Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Who doesn't like free stuff? Among other things

I'm kind of a junkie for free stuff. I'm not ashamed to admit [which includes in person]. I'm a mooch. If it's free, why not? Of course, that doesn't mean I get every freebie out there but I've gotten my fair share... Particularly in these last few months where I am looking for full-time work and have loans coming up.

I'm currently subscribed to Couponing to Disney through e-mail and on Facebook. The woman who does this started learning all the money saving tricks to put into her Disney fund each year. And she doesn't seem like those crazy couponing people on the shows, which is nice. I'll rant about those people at another point in time. But there is a nice balance of stuff on her site. I mostly use it for the freebies. It's how I got a free beauty sample box from Target [maybe I'll post about it at some point].  The reason I'm really writing about this is because I want to blog about something specific. I've considered something along the lines of finding free products on the web. Or my exploration of beauty products or something. I noticed on this blog, I'm kind of scattered and whatever with my posts.

I do have another blog which is a little more focused but I haven't really been writing on it that much [Dae Watches Things for those who are curious]. I'm currently working on a post for Once Upon a Time but I need to re-watch it maybe 2 more times before I can finish the post.

Which kind of goes into why I'm going to try NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month]. While I don't know if it will really get me to focus, I'm hoping to accomplish something in the end. So I should probably work on an outline for that.... And I actually considered going to an event for it held not too far from my house... Maybe being social would help...

Special note on the Julep Maven front: Got the shelf pull e-mail. Basically, they give you the selection of the other Maven quiz options [Classic With A Twist, Bombshell, etc.] and a monthly special. This month's special is Polish Lover Option, which is what I chose. All the Quiz options included the cute cosmetic bag and the lipgloss. And again, while the bag is cute, I don't want or need lipgloss. But I'm excited for 3 new nail polish colors! While I already know which colors they are, I'll tell you when I get them.

I also haven't heard back about my inquiry towards using credit towards my monthly Julep Maven subscription.  Most likely the answer will be no [I know that is the case with Birchbox]. Either way, I can get a nail polish out of it or use it towards some of the hand scrub I have come to love.

[/scatterbrain post]

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Julep Maven - Shelf Pull

I know, I know! I've been writing a lot about Julep Maven. But it's hard to write much about anything happening in my life. Most of it's part-time job related. Which that is totally and completely bonkers. I'm so tired of it all right now that thinking about it makes me depressed.

Anyway... I got my notice about my Julep Maven sneak peak box e-mail. Which tells me what I'm going to get in my next box. This month's Boho Glam contained 3 things:

Designer Julep Make-up Bag
With custom charm and high fashion exposed metal zipper, this ultra chic quilted bag is large enough to hold all your cosmetic essentials yet compact enough to fit in most any handbag
Selena nail polish
Show your light touch with delicate, creamy yellow-green
Extravagant lip gloss
This instant pout plumper will moisturize, shine, and give you fuller, sexier lips too. The slight tingling sensation lets you know it's working.

And this time, I've opted to do a shelf pull for this month. This is mostly because the only thing I really like it the make-up bag, which I don't really need. This nail polish color doesn't really appeal to me. Maybe if it was more yellow than yellow-green, I'd be a little more excited. Of course, it's probably more of a fall color. Also, I have no interest in lip glosses. I have one from this month's birchbox which will probably last me until well into next year. I hardly use lip glosses and they usually feel sticky and gross on my lips.

This is the e-mail was sent to me about my shelf pull:


Dear -------,
Thank you for contacting us.  We have received your new shelf pull request, and a Maven team member will be contacting you within the next business day.
Shine On!
The Julep Team

I sent the shelf pull request yesterday. So that isn't too slow. I'll update when I get a response to my shelf pull request.


I also sent them an inquiry about the program. I received some credit from the referral program and asked if there is anyway to apply that to my Julep Maven subscription. Eventually, I'll probably ask about changing payment method too. There is currently no way for me to change my payment method through the site [say I want to change which card is being charged, ect...]. 


P.S. I'm really excited for Once Upon A Time tomorrow night. Dae will definitely be posting about that.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Julep Maven Sept [?] 2011

Yay! I got my first Julep box the other day! And I would have tried it all out before and posted about this earlier but that night, I got home around midnight and had to be up early the next morning. Of course, I had to at least open it up the night I got it. And I got everything I mentioned in the last post but just to recap:

Oliva
This is the color I put on my nails first because I didn't know if I would like this color. Brown isn't really a color I think of when I think of nails but I like it enough. I currently have 2 coats on my nails and it comes out to be a really dark brown. Maybe almost black depending upon the light. If you can get one coat on evenly, it comes out to be more of a chocolate-y brown.

