Julep Maven November Review + Free Box Code

    

     It's here!!  My November Julep Maven box has arrived and it is looking quite festive.  If you are not familiar, Julep Maven is a monthly nail polish and beauty box.  I love getting a monthly box in the mail, though Julep is different in that it is completely customizable.  Now, in case you are wondering there is an item missing.  Their new Go Big mascara was delayed in getting to their warehouse so it will be coming later but they already sent an email explaining with a bonus 950 jules.  Jules are points you earn and put towards maven boxes and add ons.  I am happy they decided to send the rest right away because it is hard to be patient ;). 

Marzia is a gorgeous metallic chrome shimmer from the It Girl collection.  I really love this color and I think it will be the perfect accent color for some fun holiday nails.  Now I just need to come up with a design!  If you have any ideas for holiday nails I would love to see :).

Shari is described by Julep as a delicate sweet pea creme.  I was thinking Shari was more of a light pink  but after swatching she looks more on the nude side.  Either way she is fabulous, I love soft pinks and nude colors so this is right up my alley.  She also looks great with my skin tone which is always my concern with nudes.

     This amazing palette was not in my box (I wish it was though!) but it is one of their holiday items you can preorder now.  I probably do not "need" another eye shadow palette however this is beautiful and needs to be shared!  Plus right now if you order, say, that pretty palette you would also get the above clutch full of goodies as a free gift.  If you have not, you should head over to Julep's website and check out their holdiay gift items and remember if you spend over $35 enter code SHINEDOWN for your free extras.

     I love the colors I chose for November and seriously cannot wait to try their new mascara!  Julep Maven always has your first box free with code FREEBOX (you pay shipping) and after that it is $24.99 a month.  You can also sign up for three months which would bring the cost down to $19.99 a month.  Did you get a box this month?  Which colors did you choose?

                         

Disclosure - This box was bought by me and I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are 100% my own.  Post contains referral links.

Influenster Moda VoxBox Review

 

     I have been super lucky lately and got another VoxBox from Influenster!  This is the Moda VoxBox and is packed with goodies to test out.  For those who aren't familiar, Influenster is an online communtiy that brings people and brands together.  You can share opinions and experiences about brands/products as well as ask questions.  They often send out what they call a VoxBox which are complimentary products for testing purposes.  If you love trying new products you should definitely check them out, I have some invites left if you need one ;).  Anyways back to the box at hand...

Resource Spring Water - This water is 100% natural spring water with naturally occurring electrolytes.  I thought it had a great crisp clean taste and I love the bottle was made of 50% recycled plastic.  I love the bottle and that is was a little bigger than most water bottles but still fit nicely in my cup holder in the car.  Resource also started a service where they deliver water to your house!  It is not available in my area but you should check and see if you can, it would be great for it to just be delivered!

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lip Liner - I thought this was really neat, it is a clear lip liner so you can use it with any shade!  I have never seen a clear lip liner, though to be fair I don't use lip liner so maybe this is not a new thing.  I am excited to give it a try though as I have a few lipsticks I love!

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick - This lipstick is supposed to leave your lips moisturized with a "brilliant burst of color".  It really is bright, I do not wear such bold lip colors, but Rimmel does have some other shades I would love to try.

Puffs SoftPack - These are great, love the softpack to throw in a diaper bag or in the car.  It is the season for colds so these are definitely in high demand around here!  

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Rockin Curves Mascara -  I love trying new mascaras so I was really excited to see this in the box!  This mascara has an awesome applicator brush that really coats the lashes.  I like the formula and found my eyelashes really were bold with this mascara.  

Hair Food Moisture Hair Mask - This is a new product that you will be able to find at Target.  It has ingredients like honey and apricot oil to protect and really moisturize your hair.  I blow dry and straighten my hair a lot and I use hair masks to replenish moisture, so this is a welcome treat!  

Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa - Perfect timing for this, nothing says fall like a nice cup of cocoa.  Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa has only five ingredients and is so yummy!  Love the milk chocolate flavor and sometimes I add marshmallows or peppermint essential oil ;).

Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer -  With fall and winter comes dry skin and this little travel sized bottle will be easy to throw in a diaper bag.  I do wish Jergens would quit using mineral oil and petroleum products in their lotion though.

