Subscription Box Nonsense!

It's no secret that I'm a fan of subscription boxes. Fitness, food, fashion.. you name it and I WANT it!

WANTABLE
I've tried all of the Wantable collections. They have Intimates, Makeup, and Accessories. (Coming soon they also have a Fitness collection but the set-up just doesn't appeal to me. You pay $20 up front and get 5 items based on your quiz. The $20 comes out of the price of items if you keep them. Keep 1 item-pay an additional $45, 2 items- $110, 3 items-$136, 4 items-$188, 5 items-$201. And the brands they listed were all brands I've never heard of, so not worth the money to me.) I have been very happy with the Intimates collections. The accessories have been just okay, but I'm incredibly hopeful because I've seen some great reviews. I think I just need to better tweak my customization quiz. And the makeup wasn't for me. If I'm going to get surprise products from lesser-known brands, I don't want to spend $40 a box. Now if they were sending MAC brushes, Urban Decay primers, Smashbox eyeshadows, Dior mascaras...okay then $40 a box is a great deal. But for stuff that looks like it came from a dollar store or someone's garage sale? No. No way.

JULEP MAVEN
I got one box from the Julep Maven subscription. I really disliked the nail colors I got. did love the Body Milk lotion I got, full size! I have seen some great products (not nail color) but I didn't care enough to stay subscribed in case I get them. I am very simple with my nails since I can't usually wear nail color at work anyways. And typically when I want my nails to look pretty I pay someone else to do them. So it's a popular box but not for me. Also Julep was a HEADACHE to unsubscribe from! They don't have a simple button to click online, you have to actually call and speak with someone.

LOVE WITH FOOD
I've gone through a couple of months with Love With Food. This is a cute box, and with a great cause behind it. I'm not in love with it and won't stay subscribed, but not because I don't like it. It's just not something I love so I'm funneling funds elsewhere.

COMING SOON
I have a couple of boxes en route and I'm excited to see them. Bulu Box is a fitness sample box. I don't have high hopes for this one based on reviews, but I like samples and fitness-related ones are right up my alley! And PopSugar Must Have... um, my expectations are SKY HIGH for this one. I am SO DAMN EXCITED for this box!

UP NEXT
My next subscription adventures will come from this list:
Elizabeth & Clarke
StrideBox
PrettyFit

I'm currently debating whether I want to keep trying with Wantable accessories. I'm just so blase about everything I've gotten. I want to LOVE the things I get like I do with the intimates, or like I see in other people's collections. I'm a little jelly :P

Spice Up Your Life: Love With Food September 2014 Unboxing And Coupon Codes!

Their box is just too cute. I <3 bows.

Shake it to the left! Move it to the right! The snacks in this box are about kicking it up a notch, trying new things and adding a little bit of spice to your life. 

Did they just use Spice Girls lyrics on me? Anyways as soon as I cracked open the adorable red box, I could have told you exactly what the theme of this box would be. I don't know if I'm just a big weenie and sensitive to non-bland foods, but the spices knocked me for an icky little loop. But I'm gonna give it a shot. Maybe. Ugh I wish Matt were here, he's much  more open minded about food!

The first look.

Left to right: 

• Hemp Rules Roasted Hemp Seeds by Ziggy Marley Organics
• 5 Spice Caramels by Shotwell Candy Co.
• Rich Chocolate Cookie Thins by Mandy's
• Maruso Ghost Soy Sauce by Maruso 
• Simply So Sweet Chili Tortilla Chips by Way Better Snacks
• Lemon Rosemary Seasoning by Fogg City Spice Co.
• Green Superfood by Amazing Grass
• Churro Kettle Corn by Love With Food

Now just looking at this snack haul, I can't tell you what spicy smell was turning me off so badly when I opened the package. Honestly none of them scream "Sweaty Indian Restaurant Curry" like I imagined when I was first knocked backwards, but something in there is strong enough that it gave me a reaction without opening the individual packages.

Anyways I know A TON of people like to live on the edge with their food, so I'm sure this is going to be a big hit for people who don't suck at life like me. If you are one of those people, see my coupon codes below for you!! :)

20% OFF Maruso Soy use code PSW38JM

15% OFF Caramel use code LOVEWITHFOOD

15% OFF Fusion Gourmet use code 15MCGG including FREE SHIP with purchase of 2+ items and 10% off for a Facebook like!

