March Birchbox Reveal

It was a good month for me with my bath and body subscription boxes. Full of so many wonderful goodies!

I was excited just opening the box!

This little sample pack of lotion smells amazing. I’ve been using it at night after I wash my face, and it keeps my skin nice and moisturized!

This shampoo is really nice. It leaves my hair nice and soft, without feeling stripped, and the scent is so mild and pleasant.

Loving this little lip balm. It’s great for those days when I wake up and my lips are extra dry and cracked. Super moisturizing, and a little bit goes a long way.

I don’t use lip glosses often. I love the color of this one on me but, like most other glosses I’ve tried, it is so sticky. If I wear my hair down with it, I am constantly detaching my hair from my lip gloss. . .not exactly sexy. But with an updo or my hair tied back, it adds a great pop of color to my otherwise tame makeup routine. And, I’ve noticed if I let it sit for a few minutes, then go over it with a normal lip balm, it really cuts down on the sticky factor.

This lotion was my absolute favorite item in the box. I’m a fan of Jergens anyway, but this lotion is amazing. It evens skin tone, is incredibly moisturizing, and I’m pretty sure it is the best smelling lotion I’ve ever owned. I’m totally in love with it. And so are my legs, which is the primary place I’ve been using it. They look amazing (well other than the giant bruise on my shin from being oh-so graceful. . .). The best part? That card in the picture has a $2-off coupon for a bottle of it! YES! Now if only I could find it anywhere!

Can’t wait to see what April brings!

-Kayly

February Birchbox AND Nerdblock Reveal

Here’s the deal: because of my total failure at planning, I realized I have four or five posts I want up before the end of February, and only three days left in the month. Facepalm galore. So I’ve combined my Birchbox and Nerdblock reveals into one gigantically long post. I received my Birchbox first, so it takes first spot on the post! Let’s go!

Second Birchbox has arrived!

Fun box this month!

New dry conditioner?! YES! Since I’m back to dying my hair red on a regular basis, I tend to spread out my hair washings as long as I can to preserve the color, which fades quite quickly. That means dry shampooing and conditioning pretty often. This conditioner is great. Leaves my hair soft and shiny, with plenty of body and smells fabulous. Loving it!

Tea too?! Apparently this box was just catered to my exact loves! I must confess, I am planning on passing the Mint Lemon Verbena one to a friend. I can’t stand mint (with the exception of toothpaste) so I know this one won’t be for me. However, I can’t wait to brew up a cup of the Organic Bangkok, which sounds heavenly.

I think perfume is one of the best things in these boxes since although I do like it, I never buy it. I’ve had the same one for about two years now, and it’s not even half empty. I just don’t wear it that often! This little sampler smells great, and is just the right size for me.

Another new mascara (I got one in February’s Beauty Box 5 as well) which I was more than happy to test out. I really like this mascara. It provides both volume and length, and goes on really cleanly, without clumping at all. The only downside that I’ve found is it doesn’t have much staying power. Even after only half a days wear, I’m starting to sport raccoon eyes. But it’s an all natural product that isn’t packed with chemicals, so that’s definitely a plus, and worth the touch-ups I feel.

More lotion? I am seriously lucking out on these boxes. This is a good lotion. I’m not wild about the scent, but it’s mild and doesn’t overwhelm you. I’ve been using it on my arms and elbows mostly, and it’s a good moisturizer.

And the ever helpful product card.

I was definitely impressed with February’s Birchbox! So far they’ve been full of useful items, so I certainly feel good about the monthly purchase.

Moving on to Nerdblock! Something about getting loads of geekiness in the mail just makes my heart smile.

First thing I pulled out was this. Another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle squishie, albeit a different type from last box. Apparently this is a thing; I was unaware. But as a nostalgic TMNT fan, I’m okay with having them up on the nerd shelves!

Next I pulled out this box, which makes me pretty nostalgic for my high school days. Halo was the first FPS that I fell totally in love with. Please note I am talking about campaign play only – none of the travesty that I consider ‘multiplayer’ to be. We already have an RC Watrhog with Spartans on the nerd shelves, so these guys get added next to that!

This E.T. guy wasn’t too big of a deal to me, but my hubs thought he was adorable. He’s a bit older than I, so E.T. had a bigger impact for him!

