My First (Three) Birchbox Reviews!

I should've done this 3 months ago, but I'm starting now.

When I moved out to LA, I started a monthly box subscription through Birchbox. It's been 3 months now and I love it. There are a lot of people who complain about crappy boxes on Facebook, but I won't do that because that's the reason I signed up - to get random samples. Even if they're tiny or I don't use that product, I'm still not going to complain because it's only $10 a month and I've already found some things that I LOVE! (Also because I know that I can cancel anytime and not receive random products that I may or may not use anymore.)

I do take pictures of my box after I open it, but I don't take pictures of individual products. I will start doing that if I continue this blog though. I am not on my own computer right now so I will post those pictures later. Right now, my plan is to use pictures from the website to tell you about what I got and give short reviews.

Birchbox, for those that don't know, is a monthly box subscription. For $10 a month they send you 4-5 samples of beauty and lifestyle items. Subscribers earn 10 points for each review they write and 100 points gives you $10 off in the birchbox.com shop. 

October Box

Ruffian Nail Lacquer: (Full size = $10) The color was really cute, a greenish-gold that I don't own already. The polish itself? Nothing special. Maybe it dries a little quicker than others and that's why it got lumpy in spots when I was putting it on. It also chips off just as quickly as others.

Bain de Terre Macadamia Oil Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner: (Full size = $12-13.50) This smelled really nice but I have really healthy hair so I don't need anything nourishing. It didn't always make my hair feel as clean as my $4 shampoo.

Pop Beauty Aqua Lacquer: (Full size = $14) I love this. I didn't like it as much right away, though I did love the color, but the more I've used it, the more I like it. It looks really bright in the tube, but it matches my lips so well! It adds just enough color and shine to be a casual color. It's supposed to be plumping too, and I guess I feel it a little bit? But it's now my go-to lip gloss. I don't know that I'd pay $14 for it though.

ChapStick Hydration Lock: This was a bonus that everyone got in their boxes. It claims 8-hour hydration, which is a lie. It works about as well as other chapsticks, but this feels a little thicker - in a good way. It's vanilla "flavored" and there's just a hint of it. Nice freebie anyway!

November Box

WEI Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask: (Full size = $42) I've never really used mud masks before so this was a fun sample for me. I painted a thin layer over my face like they told me to, and it still felt dry (unlike what the description said). But after washing it off, my face felt really smooth. I only used half of my tiny sample too, so I get to try it again! Not something I would buy though.

BeeKind Body Lotion: (Full size = $15) I really considered buying this full-size. I just realized I have so many lotions already. It has honey in it and supports bee populations, or something, and smells like lemons. Some reviewers said it smelled like lemon Pledge, which I guess I can see but I really liked it. The sample was a great size for in a purse.

Folle de Joie eau de parfum: (Full size = $98) I did not like this scent. My boyfriend did so I gave it a couple more tries. I sprayed it on a tank top, then wore a tshirt and sweatshirt over and still felt like I was choking on the scent. I actually wrote in my review on the website that it reminds me of little old ladies at Church when I was little. I'm taking this tiny sample home to see if anyone in my family likes it.

WEI Pomegranate Buffing Beads: (Full size = $20) This was a little packet of beads and another gritty (but gentle) substance that you add to any cleanser to create an exfoliating wash. I didn't try these right away because I already use a daily face wash with exfoliating beads. I finally added it to a foaming wash my boyfriend has and it worked really well. If I was someone who only needed it a couple times a week and didn't want to have 2 different cleansers, I would get this, but I'm not. Nice idea anyway.

Chella Highlighter Pencil: (Full size = $18) Now that I know how to use this, I love it! I have really bad dark circles and I've been trying to find something that will cover them. This doesn't completely erase them, but does help a bit. I use a roller-ball concealer first, then a BB cream, then this highlighter in a V shape under my eye and my face looks so much more open. I may have to buy another one when I'm done with this sample, but it was big enough to last a while, so we'll see.

Mighty Leaf Tea - Tea Pouches: (Full size = $9.95) I got a green tea, a black tea, and an herbal tea sample. The green tea smelled amazing, but tasted like any other green tea. I added honey and lemon since I like my tea sweeter. The black tea was vanilla flavored and I added a bit of honey to it. I liked it the more I drank it. I still have yet to try the herbal tea, but I have high hope since my favorite tea is herbal.

December Box

Number 4 Non-Aerosol Hairspray: (Full size = $30) This says it does not make your hair crunchy, which is does a little bit but not bad. It smells pretty good too. I wouldn't pay $30 for it - I'll stick to my $4 bottle. I like aerosol better anyway. But this will make a good travel hairspray for when I go home for Christmas.