     There you have it, a break down of all the products included in the Moda VoxBox from Influenster.  I was super impressed with the amount of products in this box.  I thought they really hit it on the nose with products for the fall season.  Did you receive the Moda VoxBox? What did you think? 

                        

Disclosure - Products above were received free of charge for reviewing purposes.  No monetary compensation was received for my review and all opinions are 100% my own.

Straighten Up

     It is possible from reading my blog you may not realize I have curly hair.  Yep, frizzy, curly, wavy hair that has a mind of its own.  I sometimes let it be its wild crazy self but I do a lot of straightening it too.  If you have curly hair yourself, you know what a pain this can be.  The trick is finding a good routine that works for your hair and I am going to share mine with you today!

     First up are the products.  My hair would never behave on its own (curly or straight) and I am always on the hunt for products that work for my hair.  I did a full review on the Acure products earlier here.  I start by shampooing and conditioning my hair and I have been loving this set from Acure Organics.  Next I use the Pyhtokeratine hair mask (not every time but a couple times a week).  Be careful though, a little goes a long way with this mask!   After showering I apply one full pump of the Marula oil to my damp hair before blowdrying.  This helps my hair dry faster and also helps to calm the frizzies (and they need all the help they can get).

   Now that my hair is clean and dry I move on to the straightener.  It is important to note that not all straighteners are made the same.  My newest straightener was kindly sent to me by Gurin and is definitely worth mentioning.  It is a ceramic tourmaline flat iron and has 1.25"plates.  My previous flat iron had a 2" plate which is great but it is hard to get all my baby hairs with such a big plate.  This one is perfect for getting all those stubborn baby hairs (after having Amelia I had a lot of hair fall out and now it is slowly growing back but it is hard to tame)!  I love that it has a big range in heat settings, from 220F-450F.  I always try to find the lowest setting that works for my hair which ends up being at the 3/4 mark on this iron.  It is important not to use too hot of a setting to avoid damaging your hair.  That said, if you ever decide to do a smoothing or keratin treatment you will be pleased to know this iron goes up to 450F and will work well!  This Gurin flat iron also heats up remarkably fast, however there is no automatic shutdown so don't forget about it!

     Using my Gurin straightener I take 1" - 1 1/2" sections and slowly run them through the iron. To really get it stick straight sometimes I run each section through twice (be careful you straightener isn't too hot!).  I start in the back and work my way towards my face but whatever feels more comfortable for you works.  Once my hair is nicely straightened I take some more Marula oil and smooth it over the ends, just don't put it on your roots or it might look greasy.

      Above is my before and after (please excuse my terrible selfie skills) and as you can see I have very fluffy hair after blowdrying, and this is with products!  I feel like my hair was meant for the 80s but great hair products and an amazing flat iron have saved my hair from constantly looking like a fluffy mess.  Do you have any must have products in your hair routine?  Please share them below!

                     

Discolsure - I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Adovia Moisturizing Day Cream

                                   

     As you may know, I love trying new products and I was recently given the opportunity to try this moisturizing day cream from Adovia.  I love many other products I have tried from Adovia so I was interested in getting my hands on this.  I frequently use their shea butter (see review here) which is amazing!

     One of the first things I do with a new product is look at the ingredient list.  I try to avoid harmful chemicals when I can.  One thing I did notice is this moisturizer contains butylene and propylene glycol which are petroleum derivatives.  I generally try to stay away from gylcols so I was disappointed to see them on the list.  Since they are generally considered safe to use I decided to try the moisturizer and try to keep an open mind.  I did like to see the dead sea water and many other natural ingredients on the list!

     The moisturizer is very thick and creamy which you can see in the picture.  My skin is extremely dry so this rich moisturizer felt very nice!  It didn't take long to absorb and left my skin feeling soft and smooth.  I think this would be a good option for in the winter when the cold air dries skin even more, although with my dry skin I could use it year round.  One thing that didn't sit well with me was the smell.  I have talked to a few people about this moisturizer and they really loved the scent but it just isn't my favorite.

     Now that you have seen my thoughts on Adovia Moisturizing Day Cream you will be pleased to find that it only costs $29.  This is a great price for a moisturizer and you can find it on Amazon.  While it has some positives and negatives it is overall a nice day cream.  I am a little leery on the ingredients but I am overly cautious, so if those do not bother you then go ahead and give it a try.



