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Look Bag Review: May 2012

  • Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:42 am

The Look Bag is a beauty box subscription marketed by The Look Store. It’s $10/month, and boxes are delivered around the second week of the month.  I was initially interesting in this one because, like Birchbox, they are not as expensive per box.

Okay, so it’s not a box, per say, but actually a bag.  Sure, I like the little fancy boxes, but can deal with that.  Here’s what my May shipment looked like:

The pink bag is kind of… useless.  I mean, it’s nice, but i have no idea what to put in it.  It doesn’t really close very well, and it’s too flimsy for anything of substance. But – since this is mostly about the samples, not the packaging – here’s what was actually in the package:

Total of four face products, and two nail polishes.  So, here’s what all was in there:

L`Oreal – Wear Infinite Pressed Eyeshadow Single – Sweet Chemise (full size)

This eyeshadow is a great neutral color, and is something this is affordable and widely available.  I hadn’t tried the specific brand, but I found it was fairly easy to put on, and went on smoothly.  I used a brush, and it helped even out the color – which made a great base for other colors.

Verdict?  Totally something I would buy.

 

Erno Laszlo – The Collection 5 Piece Cream Gift Set (sample)

The products in the set (a night cream, an eye cream, a day moisturizer, and two other moisturizers) were all really good – I especially liked the night cream – but all of the products left my face feeling smooth and moisturized.   But – the price on these is really high, in my opinion, and I know I’ve gotten similar results for less expensive (still department store) brands.  I think you’re really paying for the name here.

Verdict?  I liked it, but not willing to pay the price ($100 for a set of 0.5oz products).

 

Naked Princess – Naked Shine Luscious Lip Gloss (four samples)

I loved these.  Loved. Them.  The lip glosses are nice, shiny, and not sticky or greasy.  I liked how they felt on my lips, how they left my lips feeling afterwards, and even how they smelled – a little like vanilla.  The colors were all sheer and neutral, and even the warmer colors (peach, etc) looked great on me.

Verdict?  I will probably be buying this product- I love it!

 


KTO “Intense” Tightening Serum (sample)

I’m really not sure what the purpose of tightening serums is – maybe I’m too young?  But while this product left my skin feeling soft enough, it made me feel like I was stretched really tight – not a great feeling for me.  it also was really watery, so a little difficult to apply.  But it smelled nice, and I think it did what it’s supposed to – it’s just not for me.

Verdict?  Nope, not for me.  But probably a decent enough product, if that’s what you’re looking for.

 


The New Black – Runway – Color Baromoter 8-Piece Nail Polish Set

Okay, so they sent me two colors from this set.  A blue, and a coral (what is with the coral, people?).  The polish itself was nice – it went on smoothly, dried fairly quickly, and seemed a little more durable than some of the others I’ve tried.  The blue looked great on my toes, and the coral doesn’t really match my skin tone at all (you can’t win them all, I suppose). My biggest complaint is that they didn’t include the color names, which would make it harder for me to buy the blue I liked separately from the set.

Verdict?  I would buy this brand again, if i could find it in a store so I can see the colors. And at $32/set of 8, it’s fairly reasonably priced.

 

So what did I think of the Look Bag overall?  Meh.  It was good, but not as good as some of the others I’ve tried (New Beauty Test Tube, Birchbox, myglam).  I probably won’t be continuing my subscription to this one, just because I liked some of the others better (particularly the Test Tube).  But it was certainly fun to try!

 

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Birchbox Review: May 2012

  • Posted on May 22, 2012 at 8:36 am

Birchbox is probably the most well-known of the beauty sample services – it was the first one I heard of, and the first one I looked into joining.  They put me on a waiting list (they are very popular), so I decided to try some others in the meantime so I would have something to compare… and here we are.  I’ve already reviewed some of the other services: New Beauty Test Tube (and contents), myglam bag) – so on to Birchbox.

Birchbox is a subscription service, like the others, and runs $10/month with free shipping.  You receive one box a month, with four or five full or sample size products.   They arrive toward the middle of the month.  You can then get points for reviewing them, which you can trade for credit at the Birchbox store – where you also get a discount on anything that is in the current month’s box.

