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My Sunscreen Picks for Summer 2014

June 18, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Can you believe June is half over?! I feel like I will blink and it will be the 4th of July! Today I just want to share my favorite sunscreens for summer 2014 and 4 of the 5 are avaliable at drugstores, so no excuses!!! I think everyone should wear sunscreen! Even if you tan!! I do have an SPF built into my daily moisturizer, but it’s only SPF 15 and I like to add more sunscreen when I know I will be out and about or in the sun. I am also pretty picky about sunscreens, because I HATE feeling like I have tons of build up of product on myself, especially when it’s hot out…so these are all my picks for protecting myself and feeling clean : )

Note: The L’Oreal Sunscreen has changed name and packaging, but I am linking the new version of the same product : )

(Sunscreens numbered in the order they are mentioned!)

BODY SUNSCREENS PICKS:

Coppertone Clearly Sheer Spray For Sunny Days SPF 30:

I love this clear spray for when I need to ger my sunscreen on in a hurry!! It doesn’t feel sticky or uncomfortable feeling on the skin. It doesn’t have a strong smell, doesn’t make my clothes feel gross if I get a little on them, and sprays a large area of skin at once.

L’Oreal Sublime Sun Advanced Sunscreen SPF 50+ Crystal Clear Mist:

I like this sunscreen if I’m going to be out in the sun all day!! This one does tend to run out pretty fast, but it is VERY water resistant, and that’s great especially so I don’t constantly reapply. Overall I like having this sunscreen on hand on days when I’m going to be in the sun for an extended period of time.

L’Oreal Sublime Sun Advanced Sunscreen SPF 50+ Sunscreen Oil:

I love this when I want to feel like I’m wearing a nice suntan oil on my legs, except I get the *huge* benefit of added sun protection. I love this for if I’m at the pool or the beach! I also like to use this just on my legs (and a different sunscreen everywhere else) if I want my legs to look extra good in a special skirt or a dress!

FACE SUNSCREENS:

L’Oreal Sublime Sun SPF 50+ Liquid Silk Lotion for Face:

This is a very very liquidy lotion that blends in very easily. You should use 1 teaspoon of sunscreen for your face and neck, and that can seem like a lot, but this sunscreen doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. I have combination/oily skin and this doesn’t break me out of make my t-zone oily. This has added antioxidants, and while I haven’t noticed anything changing for the better with my skin, the antioxidants can hurt ; )

Doctor T’s Supergoop SPF 30 PA+++ Anti-Aging UV Damage Repair Complex City Sunscreen Serum:

The name may be a mouthful but the this product is awesome! This is a high-end product, and I know it’s a pain it isn’t avaliable everywhere and it more expenisve, but it is a great sunscreen for the face! This feels like a lotion or a serum, not at all greasy! I apply my regular moisturizer and then this and it doesn’t feel like I have anything extra on my face.

LIP SUNSCREEN:

Chapstick Sun Defense SPF 25:

I really like this because it doesn’t leave a thick or gummy feel on my lips. This is great to have on hand in the summer!

Hawaiin Tropic Lip Balm SPF 45+:

This feels thick on the lips, but if I know I’m going to be out in the sun for an extended period I like the protection that this offers. I also saw it advertised for sunscreen touch-ups on your face and it’s so true! I think it’s great to pick up an extra one of these to use for sunscreen touch ups in a pinch on your nose, cheeks, or neck!!

I know I probably can’t convince all of you to wear sunscreen, but if you just put a little on your face, neck, and chest (and the extra on your hands! those babies will age before anything else!) as part of your morning routine you can protect yourself in 1 minute against skin cancer AND aging!! What sunscreens do YOU like? Please comment (click the link by the title of this post) and let me know!! You can also now easily share my blog posts on facebook, twitter, instagram, or email by clicking the buttons at the bottom of this post : )

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX JUNE 2014

June 13, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Friiiiiiday!!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the June PopSugar Must Have Box!! The box contains full size items in all different categories:food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box.

The box and insert have been revamped and I love the new look!