The bottom line for this box (for me) is that they feed a hungry American child when you purchase a box. 

Coffee-Lovers Protein Drink (and a discount code to try it out!)

I've been adding instant coffee to protein shakes for a couple of years (chocolate whey, sugar-free instant vanilla cappuccino, ice-it's my swole-frap haha). What a find this product is! It's like someone stalked me in my kitchen and stole my faux-Bullet recipes! Check out Click HERE. And be sure to see below for a discount code from Bulu!

10% off a an order of Click in Mocha, Vanilla or Caramel at BuluBox.com. Use Promo Code: CLICK10

FREE Vitamin Gummies with $50 Purchase!

Get Simple Being Daily Personal Vitamin Gummies FREE with any $50 purchase at BuluBox.com. Use Promo Code: 50GUMMIES

AMAZING Wantables Experience-August Intimates Unboxing Went FAB! :)

FINALLY IT HAS ARRIVED! Today is the 19th of September and this baby shipped out sometime in early August.

Drum roll, please!

Please enjoy my camouflage background :)

TipiToe Assorted Socks are a playful spin on the everyday sock. Retail $12

The first thing I pulled out was this 3-pack of socks. Very cute! I'll be honest: for the past few years my underwear drawers have been very utilitarian. Nude bras and panties to wear under whites or see-through clothes, black socks for black shoes, etc. Not much color. I'm excited to slowly be building up cute stuff in there. I mean, why did I ever take my undies so seriously? I can just wear these socks around the house in my jammies to keep my feet warm. They're fun!

This hipster features fun and flirty lace and is OH SO comfortable r e a l Underwear Daphne Hipster in raspberry. Retail $20

Cut/style are so me. Color is gorgeous. All in all a perfect pair. Is it really worth $20? Don't know, don't care! I love them!

Spree Intimates Floral Lace Bralette Set in Coral. This beautiful bralette and thong set features floral printed lace. The bralette has lightly padded lining and adjustable straps. Retail $22.

3 winners out of 3 so far. This set is SO FREAKING CUTE!

These seamless capri leggings feature a cable knit design and comfortable stretch. Retail $14

Okay, this box hit it out of the park. Everything will be used and loved. The tights are so easy and basic that I can use them for a lot of looks. With cooler weather coming up, they are perfect.

Wantable, you did it. YOU DUN IT! Highest of fives. Total reported retail value $68. Not even my highest value box but still... I'm a million percent happy with this one. :)

I am ridiculously happy with this box. So as it stands, I love my intimates collections and have been meh about the accessories and extra meh about the makeup. I *think* the makeup thing is because I'm picky and specific because I'm not good enough with cosmetics to try just anything and rock it. And the issue with the accessories is probably due to not doing a great job with the quizzes. I'm thinking about re-doing that whole shebang. 

But damn.The intimates collections are freaking fabulous. Good job, Wantable. I will stay subbed.

Sephora Haul!!!

Ahem..

I think we all know what this means. :)

Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna

Funny the color comes out better in the mirror than the actual picture. But yeah.. I've been looking at this for awhile. Funny the only version of the well-known Orgasm shade I own is in Super Orgasm. Yeah, go big or go home I always say. :P

Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Palette

I am SO excited about this! Especially since I'm flying in two weeks and trying to learn how not to overpack. This will be the only eyeshadow I bring. Yay!! :)

Briogeo Curl Charisma Conditioner 

Yeah I think it's pretty obvious that I have an obsession with this brand. I LOVE Briogeo!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

Always happy to try out a new brow product. This one caught my eye because a) I don't have to sharpen it (evidently I suck at sharpening pencils) and b) it as a spoolie attached. How handy is that?!

Half the fun is in the sample haul. Woo hoo! :)

Wantable Accessories September 2014 ROUND TWO!

Okay beauties, let's give this another try. :)

Box. normal.

Upon opening the box, I see that they forgot I'm currently a subscriber! Oh well, box is still packed especially for G. :)

I was happy to see that they went back to the velvet bags for the accessories. The ziplocs I got in the last one were uninspired. However, it seems they threw everything into one bag instead of individual ones like before.

First thing out of velvet goody bag were some cute geometric earrings.

