I can't believe how busy this month has been or how fast it's been flying by. I've been trying to get caught up on life and feel like the news has just been so negative. Maybe not all of it....but it's overwhelming to think about too much, so I haven't been online as much because of it.
Japan Funbox
However I do have this bright spot to share with you via a video post. I was contacted by a representative from the Japan Funbox and asked if I'd like to try their mini box and share it with my audience. If you've caught any of my other snack box reviews you probably know Japanese snack foods are some of my favorites. One of the most unique things about this box is that it's packed and shipped straight from Japan! I found the snacks to be a little fresher because of this and it felt really special to be getting mail from Japan too. While Japan Funbox sent me a free box to review all opinions in the review are my own.
To find out more about the Japan Funbox click my affiliate link here. And be sure to tall me what you think in the comments or let me know if there's another interesting subscription you'd like to see me try for you all.
I love all you readers and I've missed you all over the past few weeks. I've been working away on a bunch of different projects, but haven't been writing as much here as I've processed it all. Plus, you may not have noticed yet, but I started making videos in the past couple months, though I don't post all of them here. I started because while interacting with a lot of great YouTubers in the Geeks & Beauties Group they got me curious enough to try it out back around Christmas! You can find my channel here, I would love it if you stopped by to take a look at what I've been making and subscribe if you're interested.
Since then I've found that it's the perfect place to share my unboxings when I get various monthly subscription boxes. I felt like some of you wonderful people might not have been as interested in seeing all the snacks, beauty products, and other crazy boxes. I love trying new things and exploring what great options are out there. And I bet some of you are also interested in seeing what's available in subscription boxes too.
I got started trying boxes because I never really wore a lot of makeup, and until recently I hardly even owned any! But the artist in me loves to experiment with colors and play with the new tools. I love learning how to use the beauty basics so I can feel a little more confident if I want to create a particular look. Boxes have been a great choice to find new products because I get curated items chosen for me sent to me door that I might not know to try otherwise.
I've branched out to try snack boxes for healthier options and to have fun trying out some foreign treats I might no otherwise try. I've also been testing boxes that have interest based items like the Bookish box. Because sometimes the novelty of it all is just so much fun.
With all that in mind I'm going to be doing roundup posts about once a month to collect all the videos where you can easily see them if you prefer to just follow my blog and not go to YouTube. And it'll keep the videos to a minimum if videos aren't your thing. Without further ado, here are the February videos you might have missed:
February Video Roundup
Birchbox
In this video I'm unboxing the February Birchbox, The Lip Sync Kit (6 lip products!), plus 4 more bonus lip colors! There's lip balm, lipstick, lipgloss, sheer, shiny, and matte. Talk about a haul!
I'm so excited that Appraising Pages sent me one of their great Bookish Boxes to review! It was given to me for free, but all opinions expressed in this video are my own. Let's see what's inside this February box!
Isn't February's Glossybox the cutest? Take a peek at what I got and tell me what you think. I do want to note that the Teez lipstick does NOT last the 8 hours they claim, it was easily rubbed off as soon as I started eating, though maybe it lasts better in combination with some type of primer they make.
This Miyazaki themed box is my first and last Doki Doki Crate. Watch to find out why! Since filming this they have made efforts to change their boxes, but I just didn't think it was a good fit for me.
Love Goodly is an every other month box of women's lifestyle items from makeup and accessories, to snacks and home goods. Each box gives a portion of its proceeds to charity, a different one each month!
I know February is a while back, but I wanted to start with it because there were too many videos I wanted to share. March will be up pretty soon, I'm tying to get caught up with publishing everything, but April is in the works too. So hold on tight!
Please let me know what you thought of this post format. Do you like the videos from each month put together like this? Would you rather have individual posts that include videos? Tell me in the comments so I can give you more of what you like! I'll see you all again very soon for a new fashion post!
I'm back with another fashion post, and this one if part a spring collaboration with my friends from the Geeks and Beauties Community. So for other great top 5 lists please scroll to the bottom of the post!
My Top 5 Spring Fashion Essentials
#1 - Pastels
A classic springtime favorite pastels can work for anyone. If you're not a fan of the traditional Easter inspired hues you can always try grayed down versions like old rose, sage green, dusty blue, and mushroom. Personally my favorites are mint and lavender, but I've also been playing the trends and adding touches of this year's Pantone colors - Serenity (pale blue) and Rose Quartz (soft pink). Here's a peek at some of the pastels I'm using in my wardrobe:
A good jacket keeps you warm through the last hints of winter, a great can also be styled for spring just as beautifully as it might November. My military style jacket pairs pinks with with olive for the right combination that works for both spring and fall looks. A light denim jacket does this well too, though I don't own one yet. And for colder days a soft white coat flatters most anything you pair it with, but keeps you from looking too drab with colorful skirt peeping out! Additionally a soft flannel shirt can layer like a cardigan with a touch more interest thanks to the plaid print.
White Coat - Target, Military Jacket - Maurice's, Plaid Shirt - Old Navy
#3 - Ballet Flats
As the weather warms these become a staple for their versatility. A more comfortable pair with insoles can get you through a whole day on your feet, the floral ones certainly did for me back when I was working at Anthropologie!
