RocksBox Review (Box #3)

My third RocksBox has come and gone (I mailed it back a few days ago), and it was a fun selection.  I only ended up wearing one of the items, but I did like two out of the three.  I've changed up my style profile a little bit and made it a bit more specific, so hopefully my fourth box will be three pieces that I can really put to good use!  If you're unfamiliar with how RocksBox works, please read my review of my first box--I've added links to all of them at the end of this post.

I'll start with my most-loved item.  This is the Shark Tooth Pave Necklace in Gold by Viento, and I think it's amazing!  It was on a longer chain and it hit about mid-sternum on me.  I wore it twice while I had the box, and I liked that it added edge to my otherwise plain outfits.  I didn't purchase it, though, because the member's price was still up around $100 (if I remember correctly).

I also really liked these earrings; they're called the Green Faux Stone Chandelier Earrings and they're by Urban Gem.  The color was more green than this photo is showing; they were actually a bright emerald.  I loved the style and the color, I just didn't wear them because I had nothing to wear them with.

The Maja Ring in Bronze, also by Viento, was my third piece.  I liked the style of this ring, I just didn't like it for me.  I think it looks really cool and I like the intricate detailing, but it was just too big for me to wear.  I unchecked the box on my style profile that said I'd like to receive rings, because I've gotten one in each box so far and I haven't worn any of them.  I definitely would have worn this if it was just a bit shorter in length.

Click these links to see my past boxes:

• RocksBox Review #1
• RocksBox Review #2

Bottom Line: I enjoyed this RocksBox and, as always, can't wait to see what they send me for my fourth one.  I'm hoping that I'll get at least one silver piece, because I have on my profile that I would like to receive both silver and gold (so far I've only received gold).  Although I haven't loved every single piece I've ever gotten, I have gotten some really pretty jewelry that I wouldn't have access to otherwise and I think RocksBox is a really great service!

*Disclaimer: I received a 6-month membership to RocksBox via iFabbo.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Tree Hut Product Spotlight

This post brought to you by Tree Hut. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you’re looking for a great cruelty-free skincare line, Tree Hut is an excellent option.  Tree Hut Hand and Foot Care products are developed to keep your skin feeling smooth and healthy.  I like the brand because, aside from being cruelty-free, their products are made with natural oils and extracts.

Tree Hut has a variety of products available, but the ones I am most interested in are their Shea Body Butters.  They are described on Tree Hut’s website as being “an intense, all-day moisturizer, infused with Certified Organic Shea Butter and unique ingredients for natural benefits.”  Their rich formula creates a natural barrier for the skin to seal in moisture.   The organic shea butter also has anti-aging benefits and promotes elasticity in the skin.  There are a variety of scents available, and the one that most caught my eye was Tropical Mango.

The Tree Hut foot cream is made with argan and rose hip oils, both of which possess natural anti-aging properties, and have a non-greasy formula.  Tree Hut’s hand creams are made with the Certified Organic Shea Butter as well as aloe vera and peppermint oil to moisturize the skin.  Their Foot Scrub also contains shea butter, along with real sugar to exfoliate the skin and peppermint oil to moisturize it.  All of these products are paraben-free and contain no DMDM (an artificial preservative).

I love that Tree Hut is set apart from other skincare brands because their products are made in the USA and are completely paraben-free.  The brand started from humble beginnings in Farmers Branch, Texas over 10 years ago and is still producing high-quality skin care that delivers on its promises.  They source their natural ingredients from all over the world, such as the coconut shells they import from the Polynesian Islands.  Tree Hut promises that every product “will be amazing without ever testing on animals,” which is the most important aspect to me.


Below is a Polyvore set I created to showcase Natural Beauty for spring and summer.

Tree Hut products are easy to find.  You can purchase them directly from their website, or you can find them at Walmart stores nationwide!  Be sure to like Tree Hut on Facebook and follow Tree Hut on Twitter to stay updated.

