box?

I ordered two of these boxes; one for me and one for my sister's birthday. I ordered them separately, used a 20% coupon on each order, and added a mystery sample pack to each shipment. That meant each box was $32. This box got to me super quick. I ordered it on a Monday and it was here on Wednesday. Doesn't the box look gorgeous!?

Here's what it looks like when you open it up:

And here's what you get inside and what I thought about each item: 

*Askinosie Chocolate Single Origin Sipping Chocolate-There is enough for two small servings. I added whole milk to the chocolate. It is a little bitter; might need some sugar. Very rich and definitely better than the powdered stuff at the grocery store! 

*Meri Meri The Little Garden Treat Kit-These are cute handcrafted labels and gift bags. Sadly, I'm not much of a treat or craft maker, so I passed these on to my mother in law. She loved them! 

*Illume Mini Tin Soy Candle-I can never have enough candles. The label on it is so pretty with the red and gold accents. I've got it burning right now-the sugar and spice fragrance is so nice and makes my bedroom smell great. 

*Momofuku Milk Bar Cornflake-Chocolate chip-Marshmallow Cookie Mix-This is the only item  in my box I haven't been able to try out yet because it needs a special type of mixer that I don't have. My husband has been begging me to make them because they sound so delicious! The directions do sound a little complicated to make which is why I haven't done them yet. I'll have an update on them soon! 

*Soak Handmaid Luxury Hand Creme-This lotion has a light fig smell to it. I can wear it alone or with my perfume and it's not overpowering. It has a shea-butter formula which makes my hands so soft. Great addition to the box.

*Cowshed Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm-I love the smell of this lip balm. It has orange and rose essential oils and leaves my lips feeling soft. It has a sheer color so I save this balm for the evenings and weekends (I prefer my lip products to be tinted).

*Makerskit Hanging Photo Clips Complete Project Kit-This was the only item that seems a little "cheap" to me. It's some twine, a few pushpins and a few clothespins. I had a student hang it up in my classroom and even she asked me where I got it from due to the quality. I wouldn't put this up in my house. The clothespins are a little too small so  you have to attach at least 2 per photo. I didn't like the card stock it came with-it's way too tiny and I didn't like the design.

*Richer Poorer socks-Normally I'm not a sock person but these socks are way too cute to not enjoy. I've been wearing them around the house and love the way they feel-not too thick that your feet sweat, but not too thin that your feet get cold. I sound like Goldilocks haha. I love the design on them! 

So that's the Home Sweet Homespun box! For $32 (with a coupon) you get 8 different cozy and cheerful items. I would definitely recommend stocking up on a few of these for Christmas gifts! If you received this box, what did you think about it?

Now the question is...do I splurge for a Vanity Affair box??? Or wait until after the holidays?

The Sound of Silence

All I can hear right now is silence, and it's a strange yet beautiful thing. 

Justin is out of town on a guy's trip and my three babies are with his parents so it's me all by myself this weekend. I feel guilty for admitting that I've been looking forward to this weekend for a while. You see, I pretty much get no alone time. I'm a wife, a mother, and a teacher-I'm surrounded by people all day every day. It's fulfilling but can get overwhelming and demanding. 

So what have I been doing with my free time? Yesterday I went out to dinner with my dad and then went to see Interstellar with him, my sister, and her boyfriend. Talk about a mind trip of a movie. I'll have to watch it a few more times to gauge if I truly like the movie or not. I loved Inception and had high expectations for Interstellar. I'm not a Matthew McConaughey fan so it was a little tough watching him for 3 hours but the visuals made up for it. I know; it's a little shameful for me to be a Texas thespian and not support McConaughey, a fellow Texas actor. 

Today I went and got my hair done at the salon and then went shopping at Target, Nordstrom Rack, and Khol's. Justin is going to wish he had never gone out of town when he sees the receipts for my shopping trips. I never have the opportunity to shop and I took full advantage of my free time. Heeeellllloooo new winter wardrobe! 

This evening I went and saw the play "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe." One of my students is in the play for a community theatre and his mom invited me. We went out to dinner before hand. She is so thoughtful to invite me. 

