Review: Natural & Curly Hair Care Essential Kit

I picked up this little Jane Carter kit in Target, tried it out several times,and decided to do a review. I have not done many reviews for hair products but I plan to do more soon. Check out the video and let me know what you think.

                                                     

                                                          After taking out my braids

After separating 

Close-up

October 2013 Birchbox Unboxing #BBbeautybuzz

I'm a little late posting this, but here is my October 2013 Birchbox unboxing. And while I'm satisfied with my box, I saw a few items (in other unboxings) that I would have loved to get. Especially the Pop Beauty gloss and the Liz Earle skincare. I'm cool with my box though. Check out the video and let me know what you think. Don't forget to like, rate, and subscribe!

from l to r

Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation  

full size retails for $42

Bain de Terre Macadamia Oil Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner (1.7 oz travel sizes)

full sizes retail for $12 and $13.50

*Birchbox Find: Chapstick Hydration Lock Lip Moisturizer (full-size) 

Evologie Stay Clear Cream (.33 oz sample)

full size retails for $62

*Birchbox Find - items that are in addition to, never in place of, usual samples

                                                                   

June 2013 Birchbox Unboxing

Check out what I got in this month's Birchbox. Feel free to rate, comment, and subscribe! Join Birchbox for $10/month HERE

Birchbox postcards

Davines OI/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion 3ml/0.10oz sample
full-size retails for $40

Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner sample 12ml/0.41oz

Davines Smoothing Shampoo 2.5oz
full-size retails for $24

Mirenesse Glossy Kiss full-size Shade: Quick Kiss
full-size retails for $26.55

Color Club Polish 7ml-0.25oz mini
Wanderlust collection with 4 minis retails for $8

Oscar de la Renta Something Blue sample vial
retails for $85-$115

Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox May 2013 Unboxing

I got my Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox a couple of days ago. Below is  a video of everything I got in the box.
I received this box for free from Influenster! It is an invited community. I have a few invites-let me know if you want one.  Here is little info from the site:

"Influenster is a free -to-join community of invited trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influenster creates links between brands and members to reward participation and influence future products."

Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox May 2013

Secret Outlast Clear Gel Antiperspirant/deodorant
retails at 4.59

NYC New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm
retail for $2.99

Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-On Manicure
retails for $5.99-$7.99

Osis Gelastic gel
retails for $18.00

Tastykake Kandy Bar Kakes
retails for $4.49/box

Out and About: Green Festival Chicago 2013

On Sunday, 19, 2013, the beau and I went to the Green Festival which we've done for the past 4 years. It was held at Navy Pier and we were having lovely weather that day. So it felt great on the pier. When we entered the exhibit we saw one of the beau's former co-workers at the Nature's Conservancy booth. We chatted with her for a minute and then we took a photo for their All Hands On Earth Movement and got a free t-shirt afterwards.

The dry erase board says we're eating less meat to help the environment

Next, we just walked around checking out all of the booths. Especially the food/snack booths which were all sampling their products. And I, of course, had to see all of the health and beauty exhibitors. And there were quite a few but only one of them really captured my attention. And my wallet. Browsed the photos below to see what we checked out .

                                                                                 

There were plenty of food/snack items to sample but the one I enjoyed the most was from Luna & Larry's Organic Coconut Bliss which is an alternative to ice cream. I've tried this product before but they had some new flavors. I sampled the Mocha Maca Crunch variety and it was delicious. 

Manitoba Harvest was there with samples of their Hemp Hearts and their new Hemp Pro 70 protein powder. I picked up a couple of samples but I also bought some Hemp Hearts which I have had before. They also had a twitter contest going on which I entered. And guess what? I won! Yaaaay. I got a twitter mention this morning letting me know that I won. The prize is a $100 gift certificate for Manitobaharvest.com. So, I'll be doing a little shopping soon. 

I won?!

As I mentioned earlier, I checked out all of the beauty companies and only a few captured my attention; Shea Terra Organics was one of them. I was familiar with this brand before the show and have always been intrigued by their products. This was my chance to sample and sniff all they had to offer. 