You can see my post on my May PopSugar Box here and if you have questions on how I ended up liking any of those products please comment to let me know and I would be happy to answer : )

JUNE 2014 MUST HAVE BOX:

Lemon Wet Wipes from You Smell

These probably aren’t something I would have bought, but they are in adorable packaging and I’ll happily carry them in my purse.

Hawaiian BBQ Chips from One Potato Two Potato

I really like these! They have a nice little kick and have a nice full BBQ flavor. I was worried they would be really sweet, but they aren’t much sweeter than a normal BBQ chip.

Beach Towel from Turkish-T

$32

This is so pretty and soft!! I love the idea of using it as a wrap or maybe even a sarong. Love love love!

The One & Only by Emily Giffin’s

$28

I have been hearing so much buzz about this book! I am hoping I can find the time to read it! I love to read, but can never seem to find the time to read! Maybe I’ll see if it’s on Audible : /

Basic Hair Ties from Lollies

These are SO cute!! And I think they’ll look adorable as bracelets, too.

Shiny Citrus Body Lotion from Sacha Jaun

$24

I started using this right away! I *love* fancy body lotions, and this one is lovely. It smells so fresh and wonderful!

Special Extra: $15 Gift Card from Native Union

This website has a lot of cool tech-y gadgets (although I don’t think any for $15!) and I am giving this to my husband : ) I like tech accessories too, but I think my sweet hubs deserves a little something too.

I am NEVER disapointed with my PopSugar subscription! This month added up to $104 not counting the $15 gift card. I STILL haven’t subscribed to anything else in the subscription box world, but I am sososososo close! I hope that you enjoyed this post and that you have a wonderful weekend! And don’t forget to subscribe : )

May Beauty Favorites!

May 28, 2014 & 3 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are all having a fantastic week so far!! Can you believe it is almost JUNE?! In my eyes once we’ve hit June, it’s summer!! Today I am going to quickly go over a few of the beauty products I have been loving this past month! What beauty products have you been reaching for? Let me know by commenting (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I have created a Luvocracy collection to go along with this blog post if you’d like more information or would like to purchase directly online!

Let’s get started!

Face:

L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

This comes out of the tube white and then color adjusts to your skin. This is a very light coverage BB cream, but slightly buildable. I am LOVING this for a light coverage “no makeup makeup” look for summer! I was a little worried it wouldn’t work on my combo/oily skin, but it actually stays very matte.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in Brightener

This is a great salmon-y pink colored under the eye brightener that works great under concealer or on it’s own for a quick fix for tired eyes.

Benefit Blush in Rockateur

This is such a gorgeous light rosegold blush. This also isn’t as sparkly as it looks when you look at a just opened box, it is sprayed with a shine spray that coats only the top, but this does have shimmer.

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder in Perfect Beige

I use this face powder as my contour and sometimes also as my bronzer. I find that it has a less orange look than a lot of actual bronzers, and I really like the way it works as a contour on my (very) light skin.

Eyes:

Benefit Gimme Brow

I think it is so key to do your eyebrows, even if you are going mostly barefaced. This is a tinted fiber brow gel that can be used with a pencil or powder, or on it’s own. I like it for days when I want very natural makeup, but don’t want to ignore my brows completely!

Covergirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast

This is one of my go-to favorite mascaras! I always have this in my rotation.

Lips:

L’Oreal Collection Privée in Doutzen

This is limited edition, but I saw it in stores last week so you *may* be able to find it in stores, or else possibly on eBay. I love love love this color!

Revlon Super Lustrous Gloss in 205 Snow Pink

This is a great neutral gloss! It’s a light peachy color with golden shimmer. It looks beautiful over nudes or pinks, and I also like it alone when I want a very minimal makeup look. I think the packaging is also very sleek.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! If you’ve enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my blog! It’s easy : ) and it’ll make my day! Have a wonderful rest of your week!

My Experience with a J.Crew “Very Personal Stylist”

May 19, 2014 & 6 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday!

