Boxy Charm Review - June

Boxy Charm time again!

This box is $21.00 a month with free shipping and is a “beauty box subscription that surprises you each month with the best beauty products from popular and chic brands. Each box contains full size and luxury size beauty samples from preferred well-known brands.” They aim to cover a whole look from makeup to nails, which I really like. 

The theme this month is “Sea LA Vie.” 
 

Here is the June Boxy Charm!  
 

 

           1)    Eslor Chlorophyll Lifting Mask – .5 oz. (FULL SIZE)

            First of all, for the price, there certainly isn't much in there. Especially since the instructions
            say to use twice weekly. Also, I haven't even opened the product, but I noticed that it is
            leaking out of the packaging. That being said, I am excited to try it. I love face masks and this
            being all natural and made of things like SEAweed, it sounds great for skin. See how they
            used this to go towards the SEA theme? Clever!
            Full Size: $38.00 My Value: $38.00

           2)      Bellapiere Cosmetics Kabuki Brush  - (FULL SIZE)

I can't say there is anything too exciting about this. It's just another kabuki brush. I can say it is very soft, so maybe that's what is so great about it? I can definitely say I'd never pay full price for it, that's for sure!

Full Size: $29.99 My Value: $29.99

3)   The Beauty Crop Lighting Crew Highlighting Cream – .34 oz. (FULL SIZE) 

I don't usually use highlighting cream in my day to day makeup, so I can't see me getting much use out of this. I do like some of the ingredients in this, pineapple and green tea. They definitely makes this stand out from other highlighters.

Full Size: $18.00 My Value: $18.00

4)   ncLA Nail Polish in “Volume IV” – .5 oz. (FULL SIZE)

This particular polish is from their "nudes" collection and is described as a sandy nude. I do like the look of this. I am not one to use polish very often, but when I do its definitely neutral colors. I hope I like the formula!

Full Size: $16.00 My Value: $16.00

 

5)   Cargo Cosmetics Eye Shadow Single in "Babylon"  –  .12 oz. (FULL SIZE)

Well I guess this bright blue color matches the theme....but that's about all its good for to me.  I don't think I'd ever get use out of a color like this. It's definitely not a color for daily use!

Full Size: $16.00 My Value: $16.00

Final Cost: $21.00

Final Value: $117.99

Boxy Charm did a decent job this month. I will at least be getting a little use out of every product in the box. I can't say I'd go out and buy many of the items again, but hey, for the price of the box they are totally worth it!  Thanks Boxy Charm!

What are your thoughts?

If you’d like to get Boxy Charm, you can sign up here!

(Also, I’m not a review only blog….I just like sharing these fun things! I have not been compensated for this review.)

Noah's Birth Story - Part 2

Well I last left off on Noah's birth story the weekend before he was born. C was traveling to New Orleans for a game and I was paranoid I'd go into labor so I put myself on a self imposed bed rest almost the whole time he was gone.

My little man!

He returned home late Sunday afternoon and I decided that since I had spent the weekend in bed trying to prevent the birth, now I was going to try and speed it up! I had heard that lots of walking is helpful and also bouncing on a big exercise ball could help, so off to run errands we went! 

We spent at least an hour walking around Buy Buy Baby, then headed to Target for more errands (and to get an exercise ball!) and stopped at Olive Garden for dinner. At this point I was feeling just really uncomfortable. My body hurt and it was tired. I was done being pregnant. I remember saying that I was so glad I only had a week to go cause I wasn't sure I'd make it much longer. I was ready!

After dinner we went to Walmart to run one last errand. Leaving the building, I felt really light headed so we decided to head home. Once we got on the road, the light headedness got worse and I started seeing spots. I was on the verge of passing out and I was really scared. I just kept trying to breath through it all. 

Once we got home, C called the hospital to ask if there was anything we should do and if that was normal. They thought that I was probably dehydrated so suggested I chug some water and call back if I didn't feel better soon. C drew me a bath and I climbed in with a few water bottles to drink while I was in there. Thankfully, it made me feel a lot better and I was able to go to bed. Pregnant women, make sure to drink your water!!! 

Sometime during the night I started waking up feeling some pain and then going back to sleep. I was only half awake, so I honestly have no clue what time this actually started. I would wake up in a lot of discomfort, try to get settled in a different position and then go back to sleep. Around 5am, I woke up enough to realize what was going on. Could this be a contraction?

I started timing them around this point and would try to go back to sleep after each one. Soon enough though, the pain was a little too much to go back to sleep. I would lay in bed and whimper a bit through each one. Around 7am, I saw on my handy dandy contraction tracking app (seriously this thing was awesome!) that they were getting closer and closer together. They were sitting about 6 minutes apart at this point. 

