Lip Monthly September Unboxing and Review

By now I think we all know that I'm a sucker for a deal on a sub box!  Lip Monthly was running a half-price on your first bag deal last month, so you know I had to try this one out!

So, I ordered Lip Monthly's September bag on the cheap trial price; I kept waiting for the item to ship before canceling my sub.  Well, apparently with this sub, you end up paying for your 2nd month before your 1st month arrives.  So, that's already points off right there in my mind.

This is the lip monthly bag and items I received for September.  I was surprised at the number of non-lip products in this bag, given that its called Lip Monthly.  But let's give it a whirl:

The Bag:
Woof!  So, its a cosmetics bag, but I feel rather awkward with the company's logo printed all over it.  Advertising is important, but so is making a pleasing bag that considers clientele's aesthetic.  I'm using it for my overwhelming number of already-opened lip products, and it hides in my bathroom cabinet.  Blame my mother for this - its nearly impossible for me to throw out a bag, much to Hubby's chagrin.  Enough said.

Cherimoya Lip Crayon:
I received this in coral.  I swatched it, and it looks great on my skin!  Its a lovely color! I put it on and it totally washes me out.  I think that I'll be using this for a nude lip later this fall.  I wish I had realized what this would look like on; I might have put it up for a give-away or swapped it.

Julie Nail Polish:
I pretty orangey-coral color that would have been perfect for this past summer.  I was a little disappointed that the color was not closer to on trend for fall, but it'll be very nice once spring rolls around.

Pur~lisse Sunscreen:
No joke.  This is not even a moisturizer with SPF.  Its sunscreen, and it smells strong!  It feels okay going on, but I won't be wearing this unless I'm a camp counselor in the summertime again.  Not my cup of tea.

Eco Lips:
I'm swimming in lip balm since my darling mother is an avid Burt's Bees addict.  The scent is an odd vanilla hemp.  hmm.  I don't even know if I'll bother using this product or not.  Living in CA, I'm a little over this hemp craze.

Cherimoya Eye Liner:

I received Latte #24 and promptly gave to a friend.  The color appears like nothing on my skin, and I have light skin.  It does have a smooth texture and built in sharpener, which is a plus for me.

Overall Assessment:
An overly strong-smelling sample of facial sunscreen from a company that I feel overprices its items, plus a tacky bag, and not-up-front shipping/ charging schedules equals a not-impressed graduate student on a budget.  But since I'm already charged for October, let's see what the next bag looks like!

+Lip Monthly

Old Factory Candle Gift Set Review

I am so excited about this post!  Old Factory Candles sent me this lovely candle gift set to review!

According to Old Factory's Product Description:
Old Factory candles are hand-poured in the USA with natural soy wax, self-trimming cotton candle wicks, and premium fragrance oils. The Old Factory Candle Gift Sets each contain 3 different scented candles. Each candle burns clean and even for 20 hours. The subtle jar design makes it the perfect complement for any decor, and any room of the house - kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, family room, great room, and basement. Each gift set is themed around a group of related fragrances. So everyone is sure to find something perfect for every occasion, every room in the house, and all the special someones in your life. Old Factory Candle Gift Sets are sold exclusively on Amazon.

 Old Factory Candle Gift Sets are available in a wonderful range of fun collections:

Fall Harvest - Pumpkin Spice, Cranberry, Autumn Leaves
Happy Holidays - Christmas Tree, Candy Cane, Gingerbread
Winter Wonderland - Hot Cocoa, Roasted Chestnut, First Snow
Romance - Rose Petals, Champagne, Dark Chocolate
Fresh & Clean - Lemongrass, Olive Blossom, Fresh Linen
Spa Day - Cucumber, Lemongrass, Green Tea
Vacation - Sea Breeze, Hawaiian Lei, Awapuhi
Coffee Shop - Coffee Bean, Hazelnut, Chai Tea
Man Cave - Straight Razor, Leather, Mahogany
High as a Kite - Cannabis, Incense, Bag O' Cookies
New Born Baby - Baby Powder, Baby Shampoo, First Blanket
50 Shades - Leather, Jasmine Bubbles, Vanilla Sex

Old Factory Candle Gift Sets are exclusively available at Amazon.com.

