Birchbox Monthly Box - Review

I signed up for the monthly goodies from Birchbox, it's $10 a month and it's supposed to have a bunch of samples to try out before they come out or because they are popular.

I had received an email about a week ago, saying that it had been mailed, but the tracking number never updated and I never knew when I was actually going to receive the box. I received my first box yesterday in the mail and to be honest I was a bit disappointed.

I received a itty, bitty sample size of Blinc, some new nail polish (the kind you stick on your nails), a mascara protector (it protects your eyelid and under your bottom lashes from getting mascara on them), a friendship bracelet from Birchbox with their logo and a sample perfume.

For those kind of samples, I could've gotten a couple of things on Sephora and added some samples from their website.

I'll keep the subscription for another month and see how those samples are. If I'm not happy, I'll cancel my subscription.

~ t

10 Reasons To Look Your Best

Do you ever wake up and feel like you just don't want to do anything? You go out with messy hair, no make-up and wear whatever baggy clothes you find? Yeah, I've felt that way too but I never leave the house without fixing myself up. It's because I always find reasons on why I shouldn't just leave in my pajamas. Here are some of the reasons on why I try to look my best every day even on those "I don't care" days.

• You never know who you'll meet that day.
• You deserve it, no matter how bad things might be at that moment.
• To express yourself. So wear that cute top with the ridiculous message.
• You're beautiful. Accent your best features!
• It'll make you feel better.
• You spend money on all these clothes. Use them as much as you can.
• You're only whatever age you are for a year. Time goes by quickly.
• It just feels great to look in the mirror and say "I feel pretty."
• It's fun to dress up!
• It's for you, as simple as that.

So remember these little tips when you just don't want to do anything. It'll perk you right up and make you feel like you can do anything once you make yourself even more beautiful than you already are.

-K

My love for fishtail braids

I've been waiting for my hair to be long enough so I could be able to do such beautiful braids. They're pretty easy to do and they look great when they're long enough to be tossed over the shoulder. Here are some of my favorite pictures and a tutorial for those who want to try it out!

-K

Super awesome tutorial!

Make up Brands...Drugstore vs. Department Store

I buy a lot of make up...a lot. I've probably used them all, from Covergirl and Maybelline to MAC and Estee Lauder. I have my favorites and there are some times where I've returned certain brands (like Nars or Almay) because they promise one thing or another and have a completely different result.

I'm very picky when it comes to foundation, probably because when I was pregnant with my son, my face did a 180 and became super, mega, oily (Dr's say it was because of all the male hormones counteracting with mine, while I was pregnant). I found that the best foundation for me is MAC Studio Fix and to set it, I use MAC's Mineralized Skinfinish

Now I know the price is a bit high for MAC, but the way I see it is, I spend $25 for a foundation that is going to last me approximately 5 months. So basically I'm spending $5 a month on foundation. The mineralized powder, lasts me about 7 months, so again I divide it by that.

I've tried using drugstore foundations, like Covergirl, Revlon, Maybelline, but I've noticed that I've had to add more to my face, to have the same coverage as MAC, which means I'm running out of the foundation faster, making me spend more $$ to buy more foundation. So in the end, I spend the same amount of money on a department store foundation.

However, when it comes to mascara, blush, lip gloss and lipsticks, I will go, hands down, to a drugstore brand. I've again used the expensive ones only to find that they do the same job as a drugstore brand. For example, my favorite mascara is Covergirl's Lash Blast. The formula is thick, it doesn't smear, it doesn't flake and it really does volumize and define your lashes. Same with their lip glosses and blushes.

I know not all people have the same thoughts on which brands of make up are better, but everyone has to experiment and see what works best for them!

So, what's your favorite brand of make up?

~ t

Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks

I love using make up, but I know it can clog up my pores fairly easily. I wish I could afford going to the spa but I found a great solution for this problem in an inexpensive way. I got Montagne Jeunesse face mask at Target. I use them once a week and it makes my skin feel great! It may be a small package but it has enough  to even cover your neck, but I usually just cover my face. I always have some left in the package after I use it and I hate to waste it. I started saving what is left in the package in a ziplock bag. It stays just as creamy and wonderful as if you had just opened a new package! I recently bought the Chocolate Mud Masque. It smells delicious and the scent stays even after you rinse it off.

They don't only have products for you face but also your hair, body and even feet. They also have products for men. I'm tempted to try of their hair masks!

-K

It's your birthday, why not get free stuff!

Who doesn't like free stuff, I sure do and what a better way than to get freebies on your birthday!

Here's a list of different restaurants and stores, where if you sign up on their websites, you'll get a free goodie on your birthday (or anniversary)! There are even local restaurants that will give you a free meal, if you come in on your birthday, so be sure to check out the local eateries too!

- Applebees (did you know that IHop bought Applebees 0_o)
- Arby's
- Auntie Anne's Pretzels
- Aveda
- Baskin Robbins
- Benihana
- Burger King
- California Pizza Kitchen
- Dairy Queen
- Denny's
- Dunkin Donuts
- Famous Dave's
- Fuddruckers
- Hard Rock
- IHop (new owners of Applebees o_0)
- Joe's Crab Shack
- Krispy Kreme Donuts
- Sephora
- Sonic
- Starbucks
- Texas Roadhouse

Enjoy the freebies, I know I will!!!

~ t

Twistband Hair Ties - Review

I received the Twistband Hair Ties this past Thursday. I was so excited to get them, as I, for some odd reason, thought they were headbands. They aren't, they're hair ties, as in ponytail holders that are tied in a knot at the end. I'm used to using the Goody Ouchless, which are smooth all the way around, so I was a bit skeptical to use it (besides my disappointment in the bands not being headbands).

So I used one...they're actually pretty good. Held my hair up the whole day, I laid down while I was putting my son down to sleep and it didn't hurt the back of my head. It also hasn't left any marks on my hair, when I took it off.

So, overall, the Twistband's are good, a bit too expensive for a couple of hair ties, but they get the work done.

~ t