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

DIY Lavender Vanilla Whipped Body Butter

     I started making some of my own personal products years ago.  I started really looking at the ingredients and found it quite alarming at some of the unhealthy ingredients I was slathering on my skin.  Since your skin is your largest organ and everything you put on it goes right into your bloodstream, it seemed like a good idea to be cautious of what I am putting on it.  In my search for healthier products I found it is pretty easy and cost effective to make your own!  Enter my Lavender Vanilla Whipped Body Butter.  It is light, creamy, and so moisturizing, the perfect summer body butter!

     The main ingredient in this recipe (and many of my other recipes) is shea butter.  Cleopatra's Choice Brand was kind enough to send me a pound of their #1 rated organic grade A ivory shea butter to try!  I have actually bought my shea butter from them in the past because it is amazing so I was excited to write a review for them.  I love this shea butter, it is a soft ivory color with a slight nutty smell.  The smell is very light which is why many people add essential oils.  I love that it comes in a tub so I can just use what I need and close the lid.  Shea butter should keep for about a year so you will have plenty of time to use it up!  You can use this pure shea butter straight from the tub but make sure you rub it in your hands to warm it up first.  I regularly use this as a lip balm, a moisturizing hair mask, and for stubborn dry spots (like elbows and heels) without mixing with other ingredients.  I also use it in several other recipes such as shaving cream, various body butters, and a tummy butter when I was pregnant.  Today I am going to share a recipe for my lavender vanilla whipped body butter.  It is easy to make and smells lovely!  I use this recipe during the summer since it is a nice light and fluffy butter.  I am sure for many people this will be a wonderful winter body butter too, I just have extremely dry skin.   In the winter I add a few more butters (like cocoa and murumuru) to have thicker moisturizer.  Please see below for the recipe!

Lavender Vanilla Whipped Body Butter:
2oz Shea Butter
1oz Coconut Oil
1oz Sweet Almond Oil
1Tbl Jojoba Oil*
1Tbl Arrowroot Powder *
8 drops Lavender Essential Oil*
8 drops Vanilla Essential Oil (not to be confused with vanilla extract)*
5 drops Vitmain E

1. Start a pan of water on a slow simmer.
2. Using a kitchen scale weigh out the Shea butter and Coconut oil and put in a metal bowl.  Then place the bowl over simmering water to gently melt butter.  Once it is melted take off heat.
3. Add Almond oil, Jojoba oil, Arrowroot powder, essential oils and Vitamin E to melted mixture and stir.
4. Let cool.  I like to stick it in the freezer to speed up the cooling.  Once it starts to turn solid around the  edges you can begin whipping.
5. Whip mixture with a hand mixture until it looks to be about the consistency of a rich frosting.
6. Spoon into jar or container to store!  **

This recipe makes a little over 4oz.  If using a 4oz container you will have a little extra, you can always double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch.  This body butter makes great gifts!

*These ingredients can be skipped if you do not have them.  Essential oils could easily be swapped to change scent or omitted if you prefer.

**If your body butter melts simply cool it back off and rewhip.

Disclosure- I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Julep August Review + FREE BOX

     This is my second month of Julep and I actually went for the beauty products this month!  Julep is a monthly nail polish and beauty box.  Your first box is a welcome box, which I had already gotten (see here), and then each month the maven window opens up from the 20-24th to pick out your colors and products for the next month.  All new Julep  subscriptions are completely customizable.  You can pick two colors and a beauty/nail product or two beauty products.  You are also given options to upgrade from there and yes, you can get the whole collection if you choose :).

     This month the nail colors just weren't my thing.  They were really bright and sparkly, which I thought was pretty, but I am normally a little more neutral ;).  I also knew I just HAD to try one of their new eye gliders!  That made my choice pretty easy this month and I choose the Modern Beauty box and swapped out eye glider colors.  Julep just switched from DHL to Fedex for shipping to try and get boxes out faster.  Mine was here on the 8th so not too bad (still not super fast but nail polish has to travel ground).  

Smoky Plum Gel Eye Glider - The eye gliders are Julep's new beauty product this month.  They are a cross between a gel and an eye liner.  They go on smoothly and can be smudged but then set and stay put for 10 hours. I have been loving mine so far, I might have to get the Smoky Taupe Shimmer too!

