2015 Resolutions

There’s something reassuring about having an outline of a plan for the coming year. Putting my resolutions on the web helps keep me more accountable (barring 2014) and gives me the satisfaction of checking things off into the “Done List”.

I've yo-yo'ed back into the double digits with my resolutions this year. I’m being a bit more diligent with the planning and success criteria with each. Hopefully that will result in more passes than fail whales. *fingers crossed*

2015 Resolutions

1.      Keep a closer eye and tighter fist on my finances. There may have been copious spending in 2014; some splurging, some necessities, and some way in advance, “just in case” purchases. Now that I’m a grown up with a career path and everything, I suppose it’s time to be a bit more fiscally responsible by

a.       Doing the 52 week money saving challenge.

b.      Limiting myself to 5 extras/splurges per month.

c.       Potentially getting a second source of income. Writing articles was fun for a bit. Or a personal shopper? There isn’t much of a market around here for that. I’ll figure it out.

2.      Do the PopSugar Ultimate Reading Challenge. If my math is right, that’s 52 books, so one book per week. And we’re already past week one. Oops! Better get on it. Any recommendations readers?

3.      Be creative

a.       Do one DIY or household project (digitizing all print photos) per month. This is more on the handy side.

b.      Do one craft project per week. This is more on the artsy side.

c.       Write a minimum of five lines per day. I’m definitely behind on this. Better start working on the 20 pending lines and work on today’s five as well.

4.      Break a bad habit.*

5.      Be more conscientious

a.       Maintain a weekly “Things I am Grateful For” journal. (First craft project of the year!). The original journal idea is a 365 

b.      Be more in touch with those who matter, especially my grandparents. The more advanced communication becomes, the harder it seems to get to be really in touch with those who matter.

c.       Do a good deed/get involved in social service or a volunteering effort. I used to do a lot of volunteering when I was in high school; while life wasn’t perfect, there was a sense of peace that I think volunteering gave me. I’m also a glutton for instant gratification, and nothing works better than giving back to the community.

6.      Learn a new skill. As usual. Poaching an egg is on my “bucket list” (see number 9).

7.      Vacation with Mishal. We haven’t hung out since Bermuda, which means it’s been too long. Time for another epic time together. What’s your favorite place to go for a relaxing time? I’m in the mood to just chill and take a breather from life.

8.      Visit a new place. This should, by default, be fulfilled by number 7.

9.      Revise bucket list and cross off one item. Poach an egg, make Crème Brule, try making a soufflé, visit a whole sub-bucket list of places, etc., etc... I’m still working on it.

10.  Take a risk* – huge maybe! In theory, it sounds good. I’ll let the year play itself out and see what opportunities come my way.

11.  Secret resolution – to be revealed if it’s a success. ;)

*Inspired by the 2014 resolutions on http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/

2014 in Reflection

2014 was a blur. I say this every year, but really 2014 flew by so fast 2013 memories blended in a bit. It's been a year of learning, growth, and good moments, very few of which had to do with my resolutions. I'm okay with that because I burst beyond my Jar 'o' Good Stuff and had to break out a Box 'o' Good Stuff (both of which are missing really safely packed up). Top moments of 2014 were definitely the new (bigger!) home we've recently moved into, getting a mini-promotion in my job, and our trip to India.

Right, onto the 2014 Resolutions.

Success

1.      Strengthen myself educationally and career-wise. In an utterly non-humble admission, I’m doing quite well in the career department. In the hierarchy of the New York state hiring system, I don’t sit very high. But in the skills and knowledge department, I've learned and applied more in one year than some (many) people have in their entire civil service career. I got lucky, having Business Analysis fall in my lap and turn out to be a perfect career switch.

I can’t imagine what dead-beat, entry-level job I could be stuck at right now, if things hadn't worked out in my favor (because an English degree and partial medical school experience can only get you so far). To anyone who is confused about their career plans, give state service (or federal service) a serious consideration; the job security and perks (such as health insurance) alone are worth it.

3.      Tap into my creative side more: painting, writing, dancing, photography, and whatever else I can get into. I haven’t necessarily done more creative work, but I've kept at it and the tail end of 2014 saw a burst of productivity. Photographic proof to be found at my Instagram. Especially fun were the projects at the Pottery Place and the one with the chalkboard paint. (PS – Don’t judge the results. I haven’t done pottery glazing in well over a decade.)

