Boxy Charm - December

Boxy Charm time!

Boxy Charm is $21.00 a month with shipping included 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 “Pop Fizz Clink” which makes sense with the New Year.  The card included mention’s reveling in the “charm of an era or decadence and glamour” and looking back to a time when “Jazz, boas, glitter and pearls hit it big.”  Fun!

Here is the December Boxy Charm!

1)  Tatcha Petal Fresh Original Aburatorigami  – 30 sheets (FULL SIZE)

Ok the name sounds really fancy….but these are just oil absorbing sheets. I’m not too impressed, even if they are made from “100% natural abaca leaf and gold flake.”  Did you know a CLEAN toilet seat cover will do the same exact thing?!?  Beauty trick hehe.

Full Size: $12.00 My Value: $12.00

2)  Jelly Pong Pong All Over Glow - .68 oz (FULL SIZE)

First of all, I just can’t get over this name. I can’t take the brand seriously!! That being said, I unfortunately have too many luminizers from brands I respect more, so I doubt this will be getting much use.  The one thing I do appreciate about it though it that the tube is quite large.  It will last a LONG time!

Full Size: $15.95 My Value: $15.95

3)   NCLA So Rich Cuticle Oil – .5 oz.  (FULL SIZE)

I appreciate that this is different from the usual nail polish, but I’m not sure it is something I would ever use. Since I am not a nail polish user and don’t ever need to use lotion, my cuticles have no issues. Plus, you are supposed to apply two times a day. Who has time for that?

Full Size: $18.00 My Value: $18.00

4)   Nelson J Argan Oil Moisture Healing Mask – 3.4 oz. (FULL SIZE)

I like the smell of this, it smells like coconuts. Yum.  I think I would normally get use out of a product like this, but I don’t like the fact that you need to towel dry your hair first before application, then let it sit, rinse and then you have to towel dry again. I prefer one I can use completely while in the shower!

Full Size: $23.00 My Value: $23.00

5)   Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in “Mocha” – .27 oz. (FULL SIZE)

For some reason I am not a fan of Ofra products and I unfortunately receive them often in beauty boxes.  The particular lip product is too drying for me and the color is too orangy.  Bummer.

Full Size: $19.90 My Value: $19.90

6)   Bellepierre Waterproof Gel Lip Liner in “Cinnamon” – .06 oz. (FULL SIZE)

As this matches the lipstick about, which is a color I don’t care for, I won’t be getting any use out of this either.  I do like that it is a “gel” liner though.  I really like gel eyeliners, so I assume the gel lip liner would be great as well!

Full Size: $17.99 My Value: $17.99

Final Cost: $21.00

Final Value: $106.84

I am feeling pretty indifferent about this month’s Boxy Charm. While overall, the products look great, they just aren’t really for me.  I think I will only be using the oil absorbing sheets and maybe the hair mask.  I am pretty bummed the lip products aren’t my color, otherwise I’d be using them too!

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 - Month 7

Noah's 7th month of life was so much fun! He hit a few milestones and we also celebrated some of his first major Holidays together (Thanksgiving and Christmas).  He was a little under the weather for the first time from his 6 month shots and was full blown sick for the first time on his 7th month birthday.  Also on his 7th month birthday....he got 2 bottom teeth! We had a bit of an issue with weight gain (he was in the 0.3% for a little while) and Noah was almost put on formula, but mommy figured out her low supply issue after lots of work and he gained 1 pound in three weeks. By the end of the month he weighed 14.25 pounds and was 27.5 inches long!

Bear with me, there are a ton of photos this month!



The back on one of Noah's Rattler onesies :)



Skinny little man!



Waiting on the doctor



6 month shots :(



Not feeling so hot the day after his shots

Family picture day!



Yum, shoes!



Thanksgiving!



He got to eat sweet potatoes and avocado...and thoroughly enjoyed them!

Black Friday shopping with mommy!

Putting up the Christmas tree!



Mommy made me wear these, ugh.

Visiting mommy at work!

First Daycare Christmas pageant....Noah is on the left

He rode in a cart around the Church with his infant class...he wasn't impressed



Selfie with Mater!



Elf selfie!




Getting hand-sy with the Frozen ladies



Santa!



Sitting in the turbine of a brand new Southwest Plane!







Photo shoot time!

Noah and his Naughty or Nice Photo Shoot



I love his "tough" face in this one



7 months old!
 (He was sick this day, so we didn't have a super happy smiley baby)

Ipsy Review - December

Ipsy time!

As always, this is one of my favorite times of the month….I love getting this bag in the mail! As I’ve always said, this is the best bag out there, especially for such a low price.  If you are looking to start a beauty subscription, I would definitely try Ipsy first.

The theme of this month’s bag is “With <3 from Ipsy” and comes in a bright red bag with a quilt type pattern. I wish the bag wasn’t so plastic like, but that’s my only complaint.  I also got a nice extra (the shadow palette mentioned below) with a note telling me that I’ve subscribed to Ipsy for over three years now and that I was one of the first to subscribe, so they consider me a founding member.  How fun! I guess that shows how much I like it….three years and still going strong!

Next up…the December Ipsy bag!

1) Lather Honey Moisture Mask with Propolis Extract – .5 oz.

I love face masks!  The description for this one makes me giggle…”a relief mask for environmentally stressed skin.” Sounds so specific and fancy!  I like the smell of this…which is a good think because they recommend leaving it on for 20 minutes, which is long for a mask. In my opinion it smells a little like baby powder. 

Full Size: $22.00 for 4 oz. My Value: $2.75

2) Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Primer – .17 oz.

I’m a big fan of eyeshadow primer, I use it every single day. Generally I use Urban Decay, but I am excited to try this brand!

Full Size: $20.00 for .35 oz. My Value: $9.71

3) Pacifica Natural Lipstick in “Tender Heart” – .07 oz. (FULL SIZE)

I can’t decide if I like this or not.  I think it may be just a tad too orangey for me.  I will give it a go though. Hopefully it isn’t too drying. I do like that it is all natural and vegan.  That’s a good thing for a lip product!

 Full Size: $10.00 My Value: $10.00

4)  Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder in– .07 oz

This is another item I am excited to try.  I use a finishing powder every day also, so this is something right up my alley!  It’s a really well-known brand and line of makeup, but something I have never tried. I hope it works great!

Full Size: $14.00 for .13 oz. My Value: $7.53

5)  Klorane Floral Water Makeup Remover – .8 oz.

I was hoping this would smell really good….but it doesn’t smell any different than most makeup removers. I do like that is it considered soothing and for sensitive skin, because I tend to lean toward products like that!

Full Size: $10.00 for 3.38 oz. My Value: $2.36

6)  .em Michelle Phan Artistic Eye Color Palette in “Dublin Khakis”– .18 oz.

I am excited about this cute little palette!  It’s got great neutral colors and I do feel really special to receive one, knowing I am one of the first to try Ipsy and I still stick with it! Michelle Phan is the person who actually started the Ipsy Glam Bag, it’s cool that she has her own makeup line now!

Full Size: $28.00 My Value: $28.00

 

Final Cost: $10.00

Final Value: $32.35

With Gift: $60.35

I can’t say the value of this months bag (minus the bonus gift that not everyone received) is very great, but I do like almost all of the items!  The only thing that I don’t think I will use at all is the lipstick. I can’t wait to try the eye shadow palette and the makeup remover, plus the finishing powder is next on my list once my current powder is empty.

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.