I decided to wake C up and let him know what was going on, but also make him walk around the house with me. I had held off labor for the weekend, but now I was ready to make this thing happen! He helped me out of bed and we started to pace. I text work and let them know I wasn't going to be in right away and I might not be in at all. 

I was really hoping this was it, so the vain woman in me decided to put on some makeup! I would pace for a bit, have a contraction, then head to the bathroom to do my makeup for a few minutes. Then I'd start the process all over again. C worked on putting the last items into our hospital bags while I did this. 

Sadly, after an hour or so I noticed the contractions were starting to slow down and I was getting bummed. I wasn't about to let them stop! So I did what any woman would do....I used my husband hehe. I had read many times that sex can help kick start labor, so we tested that theory! 

After that we realized we were really hungry and I was craving bisquick biscuits. Of course we didn't have any bisquick. Off to the grocery store we went! I continued to have contractions while we were there. I would just put my head down and lean on the grocery cart, hoping I didn't look like a crazy person. 

At the end of our trip, C and I split up to each grab one more thing. One of the Rattler fans works at the grocery store and unfortunately saw me. He started chatting with me even though I wasn't too responsive! I actually had a full on contraction while he was talking and I don't think he even noticed! I was trying to look as normal as possible haha.

Once we got back home the contractions were definitely starting to pick back up. They were getting pretty intense. C was busy making breakfast and I was busy laboring. I think the position that was the most comfortable was on my knees leaning over the couch during each contraction. 

I started to notice the contractions were getting pretty intense, but they weren't totally consistent on their timing. Some would even be only a few minutes apart. Finally, I told C that I thought it would be time to go to the hospital pretty soon. Of course, the biscuits had JUST gone into the oven. I conceded that we would wait until they came out and then take off. Talking myself through that 15 extra minutes was not my favorite!
 

Had to take a picture of the egg that we had
 to wait on before we left for the hospital!

Finally the biscuits came out and we were ready to go. Or so I thought! C wanted to make a breakfast sandwich so he was quickly making an egg. Such a man right? Gotta get some food before everything goes down! 

After the sandwich was complete, we piled into the car and took off to the hospital! Eek! Was this really happening??

Ipsy Review - June

Well it's that time again...Ipsy review time!

Since I am a little behind, you get two reviews this month. Good thing this is my favorite beauty bag!  This is the best bag out there for the cost, so if you are looking to start a beauty subscription, I would definitely try Ipsy first. $10 for everything including shipping?  You can’t really beat that!
 

June's theme was "Swim Into Beauty" which I find very fitting!  The bag was black neoprene with an orange zipper.  It felt just like a wet suit...pretty cool!
 

So here it is…the June Ipsy bag!  
 

        
   1)     Pure Brazilian Miracle Leave-In Conditioner – 1 oz.

           First of all, I will this smelled better.  I was hoping it would smell like coconuts or something
           summery. Its got almost a soapy flowery smell to it. I haven't gotten a chance to try it yet (you
           know, that whole no time to wash my hair thing) but I hope it doesn't make my hair greasy. 
           Leave in conditioners tend to do that! This is sold in a 1 oz. travel size, so that's the price I am
           using.
Full Size: $6.00 My Value: $6.00

          2)    dr. Brandt Vacuum Cleaner Blackhead Extractor Mask - .25 oz.

            I am excited to try this!  I love face masks and this one sounds pretty awesome.  I have heard
            of something like this in another (very expensive) brand, so its nice to get a sample to try. One
            thing that does bother me though is the sample tube isn't even half full...it feels like a rip-off!

Full Size: $45.00 for 1 oz. My Value: $11.25

           3)    treStique Mini Shadow Crayon in "Aspen Pine"  – .02 oz. (FULL SIZE)

            I'm not overly thrilled by this, but I also don' hate it. I am not a big cream shadow person, but
            if this lives up to its "12 hour" promise, I may be a convert! The color is a brown with the
            slightest hint of green...which I wish it didn't have!

Full Size: $32.00 for three My Value: $10.67

4)  Shea Moisture Shea Butter Lip Crayon in "Sarah" – .1 oz. (FULL SIZE)

This sounds like it would be really awesome...but sadly its just not my color. It is WAY too bright for me.  When is Ipsy going to send me more natural looking colors?!

Full Size: $9.99 My Value: $9.99

       5)  Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer  – .25 oz.

