- monthly subscription or
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"Tell the chef, the beer is on me."
My Birchbox came in a day early. This month’s box was curated in partnership with Women’s Health. Most people would be very happy with the box I received…me, not as much.
Here’s a peak inside my box -


Inside my box - 4 main items and a lifestyle extra.

Contents of the box laid out

Info card with content details

Caudalíe Huile Divine Oil - Tried it at night after cleansing my face. It’s a dry oil with an amazing fragrance. I think I used a little too much, but it still didn’t make my face oily. My skin absorbed it right away! This small sample is probably go to use for 5-7 uses.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner - Meh. Have too many hair products from other boxes.

Hail Merry Macaroons (Chocolate) 2 pcs - This is the lifestyle extra. LOVED IT. I gobbled up both pieces in less than a minute. I actually had 200 points lying in my account - I used all my points to buy a full size Alima Pure Blush ($20) and a bag of Hail Merry Macaroons in Strawberry ($5 for a full size bag). I received Alima Pure Blush and Eyeshadow samples in my Goodebox, and since then I’ve fallen in love with the brand. Can’t wait for both my items to arrive.

Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lipstick (full size) in the shade 07 - Quick Kiss. It’s a bright Orangey-Red Cheek and Lip stain. The container is made of plastic (just like NYX jumbo pencils). Even though I’m not sure how I’m going to sharpen this thing, I’m not too worried about it since I don’t see myself using this shade ever. It’s just way too bright for me. I swatched it on the back of my palm and I can see this working well as a cheek stain. I’ll give it a try. I’m sad that this was supposed to be the big ticket item in my box and I am just not excited about it. Wish it were in a different shade…The same thing happened to me with my Lip Factory Inc. box and I ended up canceling it.

Supergoop Eye cream - Tiny 2 ml sample. Whatever. Not that into eye creams, but will use it since it came in the box.

Free 1 yr subscription to Women’s Health Magazine - I used to receive this magazine last year through some kind of a free Ulta promo offer. I’ll subscribe because it’s free!
Overall - OK types box. My last box was pretty awesome, but I’m yet to get a single box where I’m excited about every single item I receive. With Birchbox, that’s not possible I guess since they have so many box variations (another thing I don’t like since I look at spoilers on Instagram and start getting jealous). Technically, this box costs me only $5 per month since I can write reviews and earn 50 points ($5) every month. For $5, this box is good. However, since I have SO MANY boxes I subscribe to (Ipsy, Goodebox, Eco-Emi, Green Grab Bag, Daily Dose of Green…), I’m not sure if I can justify Birchbox anymore. Decisions, decisions.
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So, I finally bought into the Julep craze and treated myself to a free starter box of Julep nail paints (Use coupon: FREEBOX). I had to pay $3.99 for S&H. I received two nail polishes, a full size foot scrub and a sample size hand scrub. Pictures below.




This is the shade I’m wearing on my toes currently.

Overall - I like the texture of the nail paints. They are pretty opaque w/ just a single coat and are very fast drying. However, I am not THAT into nail polishes and receive quite a few in my subscription boxes. So, I’ll be canceling Julep. The only reason I subscribed was because I got tempted by the free box offer. This is a great subscription service for those who love nail polishes.
Lip Factory Inc. is a monthly subscription box for $22 that promises to bring you deluxe or full sized makeup items. Every 4 months, they have a “lips products only” box (March box was supposedly a “lips products only” box). I love my first box. Lots of makeup stuff.

Six full size items from what I can tell and one foil sample - Pretty awesome!

Info card with details on the contents of April 2013 box.


29 Cosmetics Mascara - 0.28 FL. OZ/8 ml - FULL SIZE! Retails for $26.00. I definitely would love to use this..after I get through the 10 others that I have open right now.


Lisi Line & Define Automatic Eye liner pencil in the color Tsunami 0.0074 oz/0.21 gms - It’s a deep purple/black. Love this color! Think it retails for around $5-6.

LA Splash nail polish (10 ml) shade Aqua Fusion - Very pretty color, but it won’t suit my medium to dark skin tone. I’m going to give this one a pass. Retails for $3.99.

SweetPea and Fay J’Adore Les Lèvres Liquid Lipstick in “Mermaid Kiss” (0.35 oz/10g) - $7.99. This is my favorite item in the box. It’s eco-friendly and the shade is very pretty. I am going to start using this ASAP.


Two Cosmetics Duo Eyeshadow in the shade “Dancing Machine” (0.04 oz/1.14 gm) - Retails for $6.99. I like the shade, but I’m just not a big eyeshadow person. Two Cosmetics donates one piece to charity for every piece you buy.


Ofra Cosmetics Lip Gloss in the shade “Bordeaux” - Retails for $12.95. Love the deep mauve shade. I am definitely going to use it!

