No Post 7.20.14

Hampton Lane Box

Hamptons Lane Wooden Cocktail Muddler & Stainless Steel Julep Strainer - We are still building up our bar. Which I like that it's taking a long time. I guess it shows how more we are concerned about other things.

Glass Dharma Glass Straws - Glass straws huh? When I opened this I thought it was the dumbest idea ever. No seriously, I imagined my kids biting and chewing on them (they like to do that with straws) and pictured little shards of glass in their mouth. However, these are suppose to be the sturdiest straws ever. I am going to use them as a test for a while and see how it goes before I let them give it a go. They look gorgeous and do make whatever you are drinking seem much much fancier. If all else fails for adult drinks only.

Bee Raw Orange Blossom Honey - I can honestly say that I have never considering making a lemonade out of honey. But you can. Or so I hear. The recipe Hamptons Lane included for this calls for water, honey and 1.5 cups of fresh squeezed lemon juice. I must try making this at once.

American Juice Company Chuck Blueberry & Ginger Gershwin Cocktail Juices - These juice combinations were created to eliminate the hassle of squeezing fresh ingredients for your drinks. They sound amazing alone, but in a cocktail I bet they’d be incredible!

Whodini Sisters Bloody Mary Potion Seasoning - You use as seasoning on ground beef, on grilled corn or in crab cakes. Hamptons Lane included a recipe using it in cheeseburger sliders. I never would have thought of that on my own, but they sound good to me.

Official Jerky

Carnivore Candy (Orange Teriyaki) - Probably my favorite of the bunch. It was more sweet than spicy which I liked. This has a lot of flavor to it. No I did not share this pack.

Carnivore Candy Bacon Jerky (Spicy Sriracha Style) - I don’t know why, but I was surprised this really did taste like bacon. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it to be so crispy? Not sure. But this was spicy. Vin loved it so much.

Carnivore Candy (Barbecue Mesquite) - I would say this was more sweet than spicy. I love mesquite flavoring and this was right up my alley!

Carnivore Candy (Sweet Picante) - We actually managed to share this bag equally. It was delicious! It was packed with flavor! I love flavorings.

Loving this jerky subscription!

Beauty Box 5

Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara - Ahh, this mascara (just like that pur~lisse, I seriously have 6 containers of that now) is everywhere! It’s the 3rd or 4th on of these mascaras I have received in the past month or so. It’s not that I don’t like it, because I do, but I don’t need three tubes of it. I will likely end up gifting it to a friend.

HASK Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment - This packet actually has two uses in it. I am excited to put this in an extra jar I have.

Body Drench Candy Licious Lips (Grape Lollipop) - Love it! It smells amazing, works well and I am a lip balm addict so what’s not to love? I see that they also offer Cotton Candy and Red Licorice flavors which I feel like I must try now as well.

Anna Naturals Glowing Mama Walnut Face & Body Scrub - I thought this was okay. Not amazing, but not awful either. It’s a vegan scrub and it smells daily good, but I just wasn’t overly excited.

Starlooks Lip Liner (Tickle Me Pink) - Lip Liner from Starlooks.... Eh but it turned into YAY! This is sooo much better than their eyeliners! Totally a must!

All totaled I came up with a value of $28.47 for the July 2014 Beauty Box 5. As usual it was well over the $12 cost of the box and WAY more than the $7 or so I pay for it!

Citrus Lane

Match Stacks from Tree Hopper Toys - These are a tad old for Luna , but I am going to use them as flashcards and to practice stacking now. Then we’ll play memory face up and when she’s ready she’ll flip them to make it a true memory game! I am so glad I opted for the transportation ones because Rain need some help in this area. She constantly calls a “plane” a “boat”. No matter how many times I tell her, show her pictures, etc. when she sees / hears a jet she points to it and yells “BOAT” (which comes out like butt so it’s even more entertaining)!

John Deere Monster Tread from TOMY - Love! Trucks, tractors, construction vehicles, you name it and we love it! Does anyone know if there were variations of these sent out? My dad was thrilled about this.

Applesauce Pouch from GoGo Squeeze - Rain was all over this. Yum Apple Grape.

Pur~Protect SPF30 from Pur~Lisse - Oh man, someone really wants me to fall in love with this don’t they? It’s everywhere. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it either. I am hoping not to get any more of it for a while.

Googaru 

Dr. Seuss Bowl - I know I have seen this bowl before but I can’t recall where. I swear I have one, but I don’t know where it’s hiding if I do have it. Regardless I love it and I know it will be the kids first pick to put their snacks in.

Hape Animals Memory Game - I think this is a little old for Luna right now, but only because it’s actual pieces and we’ll have to keep stopping her from flipping them all at once. She plays matching games on her iPad, but I think it’s easier on there because it only lets her pick two pieces to flip at a time. Hopefully this helps teach her though because I love it and I want to play!

