August 2013 Birchbox

I got my first Birchbox in the mail today. I was resistant to get the women's box, but they kept sending the invite so I went with it.

I was thrilled to try the feet wipes and the face spray. I thought I could use the face spray to set my make-up. I found it refreshingly cool, so I may take it to work for when I need to cool down. I have been wanting to try a bb cream and the color seems to be acceptable. I might get one use out of this. It hardly has any product in the tube and is hard to get out. I used what Was left on my finger after testing as a concealer for my eyes.

it fought to come out, then spurted at an angle 

 blended in

The gum will get used, but ehh not my first choice. It looks like one of those gums that go stale fast. I like the box.

It feels like a Monday...

Last night I put the cats frontline on. I did my best to avoid the sores from the ever present fleas. Five hours later he woke me up to this crying, he is also panting and according to the vet has an elevated temp. They think he has a bladder infection and is on antibiotics. Still no miracle cure for the fleas. Hopefully he will feel better soon, for now he is getting cuddles.

Because I have been irresponsible, Charles had to pay the vet. Because Charles has been irresponsible, he has a lot of school expenses. He didn't get financial aid info in to qualify yet and he needs books and to pay for a class he has tested out of. The good news is he tested out so that is less tuition overall. It also opens up four hours on Monday night, more hours available for him to work and transportation for me.

Yes, I ordered more Julep!

I know you think I have enough, but I just keep buying it. I will be sharing some of this with someone very soon. I'm working up a few giveaways. Today's package included duplicates. I wouldn't put it in a giveaway if I didn't want it for myself. Giveaways will be announced when they are ready, here are some sneak peeks of what might be in them.

Lip plumping gloss-arousal, intimacy, invite, extravagant, and ultraviolet. 

My sister love lip plumping products, I like glosses. When I found these on sale, I had to get them. I had read some scary blog posts about this product after ordering. I nervously tried it out. I had previously bought their regular gloss in ultraviolet and poppy. I found the plumping gloss tingled, but was not painful. I have been wearing it for three hours, then wiped it off to try the other colors. 

intimacy

 ultraviolet

 extravagant

 arousal

 invite

The colors are subtle, the shimmer really adheres, and the gloss is long lasting. The polish: Otte- a camel creme and Kylie- a magntic purple.

 Stephani- pewter with gold shimmer and Glenn- a berry red with gold shimmer.

 All together- I look forward to trying these.

Until then here are some swatches from previous packages. This is Evie- raspberry shimmer and Francis- pistachio creme. The white is bunny.

Lois- mauve shimmer, Reiko- rose gold, and Annette- dove gray.

Lacey- navy shimmer

August 2013 Loot Crate

I liked my Julep box so well that I decided to sign up the boys for a few subscription boxes too. Today our first Loot Crate box came while I was in the shower. My fault, I asked Charles to get the mail while I showered and he started opening it without anyone else. It was actually a great box, the theme was released as cake theme for their anniversary month. There were also other portal hints; a loot crate box cut in half and attached to wall "portals." Danny explained the game, Portal, had a woman in a lab compelled to do experiments by a computer voice promising cake. Apparently the voice gradually became more human and the voice or tasks more sinister. There is a running gag that "the cake is a lie." I'm not a gamer, but the boys seemed to understand it.

Danny, our coffee fiend got the t-shirt while Charles snatched up the Portal lab themed bracelet and lanyard. I really like the t-shirt too. In chemistry, I chose caffeine for my project.

Hmm, that first sticker looks familiar. This could be fun. The tattoo is the same as the lanyard and bracelet.

Extras in the box are a Walking Dead figure, for me, and jelly beans, for Danny. Order yours here.

Axes, Knives, and Spears. Oh my.

The kids and I went to an SCA event this weekend. The SCA is a group of medieval re-enactors that focus on learning everything pre-1600. You can find out more here. We had a great time, everyone found something to do. Alex helped with children's activities, Charles helped the fighters, and Danny and I went to thrown weapons practice. In the morning Danny and I practiced with spear and knife throwing. Alex helped with a water fight and the children's tourney. I believe they threw bean bags at the fighters? Charles helped set up battle fields moving hay bails. We met for lunch and went back to our activities. Danny and I picked up knife practice. I didn't do very well and I was fatigued, I played at axe and spear before sitting out. Danny however found he was pretty good at knives. He kept at them all afternoon. Meanwhile, I was so tired I broke not one chair, but actually three by the end of the night just from trying to get up out of them. Alex and then Charles showed up and played. Alex started with the spear and then moved onto the axe. Her first axe throw was a bulls eye. Charles practiced with the spear until it ended. We all ended up with sunburn, the boys got is worse as they didn't use sunscreen.

Normally, we only make it for saturday night, but we were able to get down there friday night. We were so miserable the first night we all agreed to pack up and and go home at 930 pm. I was quite amazed how efficient we were when we had a common goal. It felt like five minutes before we were ready to drive away.

August Picnic Mystery Box

I received my mystery box today. I haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately and while I'm working and cleaning Danny asked me to transfer more money into his account so he ca buy Charles and their friends lunch. I was just a little on the grumpy side when I picked up the small box.

When I opened it, it had 7 polishes and a lipstick trio. I originally thought there were two colors I already owned but Catherine was the only true duplicate. Which happens to be the one Alex said she loved. All the colors are great.