The box for May was inspired by Gossip Girl – a show I don’t watch or even know anything about.  Luckily, for me, that doesn’t really matter – the products are still useful and interesting. Here’s what May’s box looked like:

As a side note, I totally love the little gift box.  I’m stashing this one away (minus the Gossip Girl wrapper), because it’s very sturdy – enough to go through the mail, if I wanted, and pretty enough to be a gift box.

Everything was wrapped up inside, so it really was like opening a little present.  Super fun!

Once I unwrapped everything, here’s what was included:

A note card, a fragrance sample, a conditioner sample, nail polish, and an anti-aging moisturizer. Plus a card explaining what everything is, although no instructions on how to use the samples.  So, on the the reviews:

 

BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette Spray (sample)

So, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a huge fragrance person.  And this one smells okay to me – not really too strong, but a little too perfume-like, if that makes sense.  (I was trying to explain it to Chad last night, and I think I hit on the idea – I like to smell like nice things that you could possibly smell like by accident.  Like fruit or soft flowers or vanilla).  This fragrance is billed as being fruity, but I couldn’t smell the pear scent in it at all.

BUT.  the sample bottle was way cooler than the other typical glass vials they send – it was the same shape on size, but actually had a spray top on it.  Which is awesome, and worth mentioning I guess.

Verdict? Nice fragrance, but not really my thing.  And more than I usually spend (isn’t that the story of my life?) $64 for 1.33oz – but something I might be willing to pay if I loved the scent.

 

Kiehl’s Abyssine Cream + (sample)

This is a moisturizer designed to fight aging and free radicals and all that other good stuff that moisturizers do these days.  While I;m not really noticing aging per say on my skin, I do have problems with certain parts of my face being super dry and/or flaky sometimes, while other parts of my face are really oily. It’s hard to find a moisturizer that balances them.

This one managed to do just that, for the most part.  I liked the scent – it didn’t smell artificial or gross, just clean. And it sent on really smooth – I just needed a tiny bit to cover my whole face and neck. It left my face smooth and clear, and didn’t make me break out (a big problem with similar products).  However – it doesn’t have any SPF, so I’m hesitant to use it as a day moisturizer.  As a night moisturizer is works fine, and I only find the tiniest bit of greasiness right around my nose when I wake up.

Verdict?  A pretty good product.  There are some other similar products I’m trying now as well, though, so I’m keeping my options open. $48 for 1.69oz is a little pricey, but not too bad for how good it makes my skin feel.  I’m not ready to buy today, but it’s in the running at least.

 

Color Club® Summer Pastels Collection – Clambake Coral

First, coral is not a great color for me.  Other than that, this was a pretty decent polish, it sent on smooth and even – although it takes a while to dry.  It needs a clear topcoat, or it will chip – but a good topcoat seemed to keep it in place pretty well.

Verdict?  I liked the quality of the polish, and at $8/bottle, it’s not very expensive.  Some of the other colors look interesting, so I may pick up a bottle in another color for the summer.

 

Ojon damage reverse™ Restorative Conditioner (sample size)

Y’all, I am a sucker for salon-quality hair products.  Especially conditioner.  My hair is frizzy, and tend toward being dry – but too much product makes it limp and weird.  I love deep conditioners, but hate when they leave my hair feeling oily or weighted down.

So i was anxious to try this one.  It’s billed as being natural, and it smells kind of organic – not unpleasant, but a little on the green side.  It’s thick, but I managed to get it distributed through my hair, as well as fully rinsed out several minutes later (the rinsing was a little difficult).  And…  my hair feel softer, more manageable, and not too weighted down.  I like the way it feels, and the scent didn’t stick my my hair.

Verdict?  I wouldn’t use this every day, but it’s the type of thing I’d keep around to use once a week, or less often if my hair didn’t need it.  At $25 for 8oz, this is similarly priced to some salon brands – so not something I would buy all the time, but a nice treat now and then.

 

Birchbox Notecards (1 sample card)

These are actually kind of cute, and very simple.  They don’t say Birchbox anyplace obvious, and would be cute for a thank-you note or something similar and handwritten. The hot pink envelopes make them kind of fun, too.