Now it's 11:30 on a Saturday evening and I'm sitting alone in my room listening to a Phantogram/Foster the People YouTube mix. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself! Saturday nights when you are married with kids look so much different then they used to. I wouldn't change it for the world, but it has been a nice change of pace this weekend. I'm re-charging in preparation for the holidays. Speaking of the holidays, I am hosting Thanksgiving this year for the first time ever. If anybody has any advice to give, be it hosting, cooking, or emotional advice, please feel free to share it with me! 

"Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the vision that was planted in my brain 

Still remains

Within the sound of silence" 

4 Birchbox Mystery Sample Packs

In the past 2 weeks I've received 4 Birchbox mystery sample packs. Any time you spend $35+ in the Birchbox shop they will send you two random samples that are supposed to total $10 in value for free. I thought it would be fun to share what I've recently received, and to see if you actually do get $10 worth of product each time. I'm a theatre teacher and not a math major; hopefully I got all my math correct! 

Mystery Pack #1

My first order was for a Birchbox Scent Sampler and Amika Nourishing Mask. The total was $36; I used a 20% coupon, $20 worth of reward points, and had it shipped free since I’m an Ace. Here’s what I received: 

*Dear Clark “Resurrecting Rince” conditioner-I’m from the Dallas, TX area and was thrilled to see that this company is from Dallas. All the products in it are organic and handmade in Texas. It contains aloe vera, sunflower seed oil, and rose of Jericho. My initial reaction was that it smelled FANTASTIC! Every time I used it my husband made note of how great it smells. It’s hard for me to pinpoint the strongest scent in it; maybe a combination of the aloe and the rose? 

When I used the product it was so incredibly difficult to get out of the sample bottle. It’s a twist top even though it’s a thick product. Not very user friendly! They recommend using a quarter size in your hair-this seemed to be a good size for me. My hair tends to be a little frizzy; not so with this product! I loved discovering this product and hope to get it again. 

The sample size was 1oz. The full size is 8.5 oz for $24 which means my sample was worth $2.82. 

*Harvey Prince Ageless Liquid Loofah -I have previously sampled the Harvey Prince Ageless body lotion. I'm just not a fan of grapefruit, which is one of the fragrances in it, so I wasn't too excited to try this product out. It claims to be exfoliating without using scrubbing beads so I was curious to see if that was really the case. I only got about one and a half uses out of the sample size and I did notice that my skin seemed to be a little softer than normal. The smell wasn't as powerful as the body lotion had been; I just wish I had gotten a little bit larger of a sample. 

The sample size was 15ml. The full size is 12 oz for $22 which means my sample was worth $3.68.

Altogether my mystery sample pack #1 was $6.50. 

Mystery Pack #2

I ordered the Home Sweet Homespun limited edition box on a 20% coupon and added the pack. I received:

*Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm- Is it shameful for me to admit that I haven't tried a BB cream before now? I have fair skin and was nervous to try the sample because it wasn't an exact color match. I shouldn't have been concerned; it blended in nicely with my skin and gave me a bit of a healthy glow. Interestingly enough it has "exotic caviar" in it to help tame complexions. I thought it had good coverage but I just didn't like the smell! 

The sample size was .2 oz. The full size is 1.5 oz for $36 which means my sample was worth $4.80

*Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris perfume -This perfume has a subtle scent to it. It has a nice combination of musk and fruity undertones. It doesn't have much staying power to it; I usually have to reapply after a few hours. It's a good smell for fall and winter. 

The sample size was 2ml. The full size is 30 ml for $65 which means my sample was worth $4.33.

Altogether my mystery sample pack #2 was $9.13. 

Mystery Pack #3

My sister's birthday is coming up so I ordered another Home Sweet Homespun limited edition box on a 20% coupon and added the pack. I received:

*Cynthia Rowley Metallic Eyeliner in silver -I received this item in my September Fashionista box so I will be giving this item to my sister along with the Homespun box. I love the silver color! I use it on my water line to add a little bit of shimmer. Now, it says it's smudge proof and lasts all day. However, on my bottom line, I have to reapply frequently. Good for a night out.

The sample size is .03 oz and the full size is .04oz for $16 which means my sample was worth $12.