About a month ago a friend from college, who now works for J.Crew, contacted me after seeing my blog to tell me about the J.Crew “Very Personal Stylist” program because she thought I might be interested in blogging about it. I have loved J.Crew for a long time, and that love only seems to grow stronger, but I never knew that they had a personal stylist program at all! Have you ever tried the Very Personal Stylist program at J.Crew? Have you used a personal shopping or styling service anywhere? I would love to hear about it! Let me know by commenting (click the link by the title of this post)!

The Basics:

I contacted my closest (not close enough!) J.Crew and set up an appointment to meet with a stylist. You can contact them by phone, email, or an online form. I told them that I was going to be blogging about my experience, but ANYBODY who wants to can set up an appointment. You can go in looking for a dress for a special occasion, a whole new wardrobe, or take in a favorite pair of pants in search of the perfect matching blouse. It is *competely free* of charge to use a personal stylist, and the stylists work off of comission.

The Day of the Appointment:

The day of the appointment I got a phone call from the personal stylist I would be working with, Cathy, who asked me if I would like a coffee or tea during our appointment, and confirmed the appointment time. I arrived with my photographer (hubs!) and met up with my personal stylist for the day! Then we walked the store with Cathy showing her things that I was drawn to, things I didn’t like, what styles I was looking for, and what I thought my sizes were. Cathy also pulled items that I didn’t pick out, which I liked, and she also would tell me what she liked to pair with different items (super helpful!). She was very honest about items that she didn’t like the way they fit people, and also encouraged me to shop the clearance section! My dressing room was reserved at the end of the dressing room area, and a very large room that fit my husband and myself comfortably. My Starbucks iced tea and (surprise!) Godiva chocolates were waiting in the room. I spent about an hour trying on clothes. Cathy was very attentive if I needed a different size, wanting to find something to corrdiante an outfit, or take items that I didn’t want. I didn’t feel pressured to spend a certain amount of money or bothered in any other way. I ended up with a nice range of items, both full price and clearance, and had a fantastic time! I bought quite a lot for one shopping trip, but I really needed some things. It was less stressful than doing such a big shopping haul alone, and much more enjoyable to shop with a stylist. Before I left she gave me her card, told me to contact her anytime, and she helped me check out. I had such a great experience, and feel like I already have such a nice relationship with Cathy. I know that I will email or call her if I am on the hunt for something or just want to go in to do a little wardrobe refreshing.

The Experience in Pictures:

What I bought:

Matelassé Sheath Dress

Vintage Cotton Stripe Sleeve Scoopneck Tee

Stripe Muscle Tank

Perfect Shirt in Honeypie Print

Long-Sleeve Painter Tee

Pixie Pant

Sunburst Skirt

Flower Fan Necklace

Outfits Styled From What I Bought and My Own Closet:

I hope that this post was helpful to those of you may be interested in making an appointment with a J.Crew Very Personal Stylist! If you have any questions or comments, please let me know by commenting or finding me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read this and if you enjoyed this post, please subscribe! Have a great day!!

April Beauty Favorites!!!

April 30, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi There! Happy Wednesday!!

I cannot believe that April is already ending! Didn’t we just celebrate Valentine’s Day?! Time is FLYING by, as usual! Because it is the end of the month, I want to share my beauty favorites today! I will also be sharing my “lifestyle” favorites (a.k.a my everything-that-isn’t-beauty-related favorites) this Friday. Be sure to comment (click on the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to tell me what YOUR favorite products have been for the month of April! I would LOVE to hear from you! I also, as usual, have created a Luvocracy collection if you’d like more information on any of these products, or would like to shop online. I’m feeling chatty today, so I’ll stop myself before I ramble on and just get started ; )

LEAH’S APRIL BEAUTY FAVORITES:

Lips:

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Pretty Social

This lipstick is long wearing, feels nice on the lips, and has very sleek matte packaging. To me this is a perfect light cool toned pink, it’s light but not TOO light…yet light enough that I can easily wear this without a lip liner or constant touch ups. This is neutral enough that I can wear it with a lot of different make-up looks.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 915 Blushing Beige

This is one of the nude colored tube lipsticks from the Maybelline Vivid line. I LOVE the formula of the Maybelline Vivid lipsticks: it is very moisturizing, and feels very comfortable on the lips. I love this color because it is a very wearable, slightly pink-y nude and it looks great with everything.

EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruit

I love this lipbalm! I use them under lip color or by itself. It is always in my bag!

Cheeks:

Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick by FaceStudio in 20 Pink Fever

This is a cool toned cream blush in a stick form. I like to stipple this on with a brush or blend a very tiny amount on my fingers. It blends easily and lasts on my combination/oily skin. This color IS intense, but blends out to be a stunning color.

Maybelline Master Hi-Light by FaceStudio Hi-Lighting Blush in 251 Natural

This is part of the Dare To Go Nude Spring 2014 Limited Edition Collection from Maybelline. This is a golden highlight that is absolutely stunning! I have worn this every day since I bought it, and I know I will use it all summer! It works so well on my pale skin, but I think it would also look gorgeous on deeper skin tones. If you come across this, pick it up before it’s gone! I hate when they make colors like this limited edition!

FACE:

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder 1

This is a setting powder that I use almost daily under my eyes! It brightens up the area, and doesn’t settle into any fine lines. This is my go-to under eye setting powder.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup in 1C1 Cool Bone

This stays all, covers everything, and makes my skin look perfect! I love this foundation for my combination/oily skin. It even stays on my nose area where foundation likes to come off of on me first. A little goes a long way with this foundation and it does set quickly, so work in sections on your face!

Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter in 1N Extra Light

This is a beautiful brightening concealer for the under eye area! I like to dot it on with the brush it comes with, but then I use my own brush or my fingers to blend it out.

Estée Lauder DayWear

This is my favorite moisturizer for day and night! It never leaves my skin feeling oily (we will see how it does this summer!) and provides lots of moisture to nourish my skin.

EYES:

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

This is my favorite eye brow pencil! I had always preferred powders until I found this pencil! It is a super fine point that allows you to make tiny strokes that look soft and natural. It also comes with a spooli on the other end, which is nice! Love this!

NAILS:

Nicole by O•P•I in Am I Making Myself Claire?

This is from the Modern Family Collection by Nicole by OPI and is such a unique color that I’ve been loving for spring! It is a gray-ish lilac cream color, and the formula wears well on the nails.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 405 Coral Reef

This is a GORGEOUS coral color for spring! It is just so bright and beautiful, and shockingly I didn’t have any coral shades like this in my collection! The price is right with this polish, and the formula is great.

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

I didn’t notice a difference with this immediately, but I kept using it every night for a few weeks and now I can see a big difference. I had this in my collection for so long just sitting unopened (it came with a set I believe that I had gotten for Christmas) but I am so glad I tried it. It smells great too! My one complaint would be that it can be slightly difficult to open.

RANDOM:

Warm Lemon Water!!

I have been taking 2 minutes every morning to heat up some water in the microwave and squeezing a lemon into it because of the many heath and beauty benefits! I am no expert, I am just experimenting with it right now, so I will link one of the websites that I found that explains why lemon water is beneficial. I also brush my teeth BEFORE drinking the lemon water, because I read that if you brush immediately after it is actually worse for the enamel on your teeth. I do rinse my mouth out with water after drinking my lemon water.

Wow! Another long post : ) If you read all that, thank you! What products have you been loving this past month? I would love to hear about them! Comment (just click the link by the title of this post!) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Please also let me know if you have any requests for things you would like to see on my blog! If you have enjoyed this, please subscribe! If you have already subscribed, thank you!!! Have a fantastic day!

APRIL 2014 BEAUTY HAUL!!

April 21, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday!

