Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Birchbox November 2013 Review!!

Hello all,

My second ever Birchbox FINALLY arrived today! I loved my first Birchbox and was very excited to see what was coming in this month, maybe I'll finally adopt a skin routine with some of the options. Let's dive in with this month's theme #MoreGood!



What's in my Box?

1. BeeKind Body Lotion - 30 mL Sample - $1.88
The Lemon-y scent is growing on me the longer it's been on my hands. The texture was a lot more gloopy than I expected, but went on nicely, and it was pretty moisturizing. Honestly, not sure if I'd purchase this full-size, not ticking any boxes for what I look for in lotion. 

2. Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil - FULL SIZE 1.4g - $18.00
I am so happy I got this in my box this month. I am all about highlighters and have yet to try a highlighter pencil. The color for me is perfect! It glides on and is going to be perfect for the mornings I'm running behind for work. The coverage is great too, not too cake-y. 


3.  WEI Pomegranate Buffing Beads - 2 Packet Sample - $1.00
Haven't tried these beads just yet, but I'm very excited to. Birchbox says to mix a full packet with a quarter-sized amount of your daily cleanser. I've tried beads in cleanser before and this seems really intriguing. 

4. WEI Golden Root Purifying Mask - 8 mL sample - $5.25
YES! A mask in one of my boxes! Haven't gotten a chance to try this yet, but I'm due for a facial (like 5 months overdue) and this will suffice for now. I'm so exciting to see if this brightens up my face like it claims. 

5. Joie Folle de Joie eau de parfum - .06 oz sample - $1.80
I love Joie's clothing and accessories, so I was very excited to receive a sample of their perfume. I love the scent, it's right up my alley. Plus I love carrying around perfume samples in my purse just in case I need them. I love the freshness of the scent and the addition of rose. 


6. Mighty Leaf  Tea Pouches - 3 packets - $4.50
I wasn't totally thrilled about knowing I was receiving tea in my box instead of chocolate, but I have to admit I am a bit happier about it now that they are in my hands. All three flavors are ones that I would drink normally and I love Mighty Leaf, looking most forward to drinking the African Nectar sample. I know Mighty Leaf has very rich and delicious flavors that don't get watered down. 


Overall, I really enjoyed my box, I am totally okay with more skincare products this month, I need to branch out. I came up with a value of just under $32.50 which is an excellent value when the box is $10 a month. If you're interested in subscribing to Birchbox, check out my link: https://www.birchbox.com?raf=92k36

Happy Tuesday :)
Courtney

*I paid for this box on my own, I wasn't compensated for this review. The referral link is mine :)

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Tune-In Thursday

Welcome to the rest of your life, at least for the next 30 mins. Here's the music videos you can't live without this week.

1. Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - 'Bad Dancer' 

Don't even get me started on this and why I love it. All I can say is that you must drop what you're doing and love this song, if not for Yoko, then for the fact that Questlove and Ira Glass (two of my heroes) making an appearance in the same video. Fun fact: Questlove was on Say Yes To The Dress last week, I can't make that up. But if Robyn went on a cocaine vacation, you'd get this song and it's oddly wonderful.




2. Thirty Seconds to Mars - 'City of Angels' 

Like you really needed another reason to love/hate LA and its inhabitants anymore, I give you the confessional that is 30STM newest video for their single which features icons such as Kanye, Alan Cumming, Steve Nash, and Ms. Lohan spilling their disheartened thoughts about the city they love and hate just as much as the rest of us. Insert US Magazine's 'Stars: They're Just Like Us!' moment.



3. Active Child feat. Ellie Goulding - 'Silhouette'

I have this absurd musical crush on Active Child. There's this out-of-body transport that happens when you LISTEN to his music. It's one of the most magical musical experiences I've had the chance to be a part of. It's saddening that not everyone has done the same yet, but it's also this thing I'd like to keep as a little unique part of me. I chose this track of his recent EP as a segue for non-Active Child fans to begin with because you have the wonderful Ms. Goulding in this track. Take a moment to experience :)



Bonus: Band of Skulls - 'Asleep At The Wheel'

This is the Bonus of the week since it's not technically a video :D I've been waiting for this for a while. Band of Skulls are dirty, gritty, what you'd be listening to drink cheap whiskey in a roadside bar hitting on Charlie Hunnam. (Or would he be hitting on you, either way...) I love the dark rock n'roll of this band and it's only gotten better the more they release. About 3/4 of the way though, they break out into this killer bridge reminiscent of the beat 70s psych bands. Worth your four minutes.









Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Mid-Week Motivation

It's usually Wednesday when my brain is no longer computing and I'm exhausted and then I realize I'm only halfway to Friday. Thusly, I search for something, be it a person, article, event, etc. to empower me for the rest of the week. This week's natural power-up comes from a woman that if you don't know already know about you should. Tilt-Shift Twenty, Meet Robin Lawley.