Melissa & Doug Colorblask Artwork -These are genius. Rain loves them, Luna loves them and B and I think they are cool too. You can’t make a mess with these, so they are awesome for the car or airplane. And the kids (at least mine) are always shocked at how it works.

Bumkins Snack Bags - I have a lot of snack bags. I like that these snack bags can be thrown in the washing machine or dishwasher too.

Kiss My Face Lip Balm - Lip balms, SPF ones especially are always a great item to have in the summer. Both kids are always using my lip balms and Rain puts on a very thick layer when she uses it, so we are always in need.

Citrus Lane

My First Camera from Plan Toys - We got to pick between this camera and a Plan Toys cell phone for our box customization this month. I opted for the camera since I knew that Luna would know the different between my phone and her fake one. I will admit I thought both options were a little young, but this camera is so cool. It’s got a kaleidoscope lens which I didn’t realize! Rain even loved it!

Aqueduck Faucet Extender from Peachy - This is all over Pinterest.  It’s SO hard for little ones to reach the faucet and the information card is right, it’s hard to hold them up! I can’t figure out where I want to keep this. At home, in my bag, NC! The options are endless.

Silicone Placemat from Oogaa - We actually already got one of these a while ago from Citrus Lane. We’ve used it a few times, but I wouldn’t call it a favorite. I know they say that it’s better than a plate, but Luna seems to be able to pick this up too, so it wouldn’t stop her from throwing it. She doesn't do that anymore, but still. I think I may end up using these to put down when the girls paint or draw to save the table.

Mighty 4 Pouch from Plum Organics - Rain loved this. It was a delicious snack for her while we were in the parks.

Pur~Protect SPF30 from Pur~Lisse - I am going to post a picture of all my pur~lisse samples from the past few months. I swear I have gotten at least 10. At least. Like I said, it’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that I think I am set for life!

Petit Vour

LVX 5 Free Nail Lacquer (Lolli) - Gorgeous color. I tend to do more brights in the summer, but I think that this pink paired with a glittery gold would be amazing. LVX polishes have always worked well for me and, with the right top coat, last quite a while.

Modern Minerals Mineral Eye Shadow (Sakura) - I have looked for this color on the Modern Minerals site and I cannot find it. And it’s driving me crazy. It’s a gorgeous shimmer – kind of tan, kind of grey and will be a great top layer on your lids.

Pelle Beauty Face Oil (Luxe) - I put this on as soon as started writing this review. I still don’t feel too hot and thought at least this would make my skin feel nice. And it did. It’s the thickest face oil I think I have ever tried. And it smells exactly like the tanning oil I used to use years ago when I liked to lay out in the sun. I’m a fan!

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant (Lavender + Sage) - I am totally fascinated by this. It’s a natural deodorant that you apply with your fingers. I tried it and I am going to tell you, it felt weird to put on deodorant that way! I think if this were in a stick form I would be a much bigger fan. I can’t really tell you if it worked like it’s suppose to because I haven’t really done anything today that would make me sweat.

Social Blis Style Box

Metallic Melie Bianco Anastasia Clutch - This clutch is huge! You can fit a ton of stuff in it and could use it as a night out bag or just with jeans and a tank. It’s also got a gold chain strap in case you want to wear it on your shoulder. From the looks of the picture on the information card, Socialbliss sent out blue, pink, silver and gold bags. I am pretty pleased with the gold because it will work with nearly everything.

Oscar de la Renta Espirit D’Oscar Summer Scent - My thoughts of this scent are positive. It’s got a mix of “Egyptian jasmine & iris” and “tonka bean & musk” and is a rollerball form which I like!

Bombshell Jane Body Chain / Necklace - I love this! I love wearing necklaces and body chains. I know a lot of people don't like body chains but this is great!

Drop of Gold Bead Earrings - Totally love these! They are plain and simple without being boring. They rank up there as one of my favorite pairs of subscription box earrings to date.

Fit to Flair Lashes - I am debating on keeping these for myself or giving them to the Glittery one. We will see. I love it. 

Justin & Taylor Bracelet - So cute! I love this! 

Birchbox

Benefit Cosmetics Posiebalm - Totally love! It’s a sheer pink lip balm and it’s fabulous. It goes on smooth and moisturizes quickly and I already want the full size.

Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Mask - I LOVE that they included two samples of this! You apply it on wet hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. I will probably skip this ahead of some of the other hair masks and treatments I need to try because it sounds so great. That and it’s pink and also smells really good!

Triple C Power Card Ultra Thin Power Card - I don’t see this on Birchbox anymore, but it was one of the Birchbox Plus options this month. It was $28 and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I have one of the block chargers from Fancy (Vin does too), but it’s on the fritz (because I have used the crap out of it) so I am switching to this! Plus, this is way cuter.