MD Formulations Facial Cleanser (3 ml/0.1 oz) - I am a sucker for facial cleanser. Love it!
Overall - I really LOVE the box and think it’s an excellent value. Received approx. $62 worth of products for $22. However, I am not sure if I need so many full sized makeup items per month. I can’t imagine what my bathroom will look like if this continues month after month.
My first Goodebox and I like it quite a bit, thanks to the amazing number of makeup items I received! In case you’re a new reader, you’ll soon learn how much I adore all kinds of makeup. The box costs $16/mo and is an eco friendly box containing beauty, lifestyle, and household samples mainly.

What a pretty shade of pink that bow is.

Front portion of the info card - Items I received were checked off with a pencil (how nice!)

Back side of the info card

When I opened the box, I went “Whaaaat? That’s it?! Where’s all my stuff?”…soon realized the small translucent envelope has four small jars. See, I really wanted to like this box more than Eco-Emi.

Here’s what was in the white envelope - Three beautiful shades of eyeshadow and a blush from Alima pure. I like the eyeshadows - They are nudist shades that I can use daily. The blush is nice too, but it didn’t swatch very well on my skin tone.

Three shades of eyeshadow —
a. Java (Satin Matte)
b. Freja (Luminous Shimmer blush)
c. Cappuccino (Pearluster finish)
d. Glow (Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow)

The topmost swatch is of the blush and the next three are eyeshadows. Last swatch is of the lip balm.

Rest of the contents of the box -
Bonus item: Bamboo handled eyeshadow applicators - I used them for my swatches. It’ll be difficult to clean these out. Probably use and throw.

Savon Du Bois Rose-Geranium Guest Bar - Thin sliver of pretty amazingly smelling soap. This is the 3rd soap I’ve received this month - Glossybox and Eco-Emi both sent me 1 each. I’m pretty well stocked up now for at least two months!

Yarok Feed Your Do - Styling Whip for your hair: Not sure how much I’m going to be using this, but it smells quite nice.
Alima Pure Nourishing Lip Balm - Pretty bronze/brown color. I like it.
Overall: I cant really tell how much my box is worth because the samples are small and don’t have any size labels, but the makeup items are a big plus. I saw lots of pics of the Feb box and I have to tell I like last month’s box much much more — Unfortunately I registered late Feb and by then it was too late to receive the Feb box. I’ll continue this box for the next month and then decide if I would like to stay subscribed.
This is my first Eco-Emi box. It’s a monthly service costing $16/mo (incl. shipping + tax). Since I subscribed late Feb, I missed out on the Feb box. My only confirmation of the subscription service was the PayPal confirmation that I received. I didn’t receive any communication from Eco-Emi about my subscription until a week ago when the box shipped. For an anxious person like me, lack of emails just doesn’t work. I must mention that my credit card got charged late Feb when I signed up even though my box didn’t ship until a week ago - This is definitely weird and not a great customer experience. Eco-Emi is supposed to have a “My Account” page that is currently down. So, if you have any questions, you’ll need to email them or post on their Facebook wall. For me, this was a trial box. I also subscribed to Goodebox at the same time. Due to the lack of communication on Eco-Emi’s side, I have already canceled my recurring payment through PayPal.
Anyway, here’s what I received in the March box - The contents are packed in a small flat rate USPS shipping box which I love. They are truly eco friendly in that they didn’t waste materials or money putting another box inside the USPS box. Instead the USPS box has been repurposed with craft papers etc. This month’s box was themed “Spring”. Lots of pretty moons and stars in the box.

Inside the box, there’s a reusable blue colored pouch (LOVE!), an easter themed nest that cradles some products.

Information card -

Info card on Rock Green Laundry Detergent (Comes with a 15% off coupon code)
And finally here the box with the contents:

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies by Home Free 1.1 oz full size - $1.49 - These will get over in no time soon ;)
2. Glazed Strawberry lip gloss by The All Natural Face 0.43 fl oz full size $4.60 - It smells pretty awesome, goes on pretty sheer. Here’s the swatch on my medium to dark skin:

3. Smashing Watermelon classic laundry detergent by Rocking Green - 0.1 kg for 2/4 loads (Full price costs $14.95 for 45/90 loads making the sample size worth about $1?) - I’m going to use this the next time I do laundry :) Currently I use Dr. Bronner’s soap which I highly recommend as well.
4. Lavender Vanilla Shea Butter Moisturizer by Natural Heavenly Beauty - Full size is 4oz and costs $10.00. The sample I received came in a very small round container. I have no idea how big the sample is, but I would guess maybe 0.25 oz/$0.75 approx. Smells AMAZING. Since the size is so small, I’ll use this as a hand cream in my work bag.
5. Lavender Healing Lip Balm by Belle’s Healing Solutions $2.99 0.15 oz - Received full size. I’ve used it once. The lip balm has no color. It just melts into the skin and is extremely moisturizing. Love it.
6. Theraganics Almond Oatmeal handcrafted all natural soap with Shea Butter - A 5 oz bar costs $7.00. The sample I received is probably half the full size. I don’t like the smell too much, but will use it anyway (will probably make my husband use it ;)
7. Organic Bengal Breakfast Tea by Teatulia - Never received it in my box…not sure why, but it’s listed in the info card.
8. Rejuvenating Mask by Dr Hauschka 0.08 fl oz $4.25 approx - I’ve seen this brand in Whole Foods and I know it’s pretty expensive. Happy to have received a sample I can use! And I love face masks.
9. Free product - Rejuvenating Herbal Gel Cleanser and Makeup remover by Blissoma - Costs $26.99 for a 4 oz. Again, not sure what the sample size is, but I would guess about 0.25 oz/$1.60 approx. Love all kinds of cleansers. I am going to keep this for my work trip that is coming up shortly.
Overall - I love the variety of products. Total value of the box is approx $20 and I paid $16. I would say not a bad ROI considering I will be using every single item. However, most samples are very small. I would have preferred receiving fewer, but bigger deluxe sized samples. For now, I’m happy that I canceled the subscription.
Finally received my Glossybox even though my account never got updated with the shipping information. Overall, I’m quite happy with the box. I was secretly hoping to get the pencil eyeliner, but the Elite liquid eyeliner swatched pretty well and will be great for dramatic cat eyes.




Contents of the box -
VERDICT - I bought this box using a 20% off coupon. So, I paid only $16.80. Already canceled my subscription. Might resubscribe again if the April box seems interesting. I do like this March box very much.
Reminder that Mad Men is the greatest.

Sasha loves Ziwipeak’s air dried food. We have been slowly switching him over to Ziwipeak from his current Castor & Pollux because of the rave reviews Ziwipeak has received. Also because I’m preparing him for the upcoming week long Puerto Rico trip that we’ll be taking him to in about a month from now (so exciting!). Since Ziwipeak is very rich, I need to feed him a very small quantity and this works for the trip since I don’t have to pack much. I’ve got to be honest it’s a super premium dog food that might not be affordable for medium or big dogs, but it’s affordable for me to feed Sasha because he’s 14.5 pounds. I got a 2.2 lb bag in the flavor Venison & Fish from Tomlinson’s here in Austin and the first bag lasted me about 2.5 weeks when I fed him 1 scoop every morning. For a dog his size with medium activity levels, the recommended feed is 1.6 scoops a day (each bag comes with its own scoop). Since I’m still in the process of switching him over completely to this food, I feed him Ziwipeak only once a day. He eats 1/2 standard sized cup of Castor & Pollux at night. He would happily hog down much larger quantities twice a day if I let him. I noticed some loose stool when I switched him to this food a couple of weeks back - probably because Ziwipeak is extremely rich and his stomach is not used to it. So, for now, I’m going to stick to 1 meal per day of Ziwipeak. Also, we have a lot of Castor & Pollux left over that I need him to finish. Unfortunately, he’s bored of it - So I can’t feed it to him more than 1 meal a day :-(
Ziwipeak is the only food he’ll gulp down in 2 mins FLAT. It’s amazing. If you have a small dog and are interested in feeding premium food, I highly recommend Ziwipeak.
Sneak peak - my first Sample Society box! This is Kit D from march 2013. Most excited to have received the full size Butter nail polish. #samplesociety #samplesocietybox #samplesocietybyallure #beauty #beautyjunkie #makeup #makeupjunkie #butterlondon #ouidad #lashfood #murad #fashiontape #nails #nailpolish #beautybox
I was a teeny tiny bit let down by this month’s bag, only because it has let makeup items than what I usually hope for. Granted it came with two single eyeshadows (one extremely light taupe and one emerald green), the fact is, I’m more of an eyeliner girl.
Anyway, here’s everything that was in my bag:
1. LA Fresh Makeup Remover wipes (8 pieces) - LOVE THEM! Have been using them every single night. This is the BEST makeup remover out there. It’s completely effortless and will remove your most stubborn mascara. I just might buy a full size. Totally worth the hype.
2. Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist (1 oz) - Tried it once. Was quite refreshing. Have to be careful not to spray any near my eyes (stings like hell).
3. Glam RX container - I like it. I already put depotted some stuff (the left most is Benefit Hot Mama blush and a small Coastal Scents eyeshadow).
4 & 5 - Rec’d two eyeshadows (extreme right in my Glam RX container) - Haven’t used either. The light taupe is too light for my skin tone. I do like the emerald one and might use it tomorrow.
6. One ipsy bag - Kind of hidden in my picture, but I’m glad it was not plain jane this month.
"Tell the chef, the beer is on me."
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