Miranda
I have yet to try this particular color but I can compare the appearance in the picture versus real life. This picture seems to be a bit lighter than what I'm actually seeing. And I'd say the actual product has a tinge more green to it than is seen in the picture. Either way, it looks like it is going to be beautiful and I can't wait to try it!

The nail polish itself is really nice. The two coats they recommend really does the trick! Like I said, one even coat would probably look amazing. The one thing I do think should be noted is that this particular nail polish brand is a little more runny than some of the other brands I've tried [Brucci, OPI, China Glaze]. So you want to be careful when applying! I know I dripped some on my hands and pants while I was doing my nails [also note I was sitting cross legged on my bed without any sort of napkin or towel under my hands]. So I'd recommend using this when you have a bit more time and at a table with a towel or paper towel underneath.

Also, with this package I got a few other things.
Julep Facial For Hands
Glycolic Hand Scrub
I've only used this once so far but it seems nice. I don't usually think to use a scrub on my hands but I probably should. During the winter months, my hands tend to get a little dry because my current job has me putting my hands in water a lot. I don't know if it is really gentle enough to use every time you wash your hands, like is recommended, once a day should be good enough for me.

Julep Essential Cutical Oil
Again, another product I haven't had much of a chance to use yet. I just put some on and honestly, it smells amazing. It's got a lemon-y citrus scent that is just awesome. It's not over-powering or anything. I'm hoping this will be as amazing as it seems because I do have somewhat rough cuticles. While it is an oil, it doesn't feel incredibly oily or blah on my nails. I don't know if I like the roller part but that's something minor that I could easily handle using every time.

Just so you know, ALL of the products mentioned so far in this post have been FULL SIZED PRODUCTS. So I got all of this for just $5... And I'm definitely feeling like I just got an awesome deal. To sweeten the pot a little more, they also sent two samples. 1 is of the glycolic hand scrub that I got in a full size. The other is a hand cream. They'll be perfect for putting in my purse to use when I'm out on the go. Considering the normal going prices for which Julep is selling these products, it really is an amazing deal.

For anyone interested in joining, here are some of the codes for Julep Maven:
First5 or FB - For first time subscribers, $5 for your first month [Regular price is $19.99].
TWITTER or GET10 or smh9oxu - You can get $10 off a month.


I also have a link in the side bar on the right where I can get credit if you wish to sign up through me. For each person you refer, you get $15 credit. Feel free to use my code or not. It's labeled Julep Referral Code. <- Or click there if you're too lazy to go up.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

October 2011 Birchbox

I can tell you one thing right now. I love living within reasonable driving distance from NYC. Not because I go there but because that is where Birchbox  HQ is. Which means I get my box super early! And I meant to post a blog post about September's box but just never got around to it.

Anyway, October's box is all about transitioning into the fall season and help with prepping yourself from start to finish... And while I don't know if I feel like it is an appropriate theme for this box, I do like most of what I've gotten. I'll just go through the items [give you the birchbox description and a birchbox item link] and kind of tell you what I think of them so far.


amika - Obliphica Hair Treatment
This versatile hair oil can be used on damp or dry hair, and adds manageability, softness, and shine. Bonus: It smells gorgous
Basically, this is for people who may either style their hair more often with heating products like hair dryers and straighteners. I don't own a straightening iron and I only blow dry my hair maybe twice a month? But I decided to just try it on my hair anyway. And it was nice. Personally, I don't have unbelievably, uncontrollable hair... Ever. So while this product does give my hair a little bit of nice and shiny without too much greasy, it isn't amazing for me. Again, it's going to take me trying when I'm blow drying my hair to really get a good feel for this product.

Also, it would have been nice to have a slightly different bottle. Like one with a dropper function. You just kind of very carefully pour it into your hands, rub you hands together and then spread it evenly through your hair.

Am I going to buy it?: Most likely not
Would I recommend it?: After a few blow dry try-outs


Anastasia Beverly Hills - HydrFull Gloss in Bellini
This plush gloss plumps and hydrates lips and adds a pretty peachy sheen
While I do like chapsticks and similar products, I'm always leery of lip glosses. I have finicky lips that doesn't really take lip gloss all that well. While this doesn't feel as sticky as previous lip glosses, I don't know if I really like it. I also don't know if I really feel the affects it says it has. I don't really get the fuller feel the box says. I do kind of feel the hydrating factor but nothing blows my mind.

The sample is 0.03 fl. ozs and has a little paddle for an applicator. The paddle is a little awkward since I've never used this kind of applicator before but nothing drastic.


Am I going to buy it?: No
Would I recommend it?: If you're a lip gloss person, then yes.