She's had controversy for just being a healthy young woman in the modeling world, and she's been a breath on fiery fresh era through the entire thing. Robin visited the Ellen DeGeneres Show today (which you can watch here) and they discuss her career thus far and this ridiculous phenom called 'thigh gap' that's plaguing America. Robin is 6'2" and a size 12 and she is considered a 'Plus Size Model' and not fit for the runway, which is incredibly infuriating to me. Being a tall woman as well, clocking in at 5'11" and a size 6-8, I couldn't honestly ever imagine being any smaller than this, and when you see a photo of a Robin below, you won't be able to think anything else that she looks beautiful and not plus-size.

Credit: http://bit.ly/1bX5G1N

In response to this hubbub, Robin Lawley began to focus on the ideal of "Love Your Body" and focusing on food and eating healthy, even though, she says, eating is not the issue, it's the public perception. She also proceeded to point out that the national average is a 12-14. She reminded me that when I worry about if I should lose weight or eat less, that I am healthy and I should be proud of who I am regardless if I have a 'thigh gap' or not.

So thank you Robin Lawley, for standing up for healthy tall women, and all women today. You can check out her Tumblr here: http://robynlawleyeats.tumblr.com/

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Soulful Sunday (by way of Tuesday)

Hello Sunday Evening,

I've come to cherish my weekends more than any other days in the week. Mainly, I get to spend time at home and with my pets, like millions of others. And with Sunday, comes a weekly reflection, which I'll quantify with a quote, photo and song.

Quote of the Week: 

Something that I need to remind myself when things get stressful either at work or home or with family. It's one of those calming reminders, and yes It's from #SuperSoulSunday herself, Ms. Oprah.


Photo of the Week:

This was me (photo below not actually me) this weekend, getting lost in some fall reading (look for a post later this week about them), and the weather here was finally getting cooler and almost acceptable sweater weather for southern California.

Song of the Week:
Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix) - This is one of my most cherished tracks ever. It's a heartwarming, hopeful song, promising the miracle that is the city of lights. It reminds me that anything and everything is possible as long as you dream for it. Nothing is unattainable, something I've been teaching myself this year.

Listen here:


Friday, November 1, 2013

Welcome and October Favorites

In an attempt to settle my restless mind, I've decided to give blogging the old college try. I spent a good portion of my free time reading numerous blogs, which you can find here at BlogLovin and catch up with me.

For my first official post, I'm taking it easy with a few of my October Favorites!

1. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream - $39.00 at Sephora.

I've spent most of this year finding a magical BB cream that works for my skin. I settled with MAC's BB Cream for most of the year, but it still wasn't fulfilling all the dreams I had been told about BB Creams. I found this at Sephora a couple of weeks ago, and so far, I am in Disney Princess love with this. It is just the right color and it's just the happy light/medium combination I was looking for!


2. Subscription Boxes - $10.00 - $39.95 (links below)

I'm late to the game on these, I'm fully aware, but October was the month I made the plunge. After scouring blogs like My Subscription Addiction, I chose three boxes, Birchbox, Ipsy Glam Bag, and Popsugar Must Have Box. I've only received the Birchbox for October so far, but I'm pleased thus far. I was taken off the waitlist for the Ipsy Bag just yesterday after about 3 weeks, so I'm VERY excited for all three boxes for November.

Find out more and sign up for each below:
PopSugar MustHave:http://popsu.gr/ncdK

3. Reign (TV Show) - Thursdays at 9pm EST on The CW

Confession: I love Reign. I have a History Degree, and I shouldn't enjoy this show. I really shouldn't. But for some reason, be it the amazing costumes or stages, or the 'faux history', I can't get enough. Mary, Queen of Scots, never looked so good. Oh, and The Lumineers' "Scotland" is the main theme, and it's the most unexpected wonderful combination ever. Basically, if you are a fan of monarchial politics, arranged marriages and the drama that entails, this is perfect for you. 

4. Rock & Republic Ankle Boots - $43.99 (On Sale) - at Kohl's

In the exhausting search for the perfect fall boot, this is my one of my favorite shoe finds in years. Being on a college graduate budget, I love me a great deal (I saved an extra 20% off the sale price with an email coupon) and these booties are addicting. They amp up every outfit I pair them with, with ease. It's the almost effortless styling of these boots that I love so much. They are also super comfortable and do not look like they are under $100. #SuperSteal

5. LYFE Kitchen Frozen Entreés - $3.49 - $5.00 - Supermarkets 


You'll feel like you order out for lunch every time you heat up one of their meals! And yes, what you see above is actually how the meal looks. These are, in my opinion, one of the healthiest options in the Freezer Section, with the above Chicken Chile Verde meal clocking in at 320 calories, and low sodium. They also pride themselves on perfect presentation every time, once you heat up the meal in a paper bag, it slides out to look like a lovely home-cooked meal. There's 5 entree options at the moment and also breakfast meals. Find LYFE near you: http://grocery.lyfekitchen.com/
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(Note: This post contains subscription box referral links, however, I purchased all boxes.)