May PopSugar Must Have Review

After the epic fail that was April's PopSugar Must Have box, I was very pleased with what they had to offer for May.  This one was the best I've gotten yet, but I've only gotten three total.  I have kept an eye on what the other months have included, though, and I can't say I've been blown away by this subscription.

But aside from that, May's box was definitely better than April's and December's (the only other one I've purchased).  I liked this box the best because it had products for the "must haves" that I like the best: beauty and food.

When I first opened the box and saw this I thought, "oh no, not another Green Garmento!"  But it's a cute little reusable bag, which I actually will use quite a bit.  It's the perfect size for when I only need to grab a few things from the store, as opposed to carrying in my giant canvas bags for two items.

Here's the list of everything that was in May's box:

• Kooringal Giselle Mid Brim Hat ($27.99) - I didn't think I would like this at all because I usually hate how I look in hats, but to my surprise I like it quite a bit!  I think it looks really cute and is obviously great for the summer.  The color I received is a gray, even though it looks blue in the photo above.
• The Modern Margarita ($12.99) - These mixers sound delicious.  The flavors are Watermelon, Authentico, Blood Orange, Mango, and Strawberry.  I can't wait to try them all (I haven't opened them yet), but mango and blood orange definitely sound the best!
• Questions I Ask When I Want to Talk About Myself ($14.95) - This is a deck of fifty cards with witty anecdotes and questions from Mindy Kaling.  I don't really know a ton about her, but I've heard her style of comedy is similar to Tina Fey's and I love Tina Fey.  I've read a few of these and I can't say I'll ever use them as conversation starters, but they're fun to read.
• The Original Beautyblender and Blendercleanser ($29.90) - These two are my favorite items this month; they came at the perfect time for me.  I had just thrown out my old sponge and was about to buy a new one, so I'm glad that I didn't.  I've used the Beautyblender before and it's a good sponge, but it's still just a makeup sponge so I would never purchase it at retail price.  I've also used Blendercleanser before and I like it for my makeup brushes, too.  The bottle is a really nice size.
• Pacifica Natural Color Quench Lip Tint ($7.00) - The shade I got was "Sugared Fig."  This balm is just okay to me.  It barely gives any color and it feels a bit strange on my lips--a slight waxy feel, which I'm not used to with natural products.  I do like that Pacifica is a cruelty-free company.
• Charm & Chain Gift Card ($30) - The box contained a $30 gift card to Charm & Chain but their jewelry is pricey and not worth the expense to me.  I can find similar pieces for much cheaper prices, and I don't generally spend a lot on my jewelry.
• Way Better Snacks ($1.19)- These chips were a "special extra," and I'm so glad they were included because they were delicious.  My flavor was Sweeet Potato Tortilla Chips (yes, misspelled on purpose), which is what I think everyone received (correct me if I'm wrong).  I'm going to look for this brand the next time I go grocery shopping, I like that they're certified by the Non-GMO Project.

Bottom Line: There was definitely a better distribution of value in this box as opposed to April's, which made my happy.  The ARV of this box adds up to $124.02, and considering I got this box for free (thank you to the two people who signed up with my referral link!), I'd say that's a pretty good deal.

*Disclaimer: I received this box for free due to earned referral credits, but this is not a sponsored post.

Cellulite MD Giveaway

It's giveaway time!  I have a 6 oz. bottle of Cellulite MD for one of my readers, which was generously provided by CelluliteTreatment.org.  I personally didn't review this product because I don't yet have problems with cellulite, but I still wanted to be able to offer this cream to win because I've achieved successful results with past creams that are similar to this one (RevitaShape, Complexion MD, and Aquallure).

I have been assured by Brenda, their online marketing representative, that Cellulite MD is a cruelty-free product (although the ingredients aren't natural, if that's something that you are concerned with).  This cream works to diminish the appearance of cellulite and promote smoother, firmer skin.  RevitaShape was a similar product that I reviewed, and although I couldn't attest to its effects on cellulite, it did make my skin feel firmer.  With regular use, the cream should show results within 4-8 weeks.

