Manicure Monday - Mini Egg Nails!

I have been trying to get back in to my regular routines, but last week was a little rough for me and I am still trying to play catch up! So instead of nail painting, I enjoyed a family dinner and an early to bed night (it was worth it!).

I'm feeling Easter this week for my Mani:

Mini eggs!! These are the BEST Easter treats by far!! (and I will gladly enjoy eating these all now!)

Skincare Sunday - Baviphat Strawberry Toxifying Mask Product Review

If you are a regular reader, then you probably already know, I have a slight obsession with face masks of any kind! I use them minimally twice a week (usually a fair bit more often!). If you haven't seen my nightly skin care routine post, you can view it here to see where you should incorporate masks in to your nightly routine! 

Sometimes I have no better reason for purchasing a product, except that the packaging is too cute to resist! That is the sole reason I selected this gem:

Baviphat Strawberry Toxifying Mask ~ $15 - $20. A Strawberry?! I die, how cute is this thing?! I decided whatever it was, I had to have it!! And even better when it turned out to be a clay mask! 

March 2015 - Birchbox Canada Sample Beauty Subscription Box Review

Birchbox is the original sample beauty box and has been in the U.S.A. since 2010 - and this is only the 4th month it has been available in Canada. It is $10 a month + $4.95 shipping to Canada (you can save money by signing up for a year for $100 + shipping costs). Each month you receive 5 sample (or full size) products based on a beauty profile you complete.

Birchbox Canada describes itself as:
"Five personalized beauty samples delivered right to your door each month. It’s the best way to find the products you’ll love."

(It should be noted that if you see the U.S. Birchbox - Canadian's receive different products. I hope this expands and we get access to all the products available to out American counterparts soon! I like that some boxes (such as Ipsy and Glossybox) offer the exact boxes to Canadians - I am hoping Birchbox does the same at some point!)

Here is the March 2015 Birchbox Canada:

I'm so excited that this month each Canadian Birchbox has a Beauty Blender in it!! 

Five on Friday - March 27, 2015

I'm linking up again for Five on Friday:

This week has been a very up and down for me this week - I'm hoping next week sees some improvements!! 

ONE

How cute is this adorable fruit bowl of skincare products?! Ahhh - I love Korean products and how cute they are!! My fruit bowl contains:

• The Yeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Live Pack
• Baviphat Strawberry Toxifying Mask
• Tonymoly Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack
• Tonymoly Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream

I usually like my counters nice and clear, but these goodies are out on display! 

March 2015 Beauteque BB Bag Review

Beauteque is an American company that focuses on creating a beauty bag with Asian Beauty products. Beauteque has piloted their BB Bags for a few months since July, before launching the full subscription service. This is their third bag - January was the first month!

The BB Bag is described as:

"Our BB Bag subscription delivers 7 full sized luxury products to your doorstep every month. A combination of beauty, skincare, and lifestyle products, you will receive a variety of goodies, whether it's makeup, skincare, jewellery, or much more! Not a month will go by that you aren't left with wanting more, so become a Beauteque Beauty and subscribe to us today!"

Beauteque is $24 monthly - if you sign up for a longer subscription, you can save a little money: $23 per month if you sign up for 6 months, or $22 per month if you sign up for 12 months). Shipping per month is $3.95 for the U.S., $5.95 to Canada, and $8.95 to Europe. The value of each BB bag will be $65-$85.

Beauteque allows to customize a few products in the bag and the rest of the products will be a surprise! This month we got to select the scent of perfume mist, eyebrow pencil, and a type of cream. 

Here is a look at the February 2015 Beauteque Monthly BB Bag:

Beauteque comes monthly with a make-up bag! The theme for this month is "Our Lips are Sealed" - the pretty lips printed on this bag are sealed - but open it up and you will soon find all the top beauty secrets revealed! We've rounded up the best of the beauty best and are letting you in on all the things you need, and need to know, to have that 'where did she get it' glow!. 

March 2015 Bath Time Box Review + coupon codes!

Bath Time Box is a new Canadian subscription box (started right here in Alberta - yay!!!). It focuses on products to help you rediscover bath time - I love baths so this box is right up my alley! This is the second box, February was the very first box! 

Bath Time Box is described as: 

"Designed and curated with the Bath lover in mind, each Bath Time Box contains 5 full and deluxe sample sized bath products carefully chosen to take your bath time to the next level.  Each box is carefully chosen with a focus on Natural and Handcrafted products. 

Delivered to you monthly, each box will hold an assortment of luxurious milk baths, scintillating bubble baths, invigorating scrubs, nourishing lotions and so much more."

Bath Time Box is $29.00 monthly + free shipping. (If you sign up for 3 months, it is $85, and 12 months is $335 + free shipping).

Here are March's coupon codes:
MARCH20 - 20% off a month to month subscription
THREEFORFREE - with a 3 month subscription receive an All Natural Lip Lovers Gift Set: includes an extra large 2 oz Strawberry Lip Lovers Lip Scrub and a .25 ounce Lip Balm in assorted flavours (chocolate, strawberry, cherry, and peppermint).

Also, if you are interested in purchasing items from the box, you can go the Bath Time Box store: www.bathtimestore.com

Here is a look at the March 2015 Bath Time Box:

My first thought is everