Honey Do's & Product Reviews

New Sample Subscription: Sample Society

2012-08-22T13:02:00.000-04:00

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been around too much. It has been crazy at work and I haven't even had lunch breaks really. Since I usually blog on my lunch I haven't really had time to do it. My 3 1/2 year old plays the computer for a little while every night and by the time I get home, get dinner made, eat, and then put Noah to bed I need to spend time with my hubby. So, I apologize for being absent lately. As soon as this month is over it will get better, I promise! I wanted to stop by and make a quick post you all didn't think I just disappeared. I will be back....promise! In the meantime, I am excited to share with you one of my newest subscription services, Beauty Bar's Sample Society.

Here's what was included in August box:

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer, Private Dancer- I'm a nail polish junkie so I was happy to receive this. I have never tried Deborah Lippmann polish mainly because of the price. I'm expecting this stuff to be pretty good at $18.00 a bottle. I wish it was in another color, only because I have so much purple polish, but the color is pretty. This sample was FULL SIZED and valued at $18.00.
Elemental Herbology Facial Detox - Purifying Facial Mask- I love facial masks but I have to be careful because I have somewhat sensitive skin and masks have irritated my face in the past. This stuff smells really refreshing so I'm hoping it doesn't irritate my face. The sample value for this one is $9.20.
Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara, Black Ice Deluxe Sample- I was excited to get a mascara sample! I have never tried this brand before so I am anxious to give it a try. The sample value for this one is $7.85.
Phyto Phytonectar Oil Deluxe Sample- I'm kind of buried in hair oils right now so I am on the fence about this one. I will still try it out it just might take me a while to get around to it. Sample value for this one is $3.96.
Arcona Cranberry Toner Deluxe Sample- I'm excited for this one because I love trying new toners but I'm hoping it's not too smelly, we all know how I feel about "smelly face". Sample value for this one is $8.60.
Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer- I don't mind getting moisturizer samples even though I have a billion of them but I'm not crazy about the foil packet. It's hard to save the packet for more than one use once you open it. Sample value is $0.45.

The overall value for my first Sample Society box is a whopping $48.06! I am very pleased with my box for Sample Society so for now I think this one is a keeper.

Like I said above, please bear with me as I move through this rough patch at work and I promise when it is all over I will blog more regularly.

In the meantime, check out our giveaway!

The Sample Society box was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Beauty Bar or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review & GIVEAWAY!: Nuvosa Skincare

2012-08-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! Any big plans for the weekend? We don't have any major plans this weekend but we are heading to the beach at Ocean City Maryland for a weekend getaway next weekend. Then the weekend after that we are heading to the mountains! That's what I love about living in Maryland, you can go to the beach and the mountains and still be in the same state! Since I will be out in the sun quite a bit over the next couple of weeks skincare will be a top priority for me including wearing sunscreen on my body and face as well as taking care of my skin at night before I go to bed and when I am not in the sun.

Once I hit my thirties I started to notice those fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead. Now, using anti-aging products has become an important part of my daily routine. I'm a firm believer that you should start caring about your skin well before any of those pesky laugh lines start to show. That's why even when I was in my teens and twenties I took care of my skin and always made sure to use sunscreen and moisturizers.

Today I'm excited to introduce the Nuvosa Skincare line! What you are seeing below is the bundle deal- all three products.

The products came shipped in a very pretty and sturdy reusable box.

The products were snug in the box so no moving around or shifting during delivery. This also means that you could use the box to store your products in. Or, you could be like me and hoard all of these reusable boxes for delivery of Christmas cookies when the time comes! Seriously, that's what I'm going to do with all of these nifty boxes I have been collecting.

I received the the Flawless Age Protection Toner, Reborn Wrinkle Shield Moisturizer, and Deep Wrinkle Remedy Serum.

The first step in the process is the Flawless Age Protection Toner.

According to Nuvosa, the Flawless Age Protection Toner moisturizes, tones, tightens, and protects your skin from damage and aging. It comes with a very handy applicator! You simply place a cotton ball on top of the applicator and press down. After cleansing and exfoliating (if you choose) you apply the toner with the cotton ball onto your face and neck in circular, upward motions. The toner is colorless and doesn't have an odor which is a big plus for me because I hate applying anything to my face that I can smell afterwards- there's nothing worse than having a smelly face...or maybe that's just me. You can purchase the toner here for $30.00 or they offer a Replenishment Service for $25.00.

The next step is the Deep Wrinkle Remedy Serum.

As you can see above, the Deep Wrinkle Remedy Serum also has a push down applicator. The product itself is an interesting texture and color but it does soak into your skin once applied. According to Nuvosa, the Deep Wrinkle Remedy Serum was formulated to reduce the appearance of Sagging Skin, Lines, and Wrinkles. You should apply the serum to your face and neck in circular, upward movements using clean hands just like you would a moisturizer. Again, the serum has no odor. You can purchase the Deep Wrinkle Remedy Serum here for $98.00 or sign up for the Replenishment Service and get it at a discounted price of $88.00.

The last step in the process is the Reborn Wrinkle Shield Moisturizer.

Per Nuvosa, the Reborn Wrinkle Shield Moisturizer minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, protects your skin against the elements, and rejuvenates your skin to make it look exceptionally vibrant. The formula for this moisturizer is a little thicker than some moisturizers I have tried in the past but not as thick as others. You apply this moisturizer just like you would any other, to your face and neck in circular, upward movements. The product is odorless and absorbs into the skin nicely. You can purchase the Reborn Wrinkle Shield Moisturizer here for $70.00 or you can sign up for the Replenishment Service and get it at a discounted price of $60.00.

In addition to purchasing the products individually you can also join the Club Nuvosa. You simply choose your products- including the full set pictured above if you wish, select the replenishment service option, and checkout. You will get an email with your login info soon after. When you receive your package you will get a card with your VIP login number.

You can use your VIP membership for things like earning loyalty rewards or "club coins" for every dollar you spend, a members only question and answer section, and many other member benefits that you can read about here.

My Final Impression: So, I know you are wondering what I thought of the Nuvosa Skincare products right? I know you are literally hanging on to the edge of your seat just waiting to hear my expert opinion. Just kidding! But seriously, I was actually pretty surprised by this stuff. I loved the way it came packaged and I am a sucker for a reusable box! I loved the way the products themselves were dispensed and the containers were a very generous size. These would last a while even with everyday use. I have been using these products for about two weeks in both the mornings and evenings and I can say that I have seen a slight difference in the lines around my eyes and on my forehead. None of the products have an odor and none of them made my face feel sticky or greasy. The products play well with makeup so no need to worry about that. Overall I think the products rival those of other high end skincare companies and I would recommend them if you are looking for a good anti-aging system.

If you are interested in purchasing anything from Nuvosa I have a special coupon code to offer just for Honey Do's readers! This code if for any regularly priced items excluding the bundle deal. You simply enter the following code at checkout to receive your 15% discount- honeydo

The 15% off is pretty sweet right? Well guess what? It gets even better! Nuvosa has offered to give away a bundle, just like the one you see above to one of our lucky readers!

You can enter to win below using the Rafflecopter form. Please remember that we will be checking all entries to see if the instructions were followed so please make sure you follow the instructions. Also, the giveaway is only open to those in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me by Nuvosa Skincare free of charge for my review. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I paid for my review. All opinions are my own honest personal opinions.

Product Review: Be Natural Organics Anti-Aging Skin Collection

2012-08-16T12:47:00.000-04:00

Hey guys! Anyone still out there? I'm so sorry I disappeared for a few days. It has been very crazy at work so on my personal time I haven't felt much like blogging. It may be sporadic until the end of August but after that it will be back to normal. Make sure to check back tomorrow morning because I have an exciting giveaway to announce!

Anyway, today I'm excited to tell you about Be Natural Organics' Anti-Aging Skin Collection. As I have mentioned before, I'm always looking for new anti-aging skincare products and if they are natural products that's even better!

Bio-Active Cleansing Treatment

What They Say: This anti-aging cleansing treatment utilizes aspen bark enzymes to microscopically exfoliate the skin. This process stimulates collagen and elastin proliferation to plump and tighten skin. Pomegranate and blueberry juice provide intensive anti-oxidants while vitamins and extracts nourish and protect the skin with every cleansing. Made in a pure aloe vera juice base to add a rich supply of amino acids to help combat the signs of aging. Your skin will be left clean, stimulated and radiant. The anti-aging and nutritional benefits of this cleanser are accumulative.

Directions: Shake gently to activate enzymes, apply small amount on palm, work up a generous lather, and gently massage into skin. Rinse several times with warm water. Use twice daily.

My Impression: This is a super gentle cleanser with a very fresh scent. If I had to describe the scent I would say that it smells a bit like lemons. It made my face feel smooth and clean after just one use. You can purchase a full size 6oz (180ml) bottle for $20.00.