If you're interested in trying Cellulite MD, enter to win one by using the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This sweepstakes is open to US and Canada residents aged 18+ only. It begins on 28 May 2013 and ends at 12:00 AM EST on 20 June 2013. One winner will be chosen at random by this Rafflecopter widget and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be chosen. All entries will be verified. I will be shipping the prize directly to the winner.

ORO GOLD Cosmetics: Cruelty-Free Luxury

ORO GOLD Cosmetics is a cruelty-free brand that I was recently introduced to.  Gold has long been used as a luxurious addition to beauty products, from the ancient Romans and Chinese medicine to the products that ORO GOLD Cosmetics creates today.

Gold is often thought of as a privilege only for the wealthy, but ORO GOLD makes it an affordable luxury for all.  They use colloidal gold, or “nano-gold,” which is made up of sub-micrometer-sized particles of gold, in fluid form.  The specks are both visible and invisible to the naked eye.  Colloidal gold has been referred to as the “Elixir of Life” in literature dating back centuries.

The tiny particles of gold in ORO GOLD Cosmetics creams is easily absorbed through the pores and works to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, as well as sun damage and age spots.  Their products are great for achieving and maintaining moisturized, radiant skin and will leave you feeling pampered and refreshed.

The product that most caught my eye was the 24K Oil-Control Prevention Mask, which retails for $248.  For that price you will receive a 60 mL jar.  The mask is designed to cleanse and smooth blemished skin, which is one of my major skin concerns.  I have oily/combination skin with red patches, and I’d love to see how this works and feels.  Some of the ingredients it contains are 24 karat gold, aloe, Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), along with a combination of rich moisturizers.  Application is the same as you would expect for a mask: apply a thick layer onto clean skin and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.   You can also apply this mask to affected areas as a spot treatment and leave on for as long as you please, then rinse with warm water.  This product also goes well with the 24K Oil-Control Mositurizer.

I was especially pleased to learn that ORO GOLD Cosmetics is a cruelty-free brand, because ending animal testing is a cause that I am passionate about.  Their policy is as follows:

“ORO GOLD Cosmetics does not test on animals. The company believes in providing high-quality products as well as high-quality service. You can be ensured that all ORO GOLD Cosmetics products are formulated with ingredients that are universally used by the cosmetic industry. All of our products are thoroughly tested for safety and must pass very stringent requirements.”

The price of the 24K Oil-Control Prevention Mask may seem steep in comparison to other skin care masks out there, but one must consider the ingredients that it contains.  I have not sampled any ORO GOLD Cosmetics products for myself, but from what I’ve learned thus far I think they sound like fabulous quality skin care that promises to deliver great results.  They have a broad range of products for all types of skin concerns, including neck care, serums, body butters, and much more.  They even have a line specifically for men.

If you’re interested in ORO GOLD Cosmetics, I definitely recommend taking a look at their website and browsing their full line of products.  They also have brick-and-mortar stores where you can indulge in a 24K Gold Facial!  They have a presence in Hong Kong, the Phillippines, Spain, England, Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, too!

• Follow ORO GOLD Cosmetics on Twitter.

*Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ORO GOLD Cosmetics which I received compensation for.  All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Petit Vour Review and Unboxing

I'm really excited to bring to you a new subscription box called Petit Vour -- I was asked to review their first box and I jumped at the chance.  The reason why I'm so excited about this subscription is because they only feature cruelty-free brands!

Petit Vour costs $15 a month and is available to the 48 contiguous states (they don't ship to APO or FPO boxes).  You can also purchase a three month subscription for $43 or six months for $82.  Both of these options are one-time charges.  The only added fee is for residents of Texas; you'll have to pay tax (I feel your pain, Texans--I have to pay NYS tax on some of the other services I subscribe to).  Currently you have to request an invite to join, and since I received this box to review I am not sure how long the wait period is on becoming a member.  I do know that once you are able to purchase a subscription you fill out a beauty profile so that Petit Vour can tailor products to your preferences.

