March 6th was Dentist's Day! Hope you all celebrated by brushing your teeth, flossing and booking an appointment to see your favorite dentist soon!
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Best Birchbox
I was really excited when I got my Birchbox Aces January Sample Choice email. There were some great sample choices to secure, but what really caught my attention was the Rest and Relax curated box that was being offered. Since it's the time of year filled with snow days and sick days (unfortunately I had two this week), I thought this would be a great box to pick. Even though I knew what all of my samples would be, I was really excited to dive into the January box and try them all out. I definitely was not disappointed.
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream is a great addition to any skincare routine. Being sick and having some restless nights, I have been using this cream and have noticed that my under eye circles have been significantly better. I like that it doesn't give the under eye area the really puffy feeling of other products I have tried. The sample size was large but I would consider purchasing this in the future.
The Manna Kadar Lip Locked gloss is a pretty color for spring. I like the consistency, not as sticky as other brands. I tend to prefer lipsticks to glosses, but this is a less bold look that is nice for everyday, especially when the warmer weather hits.
This is a sample I have had before and really enjoyed. The lavender scent is relaxing. I love to use lavender scented products before bed because I think they are calming and help me to fall asleep. The shea butter in the Perlier Intensive Nurturing Balm softens hands and is perfect for chapped winter skin.
The Briogeo Don't Despair! Deep Conditioning Mask was exactly what my hair needed when this arrived. After regular shampooing I work this from roots to tips and leave in for 3-5 minutes for maximum benefit. When I get out of the shower and comb out my hair it is tangle-free and after blow drying it shiny and healthy. It was a deluxe-sized sample that will definitely last 4-5 uses which I appreciate because I think it really helps me to make an opinion on the product and see long-term results.
The only product that I have not yet tried, the When Travelmate Sheet Masks have come highly recommended within the Birchbox community. I love the convenience of a sheet mask and it's much less messy than a mud or clay mask and you get similar results. I am going to save this for use before my trip to Florida in a few weeks so I can have selfie ready skin at the beach.
I originally subscribed to Birchbox for beauty samples, but surprisingly I have been exposed to some amazing food products as well. A few months ago I was sent a Kind bar and now they are one of my snack staples. This month's Teapigs Tea Temples were awesome. When I saw the flavor was Licorice and Peppermint I was very skeptical, but I loved the tea! I even reused the bag for a second cup. I immediately went online to purchase more and Birchbox.com is completely sold out. No surprise there! I hope they become available again soon!
Just got me email for the February Sample Choice Video. Cannot wait to see what next month's box will hold!
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Firebox
The philosophy at Firebox is simple; a belief that the best food travels the shortest distance from farm to table, that locally grown ingredients combined with classic technique and innovative thinking make for an enjoyable experience.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Hartford area is Firebox. I love the food, the atmosphere and the philosophy. Good, fresh food, prepared in unique ways with a great wine list. Really, what more can you ask for?
One of my favorite restaurants in the Hartford area is Firebox. I love the food, the atmosphere and the philosophy. Good, fresh food, prepared in unique ways with a great wine list. Really, what more can you ask for?
Our gorgeous New Year's Table Scape
My girlfriends and I celebrated New Year's Eve there last week and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. The brick walls and the wine "library" that remind me of something a grown up Belle from Beauty and the Beast would love to peruse, make for an intimate setting that is both charming and modern. The menu is seasonal, highlighting the best of New England from vegetables to shellfish, that look and taste like they came right from the backyard. We love the cheese plate with selections from Cato Farm and real honey comb. When I am on call the bartender always whips me up the most delicious "mocktails", like fizzy pomegranate lemonade or a lime spritzer. The wine list is superb with affordable bottles and a nice, notable selection of bubbly. The dessert menu is captivating. Even if you feel like you cannot eat another bite, as soon as you read the selections you can't help but think that yes, you can indeed have just a little more. Of note is the goat cheese panna cotta, mildly sweet and very creamy, and the bread pudding that has both caramel and crunch.
Deconstructed Lobster Pot Pie
If you are not eating at Firebox, you should be. Brunch, date night, week night. The menu is constantly changing, the Cava is always flowing and the brussel sprouts are superb. I will be dining there again and again.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Hockey
It may have taken 5 years.
And I may not have even had any shoulder pads.