Daily Botanical Enzyme Peel

What They Say: Botanical Enzymes have been called the most important skin care agents of the decade. The active enzyme used in our Daily Botanical Enzyme Peel loosens dead cells from the skins surface by dissolving stubborn glue-like substances that refuse to release dead skin cells through normal cleansing. These cells create a barrier for proper absorption of moisturizers and serums, so getting rid of these dead cells means that fresher cells are exposed resulting in optimal absorption of products.

Directions: Use after cleansing. Apply a few drops to a cotton ball and apply over face and neck, avoiding eye areas. Allow enzyme peel to dry completely, rinse well and pat dry before spraying face and neck with balancing mist.

Recommended use: Start with one treatment per week and increase usage to a maximum of once per day as tolerance is built up.

My Impression: I was interested in this product because Be Natural says that not only is there anti-aging benefits but acne-prone benefits as well. Acne is something that I have suffered with ever since I entered my thirties so I was excited to try this one. I was slightly nervous when I read the product description and it said that you may feel a slight tingling sensation. I have sensitive skin and whenever I read those words it usually means it's going to irritate my skin. I cautiously tried this product and I am happy to report that although I did feel a bit of a tingle it didn't irritate my skin. Since I only have a small sample size I am unable to determine whether they product helps with acne or not. You can purchase a full size 4oz (120ml) bottle of this product for $15.00.

Niacin Complex Balancing Mist

What They Say: This balancing mist is a powerhouse of nutrients, alpha lipoic acid, and DMAE to tighten, nourish, and protect the skin. Our liposome delivery system imparts vital nutrients as it adjusts skin to optimal pH levels for complete nutritional absorption. Made in pure aloe vera juice, adding a rich supply of amino acids to help combat the signs of aging. This mist is a nutritional treatment in itself.

Directions: After cleansing, gently pat skin dry. Lightly mist face and neck area, While skin is hydrated, apply small amount of moisturizer or serum. Mist may be used throughout the day for hydration and a nutritional boost.

My Impression: This product is a very fine mist which is the reason I don't have a picture of the actual product inside the mister. I loved the fact that this product was very light and almost had a soothing effect on my skin the minute I sprayed it on. You can purchase a full size 2oz (60ml) spray for $12.00.

Sea Kelp Moisturizer

What They Say: We have incorporated intensive amounts of antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, allantoin, and red raspberry seed (offering one of the highest anti-oxidant profiles for natural sun protection). While our fruit extracts offer natural glycolic and lactic acid and our sea kelp offers protection from environmental toxins. Our preservation system is aspen bark extract, which is loaded with salycilates for intensive anti aging results. From the depth of your pores to your skin’s surface, our anti-aging cream will repair, nourish and protect your skin, while restoring the natural glow of young, healthy skin. Specially formulated without the use of waxes to provide deep absorption for optimal results.

Directions: Apply a small amount to fingertips and apply to face, neck and décolleté.

My Impression: This moisturizer is thick enough to sooth your skin and give it a nice soft feel but not too thick that it would make your skin feel greasy. It has a fresh clean scent that disappears soon after applying the product. You can purchase a full size 1oz jar for $26.00 or a 1.7 oz jar for $34.00.

My Overall Impression: I enjoyed using the Be Natural Organics' Anti-Aging Skin Collection. I love that the products are natural and I really love the fact that they sell samples! I think every company should sell samples. It's always nice to be able to try something before you buy it. In addition to the anti-aging collection Be Natural Organics also offers a Acne-Prone Skin Collection, Normal Skin Collection, and even a Sensitive Skin Collection. I'm pretty sure there is something for everyone at their shop.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: These products were provided to me by Be Natural Organics free of charge for my review. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I paid for my review. All opinions are my own honest personal opinions.

Product Review: Kelly Teegarden Organics Lip Gloss

2012-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today I am pleased to bring you another product from Kelly Teegarden Organics, their Lip Gloss! I have said before that I love Kelly's products and everything her company stands for but I am a lip gloss snob! I am very picky when it comes to lip gloss and I have quite a collection. I have complaints about most lip glosses whether it be the color just isn't right or my number one complaint, the formula is too sticky. You know what I mean? You put on your lip gloss and within a few minutes your lips feel like a sticky mess? I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me! Did Kelly Teegarden Organics' Lip Gloss live up to my high standards? Read on to find out!

What They Say: "Lead, arsenic, hormone disruptors… in lip gloss? I was shocked when I found out about the dozens of toxicchemicals found in beauty products. That’s why I created KTO lip gloss. Not only are these glosses chemical free, lead free and totally safe, but they are hydrating, nourishingand look beautiful too. Formulated to protect, all natural,creamy texture, subtly minty and light and mirror on cap."

What Make Them Unique?

(Dragon’s Blood) known for its ancient healing properties
Nourishes & Heals
Non-Sticky
Natural
Wild-Crafted Non Toxic
No Carcinogens
No Parabens
No Feathering Hugs the Lip Line
No Animal Testing or Byproducts
LED Light Lasts 100 Hours
Side Mirror
Made in USA

Source.

My Impression: When I first got these in the mail the very first thing I noticed about them is the mirror on the side.

I love that these have their own mirror on the side! No need to carry an extra mirror to apply lip gloss. The mirror is just the right size too!

The next thing I noticed about these adorable glosses is that they have...ready for this...a built in light!

The picture is slightly blurry because the only way I could capture the light was to turn off the flash. I mean, how cool is this? I could apply my lip gloss in total darkness! I mean, I'm sure that's not what Kelly intended when she put the light in there but the point is, if I so choose, I could put my lip gloss on in total darkness...right? At first I wasn't exactly sure why there was a light on there. I mean, why would I need a light on my lip gloss? Then, while on the bus headed home from work one day I took out my lip gloss, used the mirror to apply, and I figured out exactly why that little light is helpful. The light shines directly onto your lips to help you apply your gloss perfectly, even in low light situations, like the bus.

So, I thought the mirror was awesome, and the light even more awesome, but what did I think of the gloss itself? I am pleased to tell you that this is by far the best lip gloss I have ever used! Seriously, I'm not just saying that, I actually mean it. I don't have any of the complaints that I normally have with lip gloss. The color pigmentation is perfect, it is just the right amount of "sheerness" (I think I just made up another word!) and most importantly- it is NOT sticky! This stuff feels so nice on my lips and it smells really good too! It kind of has a very light minty smell to it.

The colors I received were Jen and Amber. Perfect for my skin tone and very light and sheer, leaning more towards brown and gold.

I promise, one day I will be brave enough to do lip swatches. :)

I would definitely recommend these glosses if you are looking for an amazing lip gloss made with natural and safe ingredients. The lip gloss sells for $25.00 and you can pick them up here. I think the price is right on target for a good quality lip gloss and compares with other brands such as Stila lip gloss which retails for about $22.00.

Would you consider trying these lip glosses? Leave me a comment and tell me why or why not? If you have tried them let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me by Kelly Teegarden Organics free of charge for my review. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I paid for my review. All opinions are my own honest personal opinions.

New Subscription Service: Eco Emi!

2012-08-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

Well, I told you that I was looking for a new subscription service to replace The Look Bag when they decided to call it quits (they have now decided to restart but that is for another post) and I think I found just the one!

Meet my very first Eco Emi box! Now, this one is actually the June box that I purchased as an extra. The first box I will receive as part of the subscription is August. However, I am very impatient and I was very interested in seeing what it was all about so I purchased a June box.

What is Eco Emi you ask? Well, it's similar to other subscription boxes in that you get a box every month filled with samples of products. However, it's a little different compared to the other subscription services I belong to in that it is not just filled with beauty products and it is filled with eco friendly products! The cost is $15.00 a month and there is currently a wait list but I was not on the wait list long at all so hopefully you won't be either! So, let's take a look and see what was inside my box.

Eco Tints Tinted Lip Care- This is a full size product and I love the color, perfect for my skin! Sample value- $4.49.
Vitacare Toothpaste in Acai- Now, I'm awfully pickly about toothpaste and I love super minty paste so I'm not sure how I will feel about this one. Another full size product valued at $5.99.
Herbal Iced Calyso Mango tea by MightyLeaf Tea- I received one 1/2 gallon compostable whole leaf pouch. I'm a tea lover so this is a definite plus for me! Sample valued at $4.67.
Jasmine Wind deodorantby Rainwater Botanicals- This stuff smells really good but I'm wondering how the heck I am supposed to get it on my underarms? Am I supposed to use my fingers? I think the sample container is a little strange but I'm going to try it. I don't know how big the sample size is since it didn't list it on the container so I can't determine what this one is worth.
Organic Stevia by Pyure Sweetener- I'm all for trying new sweeteners but there is no way I could judge whether I like this or not with just one packet. Sample value- um about $.01.
Orchard Pear and Fig body balm by Organic Indulgence- OMG! This stuff smells heavenly! I can't wait to try it! Sample value- This is another full size product valued at $5.95.
Amazing Meal in pomegranate mango by Amazing Grass- I'm not sure what to think about this stuff. I do take a multi vitamin but it is in pill format and I am not a big fan of drinking my vitamins, but I will try it. Sample Value- $3.00.
Organic Life Vitamins by Natural Vitality- See above statement. Sample value- $.74.
Energy 28 by Natural Vitality- See above statement. Sample value- $1.04.