I really liked the branding on their box.  Rabbits are my favorite animals, so I really like the theme they have going here.  They also have "Be Bold, Be Kind" written on the other side of the box, which I didn't take a picture of.  I really like that because I think it definitely sums up what they're all about!

The first item I noticed when I opened the box was the nail polish, because I love nail polish!  I thought it was a Scotch Naturals polish but it ended up being a different brand (not that that's a disappointment).  The box contained five items total, most of which were sample-sized.  I believe the nail polish is full-sized.

So here's what was in the May Petit Vour box!

• Acure 100% Organic Hair Care - This shampoo and conditioner set is vegan, fair-trade certified, and Leaping Bunny certified, all three of which I love.  I'm not sure what the volume of these samples is because there is no measurement written on the bottle, but they're a good size for sampling.  The informational card says that Acure uses "cutting-edge plant stem cell technology."  I'm definitely curious to see how my hair reacts to this.
• Misa Three-Free Nail Lacquer - I'm not sure if everyone got the same shade, but mine is a pretty pink called "First Kiss."  It's a .5 oz bottle, which is the standard size for nail polishes, so I'm fairly certain that this is full-sized.  It has a slightly fuchsia sheen, so I think it's going to look really nice for summer.
• Tsi-La 100% Natural Organic Eau de Parfum - I think the name of this is "Fiori D'Arancio."  I'm not the biggest fan of perfume samples, but I'm willing to give them a try.  This one has notes of orange blossoms, tangerines, and neroli flowers, with vanilla orchids and honey.  Based on that description I thought I was going to love it, but it's just okay to me.
• Odacite 10-Day Skin Treatment - The products weren't actually in the box, but we were provided with a gift certificate with a coupon code to order them.  The certificate is good for a skin consultation via email, personalized skin routine, and seven freshly made products.  What a great deal!
• Go Raw 100% Organic Spirulina Energy Bar - I've had spirulina products before, maybe even the Go Raw brand (I don't entirely remember), and I do like them.  I'm going to take this to work tomorrow to have as a snack

• Learn more about Petit Vour and request an invite to join
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest

Bottom Line: Overall I am very impressed with Petit Vour!  I'm going to support any company that's cruelty-free, and the ones featured in this box are even better because a lot of them are vegan, organic, and/or fair trade certified as well.  I think this box is an excellent option for any beauty enthusiast, and is a great introduction to how wonderful cruelty-free beauty can be for those who might not be as familiar with it.

*Disclaimer: I received a box from Petit Vour to facilitate my review.  I was not monetarily compensated and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.

May Daily Dose of Green Review

It's Daily Dose of Green time!  May's box was another fun one.  I wanted to film an unboxing video but I think I'm going to put that on hold for a little while because it's so much extra work.  It just takes too long to actually upload them to YouTube, and I prefer to write anyway.

May's box was somewhat themed toward Mother's Day, with "products to put yourself first," focusing on skincare.  I'm all for that because I love getting beauty products.  Usually Daily Dose of Green doesn't contain all beauty and skincare, so if you're looking for a more varied lifestyle box don't worry--you can see my past reviews for an idea of what the boxes have contained (what I'm trying to get at is that there's usually more of a variety).

Here's the array for this month.  I haven't used many of the items yet because I have a pretty big collection of skincare items to try already (that's not to say I don't welcome more!), but here are my thoughts regardless.

• 7th Heaven Moroccan Clay Gentle Exfoliating Masque - I haven't used this yet but I am definitely looking forward to doing so.  7th Heaven has affordable masques that are great quality, and I love clay masques like this one because I have oily skin.
• Health Warrior Chia Bar in Chocolate Peanut Butter - I really wanted to like this because I thought the flavor sounded yummy, but it wasn't for me.  It tasted strongly of chia seeds, which I know is right in the name, but I expected a little bit more of a chocolate and peanut butter flavor, too.
• Be Natural Organics Aloe Leaf Lotion - I haven't used this lotion yet, either, but Be Natural Organics products have been in my DDOG boxes before and I've really liked them.  This lotion sounds extra soothing because of the aloe vera, and will be good for summertime.
• Bee Organic Bee Soft Body Butter - There is no scent listed on these but they're made with cocoa butter, so I think they're going to be great.  I keep meaning to use it after a shower but I habitually reach for my other body butter that I usually use.  I'm going to make a special effort to remember this tomorrow.

