Golden Tote March 2014

Golden Tote, March 2014

Well, that's it.  I'm going on a diet!

I was so excited to get my $149 March Golden Tote! I had picked out some cute items and was looking forward to my surprises.

The tote itself

We will start with the surprise items.

Priddy by Puella Gray and White Striped Dress

Priddy by Puella gray and white striped dress- back view

I love this dress! It is exactly something that I would have picked out for myself!  

Priddy striped dress, back

Between the crossed back, the above-the-knee length, and the gray and white striped pattern, it is just about my perfect dress!  

Priddy striped dress, front

It's a little on the snug side, though :(  That's ok... at this rate, I'll have another month of snow before I can even wear this, so there is time to shed my winter pounds.

Porridge duck-backed T-shirt

Porridge tee... with DUCKS

This was one of the spoiled surprise items this month, and I am in love! 

Porridge tee, front

I was really hoping to get the duck print, I think it is so fun.  There were a few other patterns sent out this month, and they are all adorable!  

Porridge tee, back
Do you know one of the collective nouns for ducks is a PLUMP?  I have a plump of ducks on this shirt.

Plus, this is probably THE MOST comfy t-shirt I have ever owned.  It's amazingly soft and drapey.

Noble Sweater in driftwood

Noble sweater

I'm making up that color, but it's a pale purple-toned taupe.  It is a nice stretchy one-size-fits-most ribbon knit sweater.  

Noble sweater, front

It's cute!  I will get a lot of use out of this, as I really like open-knit patterns.  The seaming is a little weird, and I wish there were either zero or two pockets, but it is totally wearable.  

Noble sweater, back

I like that it is on the bigger side, and that is is super stretchy.  We all have bloated days, right?

Under Skies Lace-print shell

Under Skies lace-print shell

I actually wore this today and liked it more than I thought I would.  It looks so much better under a cardigan!  

Kinda boring like this
Under Skies lace print top

The print is subtle, and the material is silky soft.  It drapes nicely, but tends to get a little static-y.  

Big girl clothes!
Needs a sweater
Under Skies lace print top

I'll get some use out of it, especially if I end up going to a week-long conference this June, which I just registered for.  I need some big-girl, non-grad-student clothes!  I'm getting there, and Golden Tote is helping.

Here we go with the two items I chose.

Black and White Plaid shirt by Thread and Supply (Not-so-basic button-up)

Thread and Supply plaid button-up

I was hoping this would be flannel, but it is just a really soft cotton.  It's pretty sturdy, but still totally comfortable.  It is also a tiny snug and I can't button it all the way because of button gaps!  

I keep trying new poses and they are all awkward, then they end with me with my hand on my hip like always.
Not so basic button up in black and white

I wore a cami under it to work yesterday and it was ok, but I'm going to have to be vigilant about not putting it in the dryer!  

Thread and Supply button up

Normally everything I order from GT fits me perfectly, so I was a little sad about this shirt.  I didn't change my size preferences, either.  I guess this shirt just runs small!  Another reason to stop eating pizza and take-out.  (But it's so convenient and delicious!)

Elephant Dress by Porridge

Elephant dress by Porridte

I'm a little embarrassed I'm actually putting these pictures online!  It was quite the ordeal to zip me into this, and I couldn't wear a bra, and I'm pretty sure that this is obscene.  

...but it has POCKETS!

So, in short, this dress is way too small! I ordered the size I normally wear in dresses, but I definitely should have sized up.  I'm going to sell or trade this.  I don't even think losing a few pounds would work :(

Elephants!

This really bums me out.  This elephant dress is the reason I got the tote in the first place!  Ugh.

All together

Anyway, it was a decent tote style-wise, even with the size mishaps.  I picked two items and received 4 more in my $149 tote.  They also offer a smaller tote every month for $49, where you get to choose 1 item and receive 1-2 more.  The new sale is usually up the first week of the month, and I usually get my tote 3.5 weeks after ordering.  This is not a recurring subscription.



This is what is behind me in all those pictures, by the way!