Verdict? I liked it, and will use the card they sent me (it says XOXO on the front, so probably not for a thank-you note, lol) – but I don’t do enough real correspondence to buy a package of them

Regarding the Birchbox service in general, I wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be with the number of products I got – and half of them, while nice, were not really things I use a lot of or am really looking to buy.  But – I think I’ll give them one more month to try it out.  Getting points for reviewing things is a nice incentive, and given a different set of products, I might feel differently.

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MyGlam Bag: Review

  • Posted on May 20, 2012 at 9:25 am

So earlier this month I reviewed the New Beauty Test Tube, and mentioned i was trying several of these type services to see which one I liked best.  It turns out, all of the monthly subscription ones arrive at basically the same time in the month – pretty much all in the past week.  So I have several of thee posts coming up, where I’ll review first the service and then the products I was sent for May. In the meantime, I get to decide which service I’ll keep!

This particular beauty box is from myglam.  These subscription costs $10/month (which is pretty standard, and about as inexpensive as they come), and boxes are delivered towards the middle of the month.

First off, I totally need to know where to get these pink bubble mailers.  Because they are awesome.  Now that I got that out of the way… The make-up bag the samples came in is cute, but I can see where I might run out of uses for them if I got a new one every month.

I received a full size sample of rhinestone nail decals, two small make-up brushes, a full size lipstick, and a sample size fragrance. Which doesn’t seem like a lot when I compare it to the Test Tube, but this one is every month not every quarter.

So, on to the products:

Miss Beauty Nail Bling (full size)

You guys, rhinestone nails are just not my thing.  And my nails aren’t long enough for these particular designs, either.  I suppose that’s one of the things about these type bags, is that sometimes, you get products that just aren’t really things you use.  I gave them to a friend, though, and she said they were easy enough to apply and stayed on fairly well.

I can’t find them for sale anywhere, though (even from the myglam website!), so if you want to buy them, I have no idea what to even tell you.  Not the greatest marketing.

Verdict? Not for me, but not a bad product.

 

Philosophy Love Sweet Love Spray Fragrance (sample)

This is described as a fruity, flirty fragrance – which I’ll agree with, it had a strong hint of pears, maybe? when I first smelled it.  I liked it, although I’m not really a perfume person in general. However, on my skin it didn’t smell as good – still not bad, but more perfume-like and less fruity.

Verdict?  I could see buying this as a gift, though, if I knew someone who liked it – $42 for 2oz.

 

Studio Gear Complete Color Lipstick (full size) – Audition

This lipstick was high-quality, and I liked the way it felt on my lips – it was smooth and had some moisture, but wasn’t sticky.  It also didn’t taste very artificial, like some brands I’ve tried.  The color was fairly neutral, but a little warmer than I usually wear – not bad on me, just not the best.  I’m sure they have a color in their line that would suit me better, though.  At $15, this lipstick is less expensive than department store brands, which is nice.

Verdict? If I can find it some place where I can see the colors in person, I might look into getting this brand in another color.

 
myglam Concealer Brush & Defining Eyeliner Brush

These are actually pretty nice brushes, and I’m a sucker for makeup brushes.  But you can’t buy them, so I’m not sure what benefit my review has for the general public.

I’m wondering if you stay subscribed for some time, do you get the whole set?  Do they repeat?  I’m not sure. At any rate, they are fun to play with.

 

In general, I don’t think this was my favorite beauty bag, but it may have been because some of the samples weren’t really things I use.  I’ll review the others, and let you know which one I decide to stick with!

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Spring 2012 New Beauty Tube Review

  • Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:24 am

So here’s my review of the products that were in the New Beauty Test Tube for Spring 2012.

First, the disclaimer: I purchased the test tube myself, and while I was encouraged to share my opinions of the products with friends and family and online, I was not provided any extra products or incentives for doing so. But this post does include Amazon affiliate links.  Alright, on to the products!


NeoStrata® Skin Active Cellular Restoration (sample size)

I was eager to try this, as my skin has been looking a little dull lately, and I was looking for something to counteract that. When I first used it, I noticed it smells very chemically – almost like the chemicals you use when getting a perm. But the smell only lasted a minute, and the product seemed to soak into my skin fairly well, not leaving any greasy feeling.  After two days, I could see a little improvement in my skin, so at least it is doing something.