• Aletheia Skin Care Green Tea + Papaya MicroExfoliant - This is an "antioxidant infused scrub" with papaya to help minimize pores.  I exfoliate once a week, so I'm going to use this one on my next go around.
• Aletheia Skin Care Tea Tree Face Wash - The tea tree oil in this works to reduce redness, inflammation, and balance oil production.  The sample will probably provide a two week supply, which should be enough for me to see if it has a positive impact on my skin.  Those with normal to dry skin received the Grapefruit Face Wash in their boxes (members fill out a profile to specify such information upon joining).
• Bloomin Paper High Heel Shoe - This is a little seed-embedded card and it's so cute!  I love seed papers.  I have a few stored away that I haven't planted yet, but I'll get to them someday!
• By Valenti Organics Dark Raw Chocolate Bar Soap - This was an extra profile product and I'm so glad I got it!  I love soaps and I love chocolate, and I especially love certified organic soaps like this one.  It's also vegan and cruelty-free and smells amazing!
• Essence of Vali Sleep - I think this was also supposed to be a profile product but I didn't receive an extra card with information about it.  Either way, it was another fantastic pick for me because I love aromatherapy and my favorite type is anything for stress relief or sleep.  This contains essences of lavender flowers, cedarwood, marjoram leaves and ylang ylang.  I've been placing a few drops on my temples, under my nose, and onto my pillowcase at night and it really does help me drift off to sleep.

• Visit Daily Dose of Green to learn more and sign up!  It costs $15 a month or $165 a year (one month free).
• Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

Bottom Line: This was one of my favorite Daily Dose of Green boxes yet because I love getting beauty products!  I really like this box because they do a great job of sending me products that are really geared toward my lifestyle, especially the profile products that they pick for me.

*Disclaimer: I purchased this box and was not asked to review it.

RocksBox Review (Box #2)

I never ended up filming an unboxing video for my second RocksBox, but I'm here with a blog review.  I've been really excited about receiving my boxes because I've recently gotten more into jewelry and accessorizing, and getting a surprise of three high-end pieces in the mail is a lot of fun.  If you're new to RocksBox, you can learn more about it at my post for my first box.

I've received three boxes so far (review for my third one is upcoming, I've just fallen a bit behind on non-sponsored posts), and I have yet to receive one where I loved all three pieces.  I haven't hated all of the pieces either, though, so that's a good thing.  I modified my style profile recently, so maybe my selections will be better for my fourth box.  I've left feedback on the items I've gotten so far, so that will help them narrow things down for me as well.

My first piece is this Benatar Statement Necklace by CC Skye, which I absolutely loved!  When I opened the box it was the first thing that caught my eye, and I said an emphatic "oooh, pretty!" out loud.  Dangly statement necklaces are definitely my style.  This one retails for $220, which is way more than I would ever pay for something like this, so it was fun to be able to wear it around.  It was of substantial weight, too, so you can tell it wasn't a cheaper piece from Forever 21 (I love my Forever 21 jewelry, just making a comparison there!).  I would have loved to have purchased this, but it was just too far out of my price range, even with the membership discount.

 

Next up is the Infinity II Ring by Gorjana, which I also loved.  It's a nice, dainty ring, and I just thought that the design was really cool.  I wasn't able to wear it, because as you can see from the photo above it was too small for my finger.  It retails for $40, and was only $28 with the membership discount.  I would have bought this one, too, if it had fit.