As I made my way around the booth, I saw the sign. 50% off of body creams and oils * faints* so I instantly grabbed the items I wanted most (below) and checked out. 

l-r Marula Whipped Shea Butter, Frankincense Meditation Whipped Shea Butter, Honeybush Peach Body Nectar Spray. FYI, use the code May2013 to get 30% off of your Sheaterra.com order thru 5/23. I think I'll  use that code to get a few more items. 

We needed to break for food and decided on this veggie chili and kale salad. It was from a restaurant called B' Gabs Goodies. We had never heard of this place before though it's near the beau's place. We'll definitely check out the restaurant soon. After finishing our salad we walked around a little more to see if we missed anything. Then we headed out to enjoy the rest of our day. Overall we enjoyed the festival and I'm sure well attend next year. 

Here are the samples that we picked up. l-r clockwise

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 70 protein powder, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts, 

Shea Terra Organics Rose hips Black Soap

Shea Terra Organics Moroccan Argan Oil

Raw Revolution Live Food Bars

Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Cane Sugars and Agave Nectar

Dr. Bronners Lavender Coconut Lotion, Shikakai Soap, and Castile Soap

Out and About: Free Makeup Class At Sephora #2

In another post I mentioned how I attended a free makeup class at Sephora. Well, I went to another free class on Sunday, 12, 2013 at the same Sephora (Watertower).  This second class was called Lashes, Liners, and Brows,  though the main focus was applying false eyelashes. And please note that I have attempted false lashes many times but I'm still getting the hang of it. Having the instructors there to guide made me feel more comfortable about applying lashes again. They were very helpful and gave me a few more tips such as shaping the lashes by gently wrapping them around your finger (or pen, pencil, etc...). Another tip was to place the glue on the edge or top of the band instead of the actual band/band. These tips made the lash application easier for me but I could still use more practice. I suppose I will keep trying until I get better.  I don't plan to wear them often. I just would like the option for days when I want to glam up a bit.

After class, one of the associates showed us their store's new toy, the Sephora Skincare IQ. This machine matches you with products that are perfect for your skin based on your skincare concerns. You're asked a series of questions and the machine uses your answers  to suggest several products. Then it prints out detailed information about the products including ratings, regimen, and suggested usage.

Note: Pictured in first photo is an instructor and a class participant

Sephora Skincare IQ

Detailed Skincare Match

I really enjoyed the class and learned some cool new tricks. And since it was Mother's Day so there were fewer participants and more one-on-one instruction. There was also another goodie bag and some other treats which are pictured. I will definitely be signing up for the next one. And I'll also be back to play around with the Skincare IQ.

 

 Left: Sephora lashes they gave me in class

Right-Goodie bag contents: Living Proof Restore Targeted Repair Cream,

                                                        Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream 

Free item I got with Sephora Insider Points

Two free fragrance pouches. I think they passing these out for Mother's Day.

I gave them to my sis-I'm more of a solid perfume/oil girl. 

Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea All Natural Pudding Souffle Braidout

In a previous post  I mentioned how I went to an Eden BodyWorks event and got their new Coconut Shea Pudding Souffle in a goodie bag. Well, I tried that product out and I liked it. I used it to do a braidout and filmed what the results looked like. You can see the results in the first video below. The second video is just showing what the actual product looks like (color, thickness, consistency, etc...) Check them out and let me know what you think.And note, this is not really a review-just a little show and tell ;-)

This product is available at Edenbodyworks.net and retails for $8.99
Will also so be available at Walgreens, Walmart, Curlmart.com, and Sally Beauty Supply.

Out and About: Inspiring Beauty 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair

This past weekend I went to the Chicago History Museum to check out the Inspiring Beauty exhibit which showcases 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair. And if you have not heard of Ebony Fashion Fair, it was the largest traveling fashion show tour which was started by Eunice Johnson. The Ebony Fashion Fair tour traveled from state to state and  featured couture garments from some of the finest fashion houses such as  Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, and more. Mrs. Johnson also made sure to include African-American designers including Patrick Kelly, Stephen Burrows and Fabrice. Ready-to-wear garments were also included.