Verdict? I don’t know if I will buy the full-sized product when I run out, though – it’s fairly pricey (list price: $79 for 1.75 oz) and the chemical smell was a real turn off.

 


Mally® Evercolor Shadow Stick – Platinum (full size)

I adore this!  I had tried similar products from less expensive product lines (CoverGirl, etc), and was never pleased with how they blended, or how they stayed on during the day.  But the Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick was amazing – I could put it on, and had time to bend with other colors or lighten it up before it set.  Once it set, it was there for the whole day, no creases or anything like that. The color is build-able for a really dramatic look, but I am able to put it on light enough to wear to the office.  The sticks come in a variety of colors, as well.  It is a little pricier than the brand I had been using (list price: $25), but looks like it is totally worth it.

Verdict? I will probably be buying at least one more color of this (probably violet!) as soon as I have money in my cosmetics budget!

 


Moroccanoil® Frizz Control (full size)

I have to say, this was the product I was most anxious to try, and probably the one I tested most thoroughly.  I mean, I have amazingly frizzy hair, and I live in constant humidity.  The instructions said it worked best when used alone (ie, no other products.  So, Saturday, I showered and put 4-5 sprays in my hair, combed through to distribute, and “styled as usual” – usual being to scrunch my hair until it curls a bit, and let it air dry (straight hair in Houston humidity? No way).  Annnnd… it was less frizzy than if I had used nothing, but still very frizzy.  More frizzy than my usual mousse and scrunch routine.  But! my hair felt really silky and was shiny – not greasy looking, just healthy shine.And it smelled nice, when I put it on – but didn’t leave an overwhelming scent in my hair, which was nice.

So Monday, I tried the curls again – this time with mousse as well.  Noticeably less frizzy, and still kept that silky feeling and shine. Winner!

I haven’t tried straight hair yet, but may try that this week sometime.  If it can keep out the frizzies when my hair is straight, that is a miracle. :-)

Verdict? I love the way it makes my hair feel, and it does help with the frizz factor.  I’ll have to see how long a bottle lasts to determine if it’s worth the price, though (list price: $32 for 3.4 oz).

 


Olay® Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex (sample size)

Hey! A brand name I recognize! And the sample size came with a coupon for $3 off!  Yay!

I don’t have a huge problem with wrinkles, honestly.  I mean, I have a few starting, but they are super faint, mostly related to laughs or smiles, and it’s not like they bother me.  But I thought I’d give it a whirl… that’s what this test tube this is all about, right?

The product went on smoothly, didn’t really have a scent at all, and didn’t irritate my skin or make it greasy.  So thoe were all wins.  But after a week?  Honestly, I really can’t tell a difference.  Maybe that’s because I don’t have many wrinkles to fight, or maybe it’s doing something to prevent them, I have no idea.

Verdict?  While I’m all for fighting aging, this product just didn’t do much for me.  I would be willing to try it again, though, if my skin care needs change.  The fact that it can be found in Walmart, and Target is a bonus – and at $28 for 1.7 oz, it’s certainly on the less expensive end of things.

 

ybf Eye Liner – Plum Noir (full size)

So most of my experience with cosmetics is limited to mass market brands – Cover Girl, Revlon, etc.  A few products from Clinique, but those are few and far between.

That being said, this eyeliner was seriously the best I’ve ever tried.  It was soft enough to leave a good line without tugging or scrubbing, and hard enough to make a good line and not smear.  The color was awesome, too!  Not too dark on me, which can be a problem.  And it came off easily with the different eye make-up removers I tried.

Verdict?  Yes, please.  I’ll probably buy more of this in other colors – and at $14.50, it’s a steal.

Memoire Liquide Soliel Liquide Fragrance & Vacances Liquide Fragrance (sample sizes)

I was totally unsure about these… despite being hung up on smells, I’m typically not one for fancy perfumes.   These claimed to “evoke memories, or create new ones”, and everything was in French, which was odd and makes them sound more expensive I suppose.

The Soliel fragrance claimed to smell like a sunny day.  I liked the smell, it was citrusy and a little outdoorsy (I’m told that’s sandalwood), and very energizing.  It did kind of smell bright like a sunny day – I’m thinking this is due to the citrus.  Overall, very pleasant.

The Vacances fragrance claimed to smell like a vacation, on a beach, on an island.  Sure, I like beaches, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out this smelled – not like salt water, seaweed, and sunscreen, but like coconut, white flowers, and a tiny bit of vanilla.  It was really nice, and sure enough, made me think of cruises and days at the beach.

Both fragrances went on well – not too strong – but dissipated through the day.  I would need to freshen them up if I wanted them to be noticeable for a night out or something, I think.

Verdict? I think I liked the Vacances scent the best, but since I don’t wear fragrance that often, it’s pretty pricey (list price: $95/bottle).  Not sure if I’d buy it for myself, but I might suggest it as a gift or something.

 

Memoire Liquide Amour Liquid Body Cream (full size)

By the same company as the fragrances above, this body cream is supposed to evoke memories of love.  It smells like vanilla, and something else… but it makes me think of college (I liked vanilla a lot back then).  Which is where I fell in love. So that works, I guess?

The scent is light enough to wear to bed, but very nice.  And the body cream itself is super rich and thick, but doesn’t leave my skin greasy or slimy.  It absorbs very nicely, and leave my skin soft and smooth.  I love this body cream!  I’ve used it mostly on my hands and elbows, as I don’t typically use a lot of lotion anywhere else, and it is divine. This is seriously the best lotion I’ve used in a while, if not ever.

Verdict? At $48 a bottle, I’ll have to consider carefully before I buy some – but I would certainly consider it for a treat once in a while!  I’ll be sad when my current bottle runs out…

 

SkinCeuticals® Phloretin CF and Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 (sample sizes)

Ok, so the description on these sounded super-sciency to me.  Basically, the Phloretin CF is an antioxident that helps combat your skin’s reaction to the sun, preventing sun damage.  And the Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 – is a sunscreen. So the name of the game here is avoiding sun damage.  I’m all for that.

I tried applying the Phloretin CF to my skin, after washing and moisturizing, and was surprised that it came out of the dropper a little greasy.  It absorbed into my skin quickly, not leaving a greasy feel, but it smelled awful – like canned chicken? Or spam?  Not sure.  Honestly, I didn’t see that it made much difference – but I don’t spend a lot of time outside. The smell was such a turn off, I only used it a couple of times.

The sunscreen, on the other hand, was very nice.  It had a little tint to it, but blended well with my skin tone and went on without making my skin really oily.  my current moisturizer only had SPF 30, so 50 is a step up.  I felt like this protected me from the everyday sun I get – in the car, outside with the kids, etc.  And it didn’t really have a scent at all.

Verdict? No to the Phloretin CF – at $152/bottle, it would be out of my price range even if it didn’t smell like canned meat products. But maybe a yes to the Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 – at $32/bottle, it’s about the same as what I was currently using, and less greasy.  I may be getting more of this soon…

 

Dr. Brandt pores no more® vacuum cleaner™ blackhead extractor (sample size)

I was sad to find out there is no actual vacuum in this.  However, blackheads and large pores can be a problem for me, so I moved past my disappointment and tried it anyway.

The instructions say to put it on every 2-3 day after cleansing, and let it dry for 2-3 minutes before rinsing off.  I followed the directions exactly – and sure enough, I noticed less blackheads than before.  It didn’t burn my skin or make it really dry, either.  It did have a little bit of a chemical smell, but dissipated quickly as it dried.

Verdict? Given that I saw such good results, I’m certainly tempted to buy more.  At $45 a bottle, though, it is a little more than I usually spend.  I wonder how long it lasts?

 


Perlier Peach Foam Bath (sample size)

This bath & shower gel was sadly disappointing.  It didn’t have much fragrance at all, and was difficult to lather in my water.  The whiff of peach fragrance I got was nice enough, but it was just a hint, even when I was smelling the minimal lather I managed to get on my skin.It left my skin soft and smooth, but not any more so than many other body wash products I’ve tried.

Verdict?  Probably not.  It’s not that pricey (list price: $15 for 16.9 oz), but I just didn’t like it that much.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this beauty test tube, and am looking forward to seeing how other beauty box companies stack up.  Like anything of this sort, there were products I liked and others I didn’t, but it gave me a great way to try things I would have otherwise missed out on.  Since the Test Tube is delivered every 3 months, I have more than enough time to evaluate and cancel if I decide to stick with another company instead.

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New Beauty Test Tube: Spring 2012

  • Posted on May 5, 2012 at 12:05 pm

So I mentioned the other day that I was trying out some new “beauty box” type services, in order to try some new products and figure out what works for me, etc.  I’ts also kind of a “mommy treat” for me, as I get to try new things and pamper items without spending a whole lot of money and then discovering I don’t like a product.

I’m going to try a few of these services, and stick with the one I like the best.  But the first one I received is the New Beauty Test Tube.  First, a little background.  The Test Tube comes out four times a year, and costs $29.95.  Unlike many of the similar services out there, they do charge for shipping, so figure in another $10 for each shipment – the cost per month evens out to between $13-$14 per month, making it a little more expensive than the others. But! They offer full sized products or deluxe sized samples, so you get a lot for it. And a full sized beauty magazine (which, like Glamor and the like, is mostly ads.  But still).

Here’s what came in the box:

Product guide, magazine, test tube

And here’s all the goodies that were in the tube:

Tons of samples!

First off, I picked a great time to join, apparently, because not only was Kate Beckinsale on the cover of the magazine, one of the full sized products in the tube is something to make hair NOT FRIZZY.  If anyone can test this stuff, it’s me, with my super frizz-ball hair, in Houston, in May. Ha!

I’ll review everything in the tube once I’ve had more of chance to try it out, but I will say that I am initially impressed by most of the stuff in there.  Although the Spa Look gift cards aren’t gift cards per say – more like coupons, because they have a (fairly high) minimum purchase required for each. But, not including those, the tube this season included a full size eyeliner, full-size eye shadow stick, full-size lotion, full-size hair care product, deluxe sample sizes (some of which are very generous) of four different face products, and two small sample size fragrances (which still amount to several uses each).  Looking around, the retail value of just the full sized products is over $95 -so it’s a pretty good deal (acknowledging the fact that I never would have paid full price for all of these things without trying them).

So!  Look for reviews, coming in the next few days as I use the products more!

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7 Quick Takes

  • Posted on May 4, 2012 at 11:54 am

— 1 —

So I was just sent this news story. Someone apparently shot the Saturn V rocket in Huntsville.  Could have been n accident (not the firing of the gun, but the fact that it entered the Davidson Center and hit the rocket). Thankfully no one was hurt.

Have I ever mentioned how attached I am to Saturn V rockets?  That particular one used to lie in the back of Rocket Park outside the USSRC, and I loved walking by it when I worked there – the sheer size of it was overwhelming and amazing.  Then, they built a replica of it next to the center (which was a huge politics issue, and ultimately the full plan for a gantry and restaurant, etc,was never finished – just the rocket.

And it was under that replica that Chad and I more or less started dating. Not that we would have admitted it at the time.  When we drive into Huntsville for visits, I love seeing that rocket – it means we’re almost there.  In some strange way, the rocket is home in a way that other places in Huntsville are not. Chad and I joke about buying it to go in our yard, if the HOA would let us (the fact that the base of the rocket is larger than our yard is beside the point).

I was very excited when they moved the real Saturn V to the Davidson Center – it’s really nice, and I love how they are protecting it and displaying it.  And now I’m sad because someone shot it, and I have no idea why.  It seems like a pretty freak accident, if that’s what it was.

Anyway.  Enough space nostalgia. I hope they find out who did it and why.

— 2 —

Brianna still climbs up in bed with me about 2 nights a week or so.  Something will wake her up, and she’ll come snuggle until she goes back to sleep, and at some point I get tired of being kicked/poked/not having enough space, and I carry her back to her bed to wait out the rest of the night.  Or when I turn the light on in the morning, she decides her room is nicer because it’s dark, and scampers off to bed for a few more minutes.

So when she climbed into my bed two nights ago, telling me she was cold, I just rolled over and gave her some covers.  She was right – her legs were freezing!  But I felt nothing wet, and was too tired to ask questions.  So I went back to sleep.  Eventually, I carried her back to her bed, only to discover her sheets were soaked. She had wet the bed, gotten up and changed underwear and then gotten in bed with me.  Which totally makes sense, I guess, if you’re cold.