My last item was this pair of earrings, the Two Stone Drop Earrings in Ruby Black by Margaret Elizabeth.  These retail for $115, which I don't understand.  Druses aren't particularly expensive, at least I didn't think so, and the reddish gems weren't made of anything special, either.  I like the silhouette of these, just not the stones.  I realized that druzy jewelry is not for me.

• Visit RocksBox to learn more and sign up for a membership ($19/month for unlimited shipments).  I'm not sure if this code has expired, but try using FABB for 50% off your first three months.
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Bottom Line: Even though I really liked two out of my three pieces, I was only able to wear the necklace because the ring didn't fit.  But despite that, I'm still having such a fun time with RocksBox and I can't wait to see what they send next!

*Disclaimer: I received a six month RocksBox membership for free through the iFabbo shop. I was not monetarily compensated for this review and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.  Some links in this post are referral links.

Iwilla Remedy Review

I'm always on the hunt for new natural products to try, so when I was approached by Tami of Iwilla Remedy to host a review I was more than excited to!  Iwlla Remedy is run out of Brooklyn by Tami and Selima, and their mission is to share what they've learned about natural products and wellness with the world.

The I Love My Armpits natural deodorant by Iwilla Remedy is an awesome replacement for your non-natural deodorant or antiperspirant!  I've been using the unscented deodorant for two weeks now and I have to say, it works just as well as the other antiperspirants I've used in the past (including brands like Secret, which I used before I made the switch to cruelty-free).  I even used I Love My Armpits last Saturday when I ran a 5K, and it definitely stood up to the test!  The ingredient list is as follows: Fractionated coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, castor oil, arrow root powder, brown rice flour, bentonite clay, sea clay, and neem seed oil.

I can't rave about this deodorant enough!  I think that anyone who is looking for an all-natural option will really enjoy this one.  I chose unscented, but if you want a scent with yours iWilla Remedy offers six scents: Baby Powder, Citrus Pearl, Floral Fields, Herbaceous Woods, and Spicy Lemon.  They all retail for $10, which may seem a bit steep, but consider that these are hand-made with truly natural ingredients that are much better for your body (and just as effective as the synthetic stuff!).

I was also able to try Iwilla Remedy's Wellness Body Oil in "Relax, Relate, Release."  I wanted to give this scent a try because I love aromatherapy products and anything to help me de-stress is more than welcomed. I like to dab a little bit on my pillowcase and under my nose before bed, and it really does help me drift off to sleep.  Even if aromatherapy doesn't have a strong affect on you, I think you can still enjoy this due to its moisturizing benefits.  The directions say to "rub a small amount onto pressure points, solar plexus, temples, and stiff muscles to relieve pain or tension," but you could use this wherever you wanted.  The ingredients are sweet almond oil, essential oils of bergamot, roman chamomile, ylang ylang, vetiver, cinnamon, lavender, mandarin, and patchouli.  I pick up on the patchouli the most, but overall the blend is wonderfully soothing.  The body oils retail for $7.50.

• View Iwilla Remedy's full line of products at their website
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube

Bottom Line: I give Iwilla Remedy's I Love My Armpits and Wellness Body Oil two thumbs up!  I'm so impressed by how well the deodorant holds up, and I love the scent of the body oil.  Both products do exactly what they promise to do, and are truly all-natural and cruelty-free.

*Disclaimer: I received products free of charge to facilitate my review.  I was not monetarily compensated for this review and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.

May Flicker Box Review (Inaugural Box)

When I first heard about Flicker Box I knew I had to try it -- I am a huge candle hoarder!  I have a whole drawer full of them.  Flicker Box is a new start up run by Kristina out of Chicago, and each month you'll get a curated box of artisan candles.  I'm really impressed by the first box!

My box arrived fairly quickly; I think the time between receiving my shipping notification and actually getting the box was only two or three days at most.  All of the candles are made in the United States, and I'm going to assume that each month will feature a different theme.  This month's theme was beeswax candles.