 I chose to review the gift set, "Fresh & Clean."  I wanted something that would be appropriate anywhere in my tiny apartment throughout the year.  This collection has definitely not disappointed me.  I have thoroughly enjoyed these candles while sitting at my desk reading and writing for my second round of comprehensive exams, blogging, and generally hanging out on the internets. :-)

When I pulled these candles out of the box, I'll admit that they were a bit smaller than I anticipated.  I guess I'm still getting used to what 2 oz. really looks like.  The lids fit well, and the labels are very well attached (no worries about them flaking off the steam from a hot bath!).  They have a nice weight, and the glass is sturdy.  (They already took a tumble, unlit, and were fine!)

Before burning them, I smelled them individually.  I was really surprised about how much I enjoyed each of them individually.  When I ordered this collection, I was a bit skeptical about Lemongrass, since lemon scents are not usually my favorite.  However, I was very pleasantly surprised!  They are all very lovely scents.

Lemongrass - clean lemon scent with a hint of sweet.

Olive Blossom - a delicate floral scent that reminds of walking through a flower garden.

Fresh Linen - a crisp scent that reminds me of that fresh out of the bath smell.

They burn very cleanly, and are the perfect size for any space.  I recommend burning the set together.  When I sampled the olive blossom solo, I really couldn't smell it.  However, burning all three together creates a lovely and dynamic scent that has quite a throw distance! This gift set definitely lives up to its name, Fresh & Clean!

I must say that as a graduate student on a tight budget, $25 for a candle gift set is definitely a splurge.  However, if you are in search for a gift for yourself or someone else, these are worth the cost.  I will be enjoying this set for quite some time while studying, relaxing, and entertaining friends!

Disclosure: Old Factory Candles sponsored this review by providing samples for review. This postis also powered by Brandbacker. Information about Old Factory Candles is gleaned from their product information available on the box and at Amazon.com.  All opinions and pictures are my own. 

Woman Walking

So, I saw this article today:

http://www.vox.com/2014/10/29/7088867/catcall-video-hollaback-rape-threats

And it is about the responses to the video below:

Its about a woman who secretly tapes 10 hours of herself walking down a NYC street, silently; she is normally dressed and made-up.  And she experiences over 100 incidents of catcalls, whistles, and other forms of harassment including one uncomfortably close walking buddy for at least five minutes.

Apparently, Hollaback, the organization that produced the video has reported a slew of rape threats and other violent threats posted in response to this video.  While it is clear that this is hitting a nerve in NYC as Hollaback concluded, it makes the reality of our rape culture all the more clear to me.

This reminded me of an incident I experienced walking my dog a few mornings ago, in my oversized sweats, greasy hair pulled back in a pony tail and with some seriously bad morning breath.  (I can say, that it really bothers me that I feel compelled to start this story with what I'm wearing?)  I am accustomed to people complimenting my dog.  He is really, super adorable.

See??  Pretty Puppy!

He's part Corgi, has short little legs, a spunky personality, and always looks like he's smiling.  I'm cool with pretty much anyone complimenting my dog.  Seriously, I know he's adorable, but I love hearing it!

But what I don't love is when men use my adorable Puppy-dog as a way to hit on me.  Its just not cool.  I love my dog, and getting a happy response from me when you compliment him does not, in any way, demonstrate interest in you, Mr. Random-Dude.

So back to the other morning, I pass Mr. Random as we are walking in opposite directions.  And Mr. Random compliments Puppy.  But he says, "Cute dog" in that way I've learned is a segue into chatting me up.  So, I politely say, "Thank you," and keep walking.  I turn the corner, Puppy stops to sniff something, and low and behold, Mr. Random has doubled-back, turned the corner, and headed straight toward me.  I am more than a little uncomfortable, so I call him on it, politely.  I ask, "How are you this morning?"  I hope that my hot-mess of morning breath will deter any other thoughts he might have.  We have an awkward exchange regarding the state of our mornings, and Mr. Random introduces himself and shakes my hand before he high-tails it away from me.  I make sure there's some distance between us before I duck into my building, safe behind a locked security door.

