November Birchbox Review

Well, it's been awhile to say the least. I'm not proud of my laziness...I apologize and it won't happen again.

That being said, I have a lot to catch up on. I did get my first Birchbox in the mail a couple of weeks ago, so here is my review.


I was so excited to open the package and see what goodies I would get this month. I had been reading the reviews from other bloggers' November Birchboxes, and theirs looked awesome!!! Alas, when mine came, I was kinda disappointed.

I received the following. Please remember, this is not a paid review. Birchbox does not know me. These are honest and unbiased reviews.

Jouer Lip Enhancer: I have seen this item in previous birchbox reviews, however, no one actually gave a review on it. I really like this product. I don't find that it "plumps" lips as it claims, but I have relatively full lips anyway and that is not something that matters to me. It does moisturize them very well. I'm somewhat of a chapstick connoisseur, and for me to like anything other than plain jane lip balm says a lot.

Kate Spade Twirl: Okay...I have heard a bunch of mixed reviews on this. I didn't care for it at all. I do not have any scent aversions. I can go into Bath and Body for hours and smell everything they have and be fine. But, one little spritz of this immediately gave me a headache. Thumbs down, Ms. Spade.

Thymes Body Lotions (eucalyptus & Kimono Rose): Disgusting. Old lady scent that stayed all day. If only the REALLY good smelling lotions could have this staying power.

Zoya Nail polish in Noel: I was really excited about the nail polish. I love nail polish and this is a shade I probably wouldn't have bought myself. I only slicked on one little stripe but that one coat goes on a sparkly cerulean blue. I'm betting if layered, it will turn a beautiful midnight blue. This is my first experience with Zoya, so I'm not sure on it's staying power. My only complaint is that it has a very strong smell indicative of cheap nail polish. But, hey...it's free.

This month's "extra" was an Alex and Isabelle hair tie: This was an ironic addition to my box. Everyone else got chocolate...I got a hair tie a week after I cut off all my hair. Fortunately, I can still wear it...just not in public. This is a hairdo for the privacy of my own home only.


So, that's my review of my first Birchbox. I really hope the December box is better. If not, I may have to cancel my subscription and give another service a shot.

Woohoo, it's FRIDAY!

Wow, what a week! I am so glad it's finally Friday. The hubby and I are piled up on the couch catching up on our DVR...fire in the fireplace. Oh, I do miss a wood burning fireplace tonight. This is our first house with a gas fireplace. It's nice to not have to lug wood in from outside...all covered in nastiness like mud...spiders...that sort of thing. But, there is absolutely no replacement for the smell of wood burning...the crackles and pops. But, I'm grateful that we have a fireplace at all.

We're now just a few weeks away from Thanksgiving. There is a finally a groovy chill in the air...the signs that we are indeed in the midst of fall. The south can be confusing like that. The calendar may say October or November, but the temperatures are reminiscent of a balmy summer evening. To be quite frank, I can't stand the summer. I suppose I would like it more if I lived somewhere that had a fine balance... Actual distinction between the seasons. However, we start to warm up significantly in late March and into April and continue to stay warm until November and December. We only get a couple of months of solid cold weather...and hardly even a month of solid crisp weather. Today has been absolutely lovely. Overcast and mid 50's for a high. The gray skies a stark contrast to the gorgeous reds and golds of the trees. We are peaking over the next couple of weeks with our fall foliage. I plan on getting out with my camera tomorrow to get some good pictures before all of the leaves are gone.

I have been reading other blogs to draw some inspiration for this one. One of the things that I've been reading a lot of is the "12 Things by 2012" challenge. Basically, it's like end of the year resolutions to accomplish by 2012. I especially love this idea because I'm a "crunch time" type of person. I know...this is a nice way of saying I procrastinate. But, I really do much better at things when I'm looking at a rapidly approaching deadline. So, I thought I'd jump on this bandwagon.

12 Things by 2012

1) Quit Smoking ( Okay, this one is kind of cheating as I've already started the process, but hey...we gotta start somewhere.)
2) Make this blog awesome.
3) Make more of an effort in my appearance. (While I'm a big advocate of inner beauty, I think that you feel good when you feel you look good as well)
4) Have my car, purse, and house clean at the same time. (This is a feat in itself. I don't think I've EVER been able to have the trifecta)
5) Start creating more. I have so much creative energy that gets suppressed by day to day life. It wants OUT!
6) Work on my photography
7) Get all my laundry caught up and KEEP it caught up!
8) Cook more (I love to cook, but I don't ever seem to have the time...I need to make the time and stick to it)
9) Pay more compliments
10) Get my closet reorganized. I need it to function as more than a closet.
11) Do more nice things for my husband
12) Enjoy the holidays without stressing out...

Hopefully these stick! Now, I think I'm going to head to bed so I can get a head start tomorrow on the list. There is a lot to do and less than two months to go! What will your 12 by 2012 be?

Hallow's Hangover

Well, we survived Halloween night. It was a fun evening. It is our first year in our current house and we had no idea what level of trick or treat traffic we would incur. I was the lady handing out one piece of candy per kid. *face palm* We had so much candy left over! Now, I have to figure out a way to dispose of this candy. I'm guessing the only option I have is to eat it. ;)

Now, I can get my house back in order and start preparing myself for the next holiday designed to make me break out the elastic waistbands. Mmmm...Thanksgiving. This is the most awesome time of the year for me. Aside from loving anything that has to do with food, I just love the holiday spirit. I love getting together with all of my family and cooking the most amazing meal. After we eat...before the turkey coma...we always sit down to watch "A Christmas Story" for the first time of the season. That movie is my family's version of "Miracle on 34th Street." It's just not the Holidays until we watch it. The day after, my sweet husband and I will go pick out our Christmas tree, and have the best (free!) hot cocoa at the tree farm. We come home, crack open a bottle of wine and decorate the tree and the rest of the house. It's those moments of bliss before the insanity. Of course, we have the biggest football game of the year on while we're at it. Hogs vs Tigers...Arkansas vs LSU. Woo Pig Sooie! (Okay, the secret is out...we're Razorback fans)

I should really start on my Christmas shopping now. I hate feeling as though the season rushes by me, all the while I'm struggling to keep up and get everything done in time. This year (I say this EVERY year) I want to get my shopping done early so I can sit back and bask in the glow of it all.

For now, I'll just sit back and try not to glow green from too much Halloween candy.