Post-Thanksgiving & some other stuff

Hi there loves!

 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and weekend.

 

I can tell you this girl did :)

 

I had such a good time that I didn't up getting my camera out once.
Just didn't think about it between the talking, eating, and lounging.

 

Kev and I did host a Friendsgiving again this year, and I did happen to get a few shots of that!

Kev deep fried the turkey and we asked everyone to bring a side dish.

It was so good.

I can't say that I'm shocked but my friends make some bomb ass food people.
 

The fried bird.

So delicious.

I wanted to try Jenni's apple cider recipe, so I gave it a go.

I don't usually drink a lot of apple cider but I drank several cups of this.

It's the perfect mix with the orange, cloves, and cinnamon.

YUM!

 The ladies of the evening :)

Ya diggin' Bill's creepy Mouvember stache? lol.

And Sarah is soooo happy with it.

Puppy party :)

This sums up the dogs feelings about my picture taking.

Walter is giving me the "Knock it off and gimme dat treat" face and Gunner wants nothing to do with it.

 

Craving up his masterpiece of a turkey.

I really can't get over how good it was...clearly because I keep saying it.

 

I mean that about sums up my Thanksgiving holiday.

It was a great few days of family and friends.
Kev and I are so lucky to have so many amazing people in our lives.

 

Now to the "Other Stuff"

 

Birchbox emailed me recently and asked if I wanted to participate in the Birchbox home addition.

Is that even a real question Birchbox?

Of course, I said yes!

Well I recieved the bad boy in the mail other day, and I'm pretty excited about all my new stuff.

It was a big ole box!

Prep:

Birchbox Recipe Cards

Core Bamboo Spatula set

Citrus Spritzer by Quirky Stem

 

 Season:

Dean & Deluca Rosemary

Sabatino & Co Truffle & Sicilian Sea Salt

 

 Play:

Chambre De Sucre Rainbow Sugar

 Entertain:

Chalkboard Placecards

Cocktail Napkins

Antica Farmacista Home Ambiance Fragrance in Prosecco

Make:

Two cards from Paperless Post

DIY Napkin Kit from P.S. I made this...

MyDrap Cotton Luncheon Napkin Roll for Napkin Kit

 

The whole thing was less then $60.

I am pretty happy with everything I got.

How cute are those recipes cards and Paperless Post greeting cards?!

I've already set out the the Prosecco home fragrance, and it's amazing!

I am not sure I'd get this every month just because I don't always have the space for these little things, but I'd get them every few months to try out some new stuff!

 

What do you think?

Would you get the Birchbox Home Edition?

 

Happy Monday!

A little bit girly

I was having a little bit of bloggers block this morning and decided that I'd be a little girl and show off my new May Birchbox and my new dress :) 

I realize that I never do fashion or beauty posts, and it's not because I'm not girly, or because I think I dress poorly. It's more of the fact that I do lack fashion and beauty knowledge, especially compared to these ladies: Holly and Ashlyn. And I still don't like to take pictures of myself. 

Guess I'm going to have to get over that little "fear".

 I was a little fearful that I'd end up looking like a giant candy cane, but thank the fashion po-po I do not. 

(at least I hope not?!?) 

I love the chevron pattern, but I rarely seem to get anything with it on there. This would be the first! 

Dress: Velvet Heart  
Bought on ideeli.com If you have not joined this discount site you need to...like right now!

Cardigan: Express

Shoes (even though you can't see them): Express

I've been really excited to receive my monthly Birchbox the last couple of months, because I've decided to let down all of my beauty inhibitions and just try everything to see what is going to work. 

 Not that I need a lot of this stuff to work, but the whole point is to try this stuff out isn't it? 

What did I get this month?

 

{Color Club Foil Collection} 

 Birchbox Description: Give your nails an unexpected look with Color Club’s edgy foil shades. A favorite of top beauty bloggers (not to mention everyone in our office), these polishes have a super-reflective metallic finish that’s truly mesmerizing. We’re warning you now: you won’t be able to stop staring at your nails.