The Katie Earrings feature pistachio triangles set in gold tone. Retail $14

The Katlynn Earrings are a gorgeous drop featuring stones of blues, reds, and greens! Retail $19

The Kacey Bracelet is a silver tone bangle with a cord and bead closure. Retail $18

The Rachael scarf is a mix of coral, mint, and yellow. Retail $19

Alright so my feelings. First of all I'm less than enthused about the broken bracelet. The little beads on the end are falling off, I imagine due to the adhesive coming loose. Also the bracelet is difficult to fit over my (admittedly large) hands. I already miss the bracelet and watch from the box I returned! The earrings are pretty. I think I'll change my quiz to say I only want hoops and studs from now on. I love bigger earrings but then I remember that my hair tangles in them! Silly curls. :) The scarf is pretty- I'm excited to jazz up a plain t shirt and jeans with it. Overall I get the 'meh' vibe. I wish I could have the bracelet/watch back. Or the watch and sunglasses! C'mon Wantable, make me satisfied! I've seen what you can do!!!

Click here to try Wantable for yourself.

富士山 Fuji-San! :D

"Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory." - Ed Viesturs

You don't know how much this quote means until you've spent the day scaling Japan's highest mountain. Hiking is just walking, right? Look; I see kids and old people. This will be a piece of cake! Yeah.. my impression of the experience was a little flawed. But it was a rewarding experience nonetheless.

I fought my way up the volcano and after a long morning I hit summit. At that time I would have preferred to simply fall off a cliff and land at the bottom but that's not a way to go out in style. Despite August being one of the warmest months of the year, rain and frigid temperatures chilled my motivation and the altitude starved my brain both of delicious oxygen and my will to walk any more. But I persevered. Not until I reached the end of my journey did I feel it was rewarding. And though I cursed my decision to ascend for several hours, by the time I was back home I was thinking about the next time I'd take the trip to Mt. Fuji.

My favorite little trinket was the hiking stick I picked up at the gift shop at the 5th Station. There are little huts along the path on the way up and at each is a brand waiting to be burned into your hiking stick. 

Hum Nutrition Re-Order and Code for $10 OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER

I'm getting ready to place another order with Hum Nutrition. I posted previously about using Red Carpet and Skinny Bird.

A quick review: I do think my hair is growing! I chopped off  at least 8 inches last summer and it feels like it's taking forever to grow back. It has grown, but I swear it's grown more out than down (silly curls!). But since I've been using Red Carpet, I do honestly feel like I've got some growth. I am VERY happy about this. :) My skin looked great for awhile although today it looks scary. I think that's PMS-related, though. The Skinny Bird.. well I did lose 5 lbs quickly. It could be diet/workout related or it could be the vitamins. I like to think it was money well spent.

My next order is going to include something new: Cleanse 28. Per the Hum website:

Feeling out of sync? In need of a physical spring cleaning? Flush out unwanted toxins and hit the reset button. We combined the Who’s Who of the botanical world to support your liver, bowel, kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and skin in our Cleanse 28 formula. 

Proprietary AM Cleansing Blend 1,295 mg *

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf extract (2% cynarin), Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) root, Red Root (Ceanothus americanus) root, Burdock (Arctium Lappa) root extract 5:1, Celandine (Chelidonium majus) leaf, Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum, Corn Silk (Zea mays), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis) root extract 4:1*, Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium) root, Echinacea angustifolia root, Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) seed extract 4:1

Proprietary PM Cleansing Blend 1,400 mg *
Flax (linum usitatissimum) seed, Red raspberry (rubus idaeus) leaf, Aloe ferox leaf latex, Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) root, Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) root, Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed, Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) root, Peppermint (Mentha piperata) leaf

Suitable for Vegetarians & Gluten Free
Contains no: added salt, yeast, wheat, corn, gluten, soy, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors       

I am very excited to try this new one out and let you know how I feel. Stay tuned!

Get $10 off your first order of $29 or more with offer code: F5C86

Love With Food September (and FREE TRIAL OFFER)

I am currently waiting for my second shipment from Love With Food. The first was interesting, a nice little box of snacks. We're giving it a go for another month to see what comes of it.

From their site:
Love With Food helps you discover new organic or all-natural snacks delivered to your door every month. Our subscription membership starts as low as $10/month. Every month, Love With Food members will receive a curated box of unique, hard-to-find tasty snacks which varies based on seasonal themes.
For every box sold, we donate a meal to several food banks such as the Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength - No Kid Hungry. Join us to help end child hunger one meal at a time!
Say goodbye to boring grocery selections and start discovering your Love With Food experience! 

