Fun Review: Birchbox

I'd heard a bit about Birchbox earlier in the year, but since I was on the "baby train" I didn't look into it (I should also note that everytime I've attempted to write "Birchbox" I have, instead, written "Birthbox"). Since it had nothing to do with diapers, pacifiers or cribs, it wasn't really on my radar.

Now that I'm trying to get back on the "me train" a little bit, I decided to look into it. After going to the site I checked out what it was all about: "Birchbox is the best way to discover new grooming, beauty and lifestyle products. Sample top products from high-end brands, get expert advice, buy new favorites and earn points with every purchase."

I was intrigued. And delighted to see that a subscription was only $10 a month. While a little bit of an extravagence (I mean, it's definitely a want over a need), I decided it was at least worth giving it a shot. If it what I received in the first box didn't feel worth $10, I could easily cancel.

After being excited about signing up, I was midly disappointed that there was a waitlist! But after a few weeks I received an email that the wait was over!

My first box arrived a few weeks later. Soy Joy bar? Delicious. Full sized masacara? Awesome. Perfume sample, dry shampoo sample, and small nail polish? Extra nice! I enjoyed each one of the products. And with that, I kept my subscription and anxiously awaited for the next month.




{source}


I just received my second box. Adorable nail file? Perfect for filing Sadie's little nails! Perfume sample, cute little mini blush, an almost-full-sized lip balm, and a good-sized clarifying shampoo? Amazing!

{source}

The packaging is so fantastic, too, that I've been able to re-use the boxes for other gifts. And while mostly samples (with the occasional full-sized item thrown in), almost everything is very usable. Sometimes when you get beauty samples the arrive in flimsy little single-use packages that aren't very practical. What Birchbox sends are good quality, usable items. The shampoo is a perfect travel size, the lip balm is barely smaller than the full-sized product, the perfume samples are nice little samples with a spray top. The only downside so far has been the dry shampoo. It's a delicious smelling lavendar, but since it's just a little paper packet you cannot close it. Therefore, my entire medicine cabinet smells like lavendar. Not that I'm complaining, but it is a tad bit messy.

Overall, the value is totally there at $10 a month. I'm a busy working mom and I can never justify spending money on myself for beauty products. I subscribe to fast/easiest/cheapest most of the time. So I love the opportunity to try something new and have something a little special sent to me each month.

Intrigued and want to sign up? Just follow my referral link!

Note: this review simply expresses my personal experience with Birchbox, which I pay for each month.

DIY Christmas Stockings

I've been chugging right along with my current crafting/sewing projects I'd wanted to do! So much to do, so little time!

With the Christmas holiday around the corner, I wanted to make sure we had family stockings! While Sadie won't know/remember whether or not she had a stocking for her first Christmas, I would know. But I didn't really want to spend the money on stockings, especially since fabric is so much cheaper than buying pre-made stockings.

I found a super easy and free pattern on About.com. Their version made not be the prettiest and the instructions aren't the clearest, but free is always great!

I spent $7.50 on fabric (1/2 yard of green chevron and 1/2 yard of pink chevron) along with some solid colors I already had in my fabric stash and some felt I had on hand for the names. With these supplies I was able to make four stockings.

And...voila! (please excuse the poor quality iPhone picture!)

They aren't perfect but they were made with love! And they're bright, cheery, and fun. And, as I said, only cost me $7.50! I've seen similar stockings selling on Etsy for $25+ per stocking. I also have a fourth stocking for our pup Charlie, but with the longest name in the bunch I haven't been able to sew his name onto his stocking. That will probably be a project for January when I have more time on my hands.

So, one project done, a million to go over the next couple of weeks!