Goodies Co. Subscription Box July 2013 Review

Goodies Co. is a montly subscription box for $7/month. This was my first time trying it and amazingly I was pleasently surprised and happy with what came! :)

Now forgive me for not having better photography skills, but I'm a busy, single mom of three little, energetic girls so my time is very limited lol. I'm just here to give real reviews, good or bad.

I love how they pack this box! It really feels like you're opening a present which is a nice change from other good boxes I have received.

The first item I picked up was Fruit Water in Black Raspberry. The description is gives:

"Add sparkle to your day with refreshingly sweet-tart bubbles in Black Raspberry FruitWater, a smart calorie-free, vitamin-rich alternative to soda."

I totally forgot to take a picture of this item alone, automatically threw it in the fridge to chill...but this water was amazing!! Loved it so much that I went to the store today and purchased more :)

Next was The Better Chip corn chips. These were also very delicious :) Good flavor, amazing crunch, although a lot of fat I still would go to these if I ever want a chip fix!

Cosmos Creations Caramel baked corn - This looks like pop corn, and I really wanted to like these considering the fact I am a sweets person but they were way too sweet for me. They had amazing texture but I couldn't get past the ultra sweetness.

These crackers were really, really good!! Texture, taste, look, smell, everything was spot on.

These remind me of jelly beans. And for it being a small bag, there were a lot in the bag and bigger than jelly beans! All cherry flavored, the flavor wasn't too sweet, not overpowering. This would be a good substitute for jelly beans, a good sweet treat if you're looking for one!

All in all, I'm very happy with this month's Goodies box. I had seen other boxes and wasn't too excited to get it but after this I may just keep it since it is only $7/month. :) 

2am thoughts....

"Just know that wherever you are 
Yeah I miss you 
And I wish you were here "

With two close friends passing away in the past year I have learned to never hold anything back. To always speak your truth even if the person on the receiving end may not be ready to hear it. I recently did that. I put something out there so huge, it took so much courage. But in the end I'm so glad I did. Because life is short. I may be taken tomorrow. And if I am, at least the person I love, knows that he was loved by someone. That, to someone else, they thought he was worthy of love. 

There are so many words left unspoken by people everyday. So much holding back. I say, "let it out!" find the courage and strength and shout out whatever it is you need to get out there. Yes, sometimes you may not get the answer you were hoping for but at least you put out YOUR feelings. And for that, I say give yourself a pat on the back. You accomplished something most people don't do. 

E.L.F. Cosmetics Haul and Review July 2013

So recently to celebrate their Birthday, ELF Cosmetics had for two days, a 50% off everything sale. I, of course had to get in on this. I've never tried ELF cosmetics except for an eye shadow palette which I still use to this day. Didn't want to go too crazy buying things, so I chose to try a little bit of everything I guess. All of this came out to around $28 with the 50% discount applied. I was totally excited to receive it! And to give you an idea of ELF prices, a lot of their things usually go for around $3, $6, and even $1 regular price!

In order this is what I ordered:

Purple Powder Brush

Kabuki Face Brush

Angled Blush Brush

SPF 45 Sunscreen UVA/UVB Protection Powder

Baked Eyeshadow Palette in "California"

Baked Blush in "Peachy Cheeky"

Flawless Finish Foundation in "Buff"

High Definition Powder in "Translucent"

Glossy Gloss in "Dragon fruit"

This is the Baked eye shadow palette. It sells for $10. I didn't want to put filters for any of the makeup pictures because I want to show what it really looks like. This is a nice palette, but the colors don't come through unless you use a lot of the shadow. It's not really pigmented and I'm kind of disappointed with it. 

This foundation I actually liked! It probably won't be my go to foundation because I already have a product I love but this is good for a drugstore buy! This foundation retails for $6 and blended really well.

I did put the lip gloss on but did not take a picture with it. The color is super pretty and true to what it looks like. It also is very glossy. Only fall back for me is how sticky it is. I know glosses sometimes are but this is majorly sticky and even after washing my face fully afterwards it still stayed on.

The baked blush I did not like. This retails for $3. You have to use a lot to get some kind of color on your cheeks. I guess it could be used for highlighting but not for blush. As you can see I got color on my cheeks but that was after a lot of applications.