Total box value minus the deodorant- approximately $25.89.

So far I'm impressed by Eco Emi. I haven't tried all the products in the box quite yet so I will reserve final judgment until later. Before trying any products I can tell you that there were four products in this box that I was very excited to try, one that I was marginally excited to try, and three that I wasn't very excited to try. However, out of the products that I was excited to try I LOVED them all! I will be discussing each product in a different post but overall I think I will stick with Eco Emi for a few months and the reevaluate.

Have you tried the Eco Emi subscription? If you have what did you think? If you are interested you can go here to read about the box and sign up for the waiting list.

The Eco Emi box was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Eco Emi or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review: John Allan’s Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution

2012-08-08T08:18:00.000-04:00

Good morning!!! Hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have been slammed at work all week and the day's have been going by pretty quick. However this week still feels like it's dragging. COME ON FRIDAY!

What They Say:

Many shaving aids foam and froth dramatically, but that doesn’t mean they’re offering your face protection through a shave. Prepping your face with a quality pre-shaving formula—one that sits directly against the skin—will ensure you’re safe from nicks, bumps, and irritation. True to its name, John Allan’s pre-shave solution creates a super slick and super protective primer coat, over which you can apply your usual shaving solution. Think of it like the Zamboni that smoothes and cools the shaving surface, allowing your razor to glide like Apolo Ohno.
Anti-inflammatory oat kernel and cucumber extracts teach touchy, post-shave skin to chill out, while tea tree oil, that wondrous Australian import with antiseptic powers, lends the solution a robust and invigorating smell. This “slick water” is indeed extremely slippery, but not at all oily.
This is something like a shaving base layer. After washing your face, apply a small amount of this solution to your chin, cheeks, neck, and upper lip before spreading your preferred shaving cream or gel on top of it.

My Opinion:

This product sparked my interest. My skin is pretty sensitive. So when shaving I know going in that it's inevitable I'm going to get razor burn. So it isn't a matter of if I'm going to get razor burn, it's more of a matter of how bad. You can forget electric razor's! So I was pretty excited to give this a try. Their description of the product said the "slick water was extremely slippery, but not at all oily". They are right, it doesn't leave your face feeling oily at all.

So did it do what they said it would do? Yeah I would say it did. I had minor razor burn, but it was a lot less than when I shaved without using the Slick Water. I used it as it instructed. Putting it on my face as a base and then putting the shaving cream over the Slick Water. I also ran out of shaving cream and just used the Slick Water to shave. It worked just as well without shaving cream.
Good product however a 2oz bottle of this product is $29. So for the price I think I'll just stick to regular shaving cream without the added step of prepping. I prefer to just lather and go, so this is only my preference.

The Birchbox Man was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox Man or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Our First Blog Award!

2012-08-07T12:55:00.001-04:00

Wow, we are honored that Zoe from My Wondrous Marvellous Obsession has nominated us for our very first blog award! We love sharing our thoughts with all of you and we hope you love reading them! Thanks Zoe!

Rules for the award: Each person must post eleven things about themselves. Answer the eleven questions the tagger has set for you. Come up with eleven other questions for the people that you are going to tag. Choose eleven people (with less than 200 followers) and tag them in your post, no tagbacks. Follow the tagger and visit at least three of the nominees.

11 Things About Us:

We aren't first time bloggers! You might not know this but Morrisa started a blog in 2007 called The Making of Baby V to chronicle our journey through infertility. If you are interested in checking it out you can read it here. Shawn started a sports blog in 2011 called Sports Loving Family Man and you can find it here.
We met on the internet! It was about 14 years ago and it was NOT on a dating site, but nonetheless, we met online.
Our favorite place to visit is Gettysburg, PA. We love the history behind the place and we love the paranormal side of it as well.
Morrisa has an obsession with all things Halloween! She loves to decorate for fall and especially for Halloween. She loves scary movies and anything paranormal/ghost related.
Shawn is obsessed with sports. He will watch sports any time of the day no matter what kind of sport. He has already started training Noah to love sports as well. Morrisa thinks she is going to be outnumbered!
We are both die hard Baltimore Ravens fans. We bleed purple!
Due to number six above we HATE the Pittsburgh Steelers. BOO!
Shawn is a lay minister at our church. He helps the pastor out and occasionally gives a sermon.
Shawn is also an amazing singer! (Yes, it is Morrisa writing this- he would never admit this himself)
We have an amazing little boy named Noah who is 3 1/2. He is the center of our universe! He is smart and silly and everything that we ever hoped for when we started our long journey to have a child.
Morrisa loves to bake. She loves to bake all kinds of yummy desserts but her passion is cupcakes! Her dream job would be to open up her own cupcake shop.

Our 11 Questions from Zoe:

Why did you start blogging?- We started blogging (with this current blog) because we always seemed to have opinions about certain products and because we love trying new things. We thought there might be someone out there somewhere who might be interested in what we have to say.
What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?- Stay inside and hang out as a family. Sometimes that involves doing together stuff like watching a movie but sometimes we all do our own thing but we are still together. Morrisa is usually reading while Shawn plays his Playstation 3 and Noah likes to use the computer.
If money was no object, where would you like to visit?- We would love to visit Germany. Both of our families have history in Germany so we would love to visit some of that history.
What was the last song you listened to?- The last song we listened to together was Kissed You Good Night by Gloriana- good song!
Would you rather be a dog or a cat for a day?- A cat! We have two cats and they have it made!
If time travel was invented, where would you go?- Morrisa would visit the 80's- She is still in love with the music and thinks things were much simpler back then. Shawn would visit the 70's for the exact same reason.
Do you prefer city life or country life?- Country life! We have a farm house in the country that we visit frequently. Morrisa works in Baltimore city so she gets enough of the city life during the week.
What is your favourite brand of nail polish?- Shawn hates all nail polish because he says it smells. Morrisa tell Shawn to plug his nose and says that her favorite polish is China Glaze.
High end or Drug store make up?- Shawn doesn't wear makeup. Morrisa uses a little of both. Morrisa always says she is not a makeup snob and if it works well and looks good who cares what the price is or where you can purchase it from.
What was the last thing you bought?- Um, I guess groceries. :)
How would you describe yourself in three words?- Loving Silly Happy

Our 11 Questions for Our 11 Nominees:

What is your favorite season/time of year and why?
What is your number one guilty pleasure (could be food or anything else)?
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
If you had the power to change one thing about yourself (appearance or otherwise) what would it be?
What type of hobbies do you have other than blogging?
If you could eat only one things for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Do you believe there is life on other planets?
What have you never tried, but would really like to someday?
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
If you were filling a time capsule to be opened by your great-grandchildren, what would you put in it?
If you were invisible for just one day where would you go and what would you do? Why?

Our Nominees:

We realize we only tagged 8 blogs but we had trouble finding ones with less than 200 followers. If I missed you let me know and I will add you on. Also, don't feel obligated to participate, just a fun little game, we won't be offended if you decide not to do it.

Put the link to your post in the comments on this post so we can check out what you wrote!

Preview: August Birchbox Man Box

2012-08-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Good Tuesday morning everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! The August Bircbox Man is in and here's a preview. I didn't go online and see what was coming in advance. I kind of wanted to be some what surprised when I got my box. Let's see what's inside.

Birchbox Intro:

As your golf game can attest, the smallest of tweaks can lead to the biggest improvements. From the subtle tailoring of a T-shirt’s sleeve to a pinch of cayenne pepper in your barbecue dry rub, it’s all about the fine-tuning. Consider this month’s assortment a subtle draw on a towering tee shot to put you right in the middle of the fairway...

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm: I have droopy puppy dog eyes as my wife describes them so I'm always looking sleepy. Add a couple wrinkle lines here and there and I'm curious how this product will do.
Kiehls Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream - White Eagle: With the size of this sample I'm not sure how many shaves I will get out of it but I'll give it a shot. It's says to use after a hot shower and spread sparingly over whiskers. Well as I pointed out before I get razor burn just looking at a razor so I usually lather up pretty good. We'll see.
Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste: My first thought was it's toothpaste. Nothing special other than the fact that it's Italian-imported. Let's see how this $10.50 toothpaste seperates itself from our Colgate.
Barking Irons Brando Cut T-shirt: Alright here's my first gripe with Birchbox. When I signed up I went through the list of questions and one of them was shirt size. Not happy that it cut off at XL beings there's a good number of guys out there in the XXL category. I mean if you go in to purchase this shirt in Birchbox's store you can select XXL so why can't I pick that for my profile. So I got an XL and it's to tight for me to wear outside the house so I'm giving it to my Dad to wear. The tight t-shirt look isn't good for us bigger guys. Kind of bummed because I like shirts with a thinner material. I'm always hot and this material is awesome.