Camille Beckman Body Butter: (Full size = $15) I'm in love with this! I've already ordered the full size! I know I said I have other lotions but this is a body butter, so it's thicker. I LOVE the scent (I got Midnight Monarch) and it doesn't feel greasy at all, but is nice and thick. I've been using my sample on my hands and cuticles at night. I can't wait for my full size to come so I can use it more! (It will be great for my 10 days back home in below zero temps)

Benta Berry G-1 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser: (Full size = $16) Um, no. This did not work for me. The sample was the tiniest I've ever received. The website says to use a dime-sized amount on a damp face. I tried this while in the shower over the weekend and a dime size didn't even cover half my face because it doesn't lather at all. I had to use almost the whole tube to try it out and when I washed it off, my face still felt unclean. I explained it to my mom like how when you're wearing makeup and you get your face wet before you wash it... that's how it still felt afterward. I had to use my regular face wash after just to feel clean. It's only redeeming quality was the scent. It had a nice light apricot scent.

Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion: (Full size = $29) I guess you can mix this with your moisturizer or foundation for a healthy glow. I have oily skin so I don't really need to be glowing. I also already have a slight shimmer in my "morning glow" moisturizer. But I used this on my cheekbones a couple times and in certain lights you can see it. I dunno... not for me I guess, but I still appreciate the sample. Some people said it works better on your chest and shoulders. I'll give that a try when the weather is nicer.

Chuao Chocolatier Chocolate Bars: (Full size = $6) I love this product too. I actually got to try a small bite of the popcorn flavor at a thing called Unique LA and was so excited to get the Honeycomb flavor in my box. I'm not a big fan of dark chocolate but this was only 60% dark and had little bits of dried honey that crunched when you bit it. I had to order the 8-pack Chocopod sampler for $9.95 so I can try all the flavors. Apparently our grocery stores sell it but I can't find them anywhere. I've looked in the chocolate aisle and the baking aisle (though I don't know why they'd be there) and at the registers, but this is a specialty item so I'm not sure where it'd be hiding.

My Hunger Games Movie Review

I went to go see The Hunger Games movie at 12:01am, March 23rd, 2012 (yes, the midnight premiere). I was smart enough to buy my tickets on Feb. 22 when they went on sale so I didn't have to stand in line outside the theatre for 5+ hours. I also had perfect seats for our UltraScreen. The guy I went with (not my boyfriend, since he was out of town) and I dressed up because we both happened to be placed in District 5 through Facebook. Here are some pictures:

Ok, you can't really see it but I have lightning bolts coming from my right eye and he has lightning up the right side of his neck. (District 5's industry is Power by the way).
*Side note: I feel like I look young in these pictures. Do I look anywhere near 25? (Ok, 24 yrs, 11 mo, 4 days...)

On with my review! (I am not a "writer" so this isn't laid out very well, and it's not supposed to be a professional review... just my opinions)

I thought The Hunger Games movie was wonderful. I have read comments from others who really didn't like it because it "left out too much" . I guess it all depends on what you were expecting. I think some of those people weren't being realistic - the movie is already 2 1/2 hours long! In my opinion, they included everything they needed to. Yes, there is a lot they had to cut - backstory, character development, lots of beautiful details - but nothing that was pivotal to the story. I think they included all they important stuff (even if it was mentioned then just forgotten.) Plus, if you've read the book, you know the whole story anyway. I heard Suzanne Collins herself use this phrase and I totally agree: the movie is a nice compliment to the books. I have been recommending that you read the books before going to see the movie, to get the full effect. I've also talked to a few people who saw it without having read the books and they've all had positive reviews. One person said he was a little confused at some parts and he knew he was missing something but overall, he enjoyed the movie.

 Other than the lack of backstory of the characters, which they had nothing to do with, I thought the actors were great. I had my reservations about a few of them but I have no complaints after seeing the movie. I can say, I thought Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland were PERFECT!

*WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! IF YOU'VE NOT READ THE BOOKS, OR SEEN THE MOVIE YET, PROCEED WITH CAUTION*

I read a lot of information about this movie and watched a lot of clips before it came out, so it was mostly just filling in the blanks for me. I was disappointed about the mockingjay pin storyline after seeing the trailer, but I later read why they did it and that was ok with me. The reasoning was that they needed to establish the relationship between Katniss and Prim very quickly and Madge was only in about 2 pages of the book. She was unnecessary in the movie because of the time constraints. It's a waste of time to introduce a small character like that, to never see her again... They had to do the same sort of cutback with Katniss's design team - they wanted to focus more on her relationship with Cinna (although there is a pretty important moment in Mockingjay involving her prep team... I wonder what they'll do about that.)

The biggest thing that bothered me was when they showed the memory Katniss has of Peeta giving her the bread. This is when someone who hasn't read the book would really be at a loss. It doesn't express how important this moment is for Katniss. It doesn't show that she is starving - and may starve to death that night - or that she even takes the bread that Peeta throws on the ground. This is her only memory of Peeta and he's already trying to save her but they didn't really complete the scene.