The reality is that Mr. Random really might have been burning time since he was early to work (the sidewalk behind my apartment building is a main thoroughfare for people walking to the BART).  Maybe he decided to go to McDonald's, which is right across the street from the entrance to my apartment building.  I don't know, but as a woman, walking my dog with few other people in sight, I have to be on guard.  Mr. Random, and every other Mr. Random I have yet to encounter, its not personal.  My reality as a woman is that walking is simply not safe.  It is always a risk.

As the video that Shosana B. Roberts shows, and the vile responses to confirm, women are expected by society, to allow men to behave however they wish with the understanding that one of the most common first questions people in our society ask regarding a rape case is, "well, what was she wearing?"  Somehow women are expected to both protect our sexuality while also not telling aggressors that their behavior is inappropriate.  We must self-protect without causing offense.

Every woman experiences this reality.  Every. single. one.  NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, El Cerrito, SF, my small hometown of Valdosta, GA.  This happens all over our nation, and it must stop.

For more on this, check out Stop Street Harrassment at their website or on twitter.

Moustache Coffee Review October

I am not quite a coffee-snob, but I have very definite options about coffee.  Growing up, the smells of coffee were associated with waking up, mid-afternoon conversations, and decadent desserts!  I was bound to become inseparable from my own coffee cup.  In December, Hubby sealed the deal by getting me my own french press and hand burr grinder.  I'm in love, and the perfect morning begins with the churgling sounds of my electric tea kettle followed by the timer telling coffee is ready!

I tried Moustache Coffee via their 2 oz. free trial.  I'll admit that I wasn't thrilled at first, but the coffee grew on me.  Then came my August Bag.  I was done.  Totally addicted, and I'm never looking back.  I can only splurge on one bag of coffee a month from Moustache since they run $18.50/ bag.  So, I've been savoring October's bag all month, and trying to make it stretch.

Let me tell you about this month's roast.  Everyone has different ways of determining good coffee.  For me, I am most impressed with how much I like it cold, but I hate cold coffee.  Not iced coffee.  Cold, used to be hot, sat-out-too-long tepid coffee is one of the worst things to me.  Ugh.  

But let me tell you, this coffee I'll drink until the cup is empty no matter what temperature it is! Its smooth, with the perfect balance of acidity and chocolate.  That description card says "creamy body," and its no joke.

So, I say all of this to say that I am going to be loyal to Moustache Coffee for a long time.  Their customer service is great.  Their team has the best sense of humor.  Not to mention the story behind their company name is priceless!  If you enjoy coffee, this is one subscription box not to overlook!

If you want to check them out, I'd love it if you used my referral link so I can keep funding my coffee habit on a doctoral student budget.  But if not, you can also google them! :-)

+The Moustache Coffee Club

SwaagBox October Unboxing and Review

I can't pass up a deal.  Its really hard.  $5 for a box of tampons, you say?  You'll even throw in jewelry, make-up, and other goodies, you say?  Oh Swaagbox, you've got my number.

So, this is the swaagbox I tried out this month.  I got it on their $5 deal.  The box of tampons alone costs about $6-7 at my local Target (because everything is expense in CA).  This normally runs $14/ month, which I think is a little steep, but then again, I'm a little cheap.  I am a sucker for these subscription boxes on reduced cost or free trials though!

About SwaagBox according to their Website:

Each period cycle we send you necessary supplies as well as jewelry and makeup. Choose from name brand tampons and pads, tell us your skin type and fashion type and we will customize your jewelry and makeup to your wants.

Each month our personal shoppers find the best jewelry pieces and name brand makeup to match your needs, those items along with your tampons or pads of choice are then expertly packaged and shipped via USPS to your front door.

We also offer options to add to your box. Choose Venus razor blade refill cartridges and/or double the jewelry and makeup each month.

