Catchin' Up!

My porch has seen a lot of action in the last little while! Honestly, the only way I can back track is through all the pictures I took with my phone. So let's see what's on here.......

Haha! Mick's new napping spot :)

My first BB5 box. I love the colour of this box! 

Wow! Its jam packed with goodies! 

Blum Naturals Make-up Remover Towelettes, Freeman Anti- Stress Mask, Ellis Faas Milky Glazed Lips , Ferro Cosmetics Sheer Crystal Veil, and H2O Plus Marine Calm Restoring eye cream. I'm impressed with this box. There is enough of each product to get a good feel for them. I can't wait for Use it or Lose it!

What else is on here?...........

My first ever Starbox and its a special addition! I really liked the packaging and presentation.

Starbox is a make-up only subscription which features full sized products from the Starlooks line. This month included a lipgloss in pink petal rose and a liner in sculupture. 

And finally...............

This is Candyscovery. I was not too impressed with the packaging. As you can see, the little white treat bags were flimsy and the feel of them indicated the candy inside was loose, like someone scooped them out of a bin. It also came with what I think is a Chilean Flag, since that's where these treats are from.

There was nothing that struck me as new and exciting. The top candy looked like a marshmallow based candy, and tasted like one. Not that I don't like marshmallows, but I've seen these before. The candy on the bottom looked like sugar coated jujubes. And that's pretty much what they were. A softer consistency, but still. So disappointed! I'm glad I bought just one sample pack first before subbing! Candy-not-so good-discovery :(

Woo-hoo! All caught up. Now to try all these goodies! 

Gaahhhh!

I feel like I've fallen behind on my boxes! I will get right on it soon, I promise. But I have great news: I can start my Topbox subscription in October! Woohooo! :D

Use it or Lose it: Glymm August 2012

Lovelies, I rarely write complaint emails but I felt so strongly I could no longer hold back. Here is what I wrote to the people of Glymm:

The August Glymm bag was my first one ever. I subscribed to Glymm because I had heard very good things. This bag's value I feel,  did not equal the price I actually paid for it. I was very very disappointed to see other members receive a full sized product, while I received a product I can't even get points for reviewing. I'm sure other members will see this as unfair as well. I understand that the contents are based somewhat on our beauty profile. But understand that if you are giving a full sized product out for one group and not another, that is going to cause some serious friction. Everyone should get one full sized product, it doesn't even have to be the same product. And just because I have dry hair, does not mean I don't like nail polish. I am subscribed for a year but the next few months will decide whether or not I stay. Don't underestimate the intelligence of your customers. In the end, customers make or break you.

I give kudos where its due. If you have negative feedback coming to you, I'll make sure you know how unhappy I am.

To recap, here are the Glymm bag contents and my thoughts:

(I have The Who's Baba O'Reily/Teenage Wasteland blasting in the background!)


1)Atelier Cologne in Vanille Insensee: At first sniff, a very vanilla scent, very feminine. While I do like it, I'm not a huge perfume person. So I probably wouldn't buy this unless my sole bottle was all out. Lose It unless you need it.

2)Vitamine & Sea Mineral Clay mask: I thought there would be enough for two masks. Boy, was I wrong. I used this last night, and I ended up using the whole pot. It was very thick yet easy to smooth to put on. It had a tendency to dry very quickly. It washed of easy enough. My skin felt a little tight afterwards so I put on the next product listed ;) I'm not huge into masks, I only do them when I want to pamper myself. I would go out and buy this product. Lose it.

3)Benta Berry G-1 Cream, 100% natural: I was surprised I didn't actually need a whole lot for coverage. I'd say this sample was good for about a week. It didn't irritated my skin and was very lightly scented. I am consider this product. Use it.

4) naked shine luscious lipgloss in Barely Coco: I had a few doubts before trying it. It said it had a light lip plumper in the formula. Now I know there are no pics of me on here, but if there were, you'd agree I don't need a lip plumper! But I put some on for science sake! And I actually ended up loving it! It was not sticky or tacky. It went on smooth and the smell and taste were a light coco! I like its clean formula too. I just wish it was a bigger sample! Use it!

5) Mai Couture Blush Papier: To be honest, I still have to use this. It was such a small sample, I actually forgot it was in here! :(

6)NuMe Hydro Punch Hydrating Conditioner: I used this in the shower the other day and honestly did not feel a difference. Lose it.