There were a couple things added that I loved! After Rue dies, Katniss solutes District 11 and they solute her back, then Rue's father (we can only assume) starts an uprising right then. For me, this was very moving. I was already an emotional wreck from Rue dying and Katniss singing and then they showed that! I can't even find the words to express what I felt. I don't think I breathed for that whole scene. It was beautiful. I also enjoyed the addition of Seneca's death scene. We never actually see it, but we know what's going to happen. (We also don't know that he is executed until the 2nd book...) They show Seneca being led into a room and then locked in. The room is bare except for a bowl of Nightlock berries sitting on a table in the middle. He is given 2 choices: starve to death or eat the Nightlock and die right away. It's very poetic (rather than him being shot or hanged.)

There were also times they included details just to make sure they were there, then forgot about them and moved on. The time that this is really apparent is when Katniss blows up the Careers' food and damages her ear. We know that she's lost her hearing in that ear when Cato comes back and his voice is muffled, but by the time we hear the "rule change", they've forgotten this detail and never mention it again.

I can't wait to see it again and expand on this a little bit more. I'm going to see it at least 2 more times while it's in the theatre =)

Apple Detox Update

Original Post: 3/10/12

On Thursday night, I ate a large salad and some carrots to prepare for my detox. The salad included croutons, bacon bits and Italian dressing. Later in the night I was hungry again so I decided to eat a cup of applesauce (unsweetened).

Friday morning I started my detox. I went to work at 9am and it was really busy. I've also been working in a new area this week that I'm still trying to get used to (thus, I've been a little stressed and Friday was no exception.) I went on my first break at about 11:15am and ate a Gala apple. It was really good. It was a good thing to have in the morning and I'll probably do it more often. I went on my lunch around 1:20pm and ate a Granny Smith apple. I ate it slowly but I noticed that I wasn't drinking as much water. The apples have so much natural wetness that I just wasn't thirsty. For my third break, around 3:30, I decided to just have a cup of applesauce. I did decide to bring a book with me so I wasn't completely bored on my breaks.

After work I went home and chopped up a Fuji apple to eat. I checked my email and my Facebook, where I found out that the Fargo Film Festival's 2-Minute Film Festival was that night at 9:30pm. I decided to take a nap until 8:45pm then get ready to go.

Throughout the day I noticed I was really tired, which could be for any number of reasons. But by the time 8:45pm came, I really didn't want to get up. I was tired, hungry and I started to get a little moody. Well, maybe not moody, but more like really apathetic. I really wanted to go through with this detox but I really didn't want to eat anymore apples. I just didn't feel well.

So today I woke up, laid in bed and watched some tv. When I finally wanted to get up, I decided to snack on some mini-wheats. I figured my one-day detox was good enough. I read a couple more articles about the apple detox and some say that one day now and then is good for you too. Also, that I should congratulate myself for my accomplishment, and I can also try again later.


*edit 1/15/14* Almost 2 years later, I forgot that I did this and remembered how I felt after rereading. I do not want to do it again. But that's just me. I snack a lot. I don't really care about eating healthy, just eating whatever looks good. If I really wanted to do another detox or "cleanse", there are plenty of other options out here in LA.

My 2-Day Apple Detox

I have decided to try a detox - an apple detox. I found many posts online about this. Basically, all you eat for 2 days are apples. Anytime you're hungry, eat an apple. This is supposed to "reset" your body. I figure, what have I got to lose? It's only 2 days.

The posts I've seen say to eat the whole apple - skin, seeds and core. Really? My thought is: ew. Sooo... I won't be doing that. Just the skin and middle part that people usually eat. I also read a post that said you can mash them up into applesauce or apple juice.

They also say you should prepare for your detox. One post said start about 5 days before, cutting out caffeine, carbs, carbonation, etc (all the bad "c-words" I guess). I haven't had any caffeine since Saturday, or carbonation... just water and a Sobe drink (with coconut water). I forgot about the cutting out carbs thing and had some creamy pasta dish and bread last night, whoops. Oh well. Even today I had a burger, which had a bun, which is bread, which is a carb. *shrug* But the night before, you're supposed to eat a salad for supper, with a light oil dressing, and that's it. Kind of give your body a head-start.

So I had to go buy some things... Today I went to the grocery store after work and probably bought more than I need, but I don't know how hungry I'll get and how much I'll want to "snack" in between my "meals". I decided to get 3 Fuji, 3 Gala, and 5 Granny Smith (because those are my favorites). I also found a bag of 4 Grapples! (This is a big deal. I first tried a Grapple 2 years ago and loved it and haven't been able to find them since. I actually told my mom I really wished I could find them for my detox and there they were!) I also bought a bag of lettuce, some Italian dressing, a bag of croutons, and a bottle of bacon bits for my salad.

I've decided to do my detox over Friday and Saturday. Other people have recommended doing over a weekend but I figured I'd do it one day I work and one day I'm doing nothing. I work 9am-5pm on Friday and I'll just eat my apples for my breaks at work and it should go by fast. I think I'm gonna go to "Clue: The Musical" Friday night so that will take my mind off it even more. Then on Saturday, I have no plans so I'll probably just lay on the couch, watch "Big Bang Theory" and snack on my apples.

I'll update this blog as I go along...