Boxy Charm Review - March

Boxy Charm 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. 

After cutting back on my beauty boxes to save money for the impending new addition to our family, I am still happy I kept this one!

The theme this month is “Lucky Charm” which is fitting for the month, though I wouldn’t say it really matches many of the items!

Here is the March Boxy Charm!  

           1)      Oscar Blandi Hair Lift Thickening & Strengthening Mousse – 2 oz. (TRAVEL SIZE)

            I haven’t tested this out yet, so I’m not sure how well it works. I can say I am excited to try it 

            though.  I like testing out hair products, although I rarely actually buy them.  I have thin hair, 

            so it will be nice to see if this actually makes mine thicker! Boxy Charms claim of this being 

            worth $11 is a bit high by my calculations…but I’ll go with it.

Full Size: $23.00 for 6.3 oz. My Value: $11.00

           2)      OFRA Eyeliner in “Black” – .04 oz. (FULL SIZE)

Well since I am now starting to love actual pencil eyeliners (gasp!) I am excited to try this one.  So far, I have only found two brands that actually work for me, so I don’t have high hopes for this.  It seems a little tougher than I like.  I like the “liquid like” pencils.  That being said, I am so glad they finally sent one in the color black! It’s the only color I’ll use.

Full Size: $13.00 My Value: $13.00

3)   LVX Nail Polish in “Deco” – .5 oz.  (FULL SIZE)

I rarely paint my nails, but I actually like this color!  I decided to paint them earlier in the week and then took it off two days later due to an event I was going to. I will definitely use this again though.  It is supposed to have a “gel look” which it kind of did, it seemed thicker looking that other polishes I’ve used.

Full Size: $16.00 My Value: $16.00

4)   tarte Lip Surgence Lip Tint in “Charmed” – .10 oz. (FULL SIZE)

Yet another pink lip crayon.  Womp womp. I wish I got these things in colors other than bright pink and red!  ßI wrote that sentence on the last Boxy Charm review. I didn’t even change it.  How lame. Disappointed in you Boxy Charm!

Full Size: $24.00 My Value: $24.00

5)   Previse Nutrify Skin Type 1-6 Universal Tonic – 2 oz. (FULL SIZE)

Though this has a super awesome sounding value, I just don’t quite get what it is. The description says it “hydrates skin and speeds healing while fighting free radicals and surface irritants.” Sounds like mumbo jumbo to me.  The directions are quite intense too.  I’m not sure if I will ever use this, let alone purchase it again.

Full Size: $48.00 My Value: $48.00

Final Cost: $21.00

Final Value: $112.00

As always, this box has such a great value.  Obviously, the weird “tonic” bumps it up pretty high, but even without that I think I am still getting some items I will definitely use.

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.)

Champions x 3

Well for the third year in a row, I get to write about C's Championship Ring ceremony.  I honestly can't believe their team (the Arizona Rattlers) won the Arena Football League's version of the Superbowl (the Arena Bowl) three years in a row.  I am sooo sooo happy that I met C when he got to the team and was able to see him fulfill one of his dreams (get a Championship ring) and then keep on winning more of them. I've clearly been spoiled since I started watching Arena Football....I'm not totally sure what it feels like when the team loses!

Last August, just two weeks before our wedding, C and his team played the Cleveland Gladiators in Cleveland in front of a crowd of more than 18,000 fans.  They were considered the "under dog" because Cleveland hadn't lost a single game all season.  Guess what?  They beat Cleveland by over 40 points, the highest margin in Arena Bowl history.  Take that Gladiator Fans!

Two weeks ago and just two days before their first game of the season, the team owner threw a huge party where the guys received their rings for the third year in a row.  Those puppies just keep getting better and better. If you are curious, you can see the other rings here and here. The owners house is a gigantic home in the mountains of Scottsdale, AZ that overlooks the entire city.  His sprawling backyard is seriously gorgeous!