4.      Learn a new skill - always, always, always! Does putting together four bar stools all on my own count as a new skill? A men’s valet stand? How about re-familiarizing myself with the dreadful Facebook? I did become a Certified Scrum Master in March of this year, and have since applied those skills to my job. 

5.      Go on a vacation. I'd originally wanted to go on 2-3, but for now I'll settle for one vacation. My proper and uber long vacation was a month in India, and even that wasn't a vacation so much as it was a trip. Twenty eight days, ten cities, seven trains, five planes, two day trips, one major festival, an army event, and roughly 150 kg (330 lbs.) worth of shopping constitute something closer to an expedition in my books.

Curbside Gods - Pray anytime, anywhere.

Fail Whale

2.      Cook more - there's Mom's collection of recipes to learn, plus so many recipe books that are just lying in the basement, collecting dust. The collection of cook books were dusted off, only to be boxed and moved to the new home (we have a new home). This was a washout resolution. I’ll considered it salvaged if I can poach an egg before the year’s end. That leaves me two days. Yikes! ETA: egg has not been poached.

  

6.      Read more! Good Reads tells me I didn't read much. I took in more profession-related articles and news pieces, which isn't the type of reading I’d meant when writing down that resolution, but at least it’s something.

7.      Blog more (haha, what an inspiring start!) Blogging was non-existent. Lots of good intentions, a fair few drafts, but nada on the actual blogging front. The good news is, this means I have plenty of drafts to polish up and present to you in the coming year.

8.      Cross off 1 item from my bucket list. I tend to avoid this as a resolution, but I think 2014 is the year to achieve something! I took a look at my resolutions list, and I believe it’s time to reconsider. The dreams of yesterday aren't necessarily the hopes for tomorrow.

2013 in Reflection

2013 in Reflection

2013 whizzed by so fast, I'm still dizzy! Overall, it was a good year. I participated in two research conferences, interned in a PR position (so that's one off my career experience "bucket list"), got a job, and graduated from UAlbany. If there were things that didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped, well these highlights have completely overshadowed them.

Successes
1. Keep up with blogging - I catapulted to 20 blogs in 2012. I squeaked in 21 in 2013. Thank God I worded my resolution as "keep up" not "blog very frequently" or "blog on a consistent/regular basis".

2. Keep up with reading - I'm not entirely sure how many books I read, but since I graduated with a degree in English, it was a fair number. (Irish literature ... not really my thing, as it happens).

4. Get a job - check!

5. Learn a new skill - again. Yeah, there's been plenty of on-the-job training and I've certainly picked up skills there. Plus the research conferences and the internship - lots of small and medium-sized skill picked up along the way from all of that.

9. Get back in touch with Caitlin - done. Now to make the effort to stay in touch. Something I'm not too brilliant at all the time. (speaking of which, excuse me while I go wish someone a quick happy birthday)

12. Get healthier - Am I at optimal health? No! Am I healthier? Yes. Lost some more weight. Hitting the gym more often. Eating better - no crash diets though. Those don't work. At all.

Fail-whale
3. Do 4+ photo challenges - why do I bother? Unless you count half-assedly doing some Instagram challenge of the month series, no, this definitely did not happen.

6. Stop enabling Person X - This was just such an unhealthy way to think and go about things. Moving on!

7. Vacation with Mishal! - Because it's high time we hung out and were crazy together! I have the best times with this girl!

8. Move to Atlanta - All part of moving on with life. Whichever direction things go in, I think it's time I became more independent.

11. Do at least 1 crafty project - see. Now I'm being super honest. I'm not counting the spray-painting I did, because really, even a five year old can do that. *hangs head in shame*

WIP

10. Help Mom out more - baby steps. I'm just used to doing things my way in my own time. Gets awkward not being the person in charge when you're back home.

13. Make myself Priority #1 - over the course of the year I've learned to moderate this and work on the little things that add up to making myself #1. I'm going to (try to) put that into practice in 2014. *fingers crossed*

Though the To-Do/Memory Board is roughly the same.

The Jar O' Good Stuff filled up quite a bit.

Maybe I can get crafty and put all of this in a scrap book. (Maybe!)