Women’s Health Offer - This month’s Birchbox also came with an offer for a free one-year subscription to Women’s Health Magazine! If you don’t want to receive the magazine, it also gives you details on how to receive a refund! Since this is a $9.99 value it basically pays for the box itself which is amazing!

Ruffian Towelette - These are awesome for traveling. They are too spendy to use every day, but for traveling you can’t beat them to remove polish!

Ruffian The Rapture Collection – Rosary - This was the selection I made for this month’s box. I have been happy with all the Ruffian polishes I have tried and this is a color like no others I have!

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion - I gave this my grandmother who really loves it! 

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil - I have been using some of the serums that came in the GLOSSYBOX boxes lately, but I will probably skip to this for a week. My skin needs some extra detox!

Fancy Kelly Rowland

Little Black Corset - Travel jewelry organizer! YES YES YES and it's cute!

Pure Flavor 2 Go Infuser - I love getting infusion bottles! Seriously I have like six of these now and they are fantastic!

No Scrubs Allowed Tee - Love the TLC shout out here! I think that is what makes me like this shirt actually. It’s not something I would normally pick, but I think it will make a good sleep shirt!

Midi Ring Set - I seriously scream/squealed! I LOVE midi rings! Oh oh and these are so cute!

Allure Sample Society 

Fekkai PrX Reparatives Intense Fortifying Masque - This is a once a week deep conditioning treatment. I’ve used this in the past and have always been happy with the results. It smells great and since you only have to do it once a week for a few minutes it’s a pretty easy routine to follow.

Butter London Nail Lacquer (The Old Bill) - There were three different variations of Butter London sent out. They were all metallics and I am pretty happy with “The Old Bill” which is a coppery bronze. The card says you can get away with only one coat of polish, but I never find this to be the case – no matter what the polish brand is. I always need two. Always.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris Aqua Universalis Eau de Toilette - I absolutely love it. It’s incredible. It’s a citrus scent, but has a warm “musky” base. At least that’s how it’s described. I just think it’s amazing!

L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire by Colour Riche Liquid Lipcolor (Ruby Opera) - I don’t think I realized that this was a gloss until I tried to open it up. I thought it was a lipstick and was shocked that I had unscrew it. It’s glossy / shiny, not sticky and the color is very pigmented.

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder (Highlighter 01 – Golden Nude) - I briefly tested this with my finger and they are so right, a little does go a long way! It’s gives a great shimmer though!

BoxyCharm

pur~lisse pur~protect spf 30 - The pur~lisse strikes again! LOL! I swear I like this stuff, but it’s just everywhere these past few months. I am stocked up for ages.

Appeal Cosmetics Luxurious Lipstick (Mock-Up) - I feared I was going to get the hot pink one I have seen in a few other boxes, but I was quite pleased with this much more muted shade.

Bellapierre Lip Liner (Nude) - Not a huge lip liner fan. But the color is nice and if I don’t end up passing this along, I will try this out as a lip crayon mixed with some gloss and see how it goes.

Bellapierre Shimmer Powder (Harmony) - Totally love! I have tried this in the past and have always been pleased with the results. It’s mineral makeup and gives your lids a great shimmer. I will caution you against using too much like I always too. Like they say, it’s easier to add more but not as easy to take it away.

Ipsy

I get to subscriptions to Ipsy so I am going to post all 10 items I got. 

Pür Minerals Big Look Waterproof Mascara - I love this like really love this!

Pixi Beauty Mini Tinted Brilliance Balm Unique Pink - I like this. It's unique definitely.

Lavilin Jojoba Gel Cream - Second best thing out of both boxes. Buying the large size for Disney Days!

Pur~lisse pur~protect essential daily moisturizer spf 30 - I am not even going here.

Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass - Not crazy about this at all. 

Clear Clinic Laboratories Vanished Clear Spot Treatment - OMG best thing I got out of both bags! This stuff works! 

Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer (Mango Rita) - Cute cute cute color in my opinion. 

bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow Broad Spectrum SPF 15 - I gave this away to my sister in-law. She loves it! 

Benefit they’re real! beyond mascara - This I traded my aunt who has never tried this before even though I keep telling her that she needs to and she gave me her derma e BB Creme with SPF 25. And this BB creme is fantasic. 

New Beauty Test Tube

Laura Geller Waterproof Eye Spackle Hues Advanced Primer & Eyeshadow (Mauve Majesty) - Totally love the product, but the color? Not so much. I actually think this is just about the color of my eyelids. LOL. It’s a fun twist up pen and went on nice and smooth, but it didn’t really look like “enough”.