I didn't know orchids dropped their flowers! I was so sad this fall! But now it is re-blooming :)

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

Fabfitfun VIP Spring 2014

Fabfitfun VIP box, Spring 2014

Because I canceled Popsugar Must Have, I decided I should try out some different boxes, starting with Fabfitfun VIP.

Hello, FFF!

FFF is a quarterly box, so it comes once per year.  Obviously, I HAD to get the spring box becasue PSMH ran out in March for me, and I didn't want to wait until June to get my first quarter of this!

FFF Spring 2014, first look

There were some spoilers, so I knew two of the items that were coming to me.  When I opened up the box, I was immediately overwhelmed by eucalyptus and peppermint! It smelled so good, and I couldn't wait to dig in.

Turband from Cult Gaia 

This was the first item that was spoiled this month by FFF.  The pattern varied from person to person, and I happened to get this springy floral.

The turband has a sturdy wire running along its length, so you can style it however you want!  This is super far out of my comfort zone, but I did play around with it a little bit.  It might be nice for the summer at the beach.

I had to filter this; I wasn't wearing any makeup.

This is probably how I will be wearing the turband.  It didn't look quite right as a headband (under my hair), and I didn't want to do the bunny-ear thing Cult Gaia shows on their website.

These retail for anywhere from $38 to $150 on the company's website.  I couldn't find my exact print, so we will call it $38 to be conservative.

Level Naturals Shower Bombs

This is what was making my box smell so good!  This is a set of four shower bombs from Level Naturals, and they have menthol, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil in them.  They have sodium bicarbonate and citric acid in a cornstarch base, so they might fizz a little bit as they dissolve.  

I used one and it made my shower smell so good! I'd so much rather get shower bombs than bath bombs, as I never soak in the tub.  It grosses me out.

I wish I could afford to use one of these every time I shower! It made it an even more relaxing experience, and I think with the scent of these particular bombs, it would be great if you have some sinus congestion.

Pack of 4, $7.99 on the Level Naturals site.

Dermasuri Deep Exfoliating Mitt

To continue the spa trend of this box, I got a deep exfoliating mitt from Dermasuri.  I haven't tried it yet, but it is a thin material (which will dry fast), and will act like an exfoliator when you use it to scrub your skin in the shower.

$19.99 on Dermasuri's website.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray

Excellent! I keep trying to find a nice dry shampoo, and I have seen good reviews of this one.  I am going to use it tonight (if you dry shampoo the night before, it has more time to soak in and do its oil-absorbing job) so I can avoid washing my hair in this unseasonably cold weather.  Seriously, why is it 20 degrees this late into March?

UPDATE:  This smells like lemons and I love it.  It did not make my hair all white and powdery, it added volume, and it absorbed all my grease super fast.  Consider me a convert!  

$25 on Oscar Blandi's site

Marrithew Mini Stability Ball and DVD

Does this seem familiar?  Yes? It's because I got a pink mini stability ball in March's PSMH!  Same thing! Same straw to blow it up, and same little plug to make sure the air stays put.  However, FFF included a DVD with their mini ball.  That is so much better than PSMH!  Now I will know how to use this, and won't have to spend my time googling, "mini ball workouts".  Besides, that sounds like a search that might give me some weird, weird results.

The 7.5" ball sells for $11.99 on the Merrithew site, and their DVDs go for about $12.71, for a total of $24.70.  

The Better Chip Spinach & Kale with Sea Salt

I'm glad this box showed up when it did- I was hungry and there wasn't anything in the fridge that I wanted to eat.  So, I popped these open.  They were good.  They tasted like corn chips with a tiny hint of greens.  Sort of like eating spinach dip with tortilla chips, but less fattening and not quite as satisfying.

Also, there were like 9 chips in the whole bag.

Yeah, that's what 1 oz of chips looks like.  Not a lot!  I was a little sad.

I couldn't find a value for these online, so I'll go with the FFF suggested retail of $1.99.  I would like to try the jalapeño version!

Cover FX SPF 30 Protection Primer

The goodies just don't end!  FFF included a full size of SPF 30 primer from Cover FX in this month's box.