The Birchbox Man was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox Man or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review: Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

2012-08-06T09:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!! Sorry I have been missing for a couple of days. It has been a crazy couple of weeks at the Honey Do's household! Before I get started on telling you what I thought of the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint I received in my July Birchbox I really want to tell you a completely unrelated but hilarious story just to give you an insight into how my crazy mind works.

Let me set the scene- It's Friday evening, both hubby and I agree that we don't feel like cooking so we order pizza. We often order from this particular company so my hubby answers the door as always to accept the pizza and sign the credit card slip. I'm in the kitchen when I hear the pizza man greet my husband with a super sexy Australian accent. I mean, anyone with an accent like that has to be hot...right? My interest perks when I realize this isn't our normal pizza man. My mind goes wild as I imagine this insanely hot shirtless Aussie at my door delivering pizza. I mean, chances are the pizza delivery guy is wearing a shirt BUT it was pretty hot outside, maybe just maybe he decided to deliver our pizza sans shirt. I couldn't take the chance that I might miss out on the only opportunity I might ever have to feast my eyes on the shirtless Aussie who just happened to be delivering pizzas. So, I sneak into the living room and hide behind the wall trying to get a peek at the Aussie hotness. Finally, I get a good clear view and...OMG...he is so NOT hot and so NOT what I was picturing at all! Think scrawny looking unkempt barely out of high school kid. Yep, I was embarrassed that I spent so much time trying to get a good look at this...KID. Call me Mrs. Robinson I guess. Later when I told my hubby about my little adventure he was quite amused, me, not so much! Guess I learned my lesson, never judge a guy by his voice, and all Aussie men are NOT shirtless and NOT hot.

Anyway, on to the real reason you are reading this post, Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint.

I was pretty excited to try this stuff until I saw that the color was Bronze. There is nothing about my skin that is even remotely close to Bronze. However, I did see Birchbox saying that you could use this as a bronzer. Now, I don't normally use bronzers either because I just don't think they look right on my skin. Any kind of color I try to add ends up looking orange and very fake. So first I tried it on my arm.

Now, obviously this is not blended in at all but it's just to give you an idea of how dark it was. I did try it on my face one day when I didn't have anywhere to go and while I admit that it did blend in very nicely the color was still not right for my face. I believe if my skin was just slightly darker it would have given a nice bronzed look but for me it still made my face look orange. I did try to get a picture with it blended in but the picture just wasn't showing the slightly orange color that was much more obvious to the naked eye. I would still love to try this stuff and I see that they have an opal or pearl color which I think would be perfect for my skin color. However, the thing I love about these sample programs is that you get to try before purchasing and I'm not sure that I want to spend the $38.00 without trying it out first.

I did love how smooth the product was and how nicely it blended into my skin. Overall, I think if you pick the right shade this is a perfect tinted moisturizer. I really wish Birchbox would pay more attention to what we say on our profile so this sort of thing doesn't happen. I may have actually purchased this product if it had been the right color. For now, I might wait and see if I can somehow get a sample of a lighter shade. If anyone has a suggestions on how I get a sample of a lighter shade please let me know.

If you are interested in purchasing this product you can get it here.

Do you use a tinted moisturizer? If you do what brand do you use?

Thanks for reading and don't forget to enter our giveaway!

The Birchbox was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox or Jouer. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review: Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

2012-08-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday! Today I'm going to be reviewing one of the products I chose for my July Beauty Army Box. When I saw other people were choosing this product I hoped it would come up in my selection options so that I could try it out, and it did!

What They Say: Our Healing Oil Treatment is a therapeutic hair oil perfect for all hair types and is especially beneficial to dry, damaged hair.

Intense nourishment for tangle & frizz free hair
Hair that is ultra-smooth, manageable & shiny
Natural UV protection extends the life of color treatments
Reduced drying time by an amazing 40-50%

My Impression: The bottle is adorable! I love the colors and the design on this little bottle, so cute! This stuff also smells amazing! The bottle you see above is actually a full size product that retails for $13.50- that's more than I paid for my entire Beauty Army Box! The bottle is only 1 oz and while that seems small just like most oil treatments a little of this stuff goes a long way!

I put a small drop of the oil in the palm of my hand after I get out of the shower and rub my hands together and then apply the product to towel dried hair. It definitely does seem to cut down on drying time and it makes my hair feel so smooth! It also helps to tame those annoying little fly-aways that I get sometimes after blow drying my hair.

You can pick up this product at Macadamia's website here. You can get them in four different sizes ranging from a petite .34 oz bottle to a massive salon size 10 oz bottle. The prices are reasonable as well. I took a look at their website and they have some other neat products such as a complete hair care line to a style line and even accessories. I am definitely interested in trying some of their other products.

The BeautyArmy box was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with BeautyArmy or Macadamia. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review: Quirky Wrapster

2012-07-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

What They Say
When you store your earbuds in your pocket or backpack, they typically go in neatly folded like a new pair of shoelaces, but come out looking more like a ball of dried out spaghetti. This small and durable plastic contraption is designed to keep your headphones organized and detangled as they go in and out of your pocket. The Wrapster allows you to wrap your headphones vertically so they’re neater and flatter in your pocket. A totally sweet and unexpected extra: when not housing your earbud cords, the Wrapster works as a stand for your iPhone in landscape mode. Thread your earbud cords through the two separate side tubes, and wrap the main cord around the center. Slide the wrapped-up headphones into your pocket. When you want to use them again, unwrap the main cord but leave the left and right earbud cords in the side tubes.

My Opinion
Alright so I like the idea behind this product. However I didn't find a need. Very rarely do I need to use headphones. So for me this didn't get much use. Now if I did this product would be great. To be able to wrap up you ear buds and stick them in your pocket without them tangling is awesome. Then it doubles as an iPhone stand. This didn't help me either since I'm a LG user. My phone didn't fit the slot and wouldn't stay standing. Now my wife on the other hand commutes home in the evenings. So she uses ear buds on during the ride. This really came in handy for her because she was able to wrap them up and just throw it in her purse. Whereas before she would throw them in and they would tangle around everything. Not that I would know because purses are dangerous. She also use an LG and hers is slimmer than mine but still wasn't able to fit in the stand either. Although it wasn't something I found a need in. I do recommend this product to those who us headphones on a daily basis. Good job Quirky!

You can find this product on quirky.com and it retails for $6.99.

The Birchbox Man was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox Man or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Joint Reader Appreciation Giveaway!

2012-07-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday! I'm excited to announce that I have joined forces with another blogger, Katie from Gold Dust to provide our amazing readers with a giveaway, just because we love you! Katie and I will both be providing some prizes to the winner of the giveaway. Here's what you can win:

From Gold Dust: Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum and Models Own Nail Varnish in Emerald City.

From Honey Do's: Ciaté Velvet Manicure Set in Berry Poncho.

There will be one winner and if you win you will receive everything pictured above. Also, if you win you will receive two separate packages, one from Honey Do's and one from Gold Dust so your prizes may arrive at different times depending on where you are located. All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway will close on Friday August 10th and is open to U.S. and UK residents only. Good luck!

***Edited to add: Please make sure that you are following the directions for each entry. For example, if it says "like" on Facebook you need to follow the steps to "like" on Facebook or your entry will not count. I will be checking the winning entry to make sure that the directions were followed. Thanks!***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Reviews: Quirky Cordies

2012-07-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know whether to say Happy Monday or not. I mean who really like's Monday? Today I'm bringing you Quirky Cordies from Quirky.com. Hope you enjoy!

What They Say
Desktop cable management may not be sexy, but neither is rooting around on your hands and knees amidst the mounting dust bunnies under your desk looking for your fallen power charger. Cordies keeps all your power cords, phone chargers, and audio cables in order so you can plug in and unplug easily and quickly. Weighted but flexible rubber provides a solid grip for all your cords. A rubber bottom gives the Cordies module a solid hold on your desk. Thread all your cables through the 3.5-inch wide organizer and you won’t have to waste your time detangling them or retrieving them from under your desk. You can even stack cables on top of each other within the three individual loop spaces. If you have more devices than that, you may want to think about scaling back.

My Opinion
I really liked this product. You gotta like a product where you just open the box and it's ready to use. I've always had the problem of unplugging my cell from the power cord and speaker plug and having to pick them off the floor. Especially at work. Then you combine that with a usb for a scanner and a usb from a upc scanner and I'm always looking for wires. This really did make my life a lot easier. The price isn't all that bad either. Priced at $10 I'd say it's pretty good. Anyone with a lot of electronics this is a must have!