Walking through this exhibit was somewhat of a walk down memory lane because I spent a 4.5 years touring with show as a wardrobe assistant. I saw plenty of dresses that I steamed, stitched up, zipped up and spot cleaned. There were also short informational videos about the company and the show. So I saw plenty of familiar faces who were on tour with me including models, sound staff, and my beloved wardrobe crew. Touring Ebony Fashion Fair was such a fun time and an experience I'll never forget. I traveled to most of the U.S., cared for couture clothing from designers that I learned about in fashion school. Plus, I made life-long friends.  I sometimes took this experience for granted but as time passes I realize how important it was.

 I'm so glad that I decided to go to this exhibit and I was in good company because Kristena of Kristena Witherspoon Designs and Letroy of Thriftanista in the City blog were there. We had a good hanging together and hopefully we can do it again soon. The only down side was not being able to take photos.  I took one picture and it was of the entrance to the exhibit (see above). Overall, it was a very nice exhibit and I'd encourage anyone to go see it.

Note: scroll down to see a few photos of me and the wardrobe staff





                                                      Fashions 2000 - season 1999-2000

This was my first tour. That's me in the turquoise tank. We were always acting silly

Glam Odyssey - season 2007-2008

Photo shoot for the tour program. I wasn't really prepared for this photo (long story)  and I 

think  it was the first time, in a long time, the wardrobe staff was included in the program. 

I only worked second leg of this tour. 

March 2013 Birchbox Unboxing

I got my Birchbox this month and I am pretty satisfied with it. Kinda makes up for not  (I really tried) getting last month's box. Check out the video and pics to see what I got.
Feel free to rate, comment, and subscribe on Youtube.
Join Birchbox HERE:

 Caldrea Lotion (3 samples) in Coconut Fig, Aloe Water Apricot, and Tea Olive Lime. All very light and fresh scents and Tea Olive Lime is my fave of the three. Full-Size retail for $22

Whish Shave Cream in blueberry (.75oz tube) Really creamy and smells super sweet - kinda like Sweet Tarts candy.
Full-size retails for $20

Curls Cashemere Curls Leave In Conditioner (2 oz sample)Looks really  watery but has the texture of a  serum. I have not used this line since I first went natural. I'll see how I like it now.
Full-size retails for $20

Sumita Eyeliner Full size black eyeliner. I love getting eyeliners and I can always use them.
Full-size retail for $11

 Madewell for Birchbox Emery Board  retail for $5

Check some of my  Birchbox Unboxings

January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August Birchbox 2012
Glamour Birchbox July

Review: Firmoo Free Glasses

I got a new pair of glasses! And they were free from Firmoo.com. I was contacted by Firmoo a few weeks ago. They asked if I'd like a pair of free glasses and to do review. Although I  have a pair of glasses, they are not cute at all. I only wear them around the house. So I thought it would be cool to have a nice pair of glasses that I can wear out.

The process to choose my glasses was simple. I went to Firmoo.com to choose my frames. There was a nice selection to chose from including some of the trendy, fashionable styles that are popular right now. There were sine classic,elegant styles, and sunglasses too. Also, there is a virtual try on system to help with the choosing frames . Just upload a photo to start trying them on .I chose style number #SD2267  in brown. They were available in black and tortoise. Next, I entered my prescription information  and that was pretty much it.

My new glasses arrived last week and couldn't wait to try them on. I thought they were a good fit. I liked how they looked more than I thought I would. I will definitely wear these out. Besides, my eyes need a  rest from wearing contacts all the time.What do you think? Cute? Maybe next time I'll choose a really colorful or funky non prescription pair just to wear as an accessory. 

You can get a  pair of glasses too. Click HERE to get started. Please note that free glasses selection may vary so follow Firmoo.com on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date. 

                                             
                                                                 Frame style:  #SD2267

Note: The item(s) reviewed were sent to me courtesy of Firmoo.com. I was not paid for this review. 

Shipping and special coatings are not included with this free glasses offer. 