And there you have it. Glymm, Glymm, Glymm. The next few months are crucial! As The Clash would I put it: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

It's Friday I'm in Love....Candy Japan

I came home, to an empty porch. :(

But I fished an envelope out of the mailbox:

Look at the cute tape seal! :) I love my sweets so I had to try this sub out. Candy Japan is 23.95 USD per month and they send you 2 packets a month of candy straight from Japan. I didn't get an email as to what anything is, so we'll have to use our deductive skills, Watson. Here are my goodies!

Clockwise going from the right: Seika's Narutokintoki Soft Caramels, in a Sweet Yam Flavour, Fit's Magiq Gum, and the last one is entirely in Japanese. I popped this one open and tried one right away. It had a bunch of cartoon robots on the packaging. It was like a sour warhead at first and then turn into a kind of gummy chew, but a lot harder in consistancy. It was actually pretty good! I'll probably have another one later as it looks like there are different flavours.

I was so excited to try these.......but it could not be yet. They had been out in the heat too long, so when I tried to unwrap one, the caramel came apart and stayed stuck to the wrapper. They are in the fridge right now, hoping a little cold will solve the problem.

*Update: The wrapper is edible! I tried unwrapping one and failed again. So on my third treat, I thought, "what if?' and took a chunk of wrapper and popped it in my mouth. A normal wrapper would have just remained. This started melting! I've seen this type of wrapper before on other Asian treats. I'm not sure what its made out of but it uses rice as one of the ingredients. Armed with this new intel, I ate the whole thing! Sweet Success :)

This gum actually had English instructions. So being the good student I am, I followed it to a tee. When you pull on a stick, the bottom half of the wrapper rips and stays in the box, so you are left with a stick of gum that is ready to pop in your mouth. I think the idea was to cut down on unwrapping time completely? So I am chewing a stick right now. It has little flavour crystals that when you crunch down on them, they release a little more flavour. This gum was like a juicy fruit type flavour. Other than that, it feels and acts like a stick of gum you could buy in North America. The packaging is fun :)

A sweet ending to a semi sweet day! I love trying new things.

My first Sampler Village Box

A box full of cute stuff. I love it, its like getting  bunch of little presents in one big present! Lots of soaps to try:)

Saturday Mystery Box Theatre

Extra points for who can tell me what dork reference I'm attempting to make!

Ahh, mysteries, mysteries, mysteries. I do love myself a good mystery. So when I got home I found this on the porch......

Hmmm, spidey sense is telling me :"This is the Coastal Scents Mystery Box!" And Indeed it was. Coastal Scents offered a Mystery Box on their website for $19.99 USD, promising to be worth at least $50. A gamble, no doubt. 

It came with a bumper sticker, stating the obvious (haha). Now onto the insides! 

Upon opening I thought what I had read somewhere described as a 'brush explosion' and I'm not kidding. My heart almost dropped thinking maybe it was all brushes! It was a real possibility. But I began sifting through the contents as breathed a sigh of relief. 

I did get the one thing I was hoping for. A Hotpot Palette! For those unfamiliar with Coastal Scents, one of their neat products is the hotpot, which are individual and interchangeable pots of pressed eyeshadows that can be placed and replaced into their hotpot palettes. I almost screamed when I saw this! I also got a Duo Shadow Pencil in Copper, a sample of African Black soap, a sample of loose mineral eyeshadow in Aqua, and of course the Brushes. I did get two eyeshadow blending brushes and a stipple brush I did not have. 

So all in all, I was pretty happy with this box. A gamble albeit, but Life's like that. I'm glad it turned out.
Mystery Solved! Has anyone else taken a gamble on mystery boxes? How did it go?

Waiting for me on the porch....Glymm and The Natural Beauty Box

Boy do I love getting mail! Is it just me? There must others who get a rush from a full mailbox or a stack of boxes by the door??


I finally got my first Glymm bag ever! The reviews I've read about them have been very mixed but I am willing to give them a chance. Ripping open the box:

Not a bad looking little black bag, eh? There was no welcome card or products card, or anything really. I picked it up and, well......it was a lot lighter then I expected. I mean I didn't actually know what to expect but I thought it would be a bit bulkier? Anyways, time to unzip!:

My phone doesn't take the greatest pictures, but it does take accurate ones. Yes, all are actual size (?) and all are the contents of the bag. I admit I did almost turn the bag upside down to make sure I didn't miss anything. So from left to right:

1)Atelier Cologne in Vanille Insensee: Sample Size and it includes a postcard. At first sniff, a very vanilla scent, very feminine. I also managed to get some all over my hands opening it, so now my keyboard will smell like this.