No color, and blends in completely with a silicone-y smooth feeling

This reminds me of Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer, but that is probably because of the texture and color and appearance and everything else.  It is silicone-based and rubs in clear.  It gives you that slick feeling, if that is something you like on your face before putting on makeup.  I have a few versions of silicone primer, and I never end up using any of them.  I'm not really a fan.  I do like that this is SPF 30, but there is NO WAY you would be able to apply enough of this to get the full SPF benefit from it.  You would have to apply too much, and you wouldn't be able to put anything over it- your foundation would literally slide off of your face.

This sells for $38 at Sephora.

Kai Perfume Oil

Last up, the other spoiler item for this season.  It is Kai Perfume Oil, which is a rollerball and smells like gardenias.

The company says that this will smell different on everyone, but I'm pretty sure that's false.  It will smell like gardenias on everyone, just with subtle variations that come from the oils mixing with the person's personal chemistry.  If you don't like gardenias or floral perfumes, don't hold out hope that this will smell like musky amber on you.  It just won't happen.

I happen to like this, but not for every day. 

$48 at Nordstrom.

All together! FFF Spring 2014

All together, this box had a value of $203.67!  Nice!

Most of these items are things that I wouldn't have bought myself; either because they aren't my normal style, or because they are out of my price range for a non-essential item.  Do I need a scrubby shower mitt? No, but I like that I have one now! 

Fabfitfun VIP is $49.99 per season, but they usually have $5 off coupon codes floating around for your first month.  It is curated by Giuliana Rancic (and the FFF team) if that means anything to you.  It seems from this box, and the ones before it, that this subscription is mostly luxury items.  Nothing you NEED, but everything you may WANT (and talk yourself out of!).

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

Ipsy March 2014

Ipsy March 2014 Review

PSA: Throw out your lip gloss from Pop Beauty that came in the February bag.  Trust me, I know a chemical burn when I see one, and I chemical-burned the crap out of my lips.  They are still recovering.  Gross.  Just toss it if it doesn't smell like delicious vanilla cookies.  Pop Beauty claims there is a "missing flavoring ingredient" but there is clearly something fishy going on with the sample glosses.  Read about this particular issue here.

THROW THIS AWAY!

And as always, if you ever notice a weird smell or burning sensation (different from a plumping or tingling sensation), or if your skin/lips feel slimy, stretched out and tight (not just dry, but like your skin has shrunk 2 sizes), itchy, or scraped up after applying any makeup product, THROW IT AWAY.  Seriously. 

Ok.  Sorry.  Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

I remember the days where I would get Birchbox and Ipsy on the same day, usually within the first 10 days of the month.  Birchbox has since started to ship to me a few days earlier, and Ipsy has started to ship to me about a week later.  Sigh.  Can't have it all in life, I guess.

Ipsy March 2014

This month's Ipsy theme is "Destination Beauty" and features a bag designed by Klari Rice, an artist from California.

The bag itself is cute, but feels pretty thin and vinyl-ish.  It will wipe clean, at least!  The pattern, for some reason, reminds me of the minions from Despicable Me.  Maybe because the circle blobs look like eyes?  I'm not sure, but I get a definite minion vibe from this bag.

There were 4 products included in the bags this month.

Be a Bombshell Bora Bora Eyeshadow Quad

First up, I got the Be a Bombshell eyeshadow quad in Bora Bora.  There was eyeshadow dust all over the inside of the box and the outside of the compact, but it didn't seem to be from my particular quad.  Weird.  I wiped it all off for the pictures.

Bora Bora Eyeshadow Quad in the remainder of today's natural light.

The eyeshadow is more pigmented than I expected.  I like the combination of colors a lot, but I probably will still give this away as a gift.  I have too much eyeshadow!  Gah! 

Two swipes over bare skin, with a LOT of light shining in

I think Ipsy sends a Be a Bombshell product almost every month! I have lip crayons, lip gloss, felt-tip eyeliner, a one stick, now eyeshadow.... I'm going to end up with their entire product line if I continue to subscribe to Ipsy!  It totally negates the need to buy this product independently, and also makes me devalue their items.  They should probably give it a rest for a little while.

This sells for $16 on the BaB website.