Natural Hair Fave: Haritage Hydration

Do you ever randomly search for items on etsy? I do. One day, some months ago, I did a random search for natural hair butter. And I wasn't necessarily in need of more hair products. I was just curious to see what would come up. Well... what came up was over 700 (about 18 pages worth) items. I looked through them all.  And while there were plenty of great sounding products, I was most intrigued  Hairitage hydration. I checked out their shop and I wanted to try almost everything. There were lots of trial sizes too, which is awesome.  It gives me a chance to try the product and determine if  I want to buy full sizes.  After adding some items to my favorites, I checked out Hairitage Hydration on  Facebook and twitter. And that's when I saw it. They were having a major sale for 30% off. I didn't hesitate to go back to the shop and get what I wanted most.

Here's what I got:
(l to r)
Happy Hemp Hair Pomade 2oz
Coconut Yuzu Love 2oz (currently not on the site)
Cocoaloe Hydrator 4oz (missing label)
Soft and Creamy Horsetail Hair Butter 4 oz

I tried them as soon I got them and they worked beautifully on my hair.  My hair felt very soft and moisturized with these products. And I like the way they smell. The Hydrator and Coconut Yuzu Love are tropical and coconutty. While the Happy Hemp and Horsetail Butter smell  more herbal, which I love. Those  who prefer fruity or dessert fragrances might not care for them as much though.
Overall I was really pleased with these products and I'll definitely return to Hairitage Hydration  to repurchase my faves and try something new.
Do you buy handmade hair care or personal care items?

So..What Have You Work On Today? #3

Today I finished up a custom by adding stamped discs and wire-wrapped crystals to silver and gold chains bracelets. The items on the left of the photo are the beaded stretch bracelets and metal rings (which are stamped) that were also part of the order. This is the most stamping that I've ever done and it got a little frustrating at times. Especially since I was trying to line up the letters perfectly. It was good practice though. And now I'm all done.
Next, I'll be finishing up those pantina earrings (didn't finished them that night) and making some beaded hoops to add to the shop.
So, what have you worked on today?

So...What Have You Worked On Today? #2

Today I'm working on a custom order for my sister. I cut, polished, and stamped some metal discs (about 30) that I'll add  to some beaded and chain bracelets. I'll be done within the next few hours and then I'll finish up an order that will ship tomorrow.
I generally don't do much stamping these days but I do still have a couple of stamped pieces in the shop. One of them is reserved for a customer. Check them out below.
So, what have you worked on today?

My Free Samples From Mario Badescu

Hi all! Just a quick post to show you the free samples I got from Mario Badescu. I simply went to their website, filled out this questionnaire to determine which products would be best for. Next I was shown the recommended items for my skin type and given the option to purchase them. I did not buy anything though. I just left the site. Then a few days later I received an email asking me if I wanted samples and how to get them. And of course I wanted some. And about 10 days later, I got them. I was recommended 9 products and received 8 samples (their popular drying lotion was not included). They also included a product guide and an application to show how to use the products.  I have not tried them yet but I'll be testing them soon. I'm not sure if they're still doing this but give it a try. If you have already sampled these or use the line, please
let me know how you like it.




Here's what I got:

Collegen Moisturizer
Cucumber Tonic Mask
Drying Cream
Enzyme Cleansing Gel
Hyaluronic Eye Cream
Seaweed Night Cream
Special Cucumber Lotion (not shown)
Strawberry Face Scrub

So.....What Have You Worked On Today?

So....what have you worked on today?  I speaking mostly to those of you who make and sell handmade goods and or/blog. And especially to those who are not working a steady job. Did you start a project? Work on an existing project? If so, how much time did you spend working on that project? Do you work on your projects everyday?

As for me, I spent a couple of hours cutting and polishing some metal for a custom order and some earrings that I want to add to the shop. The plan is add pretty pantinas to them. I hope to complete them tonight and add to the shop tomorrow.

