Love With Food - May 2014

For a couple months, I've been receiving a snack box called Graze. For $6, you get a box with 4 different healthy snacks to try. The box is automatically preset to send every 2 weeks, but you can control how often you receive them with a few short clicks in your account. I do love that Graze allows you to select specific ingredients to shy away from (nut allergy? no problem!), and remembers your preferences for specific snacks that you like, love or hate. The portions are quite small, but for $6/box, that's to be expected I guess.

After a friend told me about a promo code for Love With Food, I decided to take a little break from Graze and give this box a try. They offer organic and natural snacks for $10/mo. But with the promo I received, I was able to snag my first box for a mere $2.

What I immediately liked about the idea of Love With Food is that for every box sent, they donate a meal to a hungry child in the U.S. Who wouldn't love that?? I also like that you can earn points to redeem for snack in their store by referring friends, reviewing the products you receive, and making purchases.



When my first box arrived, I was immediately impressed with the variety of what is included in the box. The theme for this month's box was "Derby Days" and the information card inside states:

"Place your bets and dress to impress - we've reimagined classic Kentucky Derby fare with a focus on all-natural and healthy snacks to keep you going until you cross the finish line. But in our eyes, you're already a winner, because you helped feed a hungry child in the US again this month."

Here's a breakdown of what was included in this month's box:

Revolution Tea bags (Honeybush Caramel, Southern Mint, and Tropical Green Tea) - Full-leaf teas made with select herbs, real fruit pieces, essential oils and all natural flavors. I have yet to try these, but as a tea lover, I was THRILLED to see these in my box and am looking forward to trying them.

Terre Di Puglia Tarallino Snack with Extra Virgin Olive Oil - an italian snack called a tarallo, which is sort of a pretzel-type treat. Hearty and filling, but is fairly plain, so I think they would taste great with hummus or other dip.

Organic Flavrz Tropical Peach Water Enhancer - it's organic, and non-GMO, which is great... but unfortunately I am not a fan of peach, so I will not be trying this myself.

One Potato Two Potato Sweet Potato Chips - These. Are. Amazing!!! Packed with beta-carotene and vitamin A, these chips are also non-GMO. But more importantly... they're delicious! I seriously devoured the entire bag without sharing with my husband. Perfect amount of sweetness, crispy, and no burnt nasty pieces like in traditional bags of chips. Will definitely be buying these in the future.

Le Caramel Sea Salt Caramels - these were ok, but they didn't exactly knock my socks off. I do love the combination of sea salt and caramel though.

J&M Key Lime Cookies - I'm fairly picky when it comes to key lime flavored treats due to the tartness of the key limes, but these were very good. Just enough tartness to balance with the sweet powdered sugar coating. And good enough to consider purchasing in the future.

Thoughtful Food Giddy Up & Go Granola in Seriously Seedy - I have not yet tried this gluten-free granola, but am anxious to try it, most likely as cereal. This mix includes organic pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds, as well as antioxidant rich dried fruit and organic agave nectar.

The Spice Lab Hickory Smoked Sea Salt and Italian Black Truffle Salt - I have yet to try these, but I love the idea of trying out a new seasoning. The Hickory Smoked Sea Salt is recommended for ribs, burgers, red meat, turkey, and chicken, while the Italian Black Truffle Salt is best suited for beef, eggs, potatoes and pasta.

That does it for my review of the May edition of Love With Food :)

Truly,
Mindy

Beauty Box 5 - May 2014

Last month I decided to try out Beauty Box 5 because they were running a promo where you get a free box when you sign up. For a monthly subscription, the cost is $12 (you can get discounts when you purchase 3, 6, or 12 month subscriptions). This box was also recommended to me by a friend, so I figured that for basically $6/box, it was worth giving it a try.

I was not actively blogging when I received April's box, but if I am being completely honest, I was very underwhelmed with it. It was a mixture of products I already owned or did not use, and I ended up swapping/gifting all but one item.

May's box is a bit better for me.


The only spoiler I saw previous to receiving the box was the Cattiva Precisione Eyeliner, which has a retail value of $20. Waterproof and retractable, it claims to deliver smooth, smudge-resistant lines. It's also paraben-free. I've swatched it on my hand, and it does glide smoothly, and provides a rich color. I'm looking forward to trying this in my makeup routine.

The other items included in this box were:

MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in Beauty Rest'ore, value of $5.99. Highlights for this product is that they are paraben-free, vegan friendly, and 100% biodegradable. Alot of good points there, but I'm just not much of a mask person.