We has a middle of the night chat about letting mommy know then these things happen, and I changed her sheets and sent her back to bed.

Last night, when she crawled into my bed cold, I thought for a minute and asked “Is your bed wet?”.  Luckily, it was not.

— 3 —

Benjamin has entered the age of the tantrums.  Full blown, laying on the floor, screaming tantrums.  I have no idea what to do with this, any more than i did when Brianna did it.  He too young for logic, so I end up trying to separate him from whatever is causing the tantrum, distracting him, and holding him until it’s over.  But he’s becoming less distractable – maybe because his memory is better?  My point is, it takes more than a banana or some tickles to make him stop screaming.  If two is going to be this bad, I might just ship him off until he’s four.  Not really.  But maybe.

— 4 —

I have been trying (badly at times, like yesterday) to do more fun/educational stuff with the kids.  Brianna has been painting sun catchers, using scissors, writing with dry erase markers, and I even have some beads for her to string on pipe cleaners this weekend or next week to practice patterns and counting.  Bu I’m kind of at a loss for what to do with Benjamin -he’s only a year and a half, so he still puts pretty much everything in his mouth.  I’m thinking I might try homemade (edible) playdough this weekend?  But I would love some more ideas.

Any advice?

— 5 —

Chad discovered that Brianna really likes soccer.  And she’s actually kids of good at it (ie, better than me at chasing/kicking the ball, which probably doesn’t say much, but really, she’s 3). So we are starting to look at soccer leagues.  OMG.  The prices.  I have been so spoiled by our daycare, that offers Stretch-n-Grow and Ballet classes for $35/month/each.  So going into this, I was thinking, sure, soccer’s probably a little more.  Like $40/month, plus cleats, etc.

HAHAHA.  Summer session, which is 6-8 weeks, depending on the league, is $100-$150 depending on the league.  There are a couple of options for 3 year old’s in town, all claim to be positive and fun and blah blah blah.  No idea if we’re going to do it, or put it off another little while because she’s little, we’re lazy, and it’s expensive.

— 6 —

In looking for free concerts to take the kids too, in order to see if they will enjoy it/behave enough for us to buy the family symphony tickets, I stumbled upon the fee schedule for Pearland ISD Dawson High School’s Diamonds (the nationally ranked dance team).  Let’s just say soccer fees are the least of my worries. $600 just for costumes.  Plus fees for trips, competition, other fees, etc – it looked like over $2000.  For a year.

Brianna will need a part-time job to support that type of habit, if she goes that route in high school.  Because man, is that a lot of money.  Maybe soccer isn’t so expensive after all.

— 7 —

I have thrown away/recycled a small trash can full of empty sample packets and little bottles and such this week.  Most  empty, some not. Decluttering for the win! I’ve found a few winners in my sample pile, though – I’ll try to blog about them later.

I also am looking at some sample beauty box programs, trying to find some good products that work with my skin/hair/everything. I started with New Beauty TestTube, and just got my first tube, so I have some posts that should be coming up on that as well.  Not that I want this to turn into a beauty blog or anything – I just want to record what works for me and what I should look into buying later, when I run out of samples, haha.

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Things I Love Thursdays! LUSH Cosmetics

  • Posted on April 19, 2012 at 10:30 am

Yay!  I’m so happy Things I Love Thursdays has a new home at Be The Difference!

I love so many things by LUSH Cosmetics, but I am seriously in love with their Retread conditioner. It’s a little weird to dip conditioner out of a pot, but OMG it fixes my hair when it is totally dead, fried from the summer or whatever.  I don’t buy it too often, because I’m cheap and it’s pricey, but it always fixes my hair in within a week.  Ah. Mazing.

Their bath bombs and solid bubble bars are also incredible.  Half or a third of a bubble bar will fill my garden tub with movie-star quality bubbles that last much longer than the hot water :-)   And they smell amazing, and are made out of happy-hippy-organic stuff.

LUSH is definitely my go to for pampering bath/shower/hair supplies.  I just ordered some face wash and toner from them, too, on the advice of a friend – so I’m sure I’ll have more to talk about in a few weeks!

No one paid me or gave me anything free for saying nice things about LUSH.  I just say them anyway!

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