I try to work on my jewelry everyday. Whether it's actually making something, or promoting and improving my Etsy shop with better photos, banners, descriptions, etc...However, I do have those days when I get preoccupied with other things (lately it's been helping my sister who's been having health challenges)and   jewelry has to take a back seat.  I really want to get to the point where I am making something new everyday. Especially since I'm not working a 9-5 (though I am looking) and have time to create. And maybe I'll do a daily, or weekly blog post showing what I worked on each day. That way, I'll have more jewelry to sell and more to blog about. And you can let me know what you worked on too. Until then, here's to productivity!

My Prize From Koils By Nature's Pinterest Contest!

I entered the Koils By Nature Pinterest contest last month, and I won. YAY! I've used one of their products before and I really liked it so I'm excited to try other items from the line. Oh, and this is just a quick vid from my phone-so it's slightly fuzzy. I'll come back and let you know how I like the products.

3 Years Natural and Oh...Happy New Year!

Hi all! I know I'm late but Happy New Year! I hope the year is starting off well for you and that you accomplish all that you set out to do this year. I don't generally do resolutions but I do have some things that I want to happen this year and in years to come. Perhaps I will do a post about it.

In other news I am 3 years natural (wearing my hair's natural texture and relaxer-free) as of yesterday. I did a quick iPhone video about it and the quality is not great so you might have to crank up the volume. See in the next post!

November 2012 Naturebox Unboxing

Last month I was contacted by Naturebox (a monthly subscription box that offers full size healthy snacks for $19.95/mo) and they asked if I'd be interested in reviewing their box. Of course I said yes! I am a big snacker and I try to keep most of my pretty healthy. Plus, I'm always looking for new snacks to try so I was really excited to get the opportunity to try Naturebox. I got the box about a week later and couldn't wait to open it!

Check the video to see exactly what I got!

from l to r:

 Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds

Country Ranch Peas
Carrot Chips

Chipotle Maple Almonds

Cinnamon Spiced Granola

Since the video I have had the chance to sample all of the snacks and I thought they were really good. My favorites were the almonds, granola and the pumpkin seeds.  Overall I think this is a great box to try, especially if you love healthy snacks or if you want to start switching out some that junk food. And as I said in the video, you could easily spend $20 on this amount of product at the store so I believe Naturebox is well worth $19.95.
Naturebox is offering a 25% discount on your first month's subscription with the promo code CARROT. This discount applies to the month to month subscription only. If you buy the 6 month option you'll get one month free. And the 12 month option gets you 3 free months.
Let me know if you give it a try.



Here some information about Naturebox:


NatureBox is a subscription service that offers the ability to discover and enjoy 
healthy snacks on a monthly basis. We currently ship to the 48 continental states as 
well as FPO/APO addresses. We also ship to P.O. Boxes.

 Our products are made from wholesome ingredients and are Nutritionist-approved. 
We abide by our strict quality standards: No High Fructose Corn Syrup, No Partially 
Hydrogenated Oils, No Trans Fats, No Artificial Sweeteners, No Artificial Flavors, No 
Artificial Colors.

For every NatureBox sent out, together we’re helping to feed the hungry. NatureBox 
donates one meal for every box to feed the over 14 million children in America who 
go hungry every year. We believe in doing good and eating well.

We are working on new NatureBoxes which will address various dietary needs and
personal preferences such as Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan and Low-Sugar. If you are 
interested in a not-yet-launched line of NatureBoxes, send us an email to 
info@naturebox.com to be added to our mailing list when we introduce new or 
customized NatureBoxes.

 NatureBoxes will soon be available in various sizes depending on you or your family’s 
needs.

We catalog all of our NatureBoxes and each month we display the nutrition label and 
ingredient list of every NatureBox product on our site: 
http://www.naturebox.com/naturebox-foods/

 NatureBoxes make great gifts for your friends and family for holidays, special 
occasions, or anytime. College students, summer campers, teachers, coaches, new 
parents, and deployed service members all love to receive healthy snacks any time of 
the year. 

We are always looking for nutritionists, healthy living professionals, and healthy 
snacking enthusiasts to share tips, tricks, and ideas for making healthier choices. If 
you would be interested in featuring your articles or thoughts on our blog, please 
contact molly@naturebox.com. We look forward to the opportunity to partner with 
you to share the healthy snacking message