So, here we go:

The box was a plain, brown box, and there was no insert card; the items were slightly askew in the box.  I have come to enjoy the pizzaz of tissue paper and product cards that are part of other subscription boxes so this was a little disappointing.

Kotex U Tampons (18ct)
Swaagbox lets you choose from an assortment of pads/ tampons and brands, which is pretty nice!

Tootsie Rolls (not pictured)
Sorry readers, hubby got into the chocolates before this picture was taken.  But there were a small handful of chocolate goodies included in the box.

Hard Candy Make-Up
Little makeup surprises included dark grey eyeshadow and blue eyeliner.  The eyeshadow was pretty broken up, but I used this tip to fix it.  Now its as good as new!

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polishes
One in pink and one in light grey.  Nice products, but nothing terribly exciting.

Jewelry Item
This lovely pink breast-cancer awareness bracelet came in a lovely black velvet pouch.  Its a bit stiff, and it feels a bit cheap, but its really not bad.  Could be a nice accent bracelet on a casual day with friends.

Overall Assessment:
Much like my impression of BB5, this is a great box for $5, but not for $14.  There's nothing attractive about the packaging, the makeup and nail polish, while nice, aren't anything special.  Tootsie rolls might make Hubby happy, but for me, they simply don't count as chocolates.  I guess I have really high standards for the value to cost ratio for subscription boxes I decide to keep.  If you want to try out swaagbox yourself, $5 isn't a bad deal at all, and here's a link for that deal: http://www.swaagbox.com/tombox/1/?SSAID=848658 

Beauty Box 5 August Unboxing and Review

So, recently I had someone ask me about my Beauty Box 5 (BB5) experience, and I realized that a post might be helpful.

Here's the low down on BB5 from their website:

We understand your beauty needs and your busy lifestyle. And we're here to help. Beauty Box 5 is a subscription-based, beauty sampling service that delivers 5 deluxe samples and full-sized products right to your door every month. It's a cosmetic jungle out there and we want to lend a helping hand by introducing you to new brands and great products, while sharing tips on the best ways to use them.  

So, here we go!

This is the BB5 I ordered in August as part of their half-price on a single box deal. I decided it wasn't really my thing for $12, so I cancelled after this reduced cost trial.  But, for half the cost, I was pretty happy with it.  Here's what I got:

Nanacoco Lip Gloss in Carmel Latte
I love the look of the product!  The packaging is nice, and it has a pleasant smell. Carmel Latte is a lovely nude gloss, which on trend right now.  The applicator sponge feels great on my lips.  But that's where my love for this item ends.  The gloss itself comes out way too thick.  I know, blend it right?  But its so sticky, that blending it is just unpleasant.

La Fresh travel-lite Facial Cleansing Wipes
Its a lovely travel size of facial cleansing wipes.  Perfect for throwing in a bag and heading to the gym or the airport.  Also great for those nights when you know you need to take off your make-up but you're just. so. tired.  They smell clean, like soap.  They work really well.  But, they're also nothing really special to me.

Pur~lisse Pur-Moist Moisturizer
I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for travel size face care items.  I blame my mother.  Definitely, all. her. fault that I love these little bottles.  But that obvious bias aside, this moisturizer is actually pretty nice!  Definitely won't be buying the full size bottle for $50.  But this is a little star.  Smell great, feels silky and light, and a little bit goes a very long way!

Nail Polish
Meh, this item is a nice light teal glitter that is perfect to layer over other nail colors.  I just won't be writing home to my mommy talking about how marvelous it is.  If you really want awesome nail colors, I personally recommend Julep.  There's also Square Hue or Cult Nails that seem solid.

Roux Anti-Aging Hair Serum Leave-in Treatment
Now, for me, this is the star of the show.  I don't usually use a lot of hair products, so I was really surprised by how much I like this item once I sampled it.  This is a full size bottle that normally retails for about $12 (which is the normal cost of BB5).  It really does deliver!  It gives me more volume near my roots, which is great for me.  It smells great, and I've noticed that my previously darkened natural highlights are peaking out again!