Philosophy Hope in a Jar Skin Smoothing Body Lotion - I have always been a big fan of Philosophy stuff. I think it’s because of the cool the bottles and labeling. This lotion smells great (I can’t think of one thing from Philosophy that doesn’t) and goes on hydrates well.

Lumene Time Freeze Firming Night Cream - The information booklet actually says the tube has “Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age CC Color Correcting Cream”, but I received a night cream instead. I don’t mind the difference, but I did wonder why my CC cream was a pot. According to one sight I saw, this is good for those around of the age of 45+. Hmm. Maybe TestTube is trying to tell me something? Or maybe I should give it to my stepmom.

Bliss Soapy Suds Body Wash + Bubbling Bath (Blood Orange + White Pepper) - Love. I already have the full sized one in my cart at Sephora. It smells amazing, made my skin soft and did I mention that it smelled good? This is a complete yes!

Yon-ka Pamplemousse (Normal to Oily Skin) - Wow! I had no idea that this was such an expensive item, at $56. This is to be used after your cleanser in the morning and at night. I think I am going to try pairing this with the serum I have been using to see if I can get a more noticeable difference.

Dove Advanced Hair Series – Oxygen Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner - I’m not overly excited by these, but I am not overly annoyed either. They will certainly get used and I might end up stashing them in my travel bag in case the hotel I am staying at doesn’t have good stuff. I may even end up donating them too.

Biosilk Color Therapy Lock and Protect - I have so many hair products that I want to use up before I open a new product. Ahh, what to do! I like that this is a leave-in treatment and I am sure I will crack and open this over the weekend.

All totaled I came up with a value of $115.07 for the July 2014 NewBeauty TestTube, which is triple the cost of the tube!

 

Hatchery

Empire White Truffle Mayonnaise - OMG love. We’ve had this in the past and usually eat it on our burgers to fancy them up. So good. The information card recommends using the sample size for White Truffle Egg Salad Tartines or Tempura String Beans with White Truffle Mayo (recipes for both are provided on their website). Both sound good, but I may just stick with the burgers.

Saucy Sister Virgin Vanilla Bean - Oh man. I don’t even know what to say about this other than it’s amazing. The booklet recommends it in Adult Milkshakes and Creme Caramel, but I think I am going to just throw it on some vanilla ice cream and call it good. If I don’t eat it all with a spoon out of the jar before I get some vanilla ice cream anyway.

Bill’s Best BBQ Original BBQ Sauce - The recipe suggestions are for BBQ Meatball Sliders and BBQ Peel’N Eat Shrimp. The BBQ Peel' N Eat Shrimp sound much more interesting to me so I am going to try to talk Vin into making that one!

Diane’s Sweet Heat Mango Habanero Jam - The information booklet says it packs a punch and is “the real deal” which has me all excited! The recipes for this one are Grilled Chicken and Scallion Kabobs” and “Vietnamese Red Snapper Noodle Bowl”. I am looking forward to seeing what we do with this.

Arette Tea Seed Oil - I have never heard of “tea seed” oil! Tea tree oil yes, but tea seed? Never. Anyways, it’s a mild oil and is chocked full of health benefits. The suggested recipes are Spicy Beef and Bok Choy Stir-Fry and Chicken Paillard with Citrus Salad.

Whole Spice Paella Spice Mix - Oh, one of the recipes for this one is Paella Burgers (the other is Spanish Frittata with Asparagus and Manchego) and it sounds amazing. I like that the recipes they provide aren’t totally crazy and they actually make me want to try them.

Barkbox

P.L.A.Y. Clam Toy - I have got to start putting away some of these toys for the fur babies. Or at least cleaning out their toy bin and tossing the icky ones. I gave this to the them and they just kind of looked at me like are you sure this is for us? To their credit it does kind of look like a kids stuffed animal.

Loopies Corduroy Whale Toy - Now this the doggies knew was theirs. I guess they realize that the kids don’t have any toys with this material? Not sure. They didn’t play with it too much, but once one of the kids wants to play tug of war with them I’m sure it will be on.

PetSafe Indigo Triple Chews - I can’t tell if the dogs liked these or not. I gave them each one, but they ran off to separate corner of the house and who knows what happened next.

Think! Dog Louisiana Crab Jerky - These smell horrible, but of course the boys went crazy for them. They are super small so they are great for the girls to give to the dogs as they have a tendency to pass out multiple treats at once. A few of these is better than a few of some of their other much larger treats!

Mr. Barksmith’s Pina Colada Smoothie - These little Cool Treats are always a huge hit with Theo, Gustaf, and London. I don’t know that they have a favorite flavor (it’s probably hard to have a favorite when you can’t taste it because you are eating too fast), but if I were a dog in the summer, I think I’d be happy with Pina Colada.