Flicker Box costs $32 a month, with options for three month ($96),six month ($165), and 12 month subscriptions ($300).  Shipping is included in all of these rates.  While they may seem expensive, consider that you're receiving four to five artisan, handmade candles.  I know that the three-wicks at Bath & Body Works are $20 each, so hopefully that helps to put the price into perspective a bit.

The inaugural box contained five candles, seven if you count each of the tealights separately.  The first brand I noticed on the informational card was one of my favorites, Big Dipper Wax Works, which I was first introduced to through Eco Emi.  Here's a list of all of the brands that were featured:

• Big Dipper Wax Works 1.7 oz Beeswax tin and 3.1 oz. Beeswax glass jar
• Bluecorn Naturals 100% Pure Beeswax 2" pillar
• OneHoney - Chicago Honey Co-Op Bear Hugging Hive
• Scent From Nature 100% Pure Beeswax Tealights

Even though all of the candles were beeswax, I like that there was still a variety of forms included.  Tealights are always useful, and the bear candle is absolutely adorable.  I also like that the Big Dipper Wax Works candles are in containers.  I would have liked to have gotten some scented candles, but I'm sure that Flicker Box will have plenty of those in months to come.  If you're interested, you can use the coupon code "MOM15" through Sunday (May 12th) to take 15% off all prepaid subscriptions.

Bottom Line: I'm really impressed by Flicker Box and I think it's a fantastic choice for any candle lover.  Even if you can only afford to do one month, it's definitely a nice treat!

*Disclaimer: I received a Flicker Box free of charge to facilitate my review.  I was not monetarily compensated for this review and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.

Spicy Subscriptions "50 Shades of Grey" Giveaway [CLOSED]

I've reviewed Spicy Subscriptions quite a few times here (read my reviews), and I think they have been a pretty popular subscription with my readers (based on the sign-ups I've received through my referral coupon).  I'm glad that  so many people have found the reviews useful!  If you've been wanting to try Spicy Subscriptions for yourself, here is a great chance -- they are running a giveaway for a 3-month subscription of their fabulous 50 Shades of Grey deluxe themed boxes!

Entering is really easy; just use the Rafflecopter form.  The only required entry is that you "like" Spicy Subscriptions on Facebook, but the more entries you complete, the better your chances.

Even if you don't win, you can take advantage of these coupons that Spicy Subscriptions is generously offering:

• "10off" on all monthly subscriptions (10% off first box)
• "get1499" for Premium 4 month subscription ($14.99 for first box)
• "get1999" for Deluxe 4 month subscription ($19.99 for first box)

This sweepstakes is open to US and Canadian residents aged 18+ and will end on 23 May 2013.  See the terms and conditions in the Rafflecopter form for more information.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Silver Linings Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

I love a pair of cute shoes (like many women do), but one thing I don't love is wearing tights or pantyhose.  I used to go sockless when I wore heels and I ended up with that undesirable sweaty-foot stickiness by the end of the day.  I don't wear heels as often as I used to--I've switched to flats--and I've since smartened up and bought those little footie socks to wear with them.  But then when I learned about Silver Linings by Chu Shu New York I thought they sounded really interesting.

Jennifer Chu created Silver Linings after noticing the damage and discoloration that moisture build-up can lead to on shoe interiors when going sockless.  These liners harness the power of silver to keep feet feeling fresh and absorb any unwanted odor.  They can be used in both flats and heels and last for about 2-3 weeks (or 10-15 uses, depending on how often you wear your shoes).

The back of the packaging explains that Silver Linings are infused with Agion silver, "an EPA-registered and environmentally friendly technology that inhibits growth of bacterial odor."  I wore my Silver Linings in my flats the past three days and they really do deliver on their promises.  I found them to be comparable to my footie socks in absorbing moisture, but much better at absorbing odor.  My feet didn't smell at all, nor did my shoes, which is obviously a welcome result!

Here's a photo of what the Silver Linings looked like inside of my flats.  The undersides are a rubber-like material, kind of what you would expect on the bottom of a shower mat, to keep them from sliding around (photo below).