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend and a wonderful Easter for those who celebrate! Today I have a collective beauty haul from the past several weeks to share with you that is mostly drugstore with a few other random beauty related things tossed in. This haul is largely made up of concealers and lip products, but that’s really no surprise because those are two of my favorite beauty items to try and to shop for. I have created a Luvocracy collection with all of these items if you’d like more information or want to shop online, and once again all the titles below are also links! If you enjoy this haul, please subscribe to my blog by entering you email in the subscribe box on the right side of this page! Super easy! Okay, let’s get started…

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in Brightener

I love the Maybelline Insant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in Fair and wanted to try the brightener. The brightener is a pinky salmon color that is the perfect shade to wear underneath your under eye concealer to help really counteract the dark circles underneath your eyes. This product twists and you hear a click sound as it pushes product to the sponge applicator. I dot the product on but then blend with a brush or sometimes with my fingers. I don’t tend to get puffiness under my eyes, but I do battle bad dark circles (hellooo mom two of toddlers!) and love anything that can help to hide them!

Revlon Colorstay Concealer in 01 Fair

I’ve heard great things about this concealer and heard that it compares to the Nars Creamy Concealer, so when I saw it on sale at my local grocery store, I decided to pick it up and give it a try. It comes out on a wand applicator, which I really like because I can dot it on and then use a makeup brush to blend it out. I love love love my Revlon Colorstay foundation, so I am hoping that I love this just as much.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer with Concealer Pencil in Ultra Light

This is supposed to be a very heavy duty concealer that can cover anything! It comes in a tube and I can tell that it’ll last a long time because you only need a tiny tiny dab because it is so thick. I haven’t tried it for the under eye area yet, but I do think it’s a product where you’ll want to prime the under eye first and then gently set it with a brightening power. It also comes with a pencil which it says is to outline birth marks or tattoos before covering them, but I’m going to try to find some other uses for that as well.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 805 Kissable Pink

I picked this up because I wanted another everyday pink color in my collection. It is a bit more sheer than expected, but a very pretty neutral pink color with just enough shine, but no glitter. I thought it would be a little more buildable, but I don’t mind so far because it’s a great color to just toss into your bag and not have to worry too much when you apply it. This doesn’t seem to have any taste or scent. It is very moisturizing, so the color doesn’t last too long, but it feels great on the lips.

L’Oreal Colour Riche’ Caresse in 176 Sunset Angora

This is a sheer, moisturizing lip color that is in the same family as the Revlon Lip Butters or the Maybelline Color Whisper lip products. The color is very pretty, a very wearable coral-y, muted orange.

Maybelline Color Sensational Color Elixir in 005 Breathtaking Apricot

The packaging almost makes this look like a lipstick, but it’s actually a lipgloss! It has a short applicator with a doe-foot applicator. The formula seems pretty thick, so we will see how the wear goes. I am really excited to try this lip gloss, and I think that the color will be great for summer.

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in 885 Vibrant Mandarin

I love the Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks and really wanted to try out something in the orange color that is so on trend for spring and summer 2014. I wasn’t quite brave enough to try the Electric Orange color in the Vivids lineup, so I opted for this more coral-y orange color. It is very bright and I can’t wait to try it!

L’Oreal Limited Edition Collection Privee in 600 Doutzen’s Nude

I have been swooning over these lipsticks since I saw the pictures released online about a month ago. It is part of a collection of nude lipsticks and each lipstick shade is designed for one of their celebrity ambassadors. The matte black packaging with the pretty gold detailing looks very chic, and I love the touch of having the L’Oreal ambassadors signature printed on the lipstick tube. These do have the smell that some probably won’t like…it smells like an old-fashioned lipstick or very floral purfume you’d expect a grandmother to have in her handbag. This is a sheer, very light, cool toned baby pink with shimmer, and not like anything I have in my collection.

L’Oreal Limited Edition Collection Privee in 620 Julianne’s Nude

This is such a beautiful peachy toned neutral lipstick and it feels great on the lips! I have already worn this and know I’ll reach for it often.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

I always use these along with an eye make-up remover before cleansing my face at night (shown in a picture above).

Essential Tools 12 Rainbow Applicators

I picked these up to have to use for my nails as shown in my Nail Polish Tutorial-How to Avoid Brush Strokes with Frost Formula Polish post (shown in a picture above).

Pack of Plastic Mascara Spoolies

I bought these on ebay but you can also get them at Sally’s Beauty Supply or another store like that. I use these for my eyebrows and also for combing through my eyelashes before and after I apply mascara. They are super cheap and great to have on hand (shown in a picture above).