Revlon Lip Butter Review - Loving it!

I blame MissBudgetBeauty (in the best of ways) for the following:

Also, I lucked out on a killer sale at CVS a couple of weeks back. Don't know why the Revlon Lip Butters were marked down by 75%, but I'm not one to question a good deal.

Yes, I'm late to the party. I haven't been a big lipstick person. I've always preferred lip glosses, but the latest trend of sticky lip glosses has had me searching for alternatives.

At $2.12 I said why the heck not to the Revlon Lip Butters. These had received good reviews from people I trust and I'd been wanting to try one out for some time. Well one became eight because I couldn't decide on a color. Oodles of swatches online, including a mega swatch here.

In current rotation are Peach Parfait and Sugar Plum. I stuck to my safe palette and am already regretting I didn't include something more daring like Lollipop.

I like that it goes on smooth and starts off a bit sheer, playing up my natural color. 1-2 coats is almost like a stain, but they are buildable so you can get really good pigmentation. I've stayed away from lipsticks because they tend to be drying or wear off really fast, but I haven't had either of those problems with the Lip Butters. In fact, if anything, they have worked like a balm on my lips, leaving me softer even on days I don't use them.

The only negative I have for this is the tube design. The base to cap ratio is 10% to 90% and that makes getting the cap off a little tricky. After the first couple of times you get the hang of it and the cap pops off easy (and clicks back into place securely). But the design might have been better balanced at 25% to 75%. Anyway, it's a minor thing, considering the actual product is really good.

If $8 works for you, or you find Lip Butters on sale, I'd say definitely snag one (2, 3, 4...).

Thank you Mikhila!

Not Your Mother's Hair...

...except that the whole teased, textured style was definite in through the 80s and early 90s. Looks like bigger is better, again. Good thing my hair is naturally frizzy ;)

Influenster sent me a SweetHeart VoxBox (so sweet!) and in it was a Not Your Mother's product. I'm not big on putting too many chemicals and such in my hair, so it was nice to see something where the first couple of ingredients are pronounceable everyday things.

Courtesy soap.com

I didn't know what to expect. I was worried the salt would dry out my hair. I've used it a few times now (not daily), and can happily report no drying of hair. I have naturally curly hair so the waves don't actually show. BUT this is the first product that has left my hair frizz-free all day and hasn't made it CRUNCHY! Phew! So, instead, I have pretty, soft curls that I can actually leave open (more like half-pin since I'm not used to having my hair down haha).

sorry for the out-of-focusness

At only $5 at walmart, I would definitely repurchase this. HUGE thanks to Influenster for bringing this brand to my attention. Even at the trial size, there's a lot of product (oh yeah, you don't need to spray a whole lot for it to work), so I get to try it for a good amount instead of just once like when you get samples from other places. Sweet deal!

a bit leaked in the box, but still plenty to use and try out

Side note: The brand is huge. They've got a vast variety of products, something for all hair types and needs. At $5 I think they're definitely worth checking out.

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

I glisten..kinda

Because women supposedly don't ever sweat. Well, clearly enough women sweat a whole lot that Secret went and made Clinical Strength Stress Sweat Protection.

Courtesy Pinterest and someecards

I'm not going to gross you out by talking about sweating. I'll just do a quick product review and recommend you try it out yourself to see if it works for you (because everyone's body chemistry is different, etc. etc.)

It goes on smooth, has a pleasant smell (serene citrus, though there are other options) and is REALLY good at keeping you dry. Those are the three things I look for in a deodorant, so points to Secret for each of those. Other brand deodorants, including other Secret products, do a good enough job neutralizing odors and keeping the sweat to a minimum.

The Stress Sweat Protection, though, is like a Tony Stark-grade deodorant. This baby will keep you dry and fresh all day long (maybe not all day at the gym though). Yes, it's still cold out, so how can I really claim that. But see some of the buildings I go to classes in keep it super hot, and I glisten a whole lot. It's also useful against a stressful gym session - once in a while there's a non-stressful gym session. Go figure. So yeah, I've had opportunity to sweat it out.

My own...hence the sub-par quality.

If you're someone who needs to change her shirt after a trip down the driveway to get your mail ... you might want to see a doctor. In the meantime, this is worth trying out.