Next, I got two packages of Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing eye patches.

Klorane Soothing and Relaxing Patches

I read somewhere online you could re-use these, so I'm going to try to do that.  I'd hate for these to be one-time use, but it seems like they are.  Oh well.  They felt nice on, but I will definitely take the suggestion to put them in the fridge first!  I don't think they made a noticeable difference on my undereye circles, but I wasn't puffy to begin with.

Dermstore sells a 7-pack of these for $18, making my 2 packs worth $5.14

OH hey! Nail polish! IpsyMatch really had to work hard on that one ;)

Nicole by OPI "On What Grounds?"
Different from the mystery book by the same name.

This is from the Nicole by OPI Roughles line of textured polish.  The color is "On What Grounds?" and is a robin's-egg-blue with navy and gray speckles.  It dries to a matte sandy finish and doesn't have glitter in it (like the Julep Stardust, Zoya Pixie Dust, and OPI Liquid Sand lines do).

Speckles in the bottle

When I first put this on, I didn't like it.  It looked like I had done my nails at the beach and got tons of sand stuck in the wet polish before it dried.  The dark specks don't help that at all!  Trust me- I live less than 1 mile from the ocean.  I know what sand stuck in nail polish looks like, and this is it!

"Roughles".... get it?
Stupid nubby pointer finger :( It is cracked down the middle- I need to keep it short while it grows out!

However, the longer I look at it, the more it is growing on me.  I'll see what everyone at work says tomorrow.  Two coats was plenty, and I happen to be a fan of the wide brush that NOPI polishes have.

NOPI polishes sell for about $7.99 at CVS, Target, Ulta, etc.

Last up, and my favorite thing in the bag this month, is a mini lipstick by Bare Minerals as part of their Marvelous Moxie line in Get Ready.

BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready

The color is really pretty, it is a nice warm rose color that is flattering on my super-winter-ultra-pale skin.  Unlike last month, I am not having any burning feelings associated with applying this lipstick.

Face into the light.  The color of this lipstick is a little more muted in real life.

This lipstick is wonderful.  It is super creamy and richly pigmented.  There is a slight vanilla-mint scent, which I think is nice.  This is one of the best lipsticks I have gotten in a subscription box, if not *THE* best.  I love it!  I wish Ipsy had sent out full sizes, but no biggie.  I'll just buy a full one when I use this sample up.

Sample size is 0.05 oz and the full size is 0.12 oz.  The full size is $18, making the sample worth $7.50.

Ipsy March 2014

The total value of my bag this month is $36.63 (hi there, palindrome!).  I've had higher bag values, but there were some items from decent brands this month.  I am really happy with this bag, especially the lipstick!  I don't think I would have preferred any of the other variable options this month, I'm pretty satisfied.

Ipsy costs $10 per month, and will send you 4-6 sample and full-sized (mostly) beauty items in a makeup bag.  If you want to give it a try, please use my referral link here.  I'll get 250 Ipsy points.  After 1000 points, you get a bonus item.  You get 10 points for each item review you do, so it's hard to accumulate enough points for an item without referrals.  That's the only downside to Ipsy.  You also cannot skip a month, but you can cancel at any time.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.  This post contains a referral link; see above for details.

Popsugar Must Have March 2014 Review

Popsugar Must Have March 2014

This is how it usually goes for me and my subscription boxes:

Me: Ooooh, I like this box a lot! Let me look at all the previous months and choose whether or not to subscribe!

Then I subscribe.  Beginning months are great! Then the boxes seem to go downhill.  Maybe I get desensitized?  Maybe I just get too greedy?  Who knows.  Months pass.

Me: These boxes are getting lame.  I'm going to cancel my subscription.  

Last box arrives.  

Me: This is great! Maybe I should renew my subscription!

PSMH March 2014

That is how PSMH went this month for me.  It was great! I like this box a lot! It's making me reconsider canceling.  I'm afraid that the April box will be FANTASTIC and I will miss out.  But- I will be strong.  I will stay unsubscribed... until a coupon comes out with a great spoiler attached.  Then all bets are off!