First Aid…Made Fun! Me4kidz.com

These little kits came in my kiddos Citrus Lane boxes a month or so ago, and we love them! We also already had the Diaper Bag Buddy (not shown) that I keep in a bag my husband uses when he has the kids. The pink box came with a little nail kit that my daughter loves and I like because the polish is water based. The green kit came with a little first aid kit that is perfect to keep in your car or diaper bag.

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo

This was a gift from my mom and I can’t wait to try it out! I love dry shampoos and I am looking forward to trying out a more high end dry shampoo.

O•P•I Drip Dry Drops

These were another gift, given to me by a friend, and I am excited to give them a try! I hate waiting for nail polish to dry!

Okay, that was a long one! Thank you SO much if you read all of that and for all of your support! It means so much to me! If you want to see more information or a review on any of the products mentioned above, let me know by commenting (click the link by the title of this post!) or fine me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Also be sure to let me know if there are any new products that you think I should try or products that you swear by! If you’ve enjoyed this post, please subscribe and share with your friends! Again, thanks and have a fantastic start to your week!

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX APRIL 2014!!

April 14, 2014 & 5 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday!!

I hope you’re having a wonderful start to your week! If you want to make my day, be sure to follow me on social media! The pink button links are at the top of this page! It’s LeahTackles everywhere!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the April 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box! I have been receiving this subscription service since December 2012 and it is like Christmas every month! I personally love being surprised by what’s in the box, so I steer clear of spoilers! If your April box hasn’t come yet and you want spoilers, keep reading! Here is a little bit about Pop Sugar: The box contains full size items in all different categories…food, beauty, fashion, home, and usually an extra goodie of some kind, too. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10^th-15^th of every month for me…it ships via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. Today I will quickly go over the March items so you know what I loved and what was maybe so-so for me. When I go over the May box in a post next month I will do a mini review of the items from this month and talk about what I used, didn’t use, liked, or maybe didn’t like as much.

Product titles are also links for more information or to buy online.

Okay, here we go…

MARCH 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OVERVIEW:

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

Verdict:

I ate these up quickly and really liked them! I was happy to find them shortly after receiving them in my box at my local grocery store. The listed value is $3, but I found them for less than $2, so keep your eyes peeled!

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

Verdict:

I really like this serum! It is a very thin consistency, but I find that only 1-2 pumps is enough to cover my face, neck and décolleté. I have only been using it every few days at night, but I think I am going to be brave and test it during the day on my combination/oily skin to see how it goes! The serum seems to absorb into the skin quickly, so maybe it would work on me for daytime as well.

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

Verdict:

I love it! Very cute! I need to remember to wear it more often.

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

Verdict:

This is such a fabulous scarf! I have been reaching for it a lot lately, and it’s a great transition piece for spring!

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

Verdict:

I used this only once, right before writing this post so that I could tell you all at least a little something about it. The workouts for this Mini Stability Ball were fairly basic, but as most workouts not quite as easy as they looked! Now that I know how to use it, I need to grab this and give it a try with my exercise routine! I tend to get in exercise slumps where I do the same type of work out over and over! Time to change it up!

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

Verdict:

I love this still! It looks so cute sitting on top of my jewelry box, and I have two little rings sitting on it looking pretty.

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

Verdict:

This was yummy and came in handy when I needed a snack on the go! Would I run out and hunt down this exact bar? No, but it was tasty and I would consider grabbing again if I saw it at the store.

Okay, now onto the good stuff!! This months box!!