Neutrals Eye Palette -  I have been eyeing this palette for awhile so when I saw the eye gliders I figured it was time! They look lighter in the picture than they do in person but the colors are gorgeous.  They sweep on very nicely and are the perfect size palette for traveling!

   Julep boxes are $24.99 monthly or $19.99 a month for a 3 month subscription.  However right now they have an amazing deal going on where you can sign up for the 3 month Julep  subscription and use the code FREESIZZLE to get a five piece welcome box free and 20% off!!  That ends up being only $48 for four boxes!  It is a great deal and all the new maven boxes are completely customizable so if you do not like their selections you can swap out to get what you want.  Love my selections this month and I cannot wait to see next month's colors (I am hoping for some silk finishes!).

Disclosure - This box was purchased by myself and no compensation was received for this review.  This post does contain referral links.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Acure Organics Product Review

    Acure Organics has so kindly given me the chance to try and review some of their products.  Acure Organics is committed to bringing the consumer products free from animal testing, paragons, sulfates, phthalates, harmful preservative, artificial frangrances and colors.  As you know, I have been switching to non toxic and cruelty free products at our house, so I was excited to give them a try!

     When they asked which products I wanted to try, I had given them my hair and skin type to get their recommendations.  I love getting products recommendations from someone who really knows the products because sometimes I fall in love with something I may not have tried!  I was super impressed with their customer service!  They were well informed and helpful which made working with them a breeze.  For those wondering my skin is very dry and sensitive.  I am not prone to breakouts but I do get some redness on my cheeks.  My hair is curly/wavy, dry, and frizzy (aka out of control!).  Below are the products I tried.  I did something a little different with this review and their recommendations and product information given to me by their team is in italics.  Beneath that I am giving my impressions of each product.  I wanted you to see how great their product experts are!

"The ingredients that make the Moroccan Argan Oil and Argan Stem Cell formulation a rock star include Sunflower Lysine, Argan Stem Cells, and Sea Buckthorn. The Sunflower Lysine acts as natural cortisone and blocks the histamine response in skin so it balances, soothes and provides anti-inflammation support. The Argan Stem Cells help to strengthen hair retention boost moisture content and hair regeneration. Sea Buckthorn contains a ton of essential fatty acids and helps support buildup of the skin's lipid layers. Finally, for those concerned with thinning of the hair or hair loss, the zinc and magnesium from the Pumpkin Seed oil helps block DHT (dihydrotestosterone) build up in the follicle. DHT is the hormone often responsible for stress hair loss and male/female pattern hair loss."

Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner ($9.99 each) -  Natural shampoo and conditioner has been a tough one for me.  I have tried many brands and either they, A. don't work or B. are too expensive.  Since Acure was a new brand for me I decided to keep an open mind and I was quite surprised!  The shampoo actually lathered up nicely (many natural brands do not have much for a lather).  It left my hair feeling clean but it was still tangled.  Once I applied the conditioner, I let it sit for about five minutes.  When I went to rinse my hair I could already feel a difference!  It really softened my hair and helped to ease out the tangles.  That is important for me because unless I am straightening my hair I don't brush it (that destroys the curls).  Both of these products have a bit of a fruity smell.  I don't mind the smell but its not my favorite.  However they work so well I am willing to over look that.

"The Ultra-hydrating formula contains 20% cocoa butter and 1% CoQ10. This blend also uses coconut, olive and safflower seed oil for their moisturizing properties. There is no added essential oil to the product but due to the high content of cocoa butter, you may catch a subtle cocoa aroma."

Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion ($9.99) - I am in love with this body lotion! Like they said, you only smell just a slight cocoa butter scent but it is a great summer lotion. It is very moisturizing but it absorbs into skin really well and doesn't leave you greasy. It also passed the shaving test! When I use lotions that are full of chemicals on my legs right after I shave (when they need moisture the most) I always break out into red bumps that sting and burn, ouch. I have used this several times right after shaving and no irritation at all!