I think they have a great idea and a good product. I'm excited to get my September box, and I'll share it with you when it arrives! :)



Click here to try Love With Food for FREE.

Work B****

My anthem for the next crazy 16 days. :)

You wanna hot body
You wanna Bugatti
You wanna Maserati
You better work bitch
You wanna Lamborghini
Sip Martinis
Look hot in a bikini
You better work bitch
You wanna live fancy
Live in a big mansion
Party in France
You better work bitch

Bring it on
Ring the alarm
Don't stop now
Just be the champion
Work it hard like it's your profession
Watch out now
'Cause here it comes

Here comes the smasher
Here comes the master
Here comes the big beat
Big beat to blast ya
No time to quit now
Just time to get it now
Pick up what I'm putting down
You better work bitch

NOW GET TO WORK, BITCH!

Wantable Intimates August 2014

Yes, it's September and I'm posting August. I have a reason! So my Wantable Intimates shipped at the beginning of August and ... I never saw it. :( I sent a message to Wantable and they dropped this replacement in the mail for me right away.

This is my first Wantable Intimates collection. My first impression is meh. It seemed kind of boring compared to some that I've seen. However, I was pretty impressed with one standout piece. And everything seems nice in the quality sense. So I'm happy and I'll stay subscribed for the time being. See the box below!

They sent an apology, which I thought was nice. :) 

It said, "Hello, beautiful! We're so sorry your Wantable experience didn't go as planned. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to make it right. If there's anything else we can do for you, please drop us a note... We're happy to help! Team Wantable"

Ozone Daisy vs. Stripes socks in Fuchsia. Retail $13.
Feminine or floral? With Ozone's Daisy vs. Stripes socks you don't have to choose! These fun and comfy socks go with any mood.

r e a l Underwear Scallop Lace Bralette in Black. Retail $14
This beautiful bralette features soft lace cups and adjustable straps. The style does run a little small, so we have sized up accordingly.

Pucker Up! Cotton Fusion Thong in Black. Retail $12
These cotton panties from Pucker Up feature a smooth, tagless design for supreme comfort and zero panty lines.

Icy Hot Leopard Babydoll. Retail $42
This fierce babydoll features leopard print, mesh sides, and a cute peek-a-boo cutout in back.


Total reported retail value: $81

Alright so the babydoll is clearly the standout piece. It's nothing that would have drawn my attention in a store, at least not in a good way. As soon as I saw it I thought, "That is scandalous!" I think it's cute and I'm excited to wear it. I'll let you know what Matt thinks of it. :)

As for my "meh" comment earlier: I thought the black bra and thong were kind of boring. However, the bralette is actually insanely comfortable. I LOVE it. I also love that they knew the style to run small so they sized up. The socks are adorable, the only thing I really don't care too much for is the black thong. And you know what? I can always use new panties in all shapes and colors, boring or not. So it's still a win. Also, per the retail value stated, I got a pretty good deal. The babydoll alone, which will not get nearly as much mileage as the rest, is worth more than the collection. Now I won't get as much use out of the babydoll, but it's really cute and I'm excited to own the piece.

Happy camper!

Stay tuned, I'm still waiting for my September Wantable Intimates. Eeeeh I'm excited!!! :D

My Laser Hair Removal Experience

Back in June I had my first ever laser hair removal session. I chose a medical clinic after researching options and I got a discount for my first time half off underarms and brazilian. This clinic uses Lumenis LightSheer XC diode laser.

My first session took about 2 hours for all of it. It hurt some. There was this pain that some people describe as a rubber band snap. To me it felt like little electrical shocks. It wasn't too bad. Probably not even as bad as the pain I went through getting waxed and sugared in the past. (Sugaring, by the way, is my favorite hair removal as far as results go. But it's not always easy to find someone who does it.)

They ran the laser over me (I'm guessing, since I had eye protection on. It was like a heavy duty version of what you'd wear in a tanning bed) and then applied ice and antibiotic ointment.

Immediately after my laser hair removal treatment, I didn't feel like anything had happened. And the area just looked like I had shaved (I had). That night my skin was a little tender but nothing crazy. Then three days later all hell broke loose.