This year they invited not only the players, staff and their dates, but other "celebrities" and important locals.  Bruce Arians, Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Brian Urlacher (used to play for the Chicago Bears), as well as Owners of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) were there, among many others.  Made for a pretty awesome atmosphere!

I was super worried about what I would wear, knowing I would be around 31 weeks pregnant.  It's definitely not a tiny bump I am carrying around anymore. I searched and searched for over a month, purchasing things and returning them, hoping to find something that made me feel great.  I knew the other wives and girlfriends would look fantastic and I wanted to feel the same, or at least not like a whale! I wanted to still look "sexy" but not too much. Two weeks before the ceremony, I hit the jackpot. ASOS maternity had some awesome options!

At the party there was an open bar, tons of tasty passed Hors d'Oeuvres (yes I googled the spelling of that) and even a fancy buffet dinner that included steak, chicken and salmon.  Unfortunately for the guys, they couldn't take advantage of the open bar like they had in past years since they had an upcoming game.   Let me tell you, they REALLY took advantage of it in previous years too!  I unfortunately, couldn't take advantage of it either!  Oh well, water for me!

After a few hours of mingling, we headed down to the putting green where the team had set up a big stage for the ceremony to start.  Unfortunately for the women, they didn't have a single chair set up, just high top tables.  Not too convenient when you've already spent 2.5 hours standing in your fancy high heels.  I found a seat on the edge of the pool in the corner by some cactus....I was joined by around 10 women by the end of ceremony. It was just too much standing, especially being pregnant!

The owner and league commissioner both spoke a bit about the team and its win before passing the mic to the head coach.  He spoke a bit about each player and then gave them their ring. C and I decided we were going to look at anyone elses, we wanted to be surprised by it when he got his personal ring!

Thankfully, he was probably the 5th guy awarded with his ring.  Man, it is quite the ring!

After the ceremony, we headed out.  Not to complain, but a fancy party on a Thursday night isn't ideal for those of us who work!! 

A detailed shot from the team

I am so proud of all that C has accomplished with this team and so lucky to have been there to see it all.  Here is to another great year in the Arena Football league, and fingers crossed for another Championship win!!

32 Weeks

What's Going on in There?

This week little man is the size of a head of lettuce. A very heavy head of lettuce that is! He’s about 19 inches long and 4 pounds. Crazy to think in the next 6ish weeks he will officially double in size!  He now has hair on his head (I’m sure of it!) toenails and fingernails. His digestive system is ready to go and he is getting stronger muscles and bones.

Maternity Clothes? 
Still in only dresses.  I have been really hot lately, so I have to be careful about what I wear. Dresses breath the most.

Weight? 
28 pounds.  Eek.  I am supposed to gain around 1 pound a week starting now.  Hopefully I can stay on track…..said as I eat a large piece of sour cream coffee cake.     

Stretch Marks? 
Ugh. You guys, I found a big patch of them on the back of my thigh!  I can barely see them unless I lift up my leg, but they are right where my leg and butt meet. Definitely not easy to cover up if I’m in shorts or a bathing suit.  I’m pretty bummed about these.  I am trying to use some oil my doctor suggested, but I really dislike oils and lotions so it’s been tough for me to do consistently.

Movement? 
Still going crazy in there.  Not many actual “kicks” but definitely lots of rolling still.  Sometimes I just have to sit back and let him do his thing for a few minutes before I can concentrate again!   

Food Cravings? 
Back on the fruits and veggies kick.  Almost every night C makes me a plate of things like kiwi, watermelon, bananas, carrots, celery, cucumber, and strawberries.  I eat the whole dang plate while I take a bath to relax and read.  My little slice of heaven!   

Anything Making you Queasy or Sick? 

Nope!

What I Miss? 
Kind of missing some salami and pepperoni right now! They had cold cuts at the Ring Ceremony last week and I had to consciously stay away!