"The wildcrafted South African Marula oil packs a huge anti-oxidant power punch to help with anti-aging along with essential fatty acids and proteins to help with firming, anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling support. The lightweight formula closely mimics the skins own sebum and will absorb readily to leave skin feeling hydrated and smooth. Marula oil is also great for reducing redness, treating dry sensitive skin and maintaining moisture balance. Plus, like the Argan oil, the Marula oil is great for so much more; sunburns, wound healing and scars, adding shine to hair and decreasing frizz/fly-a-ways, cuticle treatment, etc."

Marula Oil ($15.99) - I have tried Argan oil before and it was alright, but I had never tried Marula oil. I think I will always be keeping some of this around! I use it on my face before lotion but only before bed. It takes a little while to sink in so I think it is best before bed. It really is a wonderful moisturizer and the redness in my cheeks has faded a little in the week I have been using it, so I am a believer! I also use one pump through my hair before blowdrying when wearing my hair straight. Sometimes I take just a dab and smooth it over once it is styled too, really help smooth and tame those frizzy flyaways. I have also started using it on the scars I have from a tattoo removal. It is of course too early to tell but I am hoping it helps fade the scar. So many uses, I highly recommend this versatile product!

"Our USDA Certified Organic lip balm is an emollient blend of coconut, olive, hempseed and argan oils. The beeswax helps the oils penetrate and protect the delicate lip tissue from drying out. The dark chocolate and mint aroma will have you applying it all day!"

Dark Chocolate + Mint Lipbalm ($3.99) - This lip balm is great. Goes on smooth and smells yummy! I hope they make some more scent in the future, maybe a vanilla or lavender!

     "Our Sensitive Facial Cream is an aroma-neutral (no added essential oil component) blend great for dry, irritated and depleted skin. A richer consistency than the night cream, it can be used morning and night. To assist with redness, itchiness and swelling in the tissue, sunflower lysine acts as a natural alternative to cortisone cream and blocks the histamine response that occurs when skin reacts adversely. Chamomile flower, Pumpkin Seed oil , and probiotics reduce inflammation while the Skin Immune blend and Echinacea Stem Cell assist with immune support. The sensitive skin moisturizer can be used as an ointment or spot treatment should the skin have a reaction so it is always great to have on hand."

Sensitive Facial Cream ($19.99) - Between this and the Marula oil, I don't think my face has ever felt this soft! I am super thankful for the product recommendation because I probably would have tried the night cream.  I will be sticking with this as it is working really well for my face. I am using it morning and evening. It is really moisturizing and absorbs into my skin so I can easily apply my makeup afterwards.

     I thoroughly enjoyed all of the products from Acure Organics. If you would like to get product recommendations from their product experts just send them an email at expert@acureorganics.com. If you just want to look under skin types you can see that here. They also have some Pinterest boards set up by different skin concerns here. Sometimes natural products get a bad rap for not being as potent, but I would say these products really delivered! They were not only effective, they worked BETTER than other products I have tried! All of this and for an extremely affordable price, but wait, you can use code TRYACURE for 15% off your first purchase!

Disclosure - I received these products free of charge to write an informed review.  No monetary compensation was received and opinions are 100% my own.

Harvey Prince Eau Fling Review + GIVEAWAY

      A couple years ago I started slowly transitioning our household to more natural and non toxic products.  Many times the problem is simply finding a good match to replace said product.  I will admit one of my guilty pleasures has been my perfume.  According to this article "There are over 500 chemicals that could possibly be listed under the single name fragrance in perfumes and other household products."   Many of those chemicals can be linked to hormonal disruptions, respiratory problems, and other unpleasant side effects.  But it smells so good, so how can I make the switch?  If you, like me are looking for an answer I highly recommend checking out the Harvey Prince perfumes!  

     Harvey Prince is dedicated to using only the finest ingredients and none of the toxic chemicals that are still found in many perfumes.  Founded on "a rebellious idea boutique quality scents do not have to be overwhelming, overpriced, and filled with toxic chemicals," Harvey Prince set out on a mission to craft a safe, affordable alternative.  You can read more on their story and the Harvey Prince promise here.  Not only do their products promise no toxic chemicals they are also made is the USA, cruelty free, and made with love!  