So, for now, this is my last PSMH box.  Prices have gone up, and most of the boxes have not reflected the higher price in their content.  

First Look, PSMH March 2014

This month's box contained:

Real first look

Activeforever Fusion Exercise Ball

Now, with handy dandy straw to inflate it!
ActiveForever Fusion 7.5 inch Exercise Ball

This is a tiny basket-ball sized (7.5 inch) exercise ball.  I have NO IDEA what to use it for!  It comes with a little straw to blow it up, and took all of three seconds to do so.  Now what?

This is from Activeforever and suggested retail is $9.95.

Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps in Lightly Salted

Snapea Crisps- Lightly Salted

These have the texture of cheez doodles- the crunchy puffed up kind- with a subtle veggie (pea) flavor.  They are strangely addictive! My boyfriend said they were weird, but he is not exactly a health-food connoisseur.  If I happen to come across these in a store, and they have the wasabi-ranch flavor, I would probably pick some up.

This is what they look like.  Appetizing?

These sell for about $2 in various grocery stores.  Here is their site.  

Nature's Bakery All Natural Strawberry Fig Bar

Nature's Bakery Fig Bar in Strawberry
Like a grown-up Fig Newton

This was really really good! It's long gone...

You can get a 12-pack of these on Amazon for $7.50.  That means this single bar is worth $0.63.

This month's big ticket item was the spoiler- a blue ikat scarf from Brokedown.  This print was exclusively designed for PSMH, but this type of scarf retails for $72 on Brokedown's site.  I have to say, this scarf is amazing! 

Brokedown Ikat Scarf

I love the colors and the pattern, and it is just so darn soft!  It is very lightweight, and I know I'll be able to wear it through the summer.  Amazing. 

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum

Jurlique Advanced Serum

It's a little unusual to see a non-full-sized item in PSMH, but it does happen.  At least they send sample sizes that are very generous (this is half of the full size) and allow you to test out the product for a decent amount of time.  I also think it's a little weird that they sent us a face serum (oil) last month, and then another one this month! That's ok- I send half of my oil from Nature's Organic (last month's brand) to my sister.  This one might stay with me.  This serum smells very strongly of roses, which I happen to like, and spreads out nicely.  It absorbs pretty fast.

30 mL size on Jurlique's site is $54, making the 15 mL sample worth $27.  

Dogeared Lucky Horseshoe Make a Wish Necklace

Dogeared Lucky Horseshoe Necklace

This is a rather short gold horseshoe charm on tobacco silk thread.  You are supposed to make a wish when you put this on, and then when the silk breaks, your wish will come true.  

Blurry picture of the necklace on me.  It's short.

This is a cute necklace, but Dogeared has things that are much cuter! I would have picked a different design for myself, but it is still a nice idea.  I might use the 30% off code to pick up some gifts!  Everything is pretty reasonably price, which is nice.

This sells for $26 on the Dogeared site.

Baublebar Elephant Ring Tree

Baublebar Elephant Ring Tree

This is adorable! I currently have my rings sitting in a tiny ceramic dish, but I think this will be cute next to my sink at home or on my desk at work (rings do not mix with continual rubber glove usage).  

So cute!

Baublebar has a number of really cute ring trees (that giraffe! omg!) that are all really reasonably priced!  This was a nice addition to this month's PSMH box.

Ring tree, $12 on Baublebar. 

All together

All together, this month's PSMH has an approximate value of $149.48.  This box costs $39.95 per month, but lately they have been sending out discount codes for new subscribers (5 or 10 dollars off) each month.  If you want to try it out, please use my link here.  If one more person signs up with that link, I will get a free box!

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

Birchbox March 2014 Review

Birchbox March 2014 Review

Well, it's March.  I set the clocks forward and went out without a jacket yesterday.  Birchbox showed up, and I have some little crocuses popping out of the piles of salt and sand next to my driveway.  It's starting to look like spring!

Birchbox March 2014

As usual, my Birchbox shows up before boxes have updated on their site.  It's a total surprise, and that is fine with me.

First look, March 2014 Birchbox

This month's theme is, "getting more out of everything."  Ok? Sure.