2)Vitamine & Sea Mineral Clay mask: A bit excited to try this one. Upon opening the little tin, there's probably enough to make 2 masks?

3)Benta Berry G-1 Cream, 100% natural: 3mL......I'm going to assume you need very little of it so It will last a few uses.

4) naked shine luscious lipgloss in Barely Coco: This looks promising, its a cute little tube of lipgloss. No parabens, sulphates, or phthalates.

5) Mai Couture Blush Papier: came with 2 sheets to try. I'm interested :)

6)NuMe Hydro Punch Hydrating Conditioner: pretty self explanatory, its a hair conditioner. 


The first Natural Beauty Box. Actually based in Canada, which I am happy about and can appreciate! 

The presentation is excellent! I know I will probably end up using this gift bag/box again for more gift giving! Now this box was stuffed! I can definitely tell it was handpacked with loving care! Everything was placed carefully and hand-wrapped. And the insides!:

This is truly a stuffed box. I couldn't take enough pictures to do it justice, let alone get everything to fit in one picture. I will post a grand review of the entire box very very soon, as I plan to dive right in and start using the products right away. So stay tuned!

Monday Motivation

Ahh, another Monday, boy do I hate these:(

Thought I'd post something to get us all through the Monday blues.
Motivation through Music!

Shake it Out by Florence and the Machine. I'm not sure what it is about this song but it lifts me up a little.

Use it or Lose it!: Glossybox July 2012

Now what do I think of all the July Glossybox products after actually using them? I'll recap and tell you in a segment I like to call Use it or Lose it!

This is July's box again:

And here are the verdicts! (from left to right)


1) John Frieda Frizz-Ease Xtra Strength Serum
I was really excited to try this product. I was pretty happy to see this in the box. It retails for about $15. The product featured is full size, so I was a bit skeptical. I have long hair so I tend to use more product. I followed the instructions. Apply to soaking wet hair. It was easy to work into my hair and I was surprised how little I had to use. After blowdrying my hair I noticed a HUGE difference. My hair was slick and smooth, my husband noticed right away. I could run my fingers through my hair and not get snagged on flyaways or frizzballs! So the verdict on this one: Use it! I'm definitely getting this one again :)

2) Zoya Nail Polish in MYRTA
This is a beautiful colour. The coverage was good. Even for someone who is really bad at nails as I am! Use it!

3) Alessandro International Pedix Heel Rescue Balm
I don't really like getting foot massages so I wasn't too sure about this product. I gave myself a little foot massage. The product smells great but the minty smell did get kinda old after a bit. The lotion itself made my skin feel good and smooth. I didn't really feel this product though. As much as I wanted to try this product, I just don't feel the need to have it on my 'got to get it' list. The verdict: Lose it!

4) Eucerin Calming Creme
I have heard of this brand many times before. The tube was really small, so I just used it on my hands. Its fragrance free, which is good for people with sensitive skin, like me. I however, get bored with lotions like that. While my skin feels good and is not irritated, I like scents, even just a little hint! I know its not a luxury sensitive skin can afford. So I shouldn't be so picky. So in the end, it really does the job it says it does. The verdict: If you need it, Use it!

5) Dove Softening Creme Body Wash
As I had previously mentioned, my skin and Dove had a horrible run-in the last time they met. I was on the fence about trying this product. I decided to give Dove another chance. The first use was fine. The cream smelled pleasant. My skin did feel nice and smooth after. The second use, it all went wrong. My skin, specifically on my legs began to itch like crazy in the shower! I washed everything off quickly. Dove, this was your last chance! I ended up giving the bottle to my sister, who does not have bad skin senitivities. She has yet to give it a go, but she's never had problems like me. My verdict: Lose it!

6) Beautysoclean Sanitizer Wipes
Always good to clean your make up and brushes: Use it!


So...here's hoping for a good August box!
What about you? Any favourites from this month's box?

It's Friday! I'm in Love

Ahh the end of the work week, the first night of the weekend :)
Happy Friday everyone!
I'm getting this blog together, a little bit at a time. Thank you, Lovelies, for being so patient. I'm gonna try every Friday to post something that will get people smiling, laughing, talking.....after all, YOLO, right? I'm such a grown up, my sister had to tell me what that meant  :S You Only Live Once, haha
In my search for new box subscriptions I came across two candy subscriptions!