     Now you are probably thinking, "That's great but how is the scent?"  I am very picky about my perfume scents and I can't get enough of Harvey Prince Eau Fling!  It has notes of lavender, blackcurrant, plum, raspberry, apple, jasmine, nutmeg, cinnamon, musk, and rare woods.  After spraying the perfume on my pressure points (wrist, neck, and behind your ears) I noticed the fruity notes right away.  Those quickly settled leaving more of an intoxicating spiciness behind.  It really mixed well with my body chemistry and had me smelling my wrists all morning.  Reading the description I was apprehensive on the fruit notes but everything was mixed perfectly.  It did not surprise me at all to hear there was a science behind this scent to make what the press is calling "a modern day love potion".  While the scent had definite staying power it was not in the least bit overwhelming.  I think Harvey Prince Eau Fling and I might be in for a long term relationship ;).

       Each perfume from Harvey Prince has its own unique story and scent.  You can check out their other scents here.   I have now tried four of their scents and have yet to be disappointed.  That said my favorite so far is the Harvey Prince Eau Fling and Harvey Prince has so kindly decided to give five full size bottles to some lucky winners!  That is right I said FIVE WINNERS!!! Now get ready to start sharing, tweeting, and pinning for you chance to be one of the lucky five!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This product was given free of charge in exchange for an honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and opinions are 100% my own.  Sponsor is responsible for fulfillment of the prize.  Each winner will be given 48 hours to claim their prize before drawing the next name.  Must be 18+ to enter and U.S. or Canada address.

                              

                           

July Julep Review + FREE First box + GIVEAWAY

    I am so excited to be getting my first "official" Julep Maven box!  Julep is a monthly nail polish and beauty box.  Your first box is a welcome box, which I had already gotten (see here), and then each month the maven window opens up from the 20-24th to pick out your colors and products for the next month.  All new Julep  subscriptions are completely customizable.  You can pick two colors and a beauty/nail product or two beauty products.  You are also given options to upgrade from there and yes, you can get the whole collection if you choose :). 

                                      

      Shipping took quite while this month and to apologize Julep gave everyone 100 Jules (those are their reward points).  I know on Facebook someone had talked to customer service and was told that they were working on their shipping issues and things would come faster within 30 days.  Hopefully that means next month I won't have to wait so long!  Anyways, like I said this was my first month to customize and it was harder than I thought it would be to settle on two colors and one product.  

                                      

Lorenzana ($11.20/14.00) - This is a really pretty light taupe color with a creme finish.  I am actually going to use this as my base color today!  I am quite certain this color and I are going to get along fabulously! 

Lissa ($11.20/14.00) - This color was a no brainer for me.  I love teals and turquoises and was immediately drawn to this color.  I am going to do some kind of accent nail with this today for my mani (I also have a coral I might add in), now to decide on a design...

Oxygen Performance Top Coat ($14.40/18.00) - I already have and love the Freedom topcoat so I am really hoping to love this too!  Their new oxygen technology (which is also in the nail polish) is supposed to let oxygen get through to your nails letting them breathe.  I figured for healthier nails it is worth a try, plus you can always use more topcoats!

    All totaled up this box has a value of $36.80 for Maven members or $46.00 retail value.  Julep Maven boxes start at $24.99 a month or $20 a box for 3 month subscription, so you are getting your money's worth.  I love being able to customize too, that really adds value for me (cause I am so picky with my colors).  When you are making your selections you have the option of several add ons and you can also shop the secret store, where you can find some great deals.  As I mentioned earlier, if you are interested in giving Julep a try you can get your welcome box for free (plus $2.99 shipping) with the code FREEBOX.  You really can't go wrong with that!  Also, just because I thought it would be a nice treat, I am giving away a free July box!!  I picked out three fun summer colors in the picture below (including Lissa which is now out of stock online).  Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and be sure to get in on the giveaway!

                                   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure - This post contains referral links.  I received no compensation for this review and opinions are 100% my own.

Thursday Thoughts

Amelia is finally napping so it is time to link up with Jennifer from Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts!  Which incidentally also means it is almost the weekend ;).

~ Remember when I said this year I was going to keep all of my flowers alive?  Well the left side of my house pretty much killed them (it couldn't be that I forget to water sometimes). However the right side of my house is overflowing the window boxes!  Hard to believe the difference.  The left side is full sun all day and the right side gets a lot more shade.  I am toying with the idea of not even planting flowers on the left side anymore, they never last :(.

