Another Box For Me

I’ve tried a few box subscriptions over time.  One of my favorite “boxes” I receive is one that arrives in a hot pink padded envelope and contains the most beautiful workout clothes.  Overall, I’ve had mixed feelings about services like this.

Maybe I’m a picky shopper, but I don’t always love these “surprise” boxes…. especially when I can just pick out items I prefer.

I subscribed to Birchbox for a few months, and truth be told… I didn’t love it.  It’s not because the products weren’t great, instead it’s that I don’t really try to many new beauty products.  While Hilary calls me “The Brunette Barbie,” I’m really pretty simple from a beauty perspective…

Having read about Birchbox’s new Limited Edition Home Box on The Small Things Blog, I knew I wanted to try it.  Online, you could see exactly what you were buying… and having read Kate’s review, I knew I would love it…

While the exterior of the box was adorable, as you can see above… it’s what was in the box that got me really excited!

This box was loaded with a bunch of fun garden inspired items including the following:

Let’s start with the edibles: mini-jars of Sarabeth’s award-winning strawberry-raspberry and peach-apricot preservesGift Republic’s Grow Me: Mini Herb and Vegetable Growing Kit has everything you need to grow fresh basil on your windowsill, and for trips to the market in search of delicious seasonal produce, bring along your BAGGU® Market Shopping Bagand Birchbox Shopping List.

In the kitchen, use the Core Bamboo Radish Print Utility Knife to cut, peel, or slice the ingredients in your favorite recipes.  While I know that these are radishes, I kind of like to think they’re beets!

And, you can replenish your hands with TOCCA’s Crema da Mano Luxe.  My hands stay dry here in Colorado, especially at the edge of winter.  It’s the worst.  This lotion was PERFECT for me.. it’s so whipped and fluffy and it has the most incredible scent.  Called Cleopatra, I can’t get enough of this fantastic grapefruit and cucumber scent.  Luxurious!

Spruce up your living space with LAFCO’s Little Luxuries Candle Tin in a Cilantro Orange scent, and dab on L’OCCITANE’s lovely Jasmin & Bergamot Eau de Toilette.

There is not ONE item in this box that I am not ecstatic about.  Having purchased similar knives, lotions, and candles, I know I got my money’s worth and then some in purchasing this box.

While this box is no longer available from Birchbox, you can get individual items on their website.  (The Tocca Lotion and the Jellies… hint, hint!)

Have you subscribed to Birchbox?  Have you ever tried any of these products?  

Note:  I was not compensated in any way for my review of this product.  Just a happy consumer, sharing my story… 

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A Little Insight

This past weekend, I feel like I’ve been SO lazy.  It was the 3rd weekend where we’ve had a big snow storm.  For the girl from Tennessee, that means a day spent in the house.  If there’s no need to drive, I just stay home.

I had HUGE aspirations to list eBay items… but I didn’t make as much progress as I’d like.  Instead, I watched movies on ABC Family (The Blind Side – - LOVE!) and continued to give my recipes a makeover, adding fun Pinterest-friendly pics like these.  So much cuter than what was there before, if you ask me…

Nonetheless, a quiet weekend at home means that I don’t have anything uber-exciting to tell you guys this fine Monday morning… so I thought I’d just catch you up and give you a little insight into what I’m loving these days:

Color I’m Drenching Myself In

Navy… Why is it so gorgeous?  I kind of want a little more, but I’ve been OBSESSED with anything navy over the past few weeks.

I’ve been rocking Navy nails for weeks, including this color by Butter London called “Royal Navy”

I have a few tops and even a trench in Navy.  I’m just DRAWN to it right now.  I have a few more pieces that I NEEEED to get that are Navy, including the perfect Navy pump.  I hope it sticks around.  Just loving this trend….

Book that I Can’t Put Down

After reading Gone Girl a few weeks back (still gasping from how awesome it was!), I decided to go back to my usual reading style of happier, fluffier novels… and I chose Elin Hilderbrand’s novel The Beach Club this weekend.

I can’t even tell you how awesome it was to read about the warm, sunny beach during the snow storm on Saturday.  REALLY recommend this one.  I’ll tell you guys more about it soon… I’ve got 60 pages left.

New Products that I’m Loving

I found three new products this week that I’m loving.  Have you tried any of these?

I feel like the whole healthy living blogosphere is talking about these guys, but they’re REALLY good. Quest Protein Bars from GNC – - I especially loved the cookie dough and cinnamon roll flavors. Try them!

I tried this dish on Saturday night (I know I’m a wild woman!), and REALLY loved it. I don’t think it’s new to the LC lineup, just new to me…

LOVED this one! I wish this was a permanent flavor, and it’s SO much better than the average Skinny Cow (which is pretty good.) Think fried ice cream…

You know I love anything that’s labeled Salted Caramel. Thanks, Skinny Cow, for bringing these bad boys to the table…

Surprises I’ve Sent Lately

All of my family is out east, including my precious niece and nephew.  Despite the fact that they get criticized by most, I HEART the USPS because they let me send little gifts to my favorite Guys and to my friends!

Here’s a fun one I found on Pinterest.  In the original Pinterest link, I think theirs were much smaller than mine.

So… I found these awesome BIG plastic eggs in the Target dollar section and decided to try out the idea!  I packed them up and shipped them last weekend.  To protect them along the way, I taped them up with some polka packing tape and hoped for the best… They arrived in one piece!  Phew!

The best part, I think, is that the mail lady at Jason and Beth’s was laughing as she delivered them to the door (they wouldn’t fit in the mailbox.)  I love to think it brought a little joy to the folks at my post office and along the way!

The small boy definitely enjoyed his surprise.  Beth placed the eggs in the landscaping, so when the kids came home they had something waiting from them.  You can see Hayden has fashioned his as a hat and has a mouthful of candy… love that Guy!

I also baked some AMAZING cookies this weekend that my friend Natalie loves to make.  They are ridiculously decadent, and were PERFECT for my Ol’ Gramps for Easter.  I shipped them out today, and I’m hoping he loves them as much as I do!

Total SPLURGE, but made them for Gramps! Watch for the recipe later in the week…

There’s also ANOTHER surprise that just went out in the mail… but I’m not going to write about it here, because I know the person I sent it to reads NTTC.

Moral of the Story:  Surprise people by mail.  Seriously, it’s usually just bills… people love it!

Things I’m Looking Forward To

VACATION!  My next trip to Montelucia is only a little more than a month away…. I’m so excited to get back on that property and to just relax and soak up some sun.

NATALIE’S WEDDING – I can’t wait to see my girl Natalie after what feels like FOREVER!  I’m also hoping to see my friend Janelle while I’m there.  I love these ladies so much!

LAUREN MOVING TO COLORADO - She’ll be here to visit in a few weeks, but I’m so excited to have her permanently close by.  She blogs over at Oatmeal After Spinning, if you’ve never visited…

NEW BOOKS - I heard recently that several of my favorite authors have new books coming out this summer:  Elin Hilderbrand, Sophie Kinsella, Elizabeth Gilbert, Dan Brown, Nicholas Sparks… I’m so excited to get reading!

SUMMER – We’ve been nailed with snow this weekend, I’m REALLY ready for sunshiny days, regular trail walks, and pool time.  It seriously couldn’t get here soon enough!  I’m ready!  I’m ready!

What’s going on in your world?

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