BB Find: Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream (light)

This is a Birchbox Find: a drugstore product that BB includes in your box, usually along with a coupon.  

Jergens claims that this BB cream for your body will hydrate, illuminate, even, firm, and correct your skin tone.  It comes in two shades, one for light skin and one for medium and deep tones.

It smells good, it is light and warm.  I usually use a tinted lotion on my legs if I wear a skirt or dress (so I don't blind people with my ultra-pasty-ness), and I don't think that this will take its place.  It might even things out with continual use, and continual use of any lotion will keep you hydrated, but I'm just too pale.  

This is a 1 fl.oz. sample, and the full size (7.5 fl.oz.) sells for about $10 at most drugstores.  Sample worth $1.33

GrandCentral Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Serum + Primer

I can kinda see how this fits into BB's theme this month.  This all-in-one serum and primer is supposed to hydrate, smooth, act as an anti-aging serum, prime, fill lines, even redness, wipe your butt, etc..

The thing I like most about it, is that it smells like lilacs!  So nice!  It absorbed into my skin really, really quickly, and I ended up using more than I normally would with a comparable product.  My skin does feel pretty smooth, though.  You know what? I like it.  I'll definitely use this!  I haven't tried it under makeup yet, but I am sure it won't be any worse than using no primer at all.

Full-size (50 mL) is $68 on the company's website, making the 6 mL sample worth $8.16.

Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum

I have a full size of this, courtesy of PSMH, and I like it.  I haven't really worn any extra sunscreen lately, just what is in my foundation/BB cream.  But, spring is coming up and hopefully the weather will be brighter and sunnier, and I'll have to start wearing this under my makeup once again.  It's a nice sunscreen, and I definitely recommend it- but I wouldn't go out and spend all that money on it, myself.  If you are sensitive to a lot of chemical sunscreens out there, it might be worth it to try to find a sample.  It has decent ingredients and is very light on the skin.

Full size (50 mL) is $42 on the Supergoop site. 10 mL sample is worth $8.40.

Keims Hair Care- Peppermint & Macadamia Cleanshine Energizing Shampoo

While I haven't tried this shampoo yet, I'm not sure if I am looking forward to it.  There aren't any mineral oils, silicones, or parabens in this formula, and peppermint is always a good shampoo scent.  It doesn't smell overpowering to me, but who knows how it will behave when it's all lathered up.  However, it WILL lather up- the second ingredient is sodium laureth sulfate.  That's too bad; I don't use sulfate-based shampoos on my hair.  My haircolor lasts longer if I don't, and I have found my hair to be less dry after switching to sulfate-free products.

This is fairly affordable, 250 mL for $9.50 on the BB site.  Sample is 50 mL, worth $1.90.

Inika Eyeliner in Green Lagoon

I liked the Inika eyeshadow I received in BB a few months ago, and this color is perfect for complementing that shade!  I really, really like the sharpener in the cap!  I tend to do my makeup in the car, and sometimes I forget to bring my eyeliners in for sharpening and they get too dull to use.

Inika Eyeliner in Green Lagoon

The color on the pencil end cap is exactly the color it shows up on the skin.  The pencil is not too hard, and not too soft.  It's a lighter metallic color, though, so it doesn't pack as much of a punch, even though the pigmentation is pretty good.  Bonus: This is an Organic, Eco-Friendly brand.

Full size, retails for $29 on Inika's site, and $20 on Birchbox.

Total: $39.79

This was a better box than the others I've gotten lately!  I will probably end up giving away the shampoo (because I won't use it) and the sunscreen (because I have a full size), but I like the eyeliner, primer, and lotion.  Factor in the points (10 points = 1$ per review), and this was a decent box.  The points always make it worth it, though!

Birchbox costs $10 per month, and you can sign up using my referral link here.  I'll get 50 BB points per sign up.  For every 100 points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in the BB site.  Each month BB sends you 4-6 (mostly) sample-sized products.  There is a personalization quiz and a lot of box variations that go out every month.  You cannot skip a month.

All items in this post were paid for by me and all thoughts and opinions are my own.  No special consideration or compensation was received for this post.  This post contains a referal link; see above for details.