*Melvita Eau floral de Rose-Eeeeeek! An expired product!!! And a year old expired product at that. I was puzzled to see that I had received a "rose floral water." Not exactly a beauty product, is it? As I was reading the bottle I saw that it was expired. Gross!

Thankfully Birchbox sent out another mystery pack to replace the mistake of sending out an expired product. They don't list this company anywhere on their website so there's no way of knowing how much they sell/sold the product for. 

This pack was worth $12. 

Mystery Pack #4

*Obliphica Leave In Moisturizing Cream-I have received several Obliphica hair products in other mystery packs. This was the first time to receive a leave in cream. I LOVE leave in hair creams; I use them every single day for my wavy hair. This has a light fruit smell to it from the sea-buckthorn. I wasn't impressed with it but I didn't dislike it either; it didn't wow me. It didn't tame my sometimes frizzy hair but it did leave it feeling soft. I'll stick with my other leave in creams. 

I wasn't able to calculate the exact price on this item because Birchbox doesn't sell the leave in cream. 

*Atelier Cologne Vanille -I've sampled Atelier before in the Mermaid box but this was my first time to receive the vanille product. I like the smell of it! It has a nice warm vanilla scent to it but it's not overbearing. It's perfect for the fall and winter. Like my other Atelier cologne products, I had to apply it throughout the day-it doesn't last the whole work day. 

The sample size was 2ml. The full size is 30 ml for $75 which means my sample was worth $5.

I'm not sure how much this pack totals for. I bet the cream sample wasn't worth $5 or more so I probably totaled less than $10 on this pack. 

So two of my packs were $10; two of them weren't. I've read many mixed reviews about the Birchbox mystery packs. Some people say don't complain about it if you don't get $10 worth, you are still getting a free product. Others say if you are going to advertise for it to be $10 worth of products then you better send $10 worth of products out! I think I agree with the second train of thought. If you aren't going to get $10 worth of product maybe credit some back to the shop so you can spend more money that way. Or maybe offer a nice $10 off coupon for the next time you shop if you spend $35 and don't do the mystery pack. 

Let me know your thoughts about the mystery sample packs! Have you discovered any beauty favorites after receiving an item in the sample pack? And stay tuned for my review of the Homespun box! 

Hello, November!

We are only 2 days into the month of November and it's already been very busy. Justin and I went to my cousin's wedding in the Woodlands yesterday. It was a beautiful service and a wonderful reception. I always cry at weddings; I love seeing the look on the bride and groom's faces when they look at each other while at the alter. I also LOVE seeing the groom's face when he sees his bride walk down the aisle for the first time. It reminds me of my own wedding. You have your whole life ahead of you with your best friend. There's no feeling in the world like it! I think it's important to reflect on your own marriage vows and renew your commitment to your spouse. And of course, I love hearing Bible verses about love, particularly:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

It's weird that we went to a wedding yesterday and we have a funeral to attend tomorrow. Life is funny that way. It's a good reminder to never take anything for granted and to cherish those that you love.

Justin and I at my cousin's wedding this weekend. 

#59 Halloween Special Memebox

I ordered my first Memebox early last month. I know there are a few other bloggers out there who are obsessed with this company so I had to try it out! I LOVE Halloween so imagine my delight when I saw they had a Halloween box for sale! Here was the description of the box: 

Just in time for Halloween!

This Halloween, your possibilities are endless with a chock-full of spooky makeup ideas! No need to drop loads of cash on costumes you’ll only wear once a year, just grab this Halloween Special box, loaded with fun and crafty makeup ideas that are fit for any party occasion! 

Whether you plan on being a sexy vamp, a pretty pixie, or just sport your trusty ol’ witch hat for the night, these do-able Halloween makeup ideas will compliment any costume and also be sure to get you a double-take! 

The box was $23 plus $6.99 for shipping (they are a Korean company). I found a $5 off coupon on Retail Me Not so I ended up paying $25. They shipped it out on October 10th and I ended up getting it on October 20th. 

It came in a large pink envelope (it reminds me a lot of the Ipsy packaging). Here is what it says on the outside (I apologize for the somewhat blurry picture): 

Here is what the box looks like: 

And here is what was inside: 

My initial reaction opening the envelope was disappointment. I had expected it to come in a cute Halloween looking box. Also, there was something sticking out of the box a little bit. 