Well this is certainly nothing new to me, but it doesn't hurt to add another container to my stash...thanks Ipsy!I rarely use primers (I mean, I barely do my makup most days now) but I have used this one a few times.  I don't see the big deal honestly...

Full Size: $36.00 for 1 oz. My Value: $9.00

Final Cost: $10.00

Final Value: $46.91

I'd say I am neural on this months bag. There's nothing in it I absolutely love, but I will be trying most of the products at least.  I a pretty bummed about the lip crayon though. Ipsy , why don't you get that I don't like bright colors?!?  

What are your thoughts?

If you’d like to give it a try you can sign up here!

(As always, I swear I’m not a review blog….I just like sharing these things in hopes that other people will get to have the same fun that I do!  I am not compensated in any way.)

Boxy Charm Review - May

After a bit of a break to you know, have a baby, it Boxy Charm review time!

This box is $21.00 a month with free shipping and is a “beauty box subscription that surprises you each month with the best beauty products from popular and chic brands. Each box contains full size and luxury size beauty samples from preferred well-known brands.” They aim to cover a whole look from makeup to nails, which I really like. 

The theme for May was  “Bold & Beautiful." I think the theme is pretty general, but the items definitely fit that!

Here is the May Boxy Charm!  

 

1)      Model Co. Bronze Shimmer – .35 oz. (FULL SIZE)

This is a shimmer bronzing powder for face and body.  I generally don't use bronzers, but I do like the shimmer aspect for the summer. Unfortunately, this looks very dark. I'm not sure it would really work for my skin color!

Full Size: $22.00 My Value: $22.00

2)      The Lip Bar Lipstick in "Kiss Me"  - 3.5g (FULL SIZE)

Oddly enough, at first glance I thought I would hate this color, but I don't! Its really bright, but the color works for me.  I'm really surprised. Unfortunately though, the formula is really drying. I would have to use a gloss with it or something underneath it.  It wouldn't even fully cover my bottom lip, its too dry and doesn't stick. closer to my mouth.  Really weird! I don't think I'd ever purchase this lipstick either, the case looks cool, but it is ridiculously huge.

Full Size: $20.00 My Value: $20.00

3)   LVX Nail Lacquer in "Mynt" – .5 oz. (FULL SIZE)

Well this is definitely not my color!  I do have this brand in a different color that I received in another box though and I love it.  It's actually the only nail polish I have used in the last 8 months probably! The formula is great and it almost looks like gel polish  on which is pretty cool.

Full Size: $16.00 My Value: $16.00

 

4)   Bodyography Essential Brow Trio  – .10 oz. (FULL SIZE)

This seems like it would be a cool product, but its something I would never ever use.  As a person with bangs, you can't even see my eyebrows! I don't ever need to do anything with them. Looks like you can use it as an eyeliner or eye shadow though, so at least its not a wash!

Full Size: $19.00 My Value: $19.00

5)   Bodyography Brow Brush  – (FULL SIZE)

Again, not a super useful product to me at first glance. I did notice though, that the brush looks almost exactly like my angled eyeliner brush, which is nice. I could probably get use out of it!

Full Size: $19.00 My Value: $19.00

Final Cost: $21.00

Final Value: $96.00

While not upper useful to me personally, I think this months Boxy Charm box is pretty great!  The value is quite high (and not because they are overpriced items like they sometimes seem to be) and had I not had bangs (like Boxy Charm would know that) I would definitely get use out of most of the products! Good stuff Boxy Charm!

What are your thoughts?

If you’d like to get Boxy Charm, you can sign up here!

(Also, I’m not a review only blog….I just like sharing these fun things! I have not been compensated for this review.)

Noah's Birth Story - Part One

I really would have liked to get this written sooner, but man, life with a newborn is quite busy!!

As you may or may not know, Noah's due date was May 25th. Due to daddy's traveling schedule and the fact that he had a bye week (meaning no practice, traveling, or appearances) the week before that, we had scheduled an induction for May 18th. I would have been 39 weeks pregnant. 

Well...little man had other plans! 

On Thursday, May 7th I was working and started noticing I was getting contractions. They weren't painful at all, just regular Braxton hicks. What I did notice was they felt pretty regular. I started timing them on my handy app and it turns out they were about ten minutes apart. 
 

We had finally installed his car seat on the 6th!

 

Now, around this time I had also experienced some of the not so flattering signs of possible labor. If you want to know, feel free to ask, but I'm not going to go into detail here. Sometimes these mean labor is imminent, sometimes they mean it's still a ways off. Not confusing at all right?