The Birchbox Man was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox Man or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

July Look Bag- Last Look Bag

2012-07-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

So, as I mentioned in this post I got an email from the Look Bag saying they were cancelling and if you weren't charged for one you wouldn't receive one. I don't think I was charged for one (not that I remember) but somehow I got one anyway. So, here it is:

Here's what came in my bag:

2 Bon Bon polishes: I don't know the colors, or even if they have names but they are just okay. I haven't tried them yet but seeing these little guys make me think of something you would give a seven year old when you don't want them using your nail polish. Not something I would expect to get in a beauty sample program.

Ultraflesh Mascara: I can't find much about this product anywhere. I see something called Ultraflesh Panthera Mascara, maybe it's the same? I'm not really sure. Anyway, this seems to be another discontinued item and I can't find the price listed anywhere so I have no idea how much this sample is worth. I actually liked this mascara. It went on smoothly and separated my lashed nicely. Too bad I won't be able to find it anywhere...

Korres Mango Butter Lipstick: The color I got was peach and I'm sure you will be shocked to know that this color is...wait for it....DISCONTINUED! Another discontinued product? I am not too fond of the color, peach just isn't the right shade for me. However, this lipstick was super smooth and creamy and I would consider buying another color. Now, I realize that a lot of bloggers do swatches on their lips. I'm sure you're wondering why I don't do that as well? Honestly, I'm just not that fond of my lips. They are thin and I don't feel like they are appropriate for swatching. So, I apologize to those of you who like to see lipstick on the lips, you'll just have to make due with my arm.

Bremenn Miracle Cream: It will be no surprise that I can't really find this item either. I do see something on Bremenn's website that is similar but it is a different color tube. Another discontinued product? Perhaps. This stuff was okay, nothing amazing but a good moisturizer overall.

Betsy Johnson Perfume: I actually really loved this scent. I didn't like the design of the sample though. I hate perfume samples that I have to put on my fingers before applying, I hate having fingers that smell like perfume. But, this is a lovely scent and I would even consider buying it. It looks like this one is available for half price at Walgreens right now.

Anyway, I did enjoy some of the products that were in this last, and unexpected, Look Bag. I decided not to review them individually because quite a few of them are actually discontinued and I really didn't see the point in devoting a whole entire post to discontinued products. The point of a sample program, at least from my point of view, is to try things that you may want to purchase. How can I possibly do that if I am sent discontinued items? Anyway, I have signed up for two new sample boxes that I am going to try and then pick the best of the two but I'm keeping them a secret until they arrive.

Thanks for reading.

The LookBag was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with The Look Store or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

July Beauty Army Box!

2012-07-26T09:24:00.001-04:00

It's Thursday! One day closer to the weekend! Here in Baltimore it is supposed to be a scorcher so I hope you're keeping cool wherever you are. I know I just posted my June Beauty Army Box but I wanted to catch up and share my July box that I got this weekend. Why are there seven items in my box? Because the amazing folks at Beauty Army sent me an extra item to make up for the mishap in June's box which you can read about here. In addition, after reading my previous post about how my Control Corrective was empty Beauty Army contacted me (yes, they actually read my posts- amazing) and offered me a seventh sample selection for my August box. Seriously, I wasn't going to contact them because I didn't want to look like a big complainer but they insisted on correcting the problem. A+ for customer service Beauty Army! I'm hoping that the Control Corrective Pumice Wash is available for my seventh sample next month because I really did want to try it. If not I'm sure I will find something else to try. Anyway, on to what was inside my box this month:

Macadamia Natural Oil's Healing Oil Treatment: I chose this because I fell in love with the Orofluido Beauty Elixr that I received in my April Look Bag and I wanted to see if this compared. Plus, the little bottle is adorable! Sample value- $9.51.
Fiafini Divine Hydration Moisturizer: I have liked the Fiafini products I have tried in the past so I thought I would give this one a try. These products are always super gentle on my skin. Sample Value- $3.85.
Control Corrective Firming Tri-peptide Serum: So far Control Corrective has not disappointed so I figured I had to try them all. Sample Value- $6.80.
Freeman Beauty Vita-k Professional Spider Veins: I'm actually not a sufferer of spider veins however these were full size products so I couldn't pass them up. I'm not sure what I will do with it yet, probably give it away. Sample Value- $14.99.
Freeman Beauty Vita-k Professional Age Spots: Same deal, full size product, couldn't pass it up, will most likely give it away. Sample Value- $14.99.
Sex Panther Cologne: I chose this stuff mainly for the name and description, hilarious! I will give it to the hubby to try out. Sample Value- Unknown.
Yuko Bella Shampoo: I love shampoo samples! This is actually for chemically treated hair, which mine is not, but I'm still excited to give it a try. Sample Value- Unknown.

So, without even knowing the sample value for the Sex Panther or the shampoo, my total box value was $50.14. I'd say that's pretty good!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned to find out what I thought of these products. Also, I have teamed up with another blogger to bring you a reader appreciation joint giveaway which I will be announcing very soon!

The BeautyArmy box was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with BeautyArmy or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

July Birchbox!

2012-07-25T12:56:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday! Today I'm sharing with you a sneak peak at my July Birchbox. This month Birchbox partnered with Glamour for a box inspired by Glamour's Five Senses of Summer issue. If you remember, when I first announced this box I wasn't all that thrilled with the idea. If you read my last post you will also know that I had trouble with this box as well.

Here's a quick overview of what happened in case you didn't get a chance to read my other post. When I checked my Birchbox profile before I received my box I was very excited because I really liked the box it said I was getting. When the mailman showed up and I opened the package I was disappointed to see that the box I received wasn't the box that the website said I was going to get. Not only that, but the "wrong" box also included tinted moisturizer that was bronze color that I won't be able to use and an opened Larabar that I had to throw out. I contacted Birchbox via email and didn't get a response so I called them. The girl on the phone said that they sent me the right box but put the wrong one on the site. She offered to send me August's box for free. She told me she would get back to me about the Larabar. I didn't get a response back about that. I then find out that Birchbox was sending some people the "right" box in addition to letting them keep the "wrong" box (this was apparently an issue that happened to others as well and not just me). So I emailed Birchbox back again and said that it seems they are sending some people the other box in addition to offering August for free. Someone wrote me back and told me that wasn't the way they were handling it. I wrote back and told her that I wasn't going to push the issue but that I believe in treating every customer equally and in the future they should make sure to offer the same resolution to everyone. I also sent her links to where others were saying that they got the "right" box sent to them. They are apparently sending me a new Larabar. We will see how next month goes and that will be the deciding factor for me.

Anyway, on to what was included in my box:

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint- Like I said, I opened this up to take a peek and noticed it was way too dark for my very pasty pale skin. The color they sent me was Bronze. We do fill out profiles and in my profile it says I am light skinned so I'm not sure why they sent me such a dark color. If they had sent me a lighter color I would have been excited to try this. I did try it on my hand but I might be brave and try it on my face and see if I can blend it enough.
Oscar de la Renta live in love- I took a little sniff of this and it seemed pretty strong but did it grow on me? You'll have to wait for my review to find out.
LÄRABAR® über- This was opened so I had to throw it out. You can see in the picture below how it arrived. I'm waiting for a replacement so I will reserve judgment until then.

stila It’s Go Time Lip Glaze Trio- The website says trio but I only got one. I'm not sure if that is another error or what. I love lip gloss though so I am excited to try this.
Alterna BAMBOO® UV+ Color Protection Fade-Proof Fluide- At first I was a little peeved at receiving this because it says color protection and my hair is not color treated. But, on the back it says you can use it to add shine to non-color treated hair so I will give it a try. Plus it smells really good!
Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds- I needed a new pair of earbuds and these are pretty cute! I haven't tried them yet though and rumor has it they aren't so great, but I'll let you know what I think when I get a chance to try them.

Stay tuned! I liked their products in this box enough to give them individual attention so look out for the reviews coming shortly.

Are you a Birchbox subscriber? Did you have issues this month? How did they resolve it?

The Birchbox was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

June Beauty Army Box & Subscription Woes

2012-07-24T14:03:00.000-04:00

You may be wondering why on earth I am just now posting about my June Beauty Army Box? Well, that's because I had a couple of issues with my June box and I wanted to see them resolved before I posted my review.

Here's what was included in June's Box:

Atopalm Intensive Moisture Cream: This is the first problem that I had with June's box. If this product sounds familiar that is because it is familiar! I got the same product in my May Beauty Army Box and I have already reviewed it here. I also received the exact same sample in my June Look Bag. I didn't pick this item and yet somehow it ended up in my box. Now I have three samples of this stuff. Don't get me wrong, I like it enough but I don't need three samples. So, I contacted Beauty Army twice via email and didn't get a response. Then I posted on their Facebook page and sent a third email and finally got a response. They said they didn't get my first two emails. I was told the reason I got this product was because I picked something else that ended up being out of stock so it was replaced with something similar. While I understand that and don't really mind I feel like they probably should have let me know they were replacing one of my samples so I wasn't confused when I got my box. I also wish they would have tried to replace it with something I didn't already get just the previous month. They said they would give me an extra sample in my July box and I was happy with that resolution.