~ This morning we went on a walk with one of my friends and her dog.  Amelia loves being outside  so it is a win for everyone.  We did 3.7 miles but it was HOT!  The top right picture is when Grizz walked to the grass and just plopped down on the way home.  Apparently even he was done!

~ I was so pumped to FINALLY get to pick up my wedding ring!!  Long story but I have had to have the jeweler send it in four times now (each time takes between 2-10 weeks).   They finally put the right mounting back on it and it looks like it should (see photo on right with the cute little elephant). Now fast forward to this morning, only half a day since I have had it back, and one of the spots they soldered the jacket to the wedding ring has broken apart (see photo on the left).  I think they had to take it apart to fix the mounting and it must not have been put back very well.  I would like to note that I don't shower or sleep with it on and am very gentle with it.  Ugh, I am so frustrated with this right now.... It is a 1 1/2 hour drive for me to take it in so it's not a quick trip and I just want to wear my ring already!

 ~ My trip out of town to pick up my ring was not wasted!  I hit up the target toy clearance (not pictured since it includes gifts and I don't want to spoil anything), new towels at BBB, plenty of new clothes for Miss Amelia (so many awesome deals), and of course a treat for me!  I am so excited to try out my new Too Faced items, if it's good enough for the best beauty bloggers it is good enough for me ;). Seriously though, I have been wanting to try these so hopefully they live up to all the hype!

~ Soooo remember the little kid rocking chair I bought way back Memorial Day weekend?  I have been looking for some fabric to recover the seat and I finally decided on this!  I like the mustard yellow and hopefully it will look cute when I am done.

~ This Saturday a friend and I are going to Art in the Park!  It is about an hour away, but it is so much fun!  There are so many artists and so much to see, i don't know that I "need" anything but you never know.

      That's it for now, what are you up to this week?

HempBox Launch Review June 2014 + Coupon Code

   I was super excited to see my HempBox on the step today!  Since interviewing the founders of HempBox I have been eagerly awaiting their launch!  HempBox is bringing the best of beauty, health, and nutritional hemp products.  It was shipped UPS and got here really quick.  Since this is a new box I went spoiler free, so it was even more exciting to see what would be inside!

       Looking at this box there isn't a product I won't use, so that is a great first impression!  Out of the five products I had only tried one previously, and I love being introduced to new products.  Also great to see some full sized products in there too!

The information card has each product and a brief description.  They also included a hand written thank you signed from the three founders, a book mark, and a little pamphlet on Hemp week.  I truly appreciate the little touches like the hand written thank you, it really shows how much they care!

Hemp Hearts ($2.08) - These have been on my must try list so I was happy to see them.  They are really tiny!  They have a nice nutty flavor and are pretty soft.  I can think of many ways to eat these: salads, cereal, in granola bars, on yogurt, and they are pretty tasty plain too!

Twenty-4 Zen Mocha Chocolate Chip Hemp Granola ($15.34) -  This granola is AMAZING!  By far my favorite item in the box!  I opened the bag to try and and finished the whole thing.  I may need o buy this in bulk ;). I got the pricing off Amazon but I wanted to note they do have three other flavors on their personal website for 12oz@$7.49 (I used Amazon prices for all the products in this review).  I do hope they get this flavor back on their website though!

Dr. Bronners 18-in-1 Pure Castile Liquid Soap - I love Dr Bronners and had no idea it had hemp oil was an ingredient.  This is such a useful product, it really does it all!

 The Wonder Seed Hemp Hand Cream ($12.95) - Hand cream?  Yes please, you can never have to many!  It feels nice and I like the lavender scent so this product is a winner.  Oh and did I mention it is also vegan!

Merry Hempsters Organic Hemp Lip Balm ($3.83) - This is super soft and moisturizing on my lips.  I am not so sure about the spearmint flavor but I would definitely purchase their vanilla scent!

     There you have it, the very first HempBox!  All totaled up I have a value of  $34.20.  HempBox is $20 a month and if you use the code SMALLTOWNHEMPSTER you can save $5 off you first box (exp July 1).  If you order now you can get in on the July box.  I am really enjoying the products I received in this box and am very interested to see what they will have next month!

Disclosure- This Complimentary box was sent for reviewing purposes.  All opinions are 100% my own.