 

That weekend, C had an away game in New Orleans. With the labor signs and the regular (albeit non-painful) contractions I was starting to get worried. Arizona and Louisiana aren't exactly close. If he left, and I went into labor, it would be at least 7 hours before he made it back home. 

 

As the day wore on, my contractions started to get closer together. At one point, they were at almost five minutes apart. Still though, they weren't painful at all. 

I decided that it would be best to see my Doctor and get her opinion. I called the office and of course she was out of town that weekend, but thankfully the other doctor (who I had just met the week previous) was willing to see me. 

 

When I got to the office, she checked me and I had gone from 50% effaced and 1 centimeter dialated on Monday to 90% effaced and 1 centimeter. Doesn't sound like much of a change, but it was only over a period of 3 days and I was having other signs. She told me she couldn't predict that I would for sure go into labor, but if it were her, she wouldn't let her husband make the trip. 

Of course, of all the weeks, this was a game that the team really needed C. One of their best guys had been suspended and C was going to play his position. He talked it over with the team and we all decided, as long as something didn't happen that night, that C would travel. The team promised that if aI started to go into labor while he was away, he would be on the next plane home and they would make sure of it. I got phone numbers of some of the personnel so I could contact them if need be during the game. 

 

Daddy putting together the final baby items the night before he
 left while I lay in bed with light contractions!

Thankfully, that evening the contractions stopped around 8pm. I decided that since C was going to travel, I was going to do everything I could to rest and keep little man comfy, inside my belly! 

How I spent my Saturday night....watching C's game

 

I went to work the next day, but then put myself on a self imposed bed rest for the weekend. I had heard that walking around a lot could definitely cause labor, so I was too afraid to do anything!  I left the house for a quick lunch, but from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon I just laid around the house. Let's just say, I am very thankful I chose to do that!



The bump barely fitting into a booth the night during lunch on Saturday



Next up...the real labor begins!

 

Pretty Little Beauty Swap Signups!

Guess what time it is?!?

I am so excited to announce that the sign up process has begun for the another round of Pretty Little Beauty Swap of 2015 and will be open until July 10th! I truly love this swap and I love seeing others enjoying it as well! It's a chance to meet a fellow beauty lover, make a friend, and exchange some great beauty products!

Do you love getting beauty boxes? Or maybe just trying new beauty products in general? What about making new friends or receiving packages in the mail full of goodies? Want to meet another Beauty Loving Blogger? If any of these things sounds awesome to you, then the Pretty Little Beauty Swap is for you!

 

Make sure that you read through the rules and full understand them. Feel free to ask any questions that you may have as well! If you are curious to see what others received last round check out this post!
 

Hosted by Justine from Sleepy Single Girl  and Chelsee from Southern Beauty Guide The Pretty Little Beauty Swap is a box swap program for those who love makeup and want to meet new friends!
 

This program will from now on be hosted 4 times a year in: January, April, July, and October. This helps avoid the holiday seasons so that some that may have not been able to participate, for whatever reason, will be now able to participate. Ladies will be paired up with another woman that they will have a chance to get to know and then get to send each other a gift of beauty products. Swap boxes can be filled with beauty samples from past boxes that just weren’t your thing or purchased items you just know your partner will love!

 

Signups for this swap will be July 1st- July 10th. Partners will be announced by July 12th You will have a month to get to know your partner and then packages must be sent by August 14th

At the end of the month we will all link up to share what we’ve received!! Who’s in for some new pretty little beauty products and some even better new friends?

 

*All of the rules listed below are mandatory. If you can’t complete them, you won’t be able to participate in future swaps.*
 

Rules:

1) We would love for you to follow the hosts: Southern Beauty Guide & Sleepy Single Girl
2) Email your partner within 72 hours of receiving your match. If you haven’t heard from your partner after 3 days are up, please let us know and we will pair you up with someone else!
3) Spend the month getting to know your partner. Learn her makeup likes and dislikes and colors she tends to use or steer clear of.
4) Each box should be a minimum of $15. If you’d like to spend more, great, I am sure your partner will love you for it! Just make sure that you talk with your partner about budgets to makes sure that you both receive an even swap.
5) Please include at least 2 full size items.  No one wants to receive a bunch of itty bitty lotion samples!
6) Items must be new, unless you’ve discussed with your partner beforehand and she is comfortable accepting gently used items that you have tried and didn’t like.
7) Ship your packages by August 14th. Make sure to get a tracking number so we can confirm you sent a package if it gets lost.
8) Once you receive your package, create a reveal post and link up with us on August 21st.
 

The most important rule of them all…..Have fun!
 

P.S. Spread the word to all the Beauty Lovers you know!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!