Up to that point, I didn't even feel anything. Then my underarms suddenly became tender again. I felt these welts (similar to the start of deep pimples) start forming in my armpits. The next day they really began to hurt so I went to the drugstore and got both pain relief antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone cream. For the next few days it was absolute hell, it was painful to exercise and sometimes even just to lift my arms and dress myself. By some luck, this was only happening in my armpits. My sensitive crotch was spared. I think it's because when they did the test shots on my brazilian area I was kind of a weenie about it and they did it on a lower setting.

Anyways about 10 days after the treatment my hair started falling out. And sometime in that 1-2 week window the whitehead painful reaction began to subside. The hair fallout was kind of an amazing process. It all fell out within a few days and I was smooth and wonderful. Under my arms was healing but unfortunately the welts left pigmentation similar to what my face looks like after I pick at an acne breakout.

Since then I've had one other brazilian treatment. Not for lack of wanting the underarms done again. It's just pricey so I'm spacing out my treatments to make it more affordable. I told the clinic what happened and they said we could try another setting to avoid that reaction again. To be honest, my underarms are much smoother than before the treatment. I *almost* think it's worth it, but that painful week was really awful. I will probably do it again, but I'll be sure to let them know I want to be less aggressive. I never had the reaction in my brazilian area but I have had good hair loss in both areas. I took pictures of it all but for obvious reasons I don't want to post pictures of my vag for the whole internet. But here's my underarms about 5 days post treatment and 6 weeks later. You can see the angry red pimple-like thing I had going on as well as just how thick/coarse my hair is naturally when growing in. And of course the pigmentation afterwards. You can see the hair how it's growing now, but it's hard to see unless you're specifically looking for it. The difference is wonderful.

If there's a good amount of interest in my laser hair removal journey, I'll probably post updates and more pictures for you in the future.

Upcoming Sephora Haul: Smashbox, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Fresh, DKNY, Briogeo, Ole Henriksen, NARS, DESIGUAL, Makeup Forever, Lancome, Sephora.. omg so much!

So I did it. I dropped another hundy at Sephora which both extended my VIB into next year and gives me something fun to blog about in a week or so. Eyeshadow palette, brow pencil, bronzer, blush, skincare, curl stuff, samples out the wazoo (of course). It promises to be fun. Stand by for a haul post!

Here's a little bag of samples coming my way. Woo hoo!

Bath & Body Works Mini Haul :D

If you will recall, I recently posted a rave about Bath & Body Works customer service. Well not one week after hearing from them, the package was dropped in the mail and arrived. It's insane how quickly things move once I let them know I was displeased with the wait. I'm impressed.

Here's the contents. A small haul to make my teeny tiny room seem brighter with fragrance. And also a couple of small body washes that I can take on my trip and use with my soon-to-be husband! :)

The packaging is adorable! I love it! :) Nothing broken or leaking. I was worried because the box smelled strongly (yummily) but nope. Everything was intact.

So all the fragrances I ordered were brand-new to me. Scary! But they all smell wonderful. I'm burning Autumn right now and have the Beach Cabana plugged in in the other room. Yay! :)

Review: Briogeo Haul

If you remember, I received a happy box from Sephora recently. What am I saying? All my mail is happy these days thanks to my shopping addiction!

So I'd like to first say how much I love the Briogeo Co Wash. It smells amazing, it feels amazing. After running warm water through my hair I worked a little more than a quarter-sized amount into the mid-shaft of my hair and worked my way down to the ends. Then I put another quarter-sized dollop in my hands and worked it through my roots and scalp. The mini massage I gave myself on my head and throughout my hair felt great, and I could feel the Co Wash getting in and cleaning me right up. It rinsed clean. I didn't have the Briogeo conditioner (YET!) so I squeezed the extra water out of my hair and began to style.

Here's my after. I used the Be Gentle, Be Kind Co Wash and the Curl Charisma Leave-In creme. I also have the Rosarco Oil but didn't use it in this review.

As you can see, I have difficulty taking pictures of the back of my head. But look at my cute top!

So my pictures aren't really doing these products justice because I need to work on my photog skeelz. But just so it's clear: I am really loving Briogeo and I cannot wait for the rest of the stuff I ordered to come in. My hair is clean, smells wonderful, is defined without being crunchy, my curls are bouncy and happy, and the frizz is under control. I am very happy with these products!