So, all-in-all, I have nothing bad to say about BB5.  I just didn't feel like it was really for me.  If you're interested, you can visit their website: http://www.beautybox5.com/  They're constantly running deals, so hit up google for the latest code!

Graduate Student Reflections on Love

So, the past three weeks, I've been crazily cramming for my general comprehensive exams.  So, two monstrous, four-hour closed book, tell us everything you know about Old Testament and then New Testament/ Intertestamental literature, exams.  Sure, I could have scheduled them later in the semester, but I needed them done.  DONE.  So, I planned my daddy's perfect birthday present, I would be done with these painful general comps.  

Somehow in planning what I needed, I forgot about my dear, sweet husband.  But Hubby stuck with me through the hours of me sitting at my desk studying . . . and sometimes me sitting at my desk trying to study and failing miserably . . . while I became less and less pleasant, compassionate, and able to help with anything around the apartment.  Then, he patiently quizzed me through all 35 of the outlines I had prepared to ensure that I was ready for those monstrous exams.

I have a very simple perspective on marriage: It is too damn hard to do it with the wrong person.

In fumbling over facebook today, I saw this article in a friend's post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-adam-smith/real-love-is-a-choice_b_6039412.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

Then I got to thinking about the fact that love is a choice beyond our romantic relationships.

In the past few weeks I've come to realize in a whole new way that it takes a village to create a Ph.D.  There's no way that I could have made it through all of the stress, panic inducing self-doubt, and overwhelming anxiety without the people who have become my support-network.

While Hubby is the central hub for me, he can't be my only support.  It wouldn't be fair.  I have to find ways of recharging so that I can also love, support, and encourage him through his own mid-30s struggles.  My D&D group ensures that I have space to be silly, not think about smart things, and ensure that one night a week its just about being a normal person.  My Puppy promises me all the cuddles I can stand, especially when I'm stressed out; he makes me get up from my desk for daily walks, and sit on the couch for calming cuddles.  My Mommy is seriously on speed-dial for the pep talks, prayers, and reassurance that I'm not actually insane, I'm just a doctoral student.  Daddy & my Wanda have been my life-preserver so many times in so many ways that I have given up counting. When I am reminded of how so many people choose to love me, it blows me away.

Extending love is a choice.  Receiving love is another choice.  

Its not just in marriage.  Its in every relationship, every interaction.

#aboutme

A Few of My Favorite Frugal Things!

Specifically, free stuff sites.  Now, if you've spent any time combing the internet you know that most "freebie" sites are filled with scams, data phishing, and frustrating surveys that take forever to fill out only to produce a page of crappy free items that you could have requested directly from the manufacturer's website if you had only known they were there!

During my breaks from comprehensive exam preparation this summer, also known as productive-procrastination, I found several sites that I absolutely love.  The sites themselves don't require surveys, creepy personal information, or accepting deals from other sites; although I've found some links they put up from time to time do take me to one of those sites (but only rarely).

Here's a collection of the freebies I've scored over the past 2-3 months.  I have a few favorite freebie sites for finding these deals.  These are the links I skim through while sipping coffee and cursing being awake in the morning:

Target Free Samples - While Target doesn't run samples very often, they go fast, and are pretty good


USA Todays Freebie Site - This site regularly posts really awesome freebies; new links everyday.  They also mark when freebies have expired, which is super helpful!


All You Free Samples - This site usually posts a few free samples each day, but the timing of their posts is irregular.  Not my favorite, but sometimes they have real gems!


Get It Free - This site sometimes has freebies that no one else posts, and has an internal control for maintaining only up-to-date freebie offers.



I hope you have fun looking through these sites! Be on the look out for a second installment of my favorite things!

Please share your favorite freebie sites in the comments below!

#myfavoritethings #fabulouslyfrugal

Nail 911 Review

So this past summer I started painting my nails A LOT.  I also got a bit happy with the nail buffer blocks I got from Julep, which left me with relatively weakened nails for the first time in my life.  It freaked me out a little.  Julep was running a special on this little set, so I took the plunge.  I'm very happy that I did!