The only con I have for this deodorant is it's price. It costs something like $8, which is high for a store deodorant. But keep in mind it's prescription strength, so it's worth it. Of course, I'd never have picked it up myself, so thank you Influenster for sending it to me to try out. But I really think it's very helpful for my fellow "glistening" ladies (okay, fine. We have a sweating problem, in that we could sweat in an air-conditioned room).

Courtesy Google and Sunday Comics Debt

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Inner skinny girl: Sorry, but no thanks.

The SkinnyGirl Daily On-the-Go Greek Yogurt and Blueberry Bar didn't do it for me. If you've ever had any Nutrisystem food, it tasted sort of like that. I think whatever they use as substitute for gluten to make it healthier is programmed to come out tasting like cardboard, which is where health foods lose me.

I'm down for making better choices and eating healthier, but at least make it taste good. I'm doing the gluten-free thing (more on that later), but haven't tried any of the gluten-free bread or pasta stuff. After trying the On-the-Go Bar, I'm not so keen.

On the positive side, the Greek yogurt and blueberry (honest to goodness, real blueberries!) bit was good. If they can up the appeal for the base, SkinnyGirl's got a fantastic product.

I will say, it was good to have the bar on hand. I happened to have it on a day when I was actually "on-the-go" and it helped quiet my growling tummy. None of it got sticky or messy, despite having made its way to the bottom of my backpack.

So, over all, points for concept, convenience and real blueberries (this, coming from a girl who doesn't like blueberries), but it's not something I would buy at the store because of the taste, "cardboard" and price factors.


"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Va-Va-WOW!!!

I'd like you to meet my new best friend, the Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid system.

It's really va-va-WOW!

It's a portable mini-massager-cum-cleanser for your face. I always feel refreshed and awake after using this, even without the accompanying Shine Shine Go Away Cleanser. 

My skin feels softer, lighter, tighter and smoother after one use - all excellent reasons for making this part of the daily routine. I like that I can use it with other face washes as well. Or, just with a bit of water for a wake-me-up massage.

Here's what makes it a stand out product:

1) It's compact and light, therefore portable. It's roughly the size of a disposable razor, though a negligible bit bulkier. Heck, it made it into my travel kit within a week of receiving it.
2) It works off 1 AAA battery (first one comes pre-loaded), which minimizes the need for multiple charging accessories.
3) It's not harsh. The rubber tips are gentle, do not irritate the skin, and provide a firm massage & cleaning.
4) Easy maintenance - again, it's basically rubber and plastic, so this pocket-sized powerhouse is easy to clean and use.

Verdict: Buy it! I was lucky enough to get this in a Influenster VoxBox. Now that I've tried it out (and had the rest of my family try it out), I can say this is something I would definitely spend $15 on. In fact, I've got my sister asking for one, and she's not super into beauty maintenance routines. In case mine ever dies, it's one of those things I would re-purchase, and I don't say that about many products. The Fresh Effects system isn't a gimmick, it really is that awesome.

(ps - for the few reviewers who've noticed an increase in breakouts, keep in  mind everyone reacts differently to different products. Try the va-va-Vivid with your regular face wash and see if that makes a difference)

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Sweetheart VoxBox Pre-Review

'Free' is one of my favorite words, and Influenster delivers. Influenster gives me a chance to "try the latest and coolest products catered towards [my] lifestyle", in exchange for giving reviews and getting other people to take notice of these products. Sounds fair to me.

When I got the email that I'd been selected to receive a VoxBox (finally!!!) I literally squeed.

*squee* Finally getting an @influenster #voxbox - the valentine edition. SUPER excited! #happydance
— Simi Sinha (@SimTara) February 15, 2013

Waiting for my box to come in was agony. A white box was sitting on my porch on Feb 26. At first I thought it was something for my dad, but then I picked it up and saw a pink heart sticker.

Look at all the goodies I got inside. 

The Secret Clinical Strength deodorant is timely, since I'm about to run out. At 1.6oz, it's one of their regular sizes (not the bitty, travel size). I will use and review soon-ish, so watch this space for a link to the review.

