Cyber Monday Tone It Up!

I have been following the Tone It Up girls since we received thier workout DVD in a subscription box last year. I am totally obsessed with thier program and hope to try it soon. You pay a one time membership fee of $150 and you get the complete meal program and updates as well as join the community that is really supportive. They also send out weekly workouts. I really love thier approach to healthy living and the positivity they and members project onto eachother. I was really excited for Black Friday deals because I heard they were 50% off last year. This year they had awesome bundles instead of sales on the membership. For the nutrition plan bundle you get the membership with the nutrition plan as well as the new workouts, a water bottle, measuring tape, necklace, resistant bands, a cute gym bag, journal, multi vitamins, and a vanilla chai latte protein mix for $230. I am so in love with the bundle but it is completely out of my price range this season. I hope they offer the pieces individually after the weekend sale of the bundle closes, and I hope to try out the program soon! Have any of you guys tried it out? 

-K

Allure Beauty Box November 2015 Review

Well here it is the end of the month again, and I'm trying to cram all the November box reviews in tonight. Allure Beauty Box (formerly Sample Society) is a $15 monthly subscription box service. They send 5-7 trial & deluxe size beauty products each month, with the occasional full size.

Hanai Mori Perfume - $1.75. Meh. All fragrance is wasted on me and I wish I could just opt out of it.

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena and Lavender de Provence Bath Gel - $6. This fresh scented, gently cleansing gel creates a smooth lather in the shower, brilliant bubbles in the bath and a splash of indulgence in your daily routine. This has Lavender so it's going to swap.

Kevin Murphy Anti Gravity Oil Free Volumizer - $10.54. Supposedly you can use a lot of this product and it will never weigh your hair down. It does contain lavender, so this is also going to swap.

Mally Beauty High Shine Lipstick in Blossom - $15. These four-in-one Liquid Lipstick Pens condense the whole process into a quick swipe of the lips, creating an effortless, lasting shine. I do like this brand for shiny lipsticks.

L'occitane Divine Youth Oil - $14. This is designed for the skin to improve visible signs of aging including fine lines and wrinkles while hydrating and refreshing. I bet it works just as great on hair!

Klorane Floral Lotion Eye makeup remover - $2. I hear this is a pretty good eye makeup remover, but since the word floral is in the title I'm just going to skip.

There seemed to be a lot of flowery ingredients this month, which doesn't excite me. I do like the oil and will be using that for sure. The overall value this month is approximately $46.

`A 

GlossyBox November 2015

Glossybox is $21/month and you get five beauty products. I think I've discovered more brands that are new to me than any other box. They include a mix of deluxe trial and full size products. They have a nice rewards program. You have the opportunity to complete surveys for points called Glossydots, and then when you reach 1000 you receive the next month's box free.

Glossybox has the best boxes in the business, serious high quality boxes that are great for gifting.

florapy blackberry primrose deep hydration mask - $8. I love face masks, and I especially love hydrating masks this time of year. You just leave them on for about 20 minutes.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Ultra Moisturizing Hand Therapy - $9. Lock in lashings of moisture with our La Source Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy. Infused with shea butter, macadamia nut oil and seaweed and algae extracts, this intensive cream nourishes skin so it's noticeably smoother after each luxurious application.

Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Crème - $9 This high-performance, multi-action moisturizer dramatically reduces the look of multiple signs of aging: lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, dullness and dehydration. This is my favorite item this month.

Beauty For Real D-Fine Perfect Lip Pencil  - $14. The only lip pencil you'll ever need to define and enhance your lips. It is a true lip tone, which works with all lip gloss shades and on all skin tones, taking the guesswork out of choosing the correct color.

Marsk Mineral Eye Shadow in Your Toast - $22.50. MARSK Mineral Eyeshadows are 100% natural, mineral based loose powder that are strictly cruelty free (not tested on animals) and available in a range of striking shades that offer endless colour possibilities for a professional makeup effect. Featuring a creamy texture, these highly pigmented powders are easily blendable and offer you the ability to create depth and intensity around the eye. This is a very pretty color.