Clark's Botanicals - Intense Radiance Mask
The solution to dull, congested skin. This white clay mask detoxifies pores, conquers blemishes, and even calms irritations. It's glow time.
I always try to be open about the products I'm going to be getting in a Birchbox. And I think this is the most interesting thing I've gotten out of my 2 boxes so far. For my skin, it actually does do some of the things it suggests. My skin definitely looks a little brighter and smoother. And tonight, it also helped call some zit inflammation on my face, which is awesome! Though I don't get a "detoxifying" pore feeling. I have rather large pores on my nose and I always hope that some sort of product will clean them out and make them appear smaller. This doesn't really do that.

The sample may appear to be small but I think it should be enough to get a few uses out of it. Which is what you really need when it comes to something like a face mask. It is a little time consuming with the recommended 25-30 minute wait time but you can easily do other things while you're waiting.

What's also nice is that it doesn't dry out my skin or make it feel super tight. My skin feels smoother and not so dry after using this product


Am I going to buy it?: Most likely not. It's a pricey item at $72 for 1.7 ounces
Would I recommend it?: Depends on what you want it to do. Need a moisturizing mask? Yes. Something to tame zit redness? Yes.

Laura Geller - Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in Bronze
This hydrating primer gives you a flawless foundation for makeup - plus a subtle glow. It works on all skin tones - we tested it!
There are no words to express how excited I was to see this product... Well, more like a Laura Geller product. I have heard many good things about what the Laura Geller line has to offer and while this isn't the particular product I had in mind, I thought it would be a good introduction. And I'm so glad to have it.

For the past few days, I've been trekking to the city for long hours. And this stuff is pretty freaking awesome. While it says it comes in bronze, it really means that it is a very very light bronze. It isn't too noticeable on my face and I'm pretty pasty. I'm fine with that because it is so light-weight. I can barely tell it is on. It doesn't feel dry like my L'oreal Paris Magic Perfecting base [Fun/unfortunate fact for me: the Laura Geller sample size = regular L'oreal Paris Magic Perfecting base size]. And while I probably shouldn't use it this way, I've also been using it as an eyelid primer. It holds up my eye shadow makeup amazingly well. Seriously, there are no words to describe how much I love this product.


Am I going to buy it?: As soon as I'm done the L'oreal Paris Magic Perfecting base... Or maybe before then. It's actually not a bad price when compared to the perfecting base [original price was $10.99 for 0.5 ounces at a Target store, but I had a $2 off coupon]
Would I recommend it?: YES!


The Laundress - Wool & Cashmere Shampoo
This fall, treat your sweaters as well as your treat your tresses with this exceedingly elegant detergent
Err... Yeah, I don't know if I'll use this at all. I can't really give a review on it though. It's a one use packet that was the "extra" in my birchbox this month. Considering I don't really own much wool or any cashmere, I may just use this on my regular clothes. Maybe I'll make sure I have my nicer shirts in there... But honestly, not interested in this at all.


Am I going to buy it?: Nope
Would I recommend it?: I couldn't give a recommendation at this time.



And that's all she wrote. At some point, I'll add my own pictures to give you an idea of what everything really looks like. Maybe get some sizing ideas for you all.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Follow up on Julep Maven

This is kind of a follow up post to my Julep Maven post.

Remember how I mentioned the referral program? So someone clicked my referral link [and I'm sure it was my friend who knows who she is] and this was the e-mail I got:


Dear [insert name],
julep has bought a Gift Voucher for you which you can use on Julep.com! They left you a personal message with this gift:Thank you for sharing Julep with your girlfriends! Please enjoy this gift voucher online at julep.com.Please visit our online shop at: http://www.julep.com
The value of your gift voucher is $15.00. To redeem your gift voucher you must enter the following code when checking out: [insert code].
Thank you!




See, no personal information sent to me about you. But sometimes it is nice to confirm these things.

You get a $15 voucher for one referral. It's nice because if I have this figured out correctly, I can essentially get another nail polish for free. Supposedly Julep Mavens get free shipping and it looks like it applies to all purchases. Their nail polishes in general run about $14.

I don't know if this code expires or any information like that. I'll probably use it soon. I just need to pick a color....

Also, another link to my referral code [though I'd recommend reading the post below to get the full deets on the program]: CODE <-- but not the bad kind like in a hospital.

Also, something else I realized I didn't note/look up the first time around. These sneak peak boxes don't get shipped until the 28th of the month and can take anywhere between 7-10 days to get to you.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Julep Maven and no HP C&C

So, obviously, I never really accomplished my HP goal. I've been crazy busy between all my jobs. And reading just hasn't been on the top of my list... And I may be addicted to Sims on facebook but that's a story for another day.