Candy Japan
Get treats from the land of the rising sun twice a month for 23.95 USD. From the looks of it, this includes shipping to anywhere. Japanese candy may not be everyone's thing, but I used to love going to the asian grocers when I was little and just spending the entire time in the candy and treats aisle while my parents bought vegetables, haha.

Candyscovery
A selection of homemade candy delivered monthly for $25. You can actually buy one month without subscribing. This is pretty cool since you can try before you buy.

I will post when I get my yummy treat in the mail :)

I am a Julep Maven!

I received my Introductory Julep Maven box this past Thursday. I am Classic with a Twist. For those curious about it, please check them out under the Subscription Links page.
One good thing about Julep is that they send you a notification once they've shipped your box so you can track it. The downside for Canadians is that once it crosses the border, you have to play the waiting game. You can't track them after they leave the US. So in a sense, it truly is a surprise box.

Now let's get to unpacking! The box itself is all black, made of recyclable cardboard. Its also handy if you just need to send something out yourself!

Included is a little welcome card and another card explain what products are in this box.

And here is the inside! Beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and tied up with a black ribbon. The toe separators were actually on the outside of the wrapped goodies. Glad to take them as mine keep disappearing!

From Left to right
1) Julep Nail Vernis in Kate: soft white pearl
2) Julep Nail Vernis in Rose: juicy watermelon red creme
3) The Best Pedi Creme Ever!: exfoliates with alpha-hydroxy acids, hydrates with shea butter and coconut oil, nourishes with Vitamin E. So I will be the judge of this 'best pedi' creme claim. It says results are noticable in just 1-2 uses.

And there is my first Julep box. :) What kind of Julep Maven are you?

Waiting for me on the Porch

I got home Thursday from work to a lovely surprise. Not one but three boxes! Jumping the gun, I opened them all! But not without snapping some pictures for everyone. I used my smartphone, which may or may not have been a dumb idea. hehe I will reveal the other two boxes in a separate post :)

First is my first ever(!) July 2012 Glossybox.

I must say, I really like the presentation of the box. The box itself was pretty sturdy, pretty much a gift box you could totally use again. The products were wrapped in tissue paper with a cute little pink cosgrain ribbon. So far, so good. Now what's inside?!

They included an envelope explaining the box contents and a few coupons too. Quite a full box! So let's go from left to right:

1) John Frieda Frizz-Ease Xtra Strength Serum,(full size!) 50mL for 14.99 :Instantly and dramatically transforms coarse, wiry, unruly frizz for ultra sleek, purely-polished, super shiny results.

I have always wanted to try this! Frizz just always get the best of me. And it came full size, so this box has already paid for itself.

2)Zoya Nail Polish, 0.5oz for $8: It is kissed by sea and sand with the famous, full coverage Zoya formula. Now I admit I've never actually heard of this brand before. The shade I received is Mytra. It is a rich orange shade with glitter gold flecks in it. Very cool.

3) BeautySoClean Sanitizer Wipes 48/$12.50, 4 comes out to a little over $1. For cleaning off debris like dust, lint, and food particles

4) Alessandro International Pedix Heel Resuce Balm, 100mL/$19.95. Protects and nourishes skin with shea butter, allantoin, and tea tree oil. I am pretty excited to try this product as my poor skin is always dry no matter what the season.

5) Eucerin Camling Creme, Sample size: A daily soothing moisturizer that prevents recurrence of itchness and further irritation due to dry skin. It contains Natural Colloidal Oatmeal, fragrance-free glycerin formula and provides hydration for 24 hours. This is a really small sample. I've slipped it in my purse for my hands.

6) Dove Softening Creme Bodywash: Full Size at $5.99: Get visibly more beautiful skin in just one week.   I'm a little wary of this one. I did used to use Dove for sensitive skin and it worked great. Then I think they changed the formulation and After that first shower with the brand new bottle. I broke out into a terrible rash all over my body! I was not a happy camper and needless to say, I stopped using it altogether. I'm not quite sure if I will give this a go or give it away.

So my first unboxing and my first box arrived!

Glossybox.ca now has the bragging rights to my beauty box cherry, haha.

How did you like your July Glossybox?