Control Corrective Medicated Pumice Wash: This was the second problem I had with this box. I waited to try this until we went away for the weekend (last weekend) because I figured it was travel size so why not try it then. You can imagine my surprise when I went to use it last weekend and realized that the blister pack (I think that is what you call it) was COMPLETELY empty! I cut it open to see if maybe the product had dried up or something and there was absolutely NO evidence that there was ever even any product in there. I'm not sure what happened, maybe a production defect and somehow this one got sealed without getting filled? Either way, luckily I brought another facial cleanser with me as a back-up. I decided not to contact Beauty Army about this one because I didn't want to go through the hassle of emailing them again and wondering if they got my email and also because I had already contacted them about the other issue and I didn't want them to think I was trying to get a bunch of free samples.

Youngblood Mineral Primer: I choose this one because I use mineral makeup and I am always looking for a good primer. I'm happy to report that this one did not disappoint. This stuff makes my face feel like silk after applying and it provides a nice smooth base for my foundation. I was initially a little confused about the pump on this one because it doesn't have a plastic tube and nothing came out when I first tried to pump it, but after few tries I got the product to come out. You can buy the full size (1 oz) product here for $41.00. My initial reaction was that the price is a little steep but I do think this product is worth it.

Fiafini Delicate Cleansing Emulsion: I have heard a lot of good things about the Fiafini brand so I thought I would give this facial cleanser a try. It was nice and light and not too harsh. This is the second product from Fiafini I have tested and I enjoy their products. You can get the full size product (4.0 fl oz) here for $28.00.

Lucy B-Wild Jasmine: I know most people don't like perfume samples but I actually enjoy a good perfume sample. The problem with perfume samples is that everyone has such individual taste and some people may love what other people hate. That's why I only pick perfume samples if I know I might like the scent. I loved this scent! I thought it was very "summerlike", yes I like to make up my own words. You can get the full size product (3.38 fl oz) here for $48.00 which is actually a pretty good price for a good perfume.

Eyecandy Coolers: These were actually my favorite product in the box! Eyecandy says they are "reusable, chill-able, candy-colored soft gel rounds which work quickly to reduce puffiness, minimize dark circles and fine lines, relieve allergy symptoms, and instantly soothe pesky tension or stress headaches. Simply chill in the fridge or a glass of ice, and you are ready to ‘be eyecandy for the world’ in just minutes! eyecandy coolers may be safely used over and over again." These are great for those of us who suffer from migraines or stress headaches. You can get these for $12.00 a pair here.

Subscription Woes:

I know the title of my post included "subscription woes" and that is because in the months of June/July I had more trouble with my subscription services as a whole. First there was the Beauty Army issues discussed above. Now, to give Beauty Army credit they did resolve the issue that I contacted them about and I have never had issues with them before. I am satisfied that this was an isolated incident.

I also received my July Birchbox and was disappointed to see that the box I received wasn't the box that the website said I was going to get. In the "wrong" box that I got it also included tinted moisturizer that was bronze color that I won't be able to use and an opened Larabar that I had to throw out. I contacted Birchbox via email and didn't get a response so I called them. The girl on the phone said that they sent me the right box but put the wrong one on the site. She offered to send me August's box for free. She told me she would get back to me about the Larabar. I didn't get a response back about that. I then find out that Birchbox was sending some people the "right" box in addition to letting them keep the "wrong" box (this was apparently an issue that happened to others as well and not just me). So I emailed Birchbox back again and said that it seems they are sending some people the other box in addition to offering August for free. Someone wrote me back and told me that wasn't the way they were handling it. I wrote back and told her that I wasn't going to push the issue but that I believe in treating every customer equally and in the future they should make sure to offer the same resolution to everyone. I also sent her links to where others were syaong that they got the "right" box sent to them. They are apparently sending me a new Larabar. We will see how next month goes and that will be the deciding factor for me.

Lastly, I got an email from The Look Bag on July 17th saying that they were cancelling the service (the bag was supposed to ship out on the 15th) and that if you weren't charged for the July you won't be getting it. This was TWO days after they posted on their Facebook page sneak peeks about what was in the bag and that the bags were shipping out that week. So obviously this was a very last minute decision. I found it odd that they would just quit in the middle of the month and not send people their bags. I wasn't charged for one so I figured I wasn't going to get one. So, I signed up for two new subscription boxes to see which one I like best. I will keep them a surprise for now but I think you are going to like them. Then, to my utter amazement I get my July Look Bag in the mail on Saturday! I haven't seen a charge go through yet so we will see.

Anyway, there is the short story of my subscription box woes. Hopefully things will be looking up from here and I won't have any more issues but I will keep you posted.

Thanks for reading! I will post shortly about what I actually received in my defunct July Birchbox and July Look Bag so stay tuned!

The BeautyArmy box was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with BeautyArmy or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review: CoSTUME NATIONAL Scent Intense

2012-07-23T15:42:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! Alright I agree no Monday is a happy Monday, but at least the day is almost over. Guy's I wanted to share with you the first product out of my Birchbox Man July Box. Sorry for the short review but it's hard to review a cologne in my opinion.

What They Say:

The Italian fashion house known for its modern, architectural pieces takes the same rigorous approach to its fragrances. This stylish unisex sense is intense but also approachable, with a rich amber base. It translates from the boardroom to the bar easily and is sure to attract attention—the good kind.
Top notes of jasmine tea, middle notes of mother of pearl of hibiscus, and base notes of amber blend together to create a sensual, rich fragrance.

My Opinion:
I wasn't too thrilled with this scent. Now I'm not saying that the scent was bad. I'm just saying it's not a scent for me. It's a little too strong for my liking. I prefer a scent that is smooth and not too overpowering. This scent to me is right on that line of almost being too overpowering. You can purchase 100ml of this cologne for $140. If you combine the price with not being sold on the smell, I think I'll pass on this cologne.

Any guy's out there a member to Birchbox Man have any input? Even if you're not a member but have tried this cologne, please give me your opinions!

The Birchbox Man was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox Man or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review: SodaStream

2012-07-20T13:03:00.000-04:00

TGIF!!! Hope everyone's week went by fast and time slows down for the weekend! Shawn here bringing you a product we have fell in love with. Hope you enjoy! If you haven't already, make sure you buzz over and get in on our current giveaway by clicking here!

What they say:
Making carbonated water and soft drinks is simple! Turn tap water into sparkling water in under 30 seconds, with no clean-up. Enjoy the freshness and convenience of homemade soda and protect the environment at the same time. No heavy bottles to carry, store at home or throw away. Fizz to your taste and add the flavor of your choice to make your favorite drink. Simple to clean and reuse. With a variety of colors and silhouettes, you'll be sure to find a soda maker to match with any decor.

My Impression:
I was excited when I learned that this product was delivered and couldn't wait to get home to try it. I've seen various things written and commercials for this product and it sparked some interest. Once we arrived home the first thing I noticed was how light the boxes were. I thought for sure there must have been something missing. With no plugs or cords to mess with this unit is not only easy to store but it is extremely easy to travel with. We actually went up to the mountains for the weekend and took our SodaStream with us. Also with very little in regards to components it is very user friendly. Once you insert the Co2 Carbonator all you have to do is attach the bottle of tap water and press the button on top of the SodaStream. You continue to press this button in short spurts until you hear 3 buzzes, which is hard to explain. It's not like a buzz you would hear out of an alarm clock or anything. If you like your soda with more carbonation or extra fizzy then you can press it for more buzzes. We usually go until we hear 4 buzzes. There different Soda Makers you can choose from as well. We have the basic model called the Jet which in stores cost's $79.95. Check out the video below!

The soda syrup comes in a couple different size containers. The smaller bottle of concentrate makes 12 full liters of soda which equals out to 33 cans of soda and costs $4.99. You also have a larger bottle of syrup which is the Sparkling Naturals syrups. The Sparkling Naturals contain no artificial coloring, artificial sweeteners, or artificial flavors, and doesn't contain any preservatives. With this larger bottle you can make 6 liters.

That brings me to my first point which is savings. In most cases making your own soda is going to save you money. The only time this isn't the case is when you can get the 10 for $10 2 liter sodas. The problem is you're not always going to be able to find that deal. With soda stream you're looking at $0.25 per can of soda and just $0.25 per liter of sparkling water. I did a price comparison with the current sales add at our local grocery store. Right now I can get 3, 2 liters for $5.00. That averages out to 0.83 cents per liter. If I make a liter of Diet Rootbeer using SodaStream it will cost me 0.41 cents per liter. So instead of paying $5.00 for 3 two liters, I'm paying $2.46 for 3 two liters. Let's look further! I can get 36 cans of Pepsi product for $12.00. Ready for this, I can make 33 cans worth of soda using SodaStream for $4.99. Are you ready to go out and buy this product now?