Today's story is about how I'm kind of a sucker for a good deal. Like seriously, I shouldn't be allowed to shop online.

I just happened to be watching missglamorazzi's latest beauty video [her September favorites if you're really curious] and what do I see to the side? An advertisement for a site called Julep and a new program called Julep Maven. Normally I can ignore these ads but this one caught my eye. Mostly because it said $5 for the first time buy. And it featured the one type of beauty product I'm kind of obsessed with right now: nail polish.

And curiosity got the best of me. So I clicked the link and was taken to the Julep website. Specifically the Julep Maven section. The company is focused on mani/pedi products like nail polish and lotions and scrub. But I didn't really tell you much about what you would be getting. So I decided to take the style quiz.

Basically you go through a bunch of fashion-esque questions and can end up with 5 different results: American Beauty, Classic with a Twist, Boho Glam [which is what I got], "It Girl," and Bombshell. And from there they give you a little description of that particular category. They also link you to your monthly membership type and that's where you actually get an idea of what you'll be getting. This is how Julep described their membership:

 As a Julep Maven, your monthly membership will give you access to the hottest trends in nail color and the latest Mani Care and Pedi Care products- delivered right to your doorstep, just like the Beauty Editors.  Andyou'll have access to these trends and products before anyone else! 
For this month this is what I'll get with Boho Glam:


  • Fall rich and dark chocolate truffle, Olivia *
  • A modern seafoam, Miranda
  • A cult-favorite nail prep product, customized to your own 'nail health' profile
* This color has not been released yet and every month you will get a nail polish color that is going to be released in the future.
** This is a bonus for signing up this month. This may change as the program builds.

As far as I know, these are full size products. BUT YOU NEED TO KEEP READING THIS! Because for Julep, a full size nail polish is actually 0.27 ounces while most other nail polishes are 0.5 ounces. Either way, they get people to pay $14 for their nail polishes per bottle. That's a lot of money for almost half of what you'd normally get for some of the mid-range nail polishes [I'm thinking OPI mostly here]. So just the 2 nail polishes alone would cost about $28 [not even including shipping]. And if you check out the hand scrub that comes with this, it is normally $32. So this entire package is over $60 worth of product [though $40 over the cost is what is guaranteed]. This isn't including the nail prep because I don't know which one it is going to be.

That's kind of crazy good for just $5. And now you're probably wondering "Wait, what about shipping?" And I'm going to reply "Shipping is free for Julep Mavens!" Oh snap! And in case you are wondering, the regular price for Julep Maven subscription is $19.99.

For those who are just skimming this post, here is a nice list of all benefits that you get with being a Julep Maven:



  • You receive over $40 worth of trendsetting polish colors and cutting-edge treatment products each month customized in a gift-able Sneak Peek Box
  • Each Sneak Peek Box features new, never before released colors and treatments FIRST to you, before anyone else
  • Your box also includes hits and cult favorites - the products we like to keep on the top of editors' minds

  • 20% off all julep.com purchases
  • FREE shipping on ALL your purchases
  • Each box also comes with a surprise and delight element- something to look forward to!
  • Receive additional membership perks throughout the year

Also, something I like about this particular program is that you don't have to opt in every single month. Julep will send you an e-mail about what you should be getting in the next month's package and if you go on before the 25th of the month you have several options:

  • Shelf pull is where if you don't like the products they've offered you, you can kind of trade in. They'll send you another e-mail with your options. Again, must be done before the 25th.
  • Send it to someone else! You can send that month's selection to a friend!
  • Skip! You can skip a month, no questions ask [well maybe questions asked in a survey or something who knows]. They want you to not feel obligated or committed to doing this every month. And some month's can be tougher than others. But I don't have to totally cancel my subscription to skip.


By the way, in case you're curious, the code for that I used for this is: First5
I'm pretty sure that this is a code only good for first time mavens. And it is only for the first month.

If you already have signed up for Julep Maven there is another code I can give you.
Another promotional code I've seen on youtube is for $10 off: Get10


Other Codes [I can't verify if these will work or not but these are some other codes I've see on other blogs, not advertisements]:
TWITTER : Half off
smh9oxu : Half off


So if I've convinced you that this sounds like an awesome deal, feel free to use my referral link or go on the website yourself and try it out. I will tell you now, the referral link will get me $15 credit with their referral program. As far as I know, I won't receive any information about you personally, but I won't be offended if you decide to go through the website. Can't blame a girl for trying though. ;D

Referral link!

Ok, I think I'm done with this post. That's a crazy lot... But thanks for reading/skimming it! I'll post more when I get my first Boho Glam sneak peak box!