The new colors are: Evie- the raspberry creme with gold shimmer that was promised in every box, Gloria- a coral creme, Dianna- a mint green creme, Maya- a pinkish shimmer, Annette- a greige creme, and Vanessa- a opalescent glitter.

There were three that will replace other brands in my stash. Gloria will replace Wet and Wild's 437F, Dianna will replace Revlon's 580 Electric and, Vanessa will replace a cheap no name glitter. I am concerned with Vanessa's brush, it seams to flare out at tip. 

Vanessa, Maya, and Evie are near misses of Camille, Lois, and Nellie while still being different enough not to complain.

I almost forgot the Paris lipstick trio. It includes Charleston- a sheer cranberry, Sweet Lorraine- a sheer pink, and Lady in Red- a matte crimson. Hmm, I'm not sure about the Lady in Red. I would test it but I might want to gift it. They are smaller than a standard lipstick, but larger than samples.

Do you wear lipstick and if so would you wear a bold red?

Black and White Splatter Effect

My nieces gave me Claire's Splatter yesterday. That is so sweet. I tried it over Julep's Catherine which is a bold red. It is a fun look, I want to try it over blue so it looks like enamelware. This  morning while looking at nail blogs, I noted three different dupes of this used over yellow, blue, and pink. Thank you MadKat.

Dr Who Nail Art

I went out with the kids last night. Alex came over and brought felt for nail polish removal. I had asked for it for my birthday. She also brought me a jar with a deer in it so I could make a terrarium. I haven't decided if I want a summer or a winter theme.

While she was here we tested the felt squares and removed her worn galaxy mani and replaced it with Dr Who. They were done using the brushes that came in my polish and striping bottles. I need to get some real brushes.

Color Swatches and Julep Product Testing

I tried a few of my new colors this week. I used a teal metallic for this first one. It is an older polish without a label. I do know it is one of China Glaze's color changing polishes. The test was to see how well the Pure Ice Watch me go glitter paired with it. I then had someone request a picture of leopard print done with a dotting tool. Note to self, do not leave tools out where boys can get their grubby hands on them. It in now broken.

I also tested out Julep's Sylvia. I accented with the only other purple I had. Sylvia reminded me of grape gumballs. I have to admit that I'm not really a purple person. I know some people who love it. I did once have a cowl necked sweater about the color to the accent nail and I loved it. I even bought purple scrubs a few years back. I just don't have anything purple now or interested in buying.

I tested two of the masks I received in my Julep box this month. I used the hands and feet. They were nice, but they left no lasting effects the next day. I'm giving Alex the nail masks as she likes to pamper herself too.

I tested the One Step at work. I like it and I haven't found another brand with the chili oil. I'm not happy with the applicator though. After three uses it refuses to roll up. I have to shake it loose from container and hold it by the threaded stick.

FreedomTopcoat Test

I wanted to try out the Freedom top coat. It is supposed to use natural light to cure like a gel top coat, but remove like regular polish. Before trying I looked up tips, reviews, and complaints.

 The first complaint was that it drags your polish leaving it streaky. The tips I read for that were to let your polish dry completely before applying top coat, second was to apply a thick layer of top coat without wiping off the brush.

 Various people complained that it was no better or worse than a regular topcoat. Essentially, that it did not cure to a hard shine, was dull, or did not cure in the five minutes. Tips for curing suggest natural sunlight, a 60 watt lamp bulb (julep), and a uv lamp. No one person agreed on these tips often suggesting other tips did not work.

I decided to do a trial. I had painted my nails with Veronica last night and must have gone to bed too soon, as they had fabric imprints. Oops. On my middle finger I used sunlight from my windowsill. My thumb was next, but I did not have a 60 watt incandescent bulb. I used a 13 watt coil bulb 1/2 inch away. My middle finger only got the light available in my room. It is getting a fair amount of morning sun and I have two of the above mentioned bulbs in the light fixture. I also used my regular top coat on the remaining fingers.

All three Freedom topcoat fingers cured nicely in two minutes. I was worried after reading complaints. They have a superior high shine than the topcoat and even corrected the unwanted texture. The regular topcoat minimized it some.

Update- I re-tested it at 3 pm. At this time I get less light in this room. I tested outside, ambient room light and with the lamp. The ambient room lighting had difficulty and did not cure when you had your back to the window blocking the sun. Outside and the previous 15 watt bulb worked. I believe the 15 watt florescent bulb put out the same amount of lumens as a 100 watt incandescent bulb.

Gold Mystery Box and Secret Store

I received the other items I ordered from the secret store.

I was really excited to order the freedom top coat in the secret store and then I noticed the mystery box and had to get it too. I bought a couple pieces of jewelry Tracy- a denim blue sea salt finish, hair ties, and two double make up brushes. One is for Alex and mine has disappeared?!

The mystery box included The Oxygen Nail treatment, which I was very excited about; sunscreen hand cream, a button bracelet; which I managed to break; and four polishes. The colors are Drew- the fushia I discussed recently, Bunny- a white cream with gold micro shimmer, Layne- a sheer pink that looks similar on as the O2 tx, and sheryl- a sheer bronze shimmer.

I weeded out my dupes and made Alex a package. I added the new garment I bought her and one of the hair ties.