Nausea/Vomiting?  
None

Symptoms? 
Body heat.  Oh man, this week it has been BAD! My boobs and my butt (and areas around it) get burning hot sometimes and I am extremely uncomfortable. I can’t sit in a chair for long and I have to move around a lot. I’ve had to stand up to work at my desk several times this week, it makes me so miserable. My belly is starting to really hurt at night too.  Switching sides is getting quite uncomfortable.

Labor Signs? 
I have definitely been having more Braxton hicks contractions in the evenings, but thankfully nothing more than that!

Gender? 
Boy!

Belly Button In or Out?
It couldn’t be more out.

Wedding Rings On or Off? 
On, though some evenings I have a tough time taking them off which freaks me out.  I really need to get out and purchase a fakie!

Sleep?
I’m sleeping ok once I fall asleep. My belly has been pretty uncomfortable at night, which is making that a bit harder.  I am also fully into the 3rd trimester exhaustion. I’m exhausted by the end of the day and I feel like I can barely do anything before I get tired. I tried sorting my laundry the other day….all of the up and down into the basket had me feeling like I was going to pass out!

                       What I'm Looking Forward To?                      

Vegas this weekend with my momma! C has a game against a team in Las Vegas, so we thought we’d make the short 4 hour trip over there for some girl time (and football of course).  Also, next week we have our final ultrasound on little man. We FINALLY get to see how he is measuring!

Bon's Book Club - Yes Please

This month’s book for Bon’s Book Club was Yes Please by Amy Poehler. This is a book that has been on my list to read for quite a while now.  I love funny autobiographies and memoirs, so it is right up my alley. Here is a description from Amazon:

 

“Do you want to get to know the woman we first came to love on Comedy Central's Upright Citizens Brigade? Do you want to spend some time with the lady who made you howl with laughter on Saturday Night Live, and in movies like Baby Mama, Blades of Glory, and They Came Together? Do you find yourself daydreaming about hanging out with the actor behind the brilliant Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation? Did you wish you were in the audience at the last two Golden Globes ceremonies, so you could bask in the hilarity of Amy's one-liners?

If your answer to these questions is "Yes Please!" then you are in luck. In her first book, one of our most beloved funny folk delivers a smart, pointed, and ultimately inspirational read. Full of the comedic skill that makes us all love Amy, Yes Please is a rich and varied collection of stories, lists, poetry (Plastic Surgery Haiku, to be specific), photographs, mantras and advice. With chapters like "Treat Your Career Like a Bad Boyfriend," "Plain Girl Versus the Demon" and "The Robots Will Kill Us All" Yes Please will make you think as much as it will make you laugh. Honest, personal, real, and righteous, Yes Please is full of words to live by.”

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Honest opinion? I really didn’t like this book.  There were a few moments when I giggled, but I would not say this book was overwhelmingly funny in any way like I was expecting it to be.  I enjoyed Tina Fey’s book and have read many others by TV personalities (Mindy Kaling and Chelsea Handler for example) and this one was by far my least favorite.

I think my biggest problem was it jumped around too much.  She would talk about one point in her life, then talk about her marriage, then go back to a chapter on college, then move to SNL, then go back…you get the picture.  I was so lost half the time and really turned off by the lack of timeline. I also never watched Parks and Rec, so I didn’t connect with anything that she wrote about that portion of her life.

She also had some really strange chapters.  I mean, several pages spent on how her cell phone was out to kill her?  Maybe we just don’t have the same sense of humor. I don’t like weird humor, so that’s very possible.

I felt like most of the book was too much on the surface for a book touting that its author was “honest” and “real.”  Yes, there were a few real moments, for example when she wrote about a very insensitive skit she did years ago and how she dealt with the aftermath, but they were few and far between in my opinion.

Overall, I would skip this book.  I’ve read so many other books of the same “type” that I enjoyed far more.

Next up for Bon’s Book Club is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  I am not sure how I feel about this one.  I have heard it’s great, but for some reason I don’t find it fully appealing.  Hopefully that will change and I will love this book!

Have you read Yes Please? What are your thoughts?