I'm a little iffy about the Not Your Mother's 'beach babe' spray. My hair is naturally curly and dry, plus this weather is killing my scalp health, so I'm not sure how smart it will be to put salty water in. I know getting in the ocean water hasn't been good, and I'm assuming the spray will react the same. Anyone have any feedback? If you've used this/something like it, let me know. Now that my hair has finally grown out to all natural (I had chemically relaxed it), I'll give it a go in the spring season and review.

Unfortunately, this bottle leaked a bit into my box. See:

 

Fortunately, it seems to have stopped leaking, so I'll have enough to actually try out.

I'm REALLY looking forward to trying out the Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid cleansing system, but anything that helps exfoliate and cleanse my face is awesome. Especially in this crappy, drying winter. Is it spring yet? I haven't actually gotten around to using it, so hopefully that'll happen some time this week. *fingers crossed*

Aaand lastly, I was excited to get a Skinny Girl On-The-Go bar, because I like the concept of the brand and I've liked what little of Bethenny I've seen on TV. I've tried it. Let's just say, it's a healthy bar. I'll post a full review soon.

Right, well. That was my box. Free stuff, all basically full size. For the record, here's the disclaimer: "I've received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes." Which is basically what I said in the beginning, but I don't want to end up in trouble, so there you have it.

If you're active online and will recommend products if you like them, you should definitely request an Influenster membership (only open in North America). Have questions? I may have answers. Or I'll be able to point you in the right direction at the very least. 

Ta!

1 Year Anniv with iDoneThis

It's my one year anniversary with iDoneThis. *does happy dance*

(I mentioned them last year in my 10 Tweeps You Should Follow post ... and they'll always be on that list!)

My buzzwords since last year have been accountability and self-improvement. Considering my always long lists of resolutions (2012 and 2013), iDoneThis is a particularly handy app: I get an email every night at 8pm asking me to "take 30 seconds to write out what [I] got done today."

(You can, of course, tweak it so the reminder comes at any other time of day you prefer.)

And see, iDoneGood!

Ok so I fell off the grid for a bit from end May to beginning October, but picked it back up when Ginni - the Chief Happiness Officer - reached out to me via email to check in. How cool is that!? I don't know about you, but gestures like that really make me love a company.

So I don't know whether to call this a cheat, a side benefit or just abuse of an opportunity available to me, but I also use my iDoneThis updates as mini-journal logs. I like to journal and would love to do more of it in general, but most days I either forget or am too tired/lazy. When iDoneThis asks me what I got done, I take it as an opportunity to jot notes of the significant and trivial bits, creating a weird collage of moments. Some of these jots are elaborated into proper journal entries, but some just stay as little sticky-note reminders of life.

Anyway, I haven't missed a day since October 2, 2012 (woah! My brain remembers that it's Gandhi's birthday...absolutely bloody useless information unless I'm ever on Jeapordy). I have the best intentions to not miss a day again ... but no promises.

Thanks for keeping me on track with my goals and helping me hold on to random memories iDoneThis!!!

To those reading: try iDoneThis out for a week and tell me what you think. It's free and good for you, so you have no excuse ;)

In Which I Discover British Television

I've only just discovered Sanjeev Bhaskar and Ayesha Dharker. They're both brilliant.

Not my Image - from The Telegraph

Have you seen The Indian Doctor? It's a sweet little British series about an Indian doctor (who'd'a thunk :P) who moves to Wales with his wife. It's a fascinating look at what assimilating to the UK must have been like in the 1950s (ish). Actually, I imagine it depicts what it might still be like for any foreign family that moves to a small town in the UK or the US.

If you're into off-beat or indie things, check out the series. While you're at it, check out Anita and Me. It's a gem of a movie that would speak to most first generation Indians at some level.

Somebody, put them in more shows and movies! Preferably together!!!

Fortunately, Sanjeev Bhaskar is going to be in The Zero Theorem, which stars Matt Damon... which just makes the whole thing even better!

And you can also see Ayesha Dharker as Asha in Outsourced (the movie) - which was far better as a movie than a show - and as Tara Mandal in Coronation Street (HOW has it been going on since 1960!? I'll add it to my long list of shows I want to check out).

Right. Done squeeing like a fangirl. For now.

BirchBox Mega Review Update (Boxes 3-6)

Oops! I haven't blogged much and I definitely haven't done as many Birchbox reviews as I thought. Let me try to highlights instead of detailed reviews (though, I think we all know I tend to be wordy).