Blue Shoes - Payless, Floral Shoes - Payless, Mint Shoes - Forever 21
#4 - Soft Florals
Speaking of florals what spring closet is complete without a bit? Light or dark they can set a cheerful tone, or make a solid colored outfit perk up fast! Florals paired with text can set a nice modern tone as well. Floral shoes can soften a more somber outfit. Or you can wear the floral with pastel for an ultra feminine look.
Skirt - Torrid, Sandals - ModCloth, Tee - Switchfoot
#5 - Pops of Bright Accent Colors
Finally, sometimes between all the gentle colors I want to add something bold to the mix! Bright purple nails with lavender or mint work great. Or let a bright floral print paired with all pale or dark colors shine. Jewelry, bags and shoes can all let bold colors in to keep a more approachable feel at work too. (See the cobalt blue flats pictured above!) Dark floral prints often have a more edgy feeling as it is, and the brighter the colors paired with the dark color the more they'll pop. Bright solids can also work wonders with pale or dark shades in the same color family for a monochrome style.
Nail Polish - Julep in Sherri, Leggings - LuLaRoe, Top - Torrid
I hope you've enjoyed my spring looks, and if you have more fun ideas for how I could work with these items let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading.
Zombiieeninjja Beauty gives us a look at her hair essentials in the above video.
Jessica Forbes shows us some of her beauty favorites in this video as well.
A few more friends will be added too, so be on the lookout as I add their work to this post as the week goes on!
If you're a blogger or vlogger and would like to learn more about the great support offered through the Geeks and Beauties Community please click here for more information. We create collaborations monthly and we'd love to have you join us! Thanks for reading.
Another day, another video here. Soon I'll have all the January ones up, and then I'll...get to do the February ones. haha However we'll have some non-beauty content for tomorrow's post! I swear I'm not trying to overload you all.
January's Ipsy Bag
Ipsy is one of the best bargain subscriptions out there at only $10 a month. You can find out more and sign up here - https://www.ipsy.com/new?refer=1pict.
Thanks for reading, and if you haven't already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel if you're enjoying my videos.
For Christmas I received a subscription to the Bestowed Box, a subscription box full of healthy goodies to make meals and try as snacks. Below is my review of the December box!
December Bestowed Box
What do you all think? I just got my January box a couple days ago, so I'll be reviewing that one soon too! If you'd like more information on the Bestowed Box click here◊ (with my affiliate link) and if you want to try it out get 10% off your subscription with code LOVEHEALTHY.
I'll see you all again soon, and no, I've not forgotten about publishing my winter capsule wardrobe. It's on the way, I've just been taking care of myself more lately, so writing at a more healthy pace instead of last minute speed runs is working better.
Today we've got a blue moon in the sky (a blue moon is when there are two full moons in the same month) and I thought I'd share a rare outfit too in keeping with that theme. What I did was allowed my husband Bryan to choose an outfit for me to wear on our date night this week, and I opened up my closet so he could use things in and out of my capsule wardrobe, coaching him through how things might work. Here's what we got:
Top - Macy's, Necklace by Suzanne Love Jewelry (Raleigh artist), Purse - Target, Skirt - Torrid, Shoes - Toms
And here's an OOTD (Outfit of the day) I wore to the family reunion in Georgia last weekend:
The hair clip is from Modcloth, Top - Catos, Skirt - Catos, Sandals - Modcloth (Keri was my photographer here!)
The next day on the drive home I wore this comfy outfit.
Top - Anthropologie, Neckalace Phoebe Marie (Cleveland, OH artist), Shorts - Levis via Amazon.com, Shoes Converse Kids via Macy's
And here are some shots from the trip and the reunion itself:
Hummingbird moths!
Mist on the Nantahala River
Teaching Keri to play Ricochet Robots
The yearly DS party
Sharing chips with our 8 year old cousin
These shots are at what has got to be one of the most beautiful rest stops I've ever seen.
All the Confederate flags!! But it was a cool little flea market.
At the Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Art Center...the lighting from those windows was too good to pass up!
As you can see I really enjoy taking pictures of nature when I can get out into it some! It's been a busy week here and we're packing up to head the the beach, with DJ valiantly staying home to take care of the bun (our rabbit Scarlet, which you can see a video of here). I'll write again once I get to the beach.
So, I've been getting the hang of iMovie to make my video for Kickstarter. For the most part it's easy enough. I haven't bothered with any tutorials, but have been figuring it out as I go. Of course I'm using an older version from 2009 or so because that's how old my computer is, but I don't mind. I'm probably a little too perfectionistic about everything, but I think it will be worth it in the end. You all will have to tell me! Here's a behind the scenes screenshot.
I've been putting most of my energy into making the video today, but beyond that I noticed a handful of pieces that will be featured in the video aren't up in my Etsy shop yet. So tomorrow I will be fixing that and you all will have some new pieces of art to check out, though they won't count towards my big total for the year.
I've also taken time to tweak my Kickstarter a bit, adding a couple more rewards. I'm getting more excited by the day to share everything with you all!