This was the only thing in the box that I didn’t care one bit about. I’ve never seen the Smurfs, new or old, but luckily I have a three year old who loves new little toys to play pretend with. So it’s not a total loss for this toy!

These guys I’ve never heard of – they assemble just like Legos only larger, and I think they’re quite nifty! I really love the battle walrus. He is enjoying his new spot on the nerd shelves next to my Tifa action figure. My little miss has adopted the guy – she loves to make him drive her mini cars! As for all his teeny tiny accessories. . .yeah those got tucked away pretty quick. Otherwise they’d find a new home in my vacuum.

This sticker set is pretty fun. . .then again I have a soft spot for stickers. Definitely going to be adding some of them to my art journal, and my planner once I get around to decorating it.

And lastly, the shirt. I was never too in to Metroid. I enjoyed the ones I played for the Gamecube, but was never a diehard fan. However, my dad loves these games so on to him it goes! Another successful shirt! I’d say for random nerd shirts, 3 for 3 is pretty darn good!

Although Nerdblock remains my favorite subscription box I get, this was my ‘least favorite’ of the three I’ve received, if I had to pick. Nothing fit my particular nerd niches, but I’m still happy with what we got!

Phew! Many virtual cookies are gifted unto you if you stuck with me through all that. That’s what I get for realizing I have so many posts to get out before the end of February, whoops!

Until next time,

-Kayly

February Beauty Box 5 Reveal

I still get excited about subscription boxes coming in the mail. Getting mail is exciting when you know what’s coming, let alone when the package is a box full of surprise goodies! Let’s dive in, shall we?

This is only my second Beauty Box 5, but I definitely enjoyed the contents of this box more than the last. It just happened to have everything I like!

First up were these two Amala Body Butter samples. I love lotion, and constantly slather it on in the winter thanks to extra dry skin. This lotion is excellent. Rubs in great without a greasy residue, and leaves your skin feeling really fresh. So far, it’s one of my favorite lotions I’ve tried. Since it’s just a sample, I’ve been reserving it for my driest areas (which for me is my knees and the heels of my feet) and it has truly made a difference using it daily.

This polish and accompanying nail caviar were actually the two things I was least excited about, simply because I’m not a huge fan of pink. I do have a pink nail polish, but it’s a very pastel pink. However, my three year old was thrilled with a new pink nail polish! I haven’t tested it out yet, but I am curious to see what the nail caviar is like.

These hair ties are great! I love that they add just a little pizazz to an outfit, without being a crazy accessory. Definitely a little nicer than your regular run of the mill hair tie. Love the color options too – something to go with pretty much any outfit.

Lastly there was a new mascara, which I was thrilled about. Mascara is one of the few makeup products I use on nearly a daily basis so to have a new one made me a happy gal! This really adds length, but it definitely doesn’t do much in the way of volume. I’ve found best results in using it over a coat of my volumizing mascara – then I get the oomph of length and volume.

And of course, the monthly card of products in this box. I am seriously considering buying some of the Amala lotion. . .totally in love with it right now!

A big thumbs up for Beauty Box 5 number two. Wonder what March will bring!

-Kayly

Beauty Box 5 Reveal

I’ve decided 2014 is going to be my year of subscription boxes! I’d heard about them online and through various blogs, but towards the end of last year I decided to test out a few. So I signed up for NerdBlock (check the reveal here), I’ve signed up for Birchbox and my mother-in-law gifted me with six months of Beauty Box Five for Christmas! Still on the hunt for more. . .

I’m really intruigued about Beauty Box Five. I’m not much of a girly girl – I can’t do hair to save my life, and I have no makeup expertise. But I do like makeup, and I know enough make myself look purdy (meaning I can apply mascara and blush. . .). That being said, the makeup aisles in stores terrify me. About nine million options, and I’m sure I only really know how to use about five of them – so many brands, so many choices. Needless to say, I avoid it like the plague. I think that’s one of the BEST things about these boxes – samples of multiple different things, that come right to my door. Perfect!

This was my first box from Beauty Box Five, and it was spa themed, which is pretty great for me. I love baths, I love lotions – liking it already. Let’s get to it, shall we?