And then I opened the box and saw the things I had received. 

*Elizavecca Lip Tattoos-Lip tattoos? I'll never use these; it takes too much time to cut them out for your lips and then apply them. I also don't like the deep win and dark burgundy colors it comes in. 

*Lalanc Real Tattoos-My last name is King so I'll probably use the king crown tattoos that are in this pack. I will probably give away the crosses to the youth group at church. 

*Revecen fake eyelashes-These are super long so I'll only be able to use them for Halloween. I do plan on trying them out though. 

*Revecen Liquid Lipstick blood-We just had a zombie production at school so I brought this product with me and applied it on all of the zombies' mouths. If you are a zombie or vampire for Halloween then this product is perfect. 

*Revecen Face Control Foundation in White-A full size sample of something I'll use once a year (and will have to toss anyway after a certain time)? Sigh. 

*Revecen Cake Eye Liner in Black-So you are supposed to apply water to this to make it into a wearable liner. I have a million and one liners I already like that take no time or mess to apply. I'll pass on this item. 

*Revecen Supra Lining Color in Purple-Another item that needs water to apply it. It's a super dark color; I'll take it up to school and use it when I show how to make cuts and bruises. 

Ultimately I'm very disappointed. The size of all the products are great; they just aren't anything I could use more than once or twice. I thought they would have more of a variety of items-they advertised it as such and I feel like this would only be good for a goth or monster creature. Where's the pretty pixie items? 

I'm not sure I'll order from Memebox again-it would have to be a pretty impressive theme for me to. $25 is a lot to spend on beauty products that you may or may not be able to use. I'll put that $25 towards checking out another box (maybe Boxycharm...). 

October PopSugar

I received by October PopSugar box this week. It came as a total surprise; they didn't send me a shipping email and I had read on a few different beauty sites that they were having problems shipping out the October boxes. I looked at a spoiler so I knew exactly what I was going to be receiving. I need to stop doing that! I'm spoiled; I had received my first box (September) not too long ago-I'll have to wait a whole month before I get my next box ;-).

Here's what I received in my box and the suggested retail value of each item:

*Happy Socks Animal Socks ($12)-I'm not much of a sock person. Occasionally at school we will do crazy sock day as part of our Spirit Days so I'll wear these next time we have that. Other than that I don't know when I'll wear these!

*Mine Design Chalkboard Candle ($24)-This is one of my favorite items in the box! I love candles. It smells so nice and I love the fact that you can write on the candle holder with chalk. I'm contemplating keeping this at home or putting it in my classroom (with the chalk hidden from my students haha).

*butter LONDON WINK Eye Pencil in Earl Grey ($18)-This is a pretty color and great for making a smokey eye. I think it's too light to wear as my normal eyeliner so I'll probably use this as a waterline color or on top of a colored eyeliner. It glides on nice and smooth.

*Isaac Jacobs International Acrylic Frame ($36)-Really? $36 for this frame? Please. But I do need a frame for work so this is good timing with this item.

*Nailed Kit Halloween Decals ($8)-Bummer, I just put on some Halloween Jamberrys! But I plan on using these on my toe nails. They are cute but there aren't very many if you make a mistake or want to put them on all of your nails.

*Dean & Deluca Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls ($5.75)-These were actually pretty tasty! I'm not usually a fan of malt balls, but the malt is surrounded by dark chocolate and then topped with a pumpkin spice coating. It was a nice little treat. If you are interested in trying them out, the box came with a 15% off total purchase-use code DEANPOP when you check out.

Special extras: 
 *K. Hall Designs Shoreline Shea Butter/Olive Oil Bar Soap-This soap didn't indicate if it was for the hands or body so I decided to put it in the shower and use it as a body soap since we have a TON of fall scented hand soaps. I was nervous to see if it would totally dry out my sensitive skin, but it didn't! Both my husband and I used it and it does leave the skin moisturized. It doesn't have much of a scent to it which is nice. Great special extra.

*The Blue Jean Bar-$40 coupon to use. I won't be using it, so first person to comment can have my coupon code!

*Marchesa Voyage for Shopstyle-25% off coupon. Another coupon I won't be using; first person to comment can have my coupon code!