APRIL 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX:

Must Have Food:

Pop Sugar Must Have Mix from Nature Box

$5 Value

I have been curious about Nature Box for quite awhile now and was really excited to see something in this PopSugar Must Have Box to try from them. The mix is dried cranberries, corn, soybeans and almonds in it, and it wasn’t something I would have reached for myself, but I really liked it! I almost always have a snack while watching our favorite TV shows with my husband after our kids go to bed, and having healthy snacks like this around keep me from wanting chocolate or other not-so-healthy treats! The fat content is pretty high, it is a trail mix/energy snack after all, but otherwise it’s definitely a healthy option. They also included a coupon for a $9.95 trail month of 5 items, and I am definitely tempted! If you subscribe to Nature Box, do you like it? I would love to hear your thoughts! Let me know by commenting (click the link on the title of this post! Super easy!) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Must Have Home:

Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood Liquid Hand Soap

$10.50 value

I love seeing things like this in the box! I would feel guilty spending too much on hand soap, it’s a spot where I can cut corners or at least get the deals at Bath and Body Works, but I LOVE the little luxury of using them! It is a very nice rose smell, not too overpowering and not at all a fake floral smell that some soaps have.

Must Have Beauty:

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

$36 Value

I was SO excited when I saw this in the box!! I love Too Faced bronzers, lip products, and mascara but I have never tried the eye shadows! Speaking of their eye shadows, I am currently lusting over the Chocolate Bar Palette and know that eventually that must be added to my collection! Has anyone tried either of these palettes? Let me know by leaving a comment (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram ! Anyways, I love neutral eye shadows and was super excited until I noticed powder covering the box while I was opening it : ( One of the eye shadows broke! I know I could try to repair it, but I also sent PopSugar an email to see about sending it back and getting a replacement. It wasn’t wrapped at all sadly, which I was surprised about because I haven’t had that issue in the past. I have only had one other issue in the 17 different boxes I have had since December 2012, so as long as it’s replaced I am not concerned about it, and PopSugar has always had great customer service.

Must Have Fashion:

(XO) Eco Shopper Collapsible Tote Bag from Lauren Conrad for Blue Avocado

$24.99 value

I wasn’t thrilled initially with this bag because I figured it would just be another bag that wasn’t any different than others that I have. However, upon further inspection it’s simple to use and an adorable print! This bag makes me so excited for warmer weather and hopefully heading to some farmer’s markets with my family! So many bags advertise that they fold up “easily”, but this one really does fold up without a struggle. I think it will be functional for so many things, for day trips or barbeques I always have extra stuff I want to bring along and this is a great way to look stylish while doing it. The company Blue Avocado works with other companies and they upcycle by using plastic bottles to make the Blue Avocado products. The Lauren Conrad line from Blue Avocado also has lots of beauty and travel items that are just adorable! She can seriously do no wrong!

Must Have Home:

Pocket Notes from Graphic Image (*Similar)

$20 Value

I LOVE this so much! It says “Run The World” (how CUTE!) on a small periwinkle leather notebook with silver glit edged pages and a little ribbon bookmark. I am already using this, and it’s a perfect addition to toss into my bag or have displayed on my desk.

Must Have Home:

TOTALLY AWESOME: 80’s Sayings Tea Towel Set by Fresh Pastry Stand (an Etsy.com site)

$18 Value

These are cute, and I will definitely use them a lot this summer in the kitchen. They are big enough unfolded that they can be very multi-functional, which I love! I think they’re a fun way to liven up and lighten up the kitchen for spring.

All in all it is another great box from PopSugar! The total value was about $115 (each month $100 value or more is promised!) and for $39 it is well worth it since I will use the products. I am not as excited as I was about last months box (I LOVED last months box, so pretty stiff competition), but I still think I will enjoy and use all of the products in the box! I will keep you posted and put a note at the bottom of this post when I hear from PopSugar about my broken Too Faced palette. If you liked what you saw here, you can subscribe to PopSugar Must Have Box and join in the fun too! It’s the only subscription box I have tried so far, but I am *SOCLOSE* to trying more! Everybody loves fun mail, right?! If you subscribe to any subscription boxes that you love, tell me about it commenting (click the link next to the title of this post), or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! As always, thank you so much for reading this and please subscribe! It’s easy, just enter you email and receive emails only when I upload a new post, and it’ll make my day!

***UPDATE*** PopSugar has emailed me back and are replacing my Too Faced palette! I am SO happy with the customer service and once I have my palette in my hands I think this will bump up to being one of my top boxes so far!! Makeup? Eeek! Too Faced makeup? EEEEEEK!