H2O Plus Aqualibrium Marine Cleansing Gel value of $18 for full size (120mL). Made with sea salt and energizing marine botanicals, this oil free cleanser is said to gently exfoliate while protecting your skin from free radicals and environmental damage. I'm currently on the hunt for my "go-to" skincare products, so I'm looking forward to trying this out. The scent is nice, and the sample tube (8mL) should allow for a few washes to see if it's the right product for me.

Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths in Restore, value of $2.97 for full size (10 cloths). These are kind of a "blah" item for me... honestly, I'm just not interested. Doesn't mean it's a bad product, of course. I received 3 individually wrapped cloths, so I could see that they would be nice to throw in your purse, diaper bag, gym bag, or even your glove box.

Harvey Prince perfume in Hello, value of $55 for full size (5.7oz). This is a fragrance I had high expectations for, as I had heard from quite a few members of a makeup group I'm in on Facebook rave about how wonderful it smells. It's a blend of mandarin, grapefruit, forsythia and plumeria. I first spritzed into the air, and I actually really liked the scent. It's fresh and smells like springtime. I spritzed it on my arm, and that's when it went bad for me... My body chemistry is fickle. Scents that are popular usually end up smelling awful on me. Unfortunately, that's what happened with "Hello". After 5 minutes, it just smelled awful on me. As much as I really wanted to love this scent, it just doesn't work for me.

All in all, I would definitely say that May was a step up from April for sure as far as my tastes go. But it just wasn't enough for me to continue with the subscription.

Stay tuned for my next entry, when I review my first box from Love With Food.

Truly,
Mindy

Review of Goody's QuikStyle Paddle brush

Recently my darling daughter has been asking me to blow dry her hair after her showers. She used to be happy with getting it towel dried and braided before bed, and honestly I'm not sure what sparked this sudden interest in the blow dryer, since I rarely blow dry mine.

I almost NEVER blow dry or flat iron my hair. Why? I have A LOT of hair. It's fine, but there is just A LOT of it. I've actually had a hair stylist tell me that if she had as much hair as I do, she'd shave her head because it's too hot here in Florida for that much hair. Yeah, but I don't think I could pull off a shaved head. Not my thing.

Anyway, my daughter's hair is just like her Momma's, which is both a blessing and a curse. Her's takes almost as long to dry. So although I love that my little girl is showing an interest in more big girl things (blow drying her hair, getting her nails painted, etc), I was not enjoying how long it took to get her hair dry.

My el cheapo brush was falling apart, and her little Disney princess one is mean and likes to pull her hair, so off we went to Walmart to scope out new brushes. We came across this one. In our store, it was $11.88 and I was a bit hesitant to pay that much for a brush without doing any research beforehand for reviews. But my daughter was fascinated by the microfiber bristles and I decided to go for it. She's just too cute to resist.



I used it for the first time last night after her shower and let me tell y'all... I AM SOLD. I don't even care that I technically overpaid for it (it's listed for $8.37 on walmart.com). It definitely cut down on the drying time. Packaging states that it cuts drying time by 30%, but I'd honestly say in our case, by about 50%. And not only that, but another perk we've found with this brush is that it cuts down on static and frizz, I'm guessing due to the microfiber bristles.

I've had a chance to look up some reviews now, and they are very good... 4.2 stars on Goody's website and Walmart's website. Reviews are a bit lower on Amazon, but regardless, I think this brush does what it says and really is priced well.

Truly,
Mindy

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

Today's post is a review of my current favorite beauty and makeup products, most of which are part of my daily routine. I am always trying new products due to swaps, subscription boxes, or purchases due to friend recommendations.

You'll notice that I do not have any foundation/concealer/powder products in this review, for two reasons... 1) I live in FL, and when it's hot (ie most of the time), I do not like to wear a full face makeup, and 2) I just haven't found any particular products that I just can't live without (yet).

So here are the products that I'm loving right now:


First up are the epielle cleansing tissues. Cheap, refreshing, soft, and they do a great job at removing my makeup. I personally love the Green Tea, but they also come in Original, Cucumber, Citrus, and Aloe Vera. And best of all, these are ridiculously affordable. A 30ct will run about $1, but I opt for the 60ct for $2 mainly because those come with an easy open/close dispenser on top instead of the peel away sticker dispenser that you'll get with the 30ct packages.

For a daytime moisturizer, I'm loving pur-lisse essential daily moisturizer. I love the addition of the spf 30 since I'm outside alot, and it doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. I received this as a gift and will definitely be in the market for more once I'm out.