Bottom Line: I've really enjoyed using my Silver Linings so far and I think they definitely are effective at absorbing moisture and odor.  If you're like me and you like going sockless (especially in the summertime!), I highly encourage you to check these out.

• Visit the Silver Linings product page
• Use coupon code SOLE20 for 20% off of your order!
• Connect with Silver Linings on Facebook and Twitter

Are you interested in trying Silver Linings for yourself?  They have generously provided two shoe liners for my readers to win!  Enter using the Rafflecopter form after the "read more."

April Little Black Bag Review and Unboxing

I bought two Little Black Bags this month and here's the first of them.  I was so curious to see what the new system would be like, and like most users there were some things I liked and some I didn't.  I'm not going to boycott the site or anything (obviously), and the pros here heavily outweigh the cons for me.  I really like that the prices are more graduated now, so I can get a handbag for less than the original $49.95 price.

Since I actually got these items a while ago, I can't remember the exact names of the earrings.  Anyway, I'm really happy with these items overall.  The crossbody is adorable and just the type of bag I wanted for summer.  I think this bag ended up costing me around $54 after tax and shipping, which was a bit cheaper than the previous price, which would equal around $60 for me.  Here's the list of what I got:

• Deux Lux Bowery B-Sides Mini Messenger
• Lydell NYC Hexagon Drop Earrings
• Spring Street Spice Market Earrings
• BeFine Packette Box
• Lemon Socks

The socks and packette box are bonus items, but they're pretty decent bonuses.  I especially like the packette box.  For a more in-depth review of my items, watch my unboxing video:

Overall, I do like the new LBB.  I know there was a lot of commotion when they first changed to their new shipping and billing practices, but after it settled and I really analyzed the situation I think the changes are for the better.  I still don't quite understand the point of the charging $9.99 a month to get $10 in credit, so I'm just going to skip each month and then just purchase a bag on its own when I feel like it.  I know they advertised it as "getting free money," but a free $.12 a year isn't going to do much for me.

Aside from that, I like that the price of the bundles reflect the price of your first item, so you can pick a bag like the crossbody I got (retail value of $71) and pay somewhere around $50 after shipping, or you can pick a $24 necklace for something like $18 (this is an approximation, since I haven't picked an item that low to start with yet).  The shipping increased by a dollar, but that doesn't bother me.  The exchange policy was a bit wonky at first, but they did a good job of listening to customers and they've since implemented a much better system.  The only thing I really don't care for is that they have shoes now.  I'm not a shoe girl, and I wouldn't order them even if I was because I wear a size 5.5 (meaning shoes rarely fit me, even if they're marked as that size) and having them not fit and needing to return them is more of a hassle than I want to deal with.

Check out more photos of my items behind the "read more."

Sale on Dickinson's Witch Hazel Products!

If you read my Influenster Sugar 'N Spice Voxbox post, you'll recall that my favorite item in the box was the Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes.  The towelettes came with five $2 off coupons as well for any Dickinson's product, which I just used at my local Walgreens.

I snapped a quick iPhone photo, sorry for the quality!

I normally don't do posts like this, but I got such a great deal on these three products that I figured someone else out there might be interested as well.  I bought two Foaming Facial Washes and one Pore Perfecting Toner for a total of $7.79!  I used three of my coupons, which saved me $6, but even if you don't have the coupons from the Voxbox you can still basically get these products for free.

The face washes were marked down to $3.49 from $6.99, so I got them both for $1.49 each.  The toner was regularly priced at $5.79, but it's a huge bottle (16 fl oz).  All three had tags on them for a rebate offer, where Dickinson's will refund your entire purchase price if you send it along with the original receipt.  You'll end up paying for the tax, but I still think this is an awesome deal.

Bottom Line: Witch hazel isn't for everyone, but I like Dickinson's because their products contain minimal ingredients and are cruelty-free.  I hope you can find these products on sale at your Walgreens like I did!

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.