This box had an approximate value of $62. The variety of products was great this month, so I'm happy with the curation.

`A

Beauty DNA Npvember 2015 Review

Beauty DNA is a monthly subscription service that will send you one full-size skincare or hair care item each month. The cost is $25/month. They have a unique matching system, where you fill out your likes/dislikes profile and you never receive items that you don't like. I have had fairly good luck with being matched with items that I really like and that I can actually use. 

These are the best info cards around. They are on quality paper and booklet style. They also fully explain the product and why the item has been matched specifically for you.

Skin Vanish Instant Imperfection Corrector - $58. This concentrated serum is an instant skin treatment addresses the quadruple threat of skin concerns: Fine lines/aging, sun damage/environmental stresses, dark spots and dullness. The immediate benefits are that it diminishes imperfections and smooth's out your skin. The better benefits are the anti-oxidants that are in the ingredients. I like that I receive such unique items from Beauty DNA, and often times they find items would I not think to buy for myself.

`A



Barkbox November 2015

BarkBox is one of the most popular subscription boxes for dogs and cost $29.99/month and even cheaper if you do a 3 month subscription ($24/mo), 6 month subscription ($21/mo), or a 12 month subscription ($19/mo). You can also add on a premium toy for $9. We found a special on Groupon for BarkBox. We paid $79.99 for six months, which comes to just over $13/month.

This is a pic of the first look. I can already see a Thanksgiving theme, and I love that.

3 Leaves on a Rope - $16. Sailor loved this one! He really likes toys with ropes. But sigh, this didn't stand up to his rough play. It was cute for the day though.

Corn Plush Toy - $15. This has a squeaker and is crinkly. We did not give it to Sailor because he would have eaten it up in five minutes.

Frank's Flank Roast Beef Steak - $4. I think these are hand made because I cannot find a link anywhere. This is a Butchers Block hand trimmed steak chew.

Carum Real Turkey Stew - $6. We gave Sailor this for Thanksgiving. He licked the bowl clean. He absolutely loved this. I totally want to get him more. Made in small batches with the same care and attention as your own homemade stews, this delectable dish is made from Human-grade ingredients. This Caru stew is grain, gluten, GMO free; preservative free, and developed with a PhD animal nutritionist.

Butchers Block Bully Stick - $4. Sailor loves these and they are gone in like a minute.

The overall value this month is $48. I love that they send themed toys each month. We will need to redo our subscription when it runs out, we are enjoying BarkBox so much.

`A

Glossybox Holiday Box 2015 Review

The Glossybox Holiday box is a Special Edition box. The cost was $40 and it promised  six luxurious products worth over $190. The box is already sold out. The box is generally received in December, so it was a nice surprise to get a little early this year.

It came in a very festive gold box with a pretty gold info card. I love seeing the Holiday designed boxes.

This is the first look.

Aerin Kaleidolight Palette - $70.00. This was the big ticket item. So pretty with it's gold case and pink dustbag. Easy and versatile, this pretty palette of five skin-loving, light-enhancing shades of bronze, beige, pink and lavender add subtle glow in one sweep to eyes and cheeks. 

Pure Cosmetics Glossygloss in Pouty Pink - $20.00. This is a very pretty shimmery pink. There is also a mirror on one side, and it has an LED light that turns on upon opening the tube. Apply anywhere. Also, has vitamin E and jojoba oil, which means it conditions the lips as well.

Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in Champagne Socialite - $15. I LOVE this color. I've gotten it before, and I didn't keep it last time. I'm totally keeping this time.

Nuxe Dry Oil Huile Prodigieuse - $45. This is an all-in-one beauty elixir. This can be used on hair or skin. Either use directly on skin, mix with your skin cream, or mix with your face makeup. . This is a much bigger bottle than I thought and really heavy.