**A little side note... as a night moisturizer, I absolutely love Lush's Vanishing Cream Moisturizer. It feels AMAZING, but I'm not a fan of the price. I'd love some recommendations for a cheaper alternative! :)

If I'm putting on a full face makeup (or sometimes even if I'm not!), I use Rimmel Stay Matte Primer. Doesn't take much of this product to help combat shiny oily skin, and I love that it leaves my skin soft and dry for my BB cream application.

Next up is honestly my #1 favorite product EVER right now. My Too Faced Brow Envy kit. This product has literally changed my life! Before receiving this as a gift from my amazing Bestie, I was the girl who, for years, relentlessly plucked her eyebrows into thin lines, only to use a black eyebrow pencil to fill them back in. For years I thought it looked good, too. But this kit has been revolutionary for me. After the first use (and after that first initial "OMG, I look like Groucho Marx!" phase), I was sold. My brows look much classier and natural, and having nice brows really changes your whole face.

Next up is the first quality eyeshadow palette I have ever used... the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette. I received this in my April PopSugar Must Have box. I had read/heard lots of good reviews on this palette, so it was honestly my main reason for signing up with PopSugar (I stayed because I'm seriously loving the quality and selection of their products). The colors are gorgeous, and well pigmented. And as a beginner, what I love most is that it comes with a step by step guide on how to use the palette to create 3 different looks. It's been very helpful to me since I'm still in the learning stage for application. I've heard others mention that the packaging (as with the Brow Envy kit) is bulky, but I appreciate the sturdy, classy packaging.

Onto mascara... I'm not one of those that likes ridiculously long dark lashes that look fake. Some of you may have seen the Younique advertisements that show an "after" pic with a girl looking like she's got a tarantula crawling out of her eyes... not my style. I prefer my lashes to look more natural, but obviously enhanced as mine aren't very long (my son was blessed with the amazing eyelashes from Daddy). So far, I'm loving tarte's lights, camera, flashes mascara. The packaging is nice, the brush works well for my lashes, and it gives me long, dark lashes without looking like a cartoon character. I'm nearing the end of the tube though, and am looking forward to trying out L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara. Be on the lookout for a review in the near future!

Last, but by no means least, is a product I love mainly because it's multi-use. I really like when a product has more than one use, and that's what Lollitint offers. Both a cheek and a lip stain, this was a gift from a sweet friend who was introducing me to the world of blush. I have naturally tan skin, and I just assumed that meant that I didn't need blush. Plus, I tend to shy away from pink and peach shades since I'm not super girly, and most blushes tend to be those shades. Lollitint is described on the packaging as a "candy-orchid tinted lip & cheek stain". I was turned onto stains when I received a stainiac to try, since I'm not a fan of lipstick or lipgloss. I became a fan of stains, so I was excited to try out Lollitint because I figured if I hated it as a blush, I could use it on my lips. My friend and I went to Ulta to try out all of the cheek and lip stains (there are currently 4 - lollitint, posietint, benetint and chachatint), and ultimately decided that the Lollitint was what worked best for me. It was strange to me at first to get used to the idea of "painting" a liquid onto my cheeks, but I definitely prefer this type of product over a traditional powder blush. Anytime I've tried a powder blush, I always put too much on and looked like a clown. Lollitint can be used very subtly or layered for a more dramatic look.

So that's it for this entry... be on the lookout for more, as I'm always trying new products :)

Truly,
Mindy

Subscription Box Love...

So to continue with the introduction...

Part of what you will read about in my blog is my new love of subscription boxes. I'm very new to them, and my budget limits my selection, but through trial and error, I've actually settled on one box. The boxes I have tried are Julep, Cult Cosmetics, Beauty Box 5, ipsy, Birchbox, and PopSugar. Here's a quick breakdown on my opinions of each...

Julep - $24.99/mo - the "stars" of the Julep Maven boxes are their polishes. I absolutely love Julep products. Their polishes are fun, and they do have other beauty items as well. I'm a huge fan of their Luxe Repair Skin Serum and Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum. And if you enter FREECOLOR during checkout, your first box is free, you just pay shipping. I've done this a couple times using different email accounts.

Cult Cosmetics - $24.99/mo - the Cult Cosmetic Blackbox is also centered around nail polish. Like Julep, they also have other beauty items, but I have not tried any. I like the size of the polishes, and I love the selection of colors. Look for a promo on the main page, and you'll get 50% off your first box.