The brushes are really nice! They retail for $6, $5, and $3. The two powder and blush brushes work really well, but the Kabuki although it is VERY soft, it doesn't blend that well in my opinion. I was so excited and hoping it would work but it just didn't blend. 

This was all done in a rush, and I messed up a lot but wanted to get in a quick use and review before heading out. I'm not a beauty expert. These are strictly my opinions on ELF products. If you're looking for a cheap cosmetics brand, and don't have a lot of money to spend on makeup; they are definitely the way to go. I'm just used to my higher end brands so that may make me a little biased. Nonetheless I will definitely  use the makeup during the week when I'm just being laid back.

Ofra Cosmetics DD Cream Review

I always love trying out new beauty products. Especially anything that deals with balancing out the skin tone and creating a flawless finish! :) 

I recently discovered Ofra Cosmetics. While their makeup is somewhat expensive, I was intrigued by their DD cream, not to be mistaken with BB cream or CC cream. The description from their site states:

"DD Cream or Daily Defense/Dynamic Do All Cream is an OFRA exclusive. Not to be confused with BB Cream, this light weight, hydrating cream can be applied on the face and body. It addresses fine lines and uneven skin tone caused by blemishes or dark spots and provides anti-ageing properties. Prime and perfect your skin with light-diffusing brighteners, antioxidants and vitamins. It is buildable providing wearers with more coverage to disguise and diminish imperfections. DD Cream in Glow boasts pearl ingredients giving your skin a glowing effect."

I got the color in "Glow" since it was the closest to my skintone.

Their DD cream retails for $29.95, yes expensive but after trying it out I can see why!

Swatched on the back of my hand to get a feel of what color, glow is.

I'm honestly so happy with this. It blends perfectly and at least to me, gives my face an amazing finish. I don't need foundation or powder with it at all. I took a picture to see (and also just added a little bit of blush.)

I really do like this DD cream! Think I'm going to use this instead of my Lorac CC cream that I have been using :) And not to brag but I got not one, but TWO compliments from women while at the grocery store on how beautiful my skin was and asked about what I use to keep it like that :) 

Go try it and also check out other Ofra Cosmetic products here!

Birchbox July 2013 review!!

YAY One of my Birchboxes came!! Yes I am subscribed to Birchbox twice. Why? Because it really is that amazing! For only $10 a month you get 4 to 5 samples of beauty, skin care, and hair care products. 

What I love so much about Birchbox is the fact that there are companies I never knew existed that make amazing products. This is a way to try out new things, and if you love it, purchase full sizes of the products. I've become a loyal customer to companies thanks to BB. Plus hey, seeing that pink box in the mail when it comes totally makes me do a happy dance. :) 

They recently revamped their look. Not much of a difference and honestly I love it. Simple, clean, and elegant.

This month's theme is, "Power Play"

"This month's box is dedicated to helping you take control of any situation, and to make the most of every minute-on the clock or off duty. We're even called in the experts-namely the characters of USA's hit series SUITS-who were the inspiration for some of this month's samples. Try their picks.

Happy Playing!"

Another awesome thing about Birchbox is they send you things tailored to what you like. I haven't  been disappointed yet with what they have sent. When you sign up, you fill out a profile on what you like, what you're most interested in beauty wise, and what you would prefer to get over what you wouldn't.

Let's see what they sent me!

It's adorable isn't it?? I'm very happy with this month's box! 

I received:

Benefit Cosmetics - It's Potent! Eye Cream

What: A powerful treatment that brightens dark circles while replenishing moisture and softening fine lines.

DDF - Acne Control Treatment

What: An overnight treatment with purifying salicylic acid to tackle blemishes and inflammation.

Number 4 - Super Comb Prep & Protect

What: A sulfate-free leave in conditioner that safegaurds color and protects  against  U rays.

theBalm cosmetics  -  InStain Long Wearing Powder Staining Blush

And Birchbox Bobby Pins :)

An amazing box if you ask me. Although I do have to admit out of everything the Bobby Pins are my favorite!!

Thank you BB again for a great month of picks!! Happy Birchboxing ladies! :)  

If you ever want to try Birchbox, it's $10/month and so worth it!!

Try it out!

What is love? Baby don't hurt me :P

I know this thing is mainly going to be about beauty but this is also a personal blog for me. And for a second, I need to get some things out.