Maybe your big thing is taste and nutrition? We really like the taste of the soda the machine makes. The taste is comparable to brand name soda on the market. The Cola has a similar taste to Coca Cola. You have a very wide variety of flavors from Rootbeer which is our favorite to Dr Pete which is their Dr Pepper, Ginger Ale, Orange, Grape, and many more! Let's look a nutrition. In 1 liter of Coca-cola you're looking at 100 calories, 27g carbs, and 27g of sugar. The SodaStream Cola you're looking at 35 calories, 8g carbs, and 8g of sugar. A diet coke has 40mg of sodium, and the SodaStream Diet Cola only has 10mg of Sodium. The Diet Cola also contains no aspartame as it is sweetened using Splenda.

One other important factor that we love about the SodaStream is that you are helping the environment because you don't have the plastic 2 liter bottles or aluminum cans to dispose of. You're re-using your SodaStream bottles so there is no disposal. Your Co2 Carbinators are taken to a store such as Bed Bath & Beyond or Staples and exchanged for new Co2 Carbinators and you're only paying for new Co2 when you do so. So even there you are re-using containers and there is no waste.

We highly recommend this product and don't foresee purchasing soda from the supermarket again. It's nice being able to make fresh soda when you drink your last sip, and not having to get in the car and driving down the road to restock when you're thirsty. Great product SodaStream!!

Product Review & GIVEAWAY: UltraPure Cosmetics Pressed Perfection Eye Shadow

2012-07-18T08:21:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to tell you about an awesome product that I was able to try for the first time- UltraPure Cosmetics Pressed Perfection Eye Shadow!

What They Say:

UltraPure Cosmetics is a result-oriented and pure mineral makeup and skin care line.

Established in 2005, UltraPure Cosmetics entered the health and beauty marketplace to satisfy the modern consumer's new paradigm, which requires High Quality Products delivering Unsurpassed Efficacy and True Safety. UltraPure Cosmetics brings you a solution with our pure makeup and pure skin care.

Dedicated to the science of simplicity, we set the standard for unadulterated micro-formulated mineral cosmetics, while stressing that NO formula will EVER contain: Nano-particles, Parabens, Bismuth Oxychloride, Dyes/Lakes, Talc, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS), to name just a few!

Informed by up-to-the-minute advances, we use only the cleanest raw materials and bio-active ingredients in our formulations! We are on the cutting edge offering you the best mineral makeup.

Our products are recommended by the National Rosacea Society, Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, and Aestheticians for their healing benefits. Source.
Pressed Perfection Eye Shadows:

24 Amazing Shades that stay all day!
Silky-soft mineral pigments
May be used with our Liquid Liner Fixative to turn any shadow into a liquid liner
Gluten-Free
No Dyes/Lakes
No Bismuth Oxychloride

My Impression:

I am a complete eye shadow junkie! I have quite a collection of eye shadows so this one fit right in. I have never tried any of UltraPure Cosmetics' products before and I have to tell you that I was very pleased. This is one of the silkiest and creamiest pressed eye shadows I have ever tried. This stuff glides right onto the eye and stays put! The color I tried was Coffee Bean from the Natural Collection. The color is very pigmented and rich as you can see from the swatch above. I think this color would be perfect for creating a dramatic smokey eye however I work in a professional setting so I try to keep my eye makeup light which is why I have actually been using this product as a liner. By wetting my eyeliner brush and swiping it across the shadow and then applying to my eyelid and under my eyes I can create a liquid eyeliner look that adds just enough drama to my everyday eye look.

UltraPure also offers a Liquid Liner Fixative that you could try as well which will give you more of a liquid liner look as opposed to a soft liner look.

I know I mention this every time but the fact that these products don't contain any Bismuth Oxychloride, a know skin irritant, is a big plus for me! I always try to be mindful of the chemicals that I am applying to my skin which is why I try to find companies that offer products that do not contain harmful chemicals.

The Pressed Perfection Eye Shadow Collection offers 24 amazing shades so you can be sure to find some amazing shades to create your own perfect look. You can check out the colors here.

Now that you have had a chance to learn all about UltraPure Cosmetics' Pressed Perfection Eye Shadow collection I am pleased to offer you the chance to win a full size eye shadow from the Pressed Perfection Eye Shadow collection in a color of your choice. Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win. The winner will be chosen by random drawing on July 25th and announced by the morning of July 26th. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or another name will be drawn. Thanks and good luck!

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me by UltraPure Cosmetics free of charge for my review. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I paid for my review. All opinions are my own honest personal opinions.

Product Review: Kelly Teegarden Organics The Royal - Body Lotion

2012-07-17T08:16:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope all of you had a fantastic weekend! Sorry that I took a little break but we went on a mini vacation up to the mountains in Western Maryland. We had a good time but it poured rain most of the time. Nonetheless I am feeling relaxed and ready to tackle the week! Today I'm bringing you another fantastic product from Kelly Teegarden Organics- The Royal - Body Lotion.

What They Say: Imagine what the most luxurious, creamy and perfect body lotion could feel like and then try The Royal Healthy Body Lotion. Packed with over 40 healthy ingredients, The Royal was formulated to give your skin the healthy “Red Carpet” sexy glow, and best of all protect you. A proprietary blend of Royal Jelly, Organic Shea butter, Organic Essential Oils, Beta Glucans, Vit D3 and Multi Fruit Extracts synergistically revitalizes and intensely hydrates the skin. This highly concentrated lotion can build the skin’s immune system, revitalize skin cells damaged by free radicals and enhance regeneration giving the skin a youthful appearance. The aromatic blend of lavender, lemon and marjoram organic essential oils will give you the feeling of being in a spa. This is a KTO signature must have.

My Impression: I am religious when it comes to applying body lotion after a shower. Every single time I get out of the shower I apply lotion to my wet skin and let it absorb for a second before drying off. I loved the feel of this lotion! It was smooth and soft but also didn't leave my skin feeling greasy which is a big turn off for me and the problem with a lot of lotions on the market today. After applying the lotion my skin was left with a subtle glow, perfect for a sexy night on the town or simply a relaxing day on the beach. Speaking of relaxing, the scent of this lotion is a very relaxing combination of lavender, lemon and marjoram. Overall I would recommend this product if you are looking for a natural body lotion that gives your skin a sexy glow! Plus, you can't go wrong with all of the amazing ingredients packed inside of this stuff! I also found out directly from Kelly that this product has been scientifically tested to have NO ENDOCRINE disruptors. As someone who suffers from PCOS and has been battling with my hormones my entire adult life I know how important this is. If you are interested in purchasing this product you can get an 8 oz. bottle for $36.00 here. Also, please visit Kelly Teegarden Organics' Facebook Page and make sure to "like" it so you can keep up to date with product updates and specials.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned because tomorrow we will be launching a GIVEAWAY! If you are an eye shadow junkie like me then you won't want to miss tomorrow's post!

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me by Kelly Teegarden Organics free of charge for my review. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I paid for my review. All opinions are my own honest personal opinions.

Product Review: Befine Love Romance - Fragrance Body Mist Spray & Body Souffle

2012-07-12T08:59:00.000-04:00

Happy Thursday! Today I am pleased to bring you yet another fantastic product from Befine, actually two of them- Befine Love Romance - Fragrance Body Mist Spray & Body Souffle! I know, I know, but I really do love their stuff and I love sharing it with you so here goes!

What They Say:

The fruity floral scent of Love Romance, is a lavishly lush blend of cherry blossom, muguet, red apples and Georgia peach with hints of tamarind & blondewood.

Infused with skin-nourishing botanicals, our body mist is a tropical path to soft, touchable skin. Lavishly spritz all over the body to leave skin scented with our original moisturizing fruity floral scent.

You can get a 8.4 oz / 250ml Pump here for $10.00

Infused with skin-nourishing botanical oils, our Body Souffle leaves skin soft and moisturized while kissing with a delicate scent. Generously apply daily all over your body for supple skin and a light layer of sensuous fragrance.

You can get a 8.4 oz / 250ml Bottle here for $10.00.

My Impression: Once again I found myself saying "yum!" when smelling this stuff. It smells like a delicious combination of peaches and apples! I found the scent to be very calming and relaxing. It also left my skin feeling soft and smooth. If you use both the body souffle and the body mist you're guaranteed to be smelling fresh and clean for quite a few hours after application. I have been using this stuff every single day for the past three weeks and I have quite a bit of product left so the generous size bottles definitely last for quite a bit. They have a few other scents in both the Body Souffle and the Body Mist if Love Romance isn't your style however I think the Love Romance scent is perfect for summertime. You can check out the Body Mist line here and the Body Souffle line here.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me by Befine Skin Care free of charge for my review. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I paid for my review. All opinions are my own honest personal opinions.