Beauty Box 5 - $12/mo - this is a mostly beauty related box that will give you a variety of different brands, both sample size and full size. I signed up last month when they ran a promo to get an extra box free, so I have received April's box as my free, and will receive May's. Just judging by the April box, I was not impressed. And upon reading other bloggers reviews, although it is an affordable box at $12/mo, the value of what you receive just doesn't stack up to other sub boxes at the same price point. I only kept one item from April's box, but I'm hoping that the May box has more of a wow factor for me.

ipsy - $10/mo - this is a beauty related box that gives you a variety of different brands, both sample and full size. The products also come in a cute makeup bag that is different every month. When you sign up, you will most likely be put on a waiting list, but watch your email, as they offer opportunities to skip the wait list. These bags are definitely a fun way to start your journey into subscription boxes. Although I didn't personally keep much out of the boxes I've received, the bags are always super cute, and I always like at least one thing. I've managed to gift or swap the products I didn't care for. Personally, I feel this sub is worth the price.

Birchbox - $10/mo - this is a mostly beauty related box that will give you a variety of different brands, both sample size and full size. I've received a few boxes, and similar to ipsy, I've found a couple things I have enjoyed, and swapped/gifted the rest. No cute makeup bags with this sub, but they do offer an amazing points system that allows you to purchase things from their online store. Most subscribers to Birchbox will tell you that even if you aren't super thrilled with their boxes, the points system alone is worth subscribing to. You can earn points for referrals, as well as for reviewing the products you receive each month. I'm one referral away from being able to make a purchase off my wish list, so hey, use my referral please! :-)

and I've saved the best for last...

PopSugar - $39.95/mo - this is a beauty and lifestyle box that will give you a variety of different products. I signed up last month during a 50% promo when I saw that they were sending out a Too Faced Natural Eyes palette (worth $36) in every box. Let me just say right now... I was SUPER impressed with my April box. Impressed enough that I cancelled all my subs just so I could afford to subscribe to this one. There was not one item in my April box that I didn't care for. And after some browsing on Pinterest, I found that all of their past boxes have been fantastic. And they seem to have a promo code every month... right now, use AWESOME10 to get $10 off the May box... and again, pretty please use my referral! They also have a nice rewards system for referrals.

So there you have it... these are only a few of the (literally) hundreds of subscription boxes available for your enjoyment. If you'd like to delve more into the subscription box craze, I highly recommend you scoot on over to My Subscription Addiction.

And if you'd like to check out some of the boxes I've received myself, you can check out photos on my Pinterest board.

Truly, Mindy

Mud to Makeup... an introduction

First off, to those that have stumbled into my little corner of cyberspace... Hello!

My name is Mindy, and this is my first blogging experience. The last year has brought so many wonderful new things to my life, and I feel a blog would be a wonderful tribute to memorialize all these milestones, as well as to document what the future has in store.

Rewind to this time last year, and life was pretty normal. I was a stay at home Mom to my 2 little munchkins, who are lovingly nicknamed Pooh and Bubba. Day to day life was routine, and easy with Hubby working full time, Pooh in VPK, and Bubba home with me. I enjoyed baking and gardening, and spending time with my family. But I did feel there was something missing, something just for me as a person, as a woman.

Apparently the Universe had a few "somethings" for me...

Early last year, I connected to an amazing new friend via a Facebook group that I feel honored to call my Bestie. She's been a shining example of how it doesn't matter if you've known someone for 1 month or 10 years, it's how they treat you and stick by you. Our long distance friendship has only given us the opportunity to see each other in person twice, but we have formed an amazing bond that has been such a blessing.

Then in July of last year, I was introduced to an opportunity that has quickly become my passion... I became an Independent Consultant for Thirty-One Gifts. I was not very familiar with the company at first, but after some research, I simply fell in love with the story behind the brand, and the products themselves. Since my Debut Party in August of last year, I have enjoyed every minute of this journey... the support of the amazing women on my team, the incentives that are offered, and the relationships I've made with my customers. Best of all, I finally have something for me! I just signed on my first recruit in March, and have set a goal for myself to recruit my 2nd and promote to Senior Consultant by my 1 year anniversary this July :-)

Shortly after joining Thirty-One, I was introduced to the world of beauty, makeup, subscription boxes, and ultimately, a FB group full of awesome women who have a passion for those things. Now, I was never one to make a fuss over makeup, or fashion, or getting all dolled up. I was the girl who grew up going muddin and camping. Don't get me wrong, I'm still that girl at heart! But my Thirty-One business gives me the opportunity to be invited into people's homes and share the products and opportunity to other women, and I want to look good doing so. Plus, I enjoy putting more effort into looking nice for a night out with my Hubby.

So that was my (hopefully well executed) attempt at explaining the theme of this blog, and the reason I chose Bags, Beauty & BFF's as my blog name. I do hope that you'll stick around to watch as my blog blooms into one that you'll look forward to returning to.

Truly, Mindy