This the product description from Julep:

Got an emergency on your hands? Help is just two steps away. Julep Nail Therapy nourishes and strengthens with vitamins B, C, and E, while Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum is packed with peptides to enhance the natural growth process, green tea leaf extracts to condition, and sugar cane enzymes to dissolve dull surface cells. Great for damaged or gel-ravaged nails.

Set Includes:

• Julep Nail Therapy
• Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum

To use:

• Brush one coat of Nail Therapy onto clean, dry nails two to three times weekly. It can be worn alone or used as a base coat.
• Apply Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum to cuticle area twice daily for two weeks, then once a week for maintenance. Use on bare or polished nails.
  
  The Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum is a wonderful travel/ purse size.  I've been using the larger dispenser for a few months, and my cuticles have never been healthier.  I put two light coats of the Julep Nail Therapy polish, and it lasted for over a week before I couldn't wait any longer to see the results!  My nails felt smooth and definitely stronger than they had before I put on the Nail Therapy polish.  This product is WAAYYY better than Julep's Oxygen Nail Treatment, which left me totally underwhelmed.  I highly recommend this product, especially if its on discount!
  
  
  If you're interested in trying Julep, use this link and enter code FREEFALL to try one month for only the cost of shipping (about $2.99).
  
  #beauty #review

SUPER SCORE!

Okay, I keep harping on ibotta.  But seriously.  

I found that ibotta has a deal for a $5 rebate on a Birchbox Gift Subscription.

Then I found a code on retailmenot.com for 100 bonus points for signing up for a subscription (bbstore100)

So, I logged into Birchbox using the link from ibotta, and bought myself a 3 month subscription ($30)  Then I added They're Real Mascara Mini ($10)

At checkout, I added a mystery sample pack ($10) that I got for free since my order was over $35
And I entered my code for 100 BB points

So,  I paid $40 upfront for the following:

3 months of Birchbox Subscription
1 They're Real Mascara Mini
1 Mystery Sample Bonus
100 extra BB points

Retail Value of Items = $60

Amount Paid after Rebate = $35

Plus, I'll get an additional 50 BB pts per box for my reviews!

I hope that you all enjoy this tip!  Do you have any tips for saving $$ on subscription boxes? 

October Birchbox Unboxing and Review

I finally received my Birchbox this morning! YAY!  Since I live on the West Coast, it takes forever to arrive, and then it takes longer when I don't know its waiting at my leasing office . . . and then the office is closed Sundays.  ANYWHO.  ITS HERE!!

First thing I noticed was the addressee - The Dazzling Suzanne Miller!  This was such a pick-me-up after waiting so long for this box.  It totally made me feel special this morning!

After all the online drama about who did and who didn't receive a beauty blender, I wasn't holding my breath.  I didn't get one.  Oh well.  (I have something similar I got for $.45 off an Amazon special that works perfectly well for me.)

I am THRILLED with my box of goodies this month!

(A note on my pricing, I feel a little annoyed with the full price value, since these are smaller items.  However, I don't also don't find it helpful to simply do a breakdown of the value using the MRSP of the full size version  So, what I've done is try to find prices for these items as though you wanted to re-create this box through various online sources. When I can't, then I estimate, and I'll state that the price is estimated.  I hope that knowing these tiny sizes are available elsewhere is helpful for those of you who just want to try something you didn't get, or need something for your travel kit!)

This month's loot:

Beauty Protector, Protect & Detangle (1.5 oz $4.11 estimated)

I can't wait to try this since I blow dry my hair at least 3x a week!  Apparently Birchbox Dazzlers love it and rave about it all the time.  It smells soooo good, too!!

dr. brandt, pores no more vacuum cleaner ($6.95 .25oz +beautychoice )

Apparently this is an amazing blackheads extractor mask.  I have never had problems with blackheads, so I might gift this to a friend.