 The name of this shimmering lovely: Disco Nap. I've gotten a Color Club nail polish before and I wasn't overly impressed. It was a nice color, but it didn't stay as long as I would have liked for an $8.00 bottle. We will see how the gold  holds out?!

{Fresh Suger Rose Lip Balm}

Birchbox Description: If you've been layering your lip balm with a swipe of lipstick to add some color, then allow us to introduce you to your new one-two punch. fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment provides the same hydrating goodness of the original SPF 15 formula, but kicks it up a notch with a splash of subtle color. It has all you need to hydrate, protect, and perfect your pout.

I love this stuff! I've had it before thanks to the lovely C.O. Bigelow discount I have and it's awesome. If you are anything like me and like a little color without all the fuss then this lip balm with a hint of tint (yes, I meant to rhyme!) is perfect for you! 

{Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+}

Birchbox Description: We desperately try to adhere to the less-is-more philosophy, and Dr. Jart’s Water Fuse Beauty Balm helps us minimize our routine. A moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum all-in-one, this tinted balm even helps hide imperfections—so there’s no need for foundation or cover-up. Think of it as the Swiss Army Knife of your beauty cabinet.

This is something I could see myself using if I wore more concealer/foundation. I tried it this morning, just to see what it was like. I can't say that I know much about face creams with tint but I really liked this. It was lightweight and despite having sunscreen in it smelled pretty good. Maybe it's a good one for the summer? Maybe one of you can give me the low down if you try this out for longer than day :)

{Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Petite Cologne Absolue]

Birchbox Description: We fell in love with Atelier Cologne’s Vanille Insensée Cologne Absolue at first sniff. Unlike most vanilla scents, this highly concentrated blend of jasmine, vanilla, and lime is fresh, not sweet. Happily, the long-lasting fragrance lasts all day — we’re smitten and you will be too. 

So I'm not going to tip toe around this one. I don't like it. I mean it's nice, but if I'm going to spend $65 on smell good, it's going to have to be a little bit stronger, and maybe something a bit more than vanilla. 

{Twistband Hair Tie} 

Birchbox Description: We never paid much attention to our hair ties before Twistband came into our lives. Now we can’t go anywhere without one (or three) of their snag-free, super soft elastics. They keep hair secure without leaving ugly creases behind, and look as good on our wrists as they do in our ponytails. These colorful collections come with twelve ties, so you’ll always have plenty of spares on hand.

Last, but not least, and my second favorite thing from the box...a hair tie! I've seen these bad boys all over the place but had yet to go get myself any. I can say that now I definitely need to go get some.  They are super cute in your hair and or your wrist. However, there will be some issue with these holding my fine hair.

I even got Kev signed up to get Birchbox with the new Birchbox Men! He's probably going to kill me for telling everyone that I got him this, but let me tell ya folks a well groomed fella makes for one happy lady :)

Not to mention he actually enjoys trying out some new things like the soap and face wash he got, and of course you can't go wrong with some fun dress sock! 

Have you gotten your May Birchbox yet?  What did you get? 

Happy Tuesday!

March Birchbox

So a couple month ago Ms. Jenni over at Story of my Life did a little feature on Birchbox.

I had heard about it before but never really pursued what it was and how useful it could be for someone like myself. As I read Jenni's feature I realized that I should really be giving this place a shot. I know that I've told you all before that I'm not really a make up wearer. I prefer not to wear any at all if I don't have to. So as a result I know absolutely nothing about make up or really many other beauty products for that matter.

To top that off I'm a creature of habit. Especially when it comes to beauty. If it works for me I hang on to it for dear life. If it stops working for me or they stop selling the product I tend to have a minor panic attack and quickly try out as many things I can to figure out what I should now be using. Of course that can get pricey. 

Enter Birchbox! 