L'Atelier Maquillage Mascara Kerecare - $30. Rich with keratein and protein. This should be really good for lashes, so I'm happy to try it.

This is a pic of all the items. Since I'm catching up on reviews, I have just now noticed that I am missing the Ardency Inn Modster Smooth Ride SuperCharged Eyeliner in Black - $19. Since it's just another black eyeliner, I will not be contacting Glossybox for a replacement. The overall value of the box is $199, with my box having a value of $180.
`A

Roloxin Lift Instant Skin Smoothing Mask Review

*This item was sent to us for review purposes*

Roloxin Lift Instant Skin Smoothing Masque - $110.  This is a mask that reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and pores for more radiant skin. It can work regardless of what your beauty routine is, and keeps working for up to 24 hours. Roloxin Lift was developed by Dermarché Labs, a company drawing on its experience building the largest Dermatology Pharmaeutical company in the United States, to bring to market innovative skincare products that meet the highest possible standards for effectiveness and safety. It was developed in conjunction with a physicist at one of the top research universities in the world.

This comes in a box of either 10 count or 30 count packets. With the packet style, you don't overuse the product, you have just the right amount. Plus, the packets are easy to throw into a bag for the Holiday travel.

The product itself is incredibly easy to use. After cleansing, you spread the cream all over your face. This dries into a white powdery mask, which you simply rinse off with water. It dries quickly, rinses well, and there is no stinging sensation like some masks have. I could visibly see a difference after the first use. My skin just looked younger. I received a box of 10 and I've used about half. The results are said to last for 24 hours, but I definitely feel like it lasts longer.

This product is an Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough winner and received the Good Housekeeping Seal in 2015. Who doesn't love that?! I am definitely picking up another box to use for special events.
`A

Erin Condren Life Planner Review

I had an Erin Condren Life Planner for 2014 and for the first quarter of grad school. However, when 2015 rolled around I decided not to splurge on the Life Planner and opted for an adorable sugar paper planner for Target for $20. While it was more affordable it just wasn't cutting it AT ALL. I was in grad school full-time taking two courses, working a full-time job, paying bills, maintaining a social life, taking the puppy in and out of day care and the simple planner just wasn't cutting it. I simply have too much going on in my life for a basic planner to begin to even cover. So when the second year of grad school started I had to invest in the holy grail of planners once again. I opted for the Metallic Prism Life Planner in gold ($60). Isn't this planner gorgeous?! the coil is dipped in 18K gold. The metallic planners also come with free metallic elastic bands as well. I am happy with the recent switch to let you choose between vertical and horizontal weekly layouts. The new horizontal option allows me to fit my daily tasks in, where I couldn't on the traditional vertical layout. If you would like to place an order use my referral link here to receive $10 off!

As always I love the included stickers! They also have two sheets of blank ones that you can write in.

It comes with a folder section and the clear pouch with added cards and binder inserts. 

My order came with a free perpetual calendar! This handbook is handy for writing important dates in such as birthdays and anniversaries and contacts! Love!

I opted to add on the Snap in Meal planner for $4. I was really excited for this, but wasn't as impressed once I received it. It lets you meal plan on one side and add the shopping list on the other. It smudges pretty easy and rubs off before I make it to the store. I think it is a great concept however, i would rather use a regular sheet of paper. 

I also opted to add on the Wellness Journal for $6. I was more impressed with this than the meal planner. I want to start keeping track of my meals, water intake, and workouts but it just doesn't fit into my planner very well and gets lost in it. This little booklet is great and fits right into the folder section. It is god for 15 weeks. If I use it reliably I will most likely re order. 

I feel so relieved to have my Life Planner back in my life. It really helps me keep track of my numerous assignments, presentations, meetings, and social life schedule. While this planner is a bit spendy it is definitely worth the investment especially for a grad school student! I ordered in October and was suppose to receive a piece of art that never arrived. I reached out to customer support and they are sending it to me!

-K