Overall, this month didn't impress me as much as last month did. I don't think it was a total bust; there's a few things I will definitely be able to use. I paid $35 for the box and I feel like I "broke even" with this month. I can't wait to see what the holiday boxes will be! Want to try out PopSugar? Be sure to use my referral code, and don't forget to find coupons out there to make your boxes even cheaper!

My thoughts about my first Jamberrys

Recently my friend Ally Summers started selling Jamberry Nails. If you aren't familiar with Jamberry you can check out her site here: http://allysummers.jamberrynails.net. Warning-it's addictive to look at all the nail designs!

Here is the first set I tried last week (called Webtastic):

I switched out my nails last night and here is the set I am currently wearing (called Widow's Web):

Now that I've tried out two different pairs, I'll give you my honest opinion about Jamberry. I have to admit, when I put Webtastic on I just followed the directions on the label. I also used a hairdryer. I should have watched the videos out there because it would have saved me a lot of grief. I'm not a fan of using a hairdryer so the second time I put on a set I used a Jamberry nail heater and it worked AMAZINGLY. Since Webtastic was my first pair it took a little bit longer than what they say it should because you are trying to get the adhesives on juuuussssttt right and trying to match the adhesives to the correct nail. My second set took so much less time and I had learned what not to do this time for my second set. I definitely recommend giving it a few times before you start to feel comfortable applying them. But maybe I'm the only impatient person out there who doesn't like to read or follow directions!

My nails aren't flat and have a curve to them so I have had to use the flat iron method to re-seal the edges a few times. Being a theatre teacher I use my hands and fingers a ton. But I much prefer to have to reseal an edge than have to reapply nail polish when you chip them. Also, it took me less than 5 minutes to take off my first set and there was absolutely no damage. There is nothing more irritating than having to take nail polish off and it stains your nails-you don't have to worry about that with Jamberry.

I really do like having my nails look nice. I usually try to paint my nails or change them out once a week. Jamberry is so much quicker than what I had been doing and they have so many cute designs. I'm definitely a fan now!

My co-worker Simone and I are hosting an online Jamberry party curtesy of Ally Summers. Feel free to check it out here. Also, feel free to post any questions or comments you may have about Jamberry, and I will pass them on to her!

October Birchbox

I've been anticipating my October Birchbox ever since I decided to do the add ons (more information about the add ons below). My past few boxes have been taking longer than normal to get to me (last month it was even lost for about a week). Not sure what's up with that, but it did arrive this week! 

I love the fact that I got to review 7 different products, which means $7 to spend in the Birchbox store. That’s a great deal!

Here's what I received in my box and what I thought about each product: 

*Ellovi Vanilla Butter-Not a big fan of this. It is supposed to smell like vanilla but it smells more like the oils in it to me. And speaking of oil, it is greasy on my skin. I might use it for problem areas like my heels during the winter,  but I definitely won't use it on my hands or arms. I just didn't like the texture of this and wouldn't buy the full size product. 

*Lord & Berry Paillettes Eye Pencil-This was the item I got to choose for this month's box. I LOVE glitter eye liner and couldn't wait to try this out. I was so disappointed with this eye pencil! There was absolutely no glitter included any of the times I used it. I tried it with different colors and brands of eye shadow, but still nothing. It needs to be a creamier formula for this to be more effective. It was dry and hard to put on and I tried sharpening it a few times thinking that might help. Also, the black color faded super fast. I'm talking within the hour of me applying it! I ended up putting a liquid liner over it. This item is getting tossed! 

*Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle-I love leave in conditioners. I like the fact that this is a spray in formula-easier application than the ones I usually use. However, I think there was a problem with the bottle. Myself and several reviewers all had trouble getting the product out. It did leave my hair nice and soft but didn't hold the waves in my hair as much as other products I've used. I'll have to give this one a few more tries before I make my final verdict. 

*Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips-I was super curious to try this product out. Nipple cream on your lips? It kinda makes sense if you think about it. I love how soft it makes my lips and I love that it enhances my natural lip color. The texture is weird at first (a little sticky and greasy) but after I got used to it I love it because it makes my lips so moisturized. This was a hit for me!   

*Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator-I didn't read the label too closely before applying this exfoliator so I was a bit surprised by the microderm crystals, but ended up really liking this product. It made my face feel soft and clean without drying my face out, which is always a concern of mine with products like this. I have sensitive skin and my face didn't break out after using this. Great addition to this box! 

*Oribe Magnificent Shampoo and Conditioner-These were "freebies" that Birchbox threw in as an extra bonus. If this had been one of my normal samples I wouldn't have been pleased because of how small they are. I really like the Oribe hair spray and use it occasionally. This is advertised as a volumizing shampoo and conditioner but I honestly couldn't tell. The shampoo didn't leave my hair feeling clean and I needed more conditioner in the sample size than what it offered. I did like the smell of these products. 

Each month Birchbox gives you the opportunity to add items to your box for an additional cost. The items are usually cheaper from Birchbox than buying  from a retailer, plus you get Birchbox points to use in the store. This month they were giving double points if you purchased two or more items so I decided to splurge and purchase both of the items for sale. I purchased: 

*Bella J Roseberry Candle-This candle has a light berry scent to it. It’s perfect for my nightstand in the bedroom but wouldn’t have much scent power in a large room. What’s cool about this candle is that at the bottom of it is a charm or jewelry piece valued at $25 to $10,000! I’ve burned mine for about 5 hours now (it says you can get 60+hours) and I can already see the pouch. I am soooo tempted to get it out and see what it is but Justin told me that would ruin the surprise, which is the main reason I purchased it! So he told me I have to wait until Halloween.  

*Loren Hope Lilac Mini Alex Cuff-As soon as I saw the purple color for this bracelet I knew I had to have it! I wear purple ALL THE TIME so this will go great with many different outfits. My only problem is that it's a little on the small side. I wish they had a picture of somebody wearing it so I could have had a better idea of the size of it before I purchased it. Here’s a picture of me wearing it-by the way, I could never be a hand model! I can’t ever seem to take a good picture of my hands. 

Finally, Birchbox was recently doing a promotion where if you are on the month to month plan for getting boxes and upgraded to a year's subscription, not only did they give you two boxes for free, but they sent out a mystery sample pack AND this Cynthia Rowley bag that included this eyeshadow color palette and a liquid liner. I'm looking forward to trying all these shades out! There are actually 5 shadows but the far left one is super dark. 

Overall I enjoyed my box and the nice add ons. A couple of the items I could have done without but I also discovered some new favorites! What did you think about October’s box? If you are thinking about joining Birchbox, be sure to use my referral link! 

October Ipsy

I was so excited to receive my second Ipsy bag in the mail yesterday! I really liked my first bag from them last month.This month’s theme is “Beauty Candy.” Cute name! I love the pretty blue bag it came in-the texture and material is very durable. I’ve already thrown it into my work bag to hold this month’s makeup goodies in. 

A side note- I’m not sure how the rest of my bag relates to “Beauty Candy?” Hmmmm….I don’t think I received as many makeup products as other people did. Maybe I’m comparing it to a Meme box where all of the products relate to a certain theme, but my products or the looks I could possibly create from the products didn’t make me think of candy. Speaking of Memebox, I should be getting my special themed Halloween box this week! Eek! 

Here are the products I received and what I thought of them: 

*Nicole by OPI nail polish in “I’m On a Gilt Trip”-I’ve been meaning to buy a gold nail polish so this was good timing. The color looks more like a sand than gold color on me and has more of a matte finish. It does add a little sparkle to my nails. I’d probably use this on an accent nail instead of all my nails next time. 

*Noyah lipstick in “Deeply in Mauve”-The sample size is teeny tiny cute! But that’s ok because this isn’t a color I normally wear. Don’t get me wrong-I really like the raisin color! It’s perfect for fall. I didn’t experience the “sticky” texture that some reviewers had about the product. 

*Skone Cosmetics Tattooed Waterproof Eyeliner-Glides on nice and smooth. Easy application. Great eyeliner! 

*Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser-I used this for the first time last night. I liked the smell of it-very fresh and clean. I felt like I got a good clean from it but it did leave my face feeling dry. I had to put on extra nighttime moisturizer. I have sensitive skin and I didn’t break out from it which is always a fear of mine. 