***ANOTHER UPDATE*** PopSugar sent my replacement and it arrived carefully packaged this time! So excited : )

PopSugar Must Have Box March 2014

March 14, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi There! Happy Friday!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the March 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box! I have been receiving this subscription service since December 2012 and it is like Christmas every month! Some people read spoilers (is that why you’re reading this?!) but I personally prefer the surprise! The box contains full size items in all different categories…food, beauty, fashion, home, and usually an extra goodie of some kind, too. PopSugar is one of my favorite websites and I also love their youtube channels for fun diy projects, style tips, cooking, interviews…all sorts of stuff. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10^th-15^th of every month for me…it ships via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. Sometimes I get my shipping notice on the day the box arrives…but I’m not complaining! I am always happy to see the box waiting for me!!

When I go over the April box in a post next month I will do a mini review of the items from this month and talk about what I used, didn’t use, liked, or maybe didn’t like as much if any of you are interested (comment at the top of this post!)

Product titles are also links for more information or to buy online.

Okay, here we go…

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

I saw these, and I won’t lie, I was thinking no way!! At first glance, they reminded me of one time back when my husband was my fiancé and we bought snack sized baggies of “veggie chips” and they sat unopened for months because after one bag was opened we never touched them again! But I tried these Snapea Crisps and they’re GOOD! Really good! If you close your eyes, they taste like a healthy, crunchy and nicely salty chip. They however did not pass my almost 3 year olds taste test…but I am betting that has more to do with the look than the taste.

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

I tried this serum right away and it’s very floral/herbal smelling, but I am not bothered by that and actually enjoyed the perfume, but it is quite strong when you initially apply it. I am happy to give this a shot because it claims to help with the beginning signs of aging, improve dullness and give the skin more radiance, all things I can definitely get on board with! I will probably use this exclusively at nighttime.

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

I was very excited to see something from Dogeared in box because I have been interested in the brand for a while now. I am interested in their custom necklaces online, has anyone had experiences with those? Anyways, the idea of this necklace is that you wear it until the silk thread breaks and then whatever wish you made when you put the necklace on comes true. I think it’s a cute idea and fingers crossed my wish comes true.

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

I LOVE getting scarves in my PopSugar box because as much as I love them, they aren’t things I would usually pick up on my own. This is just so pretty and is definitely one of my favorite items in this months box!! This scarf is soft, lightweight, and beautiful for spring.

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

This looks like an itty-bitty exercise ball…and that’s basically what it is! There is a website with exercises that I still need to check out. It comes with a straw to inflate it easily without a pump and I put a pen next to it in the picture below for a size reference. This isn’t my favorite item right off the bat, but I want to try to use it! We have a treadmill at home, and that along with exercise videos has become my “gym” since having kids. Speaking of kids, I am sure they will try to “borrow” this! I like the fact that it is small and won’t be an eyesore or something I have to hide away. If anyone is interested, I will try it out and be sure to do a review on this! Just let me know.

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

This is my favorite item without question! I just can’t help myself; I am powerless to the cuteness and pretty much anything from Bauble Bar, I love! It is just so adorable, plus it is functional. It has black velvet on the bottom so it won’t scratch your tabletop or vanity. I don’t wear a lot of rings besides my wedding bands and engagement ring, but it’s such a sweet way to display some of my other rings on my vanity. I think this would be an adorable gift for woman from 10-110 years old! This just makes me happy!

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

This is a nice little extra that I’m going to toss into my bag for a snack in a pinch. I am hoping it tastes like a Fig Newton. I love having a healthy snack available at all times to try to cut down on junk food cravings.

I am very happy with this months box! The total retail value was over $150 and the items were all things I think I will use, so it was well worth the $39 monthly cost to me. Do you subscribe to PopSugar? If you don’t subscibe yet and are interested you can find out more from here. Do you subscribe to other monthly bags or boxes? So far I have only subscribed to PopSugar, but I’m itching to try ipsy or birchbox! Let me know your thoughts in the comments at the top of this post or find me on Facebook, Twitteror Instagram! If you enjoyed this post please subscribe!

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