Birchbox #3 - July 2012

From BirchBox website

• Ada Cosmetics Bronzer sample, which I mistook for a full-sized eyeshadow pot at first. Heck, I used it as eyeshadow the first time. Oops! Pigmentation is light but the color is nice. On my skin tone, it'll best for winter when I'm not very tan.
• I haven't tried the GLOSS Moderne High Gloss Masque for my hair yet, but I'm looking forward to it. It's got all sorts of yummy sounding ingredients and smells like coconut. It should be enough for at least 3 uses, if not 4-5. If I really like it, and it works well for my hair, I might splurge $39 for the full size.
• Harvey Prince Hello perfume sample was light and summery and nice. I recommend it for people who like the not-overly-sickly-sweet floral perfume, but still like it light and sweet.
• Larabar uber Bananas Foster was yum.
• Stila It's Go Time Lip Glaze - I got a lovely, brownish shade which is in my comfort zone. I have decided I adore Stila products. If I ever splurge on makeup, it will definitely be either a Stila product or a BareEscentuals product.
• Birchbox Extra Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds...always good to have an extra pair of buds hanging around and these come in fun, bright colors. That said, the buds are cheapy and the sound quality isn't brilliant. These will be the emergency pair for desperate times.
• Overall, money's worth and more for sure. I'd be willing to pay full price for some of these products. Definitely a good "we're sorry" box..enough so that I went ahead and got the August box.

Birchbox #4 - August 2012

• DDF Brightening Cleanser works well, but wasn't "wow" different enough to justify shelling out $38 for a facewash
• Foil packets are a waste and that's basically what Stilla All Day Foundation, Concealer & Brush kit was. Too dark for my skin tone and not enough for me to judge fairly
• A free razor is awesome and a free $10 Schick Hydro Silk Razor is an awesome deal. Plus a coupon. 
• Unfortunately, I was missing 2/5 samples: Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur, which I would have been meh about and ShowStoppers Designer Fashion Tape, which would have been cool and useful.
• I notified Birchbox and received a very prompt, apologetic and helpful email. They gave me bonus points and comp'd my September box, which is good because I was planning to skip September after missing items in 2/3 boxes.
• Overall, got my money's worth. The products were nice, but I'd only get the Schich which was a Birchbox find, not a typical sample.

Birchbox #5 - September 2012

From BirchBox website

• Have I mentioned my dislike for foil packets? I got a two-fer in this box. The first was a Benefit foamingly clean facial wash and refined finish facial polish duo. Haven't tried it yet. I'll get around to it when I run out of my regular face wash. The reviews have been meh, nothing spectacular ish.
• The second foil was a Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Trio. Absolutely useless for me because I actually don't have a split end problem. Just because I have dry, frizzy hair doesn't mean I have split ends. And my hair isn't even all that dry. Just not that silky or anything either.
• Youngblood Mineral Primer is something I got a little excited about. I've been wanting to try out primers and I finally got a sample. I've used it a few times but haven't noticed any difference in my makeup application. Meh. At least I got to try it.
• Ooh tea! Ok, I'm not that much into teas, but hey, tropical green teas (Mighty Leaf Tea) are interesting. I'll try it soon.
• Color Club Custom Collection "Status Update" nail polish is out of my comfort zone since it's a grey. BUT I've been wanting to deviate from my normal pinks, pearls & maroons, so the timing was perfect. It's a nice slate grey kind of color and one coat is opaque enough for my taste.
• I did not receive the twistband that I was supposed to. Come on Birchbox! Not that I cared for an overpriced piece of knotted elastic, but I should get what you promise me.
• Overall, $10 was more than covered, but I wasn't impressed with the products at all. Half the stuff wasn't usable and the rest was meh.