But I got back on the ice Sunday night. And it was great. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to be a healthier person, both mentally and physically. I think taking to the ice one night a week for the rest of the winter will help me shed some stress and some calories.
And I may not have even had any shoulder pads.
But I got back on the ice Sunday night. And it was great. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to be a healthier person, both mentally and physically. I think taking to the ice one night a week for the rest of the winter will help me shed some stress and some calories.
Monday, January 5, 2015
New York City
A few weeks ago I kicked off the holiday by meeting up with two of my best dental school friends for a day in the city. I have been missing my Cali friends a lot lately so it was really nice to see some familiar faces in an unfamiliar place. The city was so crowded but we managed to take in some sights like the tree in Rockefeller Plaza and the rink in Bryant Park. We also ate dinner at a lovely little wine bar called Sophia on East 50th. Definitely off the beaten path, but after an afternoon of battling crowds of selfie-takers and tourists we enjoyed the quiet and definitely the wine.
Note the parkas. K and I were freezing. Two East Coasters on the West Coast for 4 years made for some really cold girls.
Note the parkas. K and I were freezing. Two East Coasters on the West Coast for 4 years made for some really cold girls.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Perfect Pitcher
I took Ell to Target the other day and I told him, "You can't leave here without a full cart, you get Target-ized." And what happened, we left with a large present for my godson, tons of groceries and new bedding (which unfortunately didn't work out on our bed and must be returned, darn!). What we did not leave with is this adorable pitcher. Doesn't it look like it would be from Kate Spade? But with a way cheaper price tag! When I return the bedding I am going to search the store for one of these because I just can't stand to see it in another Instagram photo and not own it myself. It would make a perfect hostess gift as well. It is currently sold out online but check your local store because these are going quickly!
Saturday, December 13, 2014
December Birchbox Reveal
I had been considering putting a pause on my Birchbox subscription for a few months because I didn't feel like there was enough variety in what I was getting. The cosmetic bag I keep in my purse of essential "To Go" beauty items is overflowing with hand lotions from past boxes. I told myself I would stick it out through the holiday and see how I felt. November was a curated box from Buzzfeed that I chose early as a Birchbox Ace and it got mixed reviewed around the blog world. I personally liked what was in it and make great use of dry shampoo, so that alone sold me. For December I left it more up to chance, opting to choose only one of my 5 samples and keeping the rest a surprise. I have to say, this has been one of my favorite boxes in awhile.
I love the idea of using organic beauty products because it makes me feel better about what I am using on my body. This lip gloss makes for a pretty pout. It's sticky like other glosses but the color is a little more vivid and it lasts longer than others I have used in the past. It has no glitter and minimal shimmer which I love because no one wants to look like they are using the same gloss from middle school. Will love even more in the spring when the time for bold winter lips has ended.
Full size on the pricier side compared to drug store BB creams, but I love the coverage on this one and have been impressed with every Dr. Jart+ product I have received in my boxes so far. This is a great everyday product, providing just enough coverage for day without the heaviness of a foundation. I like using this with a little blush and eyeliner to make myself look awake when heading into work. I have been stashing BirchBox points so this may join the list of contenders for my splurge.
After jumping on the short hair bandwagon a la Taylor Swift, I am loving this product to add a little texture to second day limp locks. I used a little this morning and got some body and volume without any weight or stiffness. This is a great product and I highly recommend to anyone who has recently joined the club and gone for the chop. Will definitely be ordering more.
Now that I am 27 maybe my anti-wrinkle skin care regime needs to step up from just using whatever samples I get in my Birchboxes until they run out. Still, I feel it's hard to judge this kind of product from a sample. The smell and feel are fine. Just nothing to draw me in and make me commit. Like I said earlier, will use until finished and hope for no crow's feet.
This was my product choice for the month of December in Rose Gold. I thought this would be fun for the holiday and the color would be a nice compliment to my favorite eyeshadow palette, Naked3. The color is beautiful and it is creamy and luxe. The $18 price tag is a little steep though and I would be curious to see if I could locate something similar at a drug store price point since I would not be using this everyday. Still, very excited to get this and will definitely be adding it to my holiday makeup look!
Overall I was very pleased with this box and am staying on for the beginning of 2015. Hoping to make it to NYC soon to visit the BB Store and make my own awesome box. Then I could be sure all the samples were a perfect 10!
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