*Ayres Patagonia Body Butter-This product has jasmine and rosemary in it which makes it smell so nice and calming! Not too powerful or overbearing of a smell. It did leave my skin feeling super soft and left no greasy residue.  

Overall this month’s bag was a hit for me. What did you thing of “Beauty Candy?” Did you get the same or different products as me? And, if you aren’t signed up for Ipsy and would like to, be sure to use my referral code! Both of my sisters signed up-can’t wait to hear what they got and what they think about it. 

Fall is FINALLY here!

It's currently 57 degrees here in DFW with highs in the 70's and low 80's for the next week, so it's safe to say that fall is officially here. About time! I celebrated by having a Halloween shopping spree at Michael's yesterday-all of their Halloween items are currently 50-60% off! I'm planning on stopping by one more time this week. Here is my mantle all decked out for my favorite holiday:

I'll post a few more pictures throughout the week of some of my other Halloween decorations. 

It's a 4 day weekend for the kids and a 3 day weekend for teachers. Tomorrow we are headed to the State Fair with my dad and we are taking Julian-please pray that my 2 year old behaves! This could either go really really good, or really really bad.

Last weekend we went to Austin City Limits. It was both tons of fun and a total disaster. That being said, we are definitely going again next year! Friday night we saw Foster the People and Outkast. Saturday I got to meet Interpol. Sunday I got to see and meet Phantogram, see Fitz & The Tantrums, and see Pearl Jam. Fitz was my favorite performance; Pearl Jam was my least. Pearl Jam is one of Justin's favorite bands but it's just not my style of music.

Me getting to meet Interpol. Really sweet guys-I was a HUGE fan of theirs while I was in college! I was all blushy and fan girlie while I was talking to them. 

A few of my favorite pictures from ACL. 

Austin is one of my favorite places ever. I wish wish wish that we lived there! It totally fits my hipster/eclectic personality. A dream that Justin and I have is to buy a house in Austin or a surrounding area. Hopefully one day it happens! 

Justin and I went to ACL for the first time in 2010 when we had just started dating. It was nice to relive and revisit some of those memories <3. I'm looking forward to taking my kids to ACL and introducing them to something that is really important to me-live music! 

First Pop Sugar box!

I received my first Pop Sugar box this last Monday. It's the September box-I'm assuming that due to the timing of when I signed up I will also be receiving the October box here in the next few weeks. I signed up for the deal that if you order 3 boxes you get $10 off the normal price of 3 boxes. I also found a $5 off coupon so my total for each box is $35 instead of the normal $40.

*My favorite product is definitely the scarf. It's a beautiful raison and gray color. The normal retail price is $125-can you believe that? My wardrobe is mostly blacks and purples and I can't wait to wear it.

*The Nicole Miller earphones are a pretty blue color. I normally use the earplugs that my iPhone came with because I'm too cheap to go buy a new pair so this was perfect for me. I'll definitely be using these at the gym.

*The brownie was GROSS! I brought it to work and me and a couple of my co-workers tried it. It's gluten free, organic, raw, blah blah healthy and it just wasn't for me (or any of us). There was also a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase for UrbanRemedy.com-if you would like to have that coupon code from me, first person to comment on this post will receive it!

*The Oribe hair spray was a nice beauty addition to the box. It left my hair looking so shiny when I used it! I'm glad that Birchbox sells it-I'll be able to buy the full size in the future from them.

*The pencils were ok. I'm a teacher and I prefer mechanical-so much easier than having to sharpen them. I'll probably be handing them out to students.

*The cards were cute. They are perfect for when I need to write thank you notes to female co-workers or parents at school.

*The Ghirardelli almond and sea salt squares were DELICIOUS! They mixed my very two favorite things to add to chocolate. I will definitely be buying these in the future-yum yum!

*Nike sent a measuring tape in the hopes that I will measure myself and buy a Fit bra from them. They sent a $20 gift card as well-I've been eyeballing some new purple tennis shoes so I'll be taking advantage of this coupon.

Overall, I was really happy with the box. I thought it was definitely worth the $35, if not for the scarf alone. I'm excited to get my next one in!