Birchbox #6 - October 2012

• This box was a week late in getting sent out (usually ships out on the 10th of the month). It shipped from Edison, NJ and took a week to get to me .. could've gone and picked it up myself in one day haha
• LA FRESH acetone-free nail polish remover ... 2 sachets. Ok, cool. I'll use it on the go... or give it to my mum when she's travelling.
• LUNA Fiber Chocolate Raspberry bar. It's a hefty size for a bar, so that's good. But Birchbox, please stop sending me food! I signed up for makeup/beauty stuff!!!
• Naked Princess Naked Shine Luscious Lip Gloss. 0.008oz sample size. That's like 4 drops of water. Ok, enough for 10ish uses. Would I pay $26 for a full size (0.1oz)? Hell no! I can get better formula & variety of colors from CVS.
• willa Clear Face Moisturizer is a nice travel size item. I'm not particular about products being natural but it's an added bonus. I'll see how good it is after a few uses. Thankfully it's not a foil sample ;)
• theBalm cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer .. the name makes me feel like it will turn me into a man! LOL It's supposed to be a highlighter-eyeshado-allover shimmer in one. It's a light yellow-golden color that will work best as a highlighter. Cute packaging and I'll get a decent number of uses out of it. But I wouldn't buy it because I adore my Stila all-in-one way more (I'll blog about that later).
• Overall, utterly disappointing box. The samples almost didn't total $10. The products aren't things I would invest in; they don't seem tailored to my needs/wants. I've given it the 6 months I promised I would and have been disappointed more times than not. So because of that, and I can't afford throwing away $10/month right now, I'm cancelling my monthly subscription.

Caveat: I do like the concept and BB has introduced me to a lot of products I've liked or would like to try. I will come back to it eventually, but only after they've worked their way through these growing pains (terrible twos) and up their standards a bit. I'm not the only one complaining so they clearly have to change things. They can't afford not to, especially with Ipsy as competition.

I'm actually quite sad leaving BB. It was fun getting a box of goodies in the mail every month.

If you're not deterred by my somewhat bad experience, and you want to sign up for BirchBox, you can head this-a-way to sign up.

I take it back!!!

I take it back! I like Stainiac. It's a brilliant product. The first that I've tried that really doesn't feel like anything on my skin. It's so lightweight and sheer that it's utterly natural looking. I love love love that it doesn't feel like I have lipstick or gloss on. Even on my cheeks it feels like nothing: no stickiness, no heaviness, no nothing!

My lips look like I've been eating berries or a popsicle and my cheeks have a natural flush.

I doubt I'll spend $17 for the full size, but this little tube will be set aside for special occasions.

The only thing I don't like is the slightly off putting, bitter-chemically smell and taste to it. But those kind of disappear after a while.


I also tried the Yu-Be moisturizing cream last night. Woah mama! It's quite amazing. My feet have been horribly dry and cracked this summer - blasted heat! I tried the cream for the heck of it, before passing out. I woke up to much improved, nearly 100% healed feet. And I only used one pea size dab for both feet! Definitely a great product. Might even be worth it at $16 for the 1.25oz tube if you have really dry skin issues (my sample size is 0.1oz and will last me a long time).


I'm not too excited by the sneak peak of July, but since Birchbox has partnered up with Glamour, and they don't talk about absolutely everything they're including in the different boxes, I am really looking forward to my July Birchbox. I really hope I get the Stila One Step Bronze. *fingers crossed*

I think I'll give Birchbox one or two more months. If I don't get a single 100% satisfactory box by 5 months of trial, I'll switch to checking out MyGlam, Cravebox, Sindulge, LookBag, or Glossybox ($21/month, but it seems to have more full-size and high-end products). Honestly, there are so many of these subscription services, it becomes a luck of the draw with what you get with each per month. But I think 5-6 months a service is a reasonable amount of time to decide whether to stick with it. And at $10 a pop for most of these, I don't feel too guilty or overindulgent (especially since the value of the box exceeds $10 every time).

Birchbox Review 2 - June 2012

I just received my second Birchbox a couple of hours ago. Yay!

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this one. But since I got at least my money's worth, I can't complain.

Here's what they promised:

And here's what they delivered:

At least this time everything on the list was included in the box. I was, at first, thrown off by men's sample cologne but then I read the card and realized it was a Father's Day bonus. Phew!

The Eyeko eyeliner is a full size product. So that alone makes the $10 subscription worth it. Score! Not to mention I love makeup :D I wish it had been a bolder color, but I can't really complain about basic black either. Will try it out and see.

The Melvita Rose Floral Water smells delicious! It also comes in lavender, which would have been just as lovely. However, I'm not about to pay $22 for a bottle of this stuff. Granted a full size is 6.76oz versus the 0.96oz that I got, but the latter will be more than enough for this summer.