CoastalScents, Revealed 2 Sampler in Ballerina ( $7-8 +eBay )

I would have never guessed that people would try to sell this on ebay!  But I guess anything goes these days.  I'm SUPER excited about this item, because I've been wanting to play with some new purple and pink eye shadow combos.  This will satisfy that desire in a cost-effective way (which means hubby will be happy!)

Balance Me, extra care Wonder Eye Cream ($17.95 .2 fl oz +Balance Me )

WOW! I love eyecreams!  My mother always told me to moisturize and care for my skin, and it will take care of me!  (She's 62 now and doesn't look a day over 50, y'all, for reals.)  I am stoked about this lovely little travel size.  I just got some eyecream from YesTo Blueberries, which is great, and will last forever, but this will be perfect for traveling!  When I googled this little gem, I found that the manufacturer offers it for 11, which is about $18 dollars, talk about good value here!

ModelCo, Party Proof Lipstick in Kitty ($16.95 .13oz +MODEL&CO )

I think this is a great shade for me, especially since I live for a bold eye!  I'm always tired these days, so a bold eye promises that I look awake and competent, even when I just want to crawl back under the covers.  This formula is super soft and highly moisturizing.  This is sure to be one of my new favorites!

Concluding Thoughts
For $10, I received approximately ... wait for it! (I have to pull out my calculator) just over $50 worth of beauty products, all but one of which I will TOTALLY be using in my everyday life!

Did you get a Birchbox or a different subscription box this month?  What were your favorite goodies?  What splurge are you saving your BB points (or other company points) to get for yourself?

If you haven't tried Birchbox yet, and are interested, you can follow this link (yes, its my referral link).  If you have ibotta, go through their site for $3 off of one month or $5 off of a subscription!  Remember the great thing about BB is that they reward you for your product reviews on your monthly box items (10 pts/ review, and 100 pts = $10!)

+Birchbox +Balance Me +MODEL&CO

Thoughts on Amora Coffee

In my obsessive hunts for free things to avoid preparing for my comprehensive exams this past summer, I stumbled upon Amora Coffee.

They run a pretty sweet deal!  $1 for a bag of coffee a silver coffee scoop (pictured above) with free shipping!

However, if you fail to cancel in time, or adjust your order, you'll get sent 4 bags of whatever roast you ordered for your first box (cost = $14.95/bag), along with a free coffee canister.  Customer service had mercy on me, closed my account and refunded $25 of the cost of that second box.  I have to give them serious credit for their customer service.  Yes, its based in TN, so turn on your charm, use "sir" and "m'am," and I'm sure they'll treat you just as well.

If I had continued subscribing, I would have gotten a free travel mug, and eventually a very nice coffee maker.  But I didn't, because, well, this isn't about free stuff.  Its really about coffee.

So, the central question!  How is their coffee??  The bags pictured are their medium roast called Elegante.  Its coffee.  No exciting notes of anything.  No complex flavors.  Just good 'ol coffee.  I'd say that if you are a poor grad student, take the bag of coffee for a $1, and then cancel your subscription.  At least its a cheap, decent bag of caffeine for your early mornings or late nights!

If you're interested in this deal head over here: http://www.amoracoffee.com/ and click on the red box on the right side of the screen entitled FREE OFFER.

If you're interested in really good coffee via subscription, stay tuned for my upcoming review!!

#food

Target and Walmart Beauty Boxes

Target and Walmart Beauty Boxes!  

So, I just signed up for Target and Walmart Beauty Boxes.  I'm super excited to try these boxes and review them for my new blog!

Walmart's beauty boxes arrive four times a year, one for each season.  The box is free!  They charge only $5 for shipping.  The link is below:

https://beautybox.walmart.com/

Apparently Target does a beauty box every-so-often, so I suggest that you get this one while you can!  Unlike Walmart, which is a surprise box, Target tells you exactly what's inside this box.  You'll receive 5 beauty items for $7 and free shipping!  (That's a better deal than Beauty Box 5!)  Plus, if you have a Target Redcard, you'll get your additional 5% off! 

http://www.target.com/p/target-beauty-box/-/A-16331809