I had the most awesome conversation with an old friend last night. We talked for an hour and a half and didn't even realize it until the end. I could talk to him for a long time and not get bored or run out of things to talk about. And even when there is nothing to talk about, there is no awkward silence...it's just comfortable. 

He is one of the few who get me. There are only a certain number of people who do. And I'm thankful for him and his friendship. I'm thankful I got to meet him 4 years ago and now have him in my life as a good friend.

Except here is the problem...I love him. I've loved him for three years now. Some may call me crazy. In fact I am actually not one of those girls who falls easily. It takes a lot to make me fall for you. Of course I am a romantic at heart, and will always want that fairy tale but it doesn't mean I go around giving my heart to anyone. 

I do. I love him. In his bad moments, in his sarcastic moments, his eccentric, over the top moments, and even in his asshole moments. I realized it these past two months. I can be sooooo mad and angry at him or hurt, but I want him right there by me. He could be talking complete nonsense or just rambling but I LOVE that! We connect in a good way.

I live in California. He lives in Washington. I would move anywhere to be with him. No questions asked. I guess that's what you would do though when you truly love someone. And I just want to have the guts to tell him this:

ThredUP Review July 2013!

So I last posted about finding out about this awesome consignment clothing site. Well I finally took the plunge and decided to order because all the clothes were too cute to pass up!!

I originally decided just to purchase an outfit for each of the girls so I could look at the quality of the clothing. And I did do that. But then later on that night I found more cute things and in my mind I was going ("Oh someone might snatch it up so you have to do it now!") lol. Yep. In total I purchased 14 pieces of clothing. The total came out to $65. 

I sat and waited. And waited. Even though the clothing isn't for me, I was as giddy as though it were. Being a single mom and having three little girls who are VERY into clothing and beauty, I wanna be able to look at options and see what I can do to still keep them in good clothing without having to spend ALL my money. Finally today, my packages arrived! 

They looked a little beat up honestly. I was surprised but still happy, everything seemed intact! :)

Truly love how they wrap it and added the little sticker! Yes I'm a sucker for cute wrapping even if it is minimal.

I got a little sad when I looked at my order form and saw this. It was for a pair of jeans I had ordered for Summer. But then also happy because even though it had a flaw, they still let me keep it and refunded me the money. Seriously that is amazing customer service.

Now onto the items of clothing!!

Justice Tank Top - Retail price is $20.00, I paid $6.99

Sorry for the bad picture, had kids running around!

Justice size 8 jeans - Retail for $42, I paid $10.49

Abercrombie Kids skirt (I actually got two of these in sizes S & M)

Retails for $46, I paid $11.99 for one and $5.99 for the other. Both looked the exact same, no flaws, almost new.

Justice jean skort size 8 - Retails for $36, I paid $9.49

Justice top - Retails for $20, I paid $6.99

So that is what I purchased for Mackenzie (my 8 year old). She is VERY happy and even posed for two pictures :)

Happy girl right there.

Next onto the outfits I purchased for Summer. One is right up there, the same exact skirt from Abercrombie kids that I also purchased for Kenz.

These were the "free" item. The side with the butterfly is where the flaw is, but hoenstly I cannot even tell. Amazing. Seriously love these!

Vigoss jeans size 6 - Retail for $31, I paid $6.99 originally, now FREE!

Abercrombie Kids skirt size S - Retails for $46, I paid $5.99

Self Esteem Cardigan Wrap - Retails for $21, I paid $6.99

NWT Cherokee Tank top - Retails for $13, I paid $7

Justice jean short size 6 - Retails for $ 32, I paid $10.99

NWT Justice sparkled tank top - Retails for $19, I paid $8

And now a picture of the happy girl!

Now Savannah's two outfits! Since it is Summertime, I thought I would pick out dresses for her. Something to keep her nice and cool :)

Gymboree dress set - Reatils for $33, I paid $9.49

Gymboree dress set - Retails for $33, I paid $10.49

Seriously am so so happy with all these purchases. And in my first order I had found a promo code which took off 30%!! Such a score on all these great, name brand clothes that look new!! I will definitely be buying from ThredUP again, amazing customer service, they really do only sell clothes that look brand new. Happy customer right here :)