I'm not sure I'd wear the Stainiac in Beauty Queen on my cheeks, but I will try once. I think I was expecting something a bit more lip glossy, but it's definitely a gel. It stains in a purpley-pink (in a good way) and is incredibly light weight. I'll update with a picture of my lips or cheeks if I like it. I got a sample size in my box (0.04oz) and the real deal is 0.3oz for $17. Who prices this stuff!? Oh yeah, it doesn't smell all that good and has a slightly weird taste.

The Yu-Be moisturizing cream came just in time. My feet could use some TLC. Unfortunately I think I can only squeeze out, max, 2 times worth of moisturizer out of that itty-bitty tube. No worries, vaseline does the same job and is significantly cheaper. ($16 for lotion, really?)

Ok, I know I'm a med-geek and all, but these fashion band-aids did nothing for me. I'd go as far as saying, stupid! Really seriously!? Apparently there are idiots out there who pay $15 for 20 band-aids. Suckers!

The men's cologne is a bit meh. Happy Father's Day Daddy! Hope he likes the scent.

I'm very jealous of all the people who got the Stilla One Step Bronzer in their box. That would have been amazing! Hint hint, wink wink!

So yes, overall..not bad. At least this time, it's all useful in some way or another (and I didn't get a lame zip-lock bag like some). I'm hearing some rumors about next month's box already, so fingers crossed I get some good stuff. Off to tweak my profile a bit. ;)

Birchbox Review 1 - May 2012

Ooh I received my first Birchbox on May 9, 2012!!!

A little background on Birchbox - for $10 a month you get a monthly package of "goodies" (mostly beauty supplies). They are usually sample size items, but once in a while Birchbox slips in a full size product. Now, most of the stuff in the box is worth well over $10, even at sample size; so the deal-seeker in me was excited to try out this service.

Sadly, my first Birchbox has left me a little disappointed.

Here's what they promised:

And here's what they delivered:

Birchbox has you fill out a questionnaire asking for various information, including your age range, skin type, etc. Having selected the appropriate age range, I was extremely perplexed to receive the Kiehl's Abyssine Cream+. Fortunately, I have no need for this product, yet - now if there had been anything for graying hair, that's a different story. So this one goes to my mum ... nothing says "Happy Mother's Day" like anti-wrinkle cream eh? ;) (ps - some of the ingredients are actually natural)

Back to the top of the list - the Bulgari Omnia Crystalline. It's actually quite nice. Definitely feminine, but not so floral. Smelled more like a crisp, light musk. Not at all overwhelming, but it lingers in a nice way. I do believe I've found my new favorite scent. Not sure I'll ever spring for it at $64.00 for a 1.33oz bottle, but if someone's feeling generous and wants to gift it to me, I won't complain ;)

I didn't get a Color Club nail polish, and clam bake coral sounded perfect for my upcoming cruise. Bummer! Instead, I got a Sugar Rose tinted lip treatment. It goes on smooth and smells like lemonade, which is perfect for summer! There's no way I'd pay $22.50 for a 0.15oz tinted chap stick (with SPF 15), but I'm content with my 0.08oz sample.

The Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF in 20 Glow promises a lot. I'll try it out on the cruise and let you know if it delivers. The list of ingredients starts off with all sorts of natural things like jojoba oil and soy amino, but of course devolves into some unpronounceable chemicals and silicone. I'm a little skeptical, but still willing to try.

No Twistband hair tie for me. Instead I got a trivia sweepstakes card. Since I don't watch Gossip Girl, this does nothing for me. I would much rather the Color Club nail polish!!!

And finally the bonus xoxo note-card. Cute. Useful. Bit of a cop out.

So not 100% satisfied with my first Birchbox. 2 out of 6 items are hits and will be used with reverence (Bulgari & Sugar Rose), while the rest will be tried/tested and probably never given a second thought.

But I'll stick it out and see what Birchbox has to offer in June. I'm hoping the bounty is better.

There's a referral link at Birchbox, but since I've only had a semi-good first experience, I'll hold off until I get a better feel for it. (every friend referral + sign up = 50pts, 100pts = $10 at Birchbox ... 50pts does not equal $5 however...so sad!)