June Birchbox Overview

2012-07-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm doing something a little different this month with my Birchbox products. Instead of doing a post about each individual product I'm doing an overview post about all of the products. The reason I am doing it this way is because I wasn't really impressed with the products in June's box so I didn't feel a need to do individual posts about each products. So, let's get started shall we?

Apothederm™ Stretch Mark Cream

What They Say: The lush cream tones and reduces the look of both ancient and recent stretch marks alike. Four natural moisturizers—olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and meadowfoam seed oils—leave skin wondrously soft. Meanwhile, the unique SmartPeptide™ system increases collagen production, while licorice root and antioxidant-rich resveratrol fade discoloration. A dose of hyaluronic acid helps with long-lasting hydration.

My Impression: I was excited to try this but I was pretty sure that my stretch marks are far beyond any kind of repair. Most of my stretch marks are from pregnancy and that was over 3 1/2 years ago so if they haven't gone away by now I'm pretty sure they are here to stay. This product didn't do anything for my stretch marks just as I suspected. Now, I'm not sure if you have "new" stretch marks if this product would help or not. The biggest problem I saw with this product is that the full-size bottle (5.7 oz) sells for $89.95! Holy cow!

John Varvatos Star U.S.A. 1.7 oz

My husband did a review of this product since it was for him and you can find it here. I loved the smell of this stuff and I am planning on purchasing it for my husband mainly because I know he never spends money on himself so I'm going to spend it for him!

Scalisi Skincare Anti-Aging Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

What They Say: This moisturizer uses innovative peptide technology you won’t find anywhere else—it tricks your skin into thinking a wrinkle is a cut so collagen production increases to “heal” the wrinkle. Genius, right? Add White Tea Extract for radiance and soy proteins rich in amino acids to boost cell regeneration, and you’ve got yourself an anti-aging powerhouse. Plus, it meets skin cancer prevention standards set by the FDA.

My Impression: I liked that this product included an SPF which is a necessity for any moisturizer I put on my face. The texture of this product reminded me a lot of sunscreen however it wasn't greasy when applied to my face which is a plus. I have been using this pro a couple of weeks off an on and I haven't noticed any remarkable changes in my skin and the fine lines under my eyes. Maybe they aren't deep enough? I'm not sure. Again, the price of this product, $110.00 for a 1.7 oz, blew me away! I love that Birchbox sends out some luxury brands but in order for me to pay that much for something it better work miracles!

theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac

What They Say: The tinted gel leaves a lasting stain on lips and cheeks. Since it’s water-based, it has a longer setting time than most quick-dry stains, which means it won’t leave any unsightly streaks behind as long as you take care to blend well. Use a single coat for a subtle look or layer it on for a more visible (yet still discreet) hue.

My Impression: I was excited to try this product because I have heard a lot about the Balm products but I have never actually tried them. This was one of my favorite products in the June Birchbox hands down. I love a good lip stain and this one delivered all it promised! It sinks right into the skin and doesn't leave any kind of residue behind. It also stayed put for several hours. If I were to choose I would have chosen a different color like "Homecoming Queen" that has a more brown hue to it but overall I was pleased. The best part is that at $17.00 for .3 fl oz this product is much more affordable.

CleanWell Hand Sanitizing Wipes

What They Say: These alcohol-free wipes use thyme oil, a natural anti-bacterial, plus super hydrating aloe vera.

My Impression: I don't really have much to say about these other than they seems to work well and they smelled clean and fresh. These might be good to carry around especially if you have a little one.

BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages by Cynthia Rowley

What They Say: These sterile, individually sealed designer bandages will help you stay prepared for any emergencies that may arise. Keep a few in your purse for the next time you get a paper cut, or use them to cover up stiletto-induced blisters on your feet. Unlike traditional beige bandages, you won’t mind showing these little guys off.

My Impression: The idea of fashion band-aids never appealed to me. I hardly ever have a need for a band-aid and I'm really not worried about whether or not my band-aid is fashionable if I ever do need one. Plus, I think these are a little pricey at $11.00 for a 40 ct box.

Well, there it is, my "just okay" June Birchbox. I'm hoping and praying that my July box is better!

Product Review: John Varvatos Star U.S.A. Cologne

2012-07-10T10:14:00.003-04:00

This product goes back to the my wife's June Birchbox, and is the reason I signed up for the Birchbox Man. Good advertising on the part of Birchbox!

What They Say:

Dads and younger brothers alike dig this dapper scent. Full size product comes housed in smoky glass with a spring top reminiscent of a vintage beer bottle. John Varvatos’ cologne, like his designs, exudes a combination of off-kilter downtown cool and elegant prep.

My Opinion:

I was excited to open the package and smell this cologne. I wasn't disappointed at all! It has a great smell that isn't too overpowering. The thing I hate the most is an overpowering cologne. You know, the guy that walks in the room and twenty minutes after he's left it's just as strong as when he entered? Their description for the scent was pretty good in my opinion. I imagined something that wasn't overpowering and a smell that makes you think stylish. That's exactly what I got.

I've heard the John Varvatos name with working in eye care I'm familiar with the Varvatos brand eye wear. So right away without even smelling the product I knew this cologne was going to be pricey. After trying this product I really want to purchase it, however once I saw the price I had to take a step back. For a 1.7oz size product you're looking at a price tag of $55.00, and for the larger 3.4oz product you're going to pay $70.00. Now for someone like myself that doesn't like dishing out that kind of money on something that isn't a necessity, this price tag is a bit discouraging. However, I really like the product and this may be something that I wouldn't mind purchasing in the future. Especially since my wife loved it too.

The Birchbox Man was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Birchbox Man or any of the brands listed above. I am not being paid for my reviews and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

Product Review: imPRESS Press-On Manicure

2012-07-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hello! Today I'm doing my first review of one of the products I received in my Mom Vox Box- imPRESS Press-On Manicure.

What They Say:

No drying time–The imPRESS Press-On Manicure delivers an instant salon-perfect manicure without the drying time of polish or nail glue.
Superior, lasting shine—An indestructible top coat that rivals the best salon gel polish.
Easy removal—Gently peel from sides or apply polish remover around the edges, wait 1 minute, then peel off.
Lasts up to a week—When applied properly, imPress Press-On Manicure lasts up to a week while keeping nails protected. What polish can say that!

My Impression: I was very skeptical of this product as I mentioned in my last post. I haven't tried press-on nails since the early 90's and all I can remember is that they fell off so easily and at the most inopportune times. I'm not a big fan of false nails in general because of the damage they do to my already brittle and peeling nails. But, I kept an open mind because it has been a while since I have tried press-on nails and they have to have improved since the 90's...right?

First, I will start with the things I loved about this product, the first one being the adorable packaging!

It looks like a nail polish bottle! I also love the designs they offer, you can check out the designs on their website.

I also thought that these were super easy to apply--you simply remove your nail polish, clean your nail with the enclosed alcohol pad, pull the plastic protector off of the back of the nail and press onto your natural nail. I also loved that the nails were numbered so you could match the sizes on each side. In the picture below you can see the plastic protector as well as the number on the nail.

Now, unfortunately I have to stop here and tell you that I only applied one nail. Why you ask? Well, because the nails were too short for my nail bed. Now, I have to tell you that I am by no means an amazon, I mean, I'm only 5'2" and my hands are small as well. My nails are short and I didn't think I had abnormally long nail beds. However, after applying only the thumbnail I didn't see a point in continuing because I wouldn't be able to keep these on my nails anyway. In the picture below you can see that my natural nail stuck out over the top of the press-on. Now, I wouldn't mind cutting down my nails a bit but I would have had to cut into my skin in order to make my nail short enough to hide it.

Another problem I had with the nail is that it wouldn't lay flat against my nail no matter how hard I pressed. Maybe my nails are more curved than most? I'm not sure but I do know that it left a pretty significant gap in between my natural nail and the press-on.

I can't even believe I am posting the above picture because seriously, my hands look so dry! Get this girl some hand cream stat!

I SO wanted to love this product! I love the designs and if they fit my nails properly I would have considered using them again. They seemed to adhere pretty snugly to my nail on the parts that it actually touched. I'm not sure about the claims of them lasting up to a week because I never got to test them for any length of time. I can tell you that they were easy to apply and easy to remove.

So, while I definitely think this product could work for some people it just isn't for me. If I had any suggestions for Broadway Nails it would be for them to make the nails just a tiny bit longer. I'm not sure how to fix the problem of the nail not sticking to the top of my nail.

I was bummed that these didn't work out for me but I have high hopes for the remaining products in my Mom Vox Box so stay tuned! Have you tried the imPRESS Press-On Manicure? What did you think?

Disclaimer: All products were provided to me free of charge by Influenster for review. I am not affiliated with the company nor was I paid for my review. All opinions are my own personal opinions.