I've only gotten 2 of them so far but I like it! I like the concept. I like that I don't have to spend obscene amounts of money to try new things and figure out what is going to be the best for me. I like that it comes in trial sizes so it doesn't take up alot of space, and truthfully you don't feel bad pitching it if it doesn't work because it's just a little baby size. I also like that not everyone gets the same exact things in their boxes so you can trade or figure out if any of a friends stuff might work for you if it doesn't work for them. There are all kinds of options!

I've gotten my March box and I already like it more then Feburary. 

The theme? 

Spring Training. 

Appropriate. 

What was in my box this month? 

 {1} TeaForte

Birchbox Description: Teatime just got a makeover. Not only do these fruity green teas taste amazing, they contain mega-high levels of antioxidants to repair your skin from the inside out. Each flavor addresses a specific concern, from fighting oxidative stress (a major source of wrinkles) to restoring skin’s youthful glow. Certified organic and fair trade, the beautifying blends will help you look as great as you feel—and who can say no to that? 

I'm really excited to try these! I am such a tea fan and knowing that I'm going to be drinking something to help my skin makes it wayyyy better!  

{2} Ahava Moisterizer

Birchbox Description: We know a great moisturizer when we see one, so take our word for it: this luxe brand’s day cream will fulfill your top skincare wishes. First, it restores damaged skin with aloe, vitamins, and amino acids. Next, Dead Sea minerals strengthen skin and protect against sun damage. The icing on the cake: it sinks in right away and won’t leave your face shiny, so you can wear it under your makeup with no problem. The restorative formula is best for those whose complexions fall between normal and dry.

Also really excited for this. I have always been complimented on having nice skin. I need to keep it that way and moisturizer is a HUGE part of that. For what little I do know about beauty projects I know that much :)

{3} Color Club Neon Nail Polish

Birchbox Description: Maybe we’ve watched too many re-runs of The Brady Bunch, but we’ve always had a soft spot for the 1960s. So it’s no surprise that these ‘60s-inspired polishes are right up our alley. They come in seven neon shades that channel the decade’s exuberant vibe: think mod girls, painted buses, and the advent of color TV. 

Uh Hello! It's nail polish! Neon nail polish! What's not to love?

 

{4} Kerastase Elixir Ultime

Birchbox Description: It took us a while to hop on the hair oil bandwagon, but boy were we missing out. This lightweight elixir is fortified with a unique combo of four essential oils to leave strands super shiny and manageable—whether your hair is curly, straight, or in between. Plus, we can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment or leave-in conditioner. What more can a girl ask for? 

This girl will not be getting this item. I'm sure that it is nice but my very very slick hair does NOT need oils. I've done it before and even after a few washes my hair was still to oily!

{5} Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser

Birchbox Description: While we love surprises most of the time, waking up to a major zit is our idea of a full-blown catastrophe. Keep blemishes from making unwanted entrances with this powerful yet soothing cleanser. It’s made with certified-organic botanicals that break down pore-clogging debris. Use it regularly to see visible improvement.

I am in need of a good face wash. Most of the time I can get by with something simple like neutrogina or clean & clear but I've been looking for something with a little more mphf! Maybe this is it?

{6} Not Pictured: Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrien 

I forgot to put it in the picture because I was to busy using it! 

 Birchbox Description: French fragrance designer Annick Goutal took inspiration from Italy for this iconic citrus scent, which launched in 1981. Bright and effervescent, the universal and timeless blend conjures up the image of sun-ripened fruit in a Tuscan orchard.

 Don't worry I'm already on the waiting list! It smells soooo good. Just in time for spring :)

The one downside of Birchbox. 

Spending! 

I am already planning on getting the neon nail polishes, and perfume.  

(I need the perfume, just broke the only one I had!...I'm justifying it ok!)

 That's just what I'm planning on getting, I haven't even tried the teas or other items! 

Sorry wallet, you might be thin this month!

 

Do you guys get Birchbox? What did you get?