First up were the cards, with a little explanation on everything in it. Handy, especially when I get a box with makeup, since as previously mentioned, I’m a bit of a makeup dolt.

Next were these gloves, which was the only item I was kind of ‘meh’ about. I just know I won’t use them. I may try them once, simply to say I did!

This little sample bottle of Jergens was great – I already keep the exact same one in my purse! So now I’ve got a replacement when it runs low. I have pretty dry skin, and every season change my hands always get extra dry, so I’m happy with this little guy!

A travel size bodywash. Always good to have. I don’t have an immediate use for it, but we do stay at a local resort for a little staycation almost every February, so it can get packed along this time.

This one I’m really excited about! Some nail and cuticle oil. I can’t wait to try it out. I usually do a weekly spa night for myself, and I’m excited to add this to my repertoire.

This is definitely my favorite thing in the box this month. I am a chapstick addict, and am always on the lookout for new chapsticks. So to get a brand new one to try (and mmmmm……coconut) is always fab.

And lastly this little compact mirror was an extra gift! I guess it’s promoting a movie? Something I’ll probably never see, but I like the little mirror! I actually don’t have a mirror in my purse, and have on more than one occasion wished I did, so there’s that problem solved!

Overall, for my first box from Beauty Box Five I’d have to say I was happy, but not overwhelmingly pumped about anything (well, except a new chapstick). Nothing in the box was really anything too new for me, so I’ll be excited when I get a brand new item to try out. Definitely excited I have five more months left!

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December NerdBlock Reveal!

I am so late with this post, considering I opened my Nerd Block for Christmas and the next one will be shipping out this week or next. But I digress.

Nerd Block is a monthly subscription box filled with nerdy goodies! Every month you receive one t-shirt plus a boxful of nerdtastic goodies! For me, this was entirely a ‘how can I go wrong?!’ situation. I’m into lots of nerdy things. I have two large shelves in my living room dedicated to nerdy collectibles. All our friends love nerdy things too if there were things we want to share. Clearly this was a no brainer. So I asked my hubs for one for Christmas. . .and then happened to be the one checking PO Box when it arrived. So I knew I was getting it, but the contents were still a surprise!

My Nerd Block all ready to be opened! I think I’ll put things in order of what I was least excited about, to what I was most excited about.

These little guys are called called Crazy Bonez. I had  heard of them, but had never seen them. My daughter likes them, so that’s a win for me!

Next was a Monster Marble. This was something I’d never heard of and while I don’t have a use for it, my cats have certainly enjoyed batting it all around the kitchen (it has a marble on the bottom so it rolls everywhere).

Eeee!! I love this little Captain America! Although I never read the comics (I was always a Batman girl) I love the first movie and Avengers, and my hubs is big fan. Even better? It’s a pen! Seriously, the bottom unscrews and there’s a little pen. Love it!

Then there was this watch, called a ‘Samurai Watch’. Why? I don’t know; pretty sure Samurai’s were not sporting digital watches. . .but the point it this is a pretty sweet watch! As you can see, it looks just like a chain-type bracelet, then when you push the side button, the time shows up (the tick mark on the top left designates PM – it is not there for AM time). Also, this thing is heavy duty – I was impressed with how durable it feels. However, this watch was huge on me as well as too manly for my taste and my hubs hates wearing a watch (despite the fact that I think it looked super sexy on him. Le sigh.) So we ended up giving to my best friend’s hubby, who loves it. That’s a win in my book!

GAH! I love Funko figurines (in fact, my hubs bought me a Jaimie from Game of Thrones Funko for Christmas!). They are so CUTE! And both my hubs and I are big LoTR/Hobbit fans so I was pretty darn pumped about this. Invisible Bilbo now happily resides on one of our nerdy shelves.

Saved the best for last – this month’s shirt! ZELDA!!!!!!!! I am a huge Zelda fangirl so I was ecstatic about this. Just an FYI, when you sign up for Nerd Block you pick your shirt size ahead of time so you know it will fit. We opted for a Men’s Large that way it will fit my hubby if he likes it more, and if I like it more, I can easily mod it on the sewing machine for a more girly fit. Which I am absolutely doing for this shirt!

Needless to say, I was pretty impressed with our first Nerd Block. I can’t wait to get see what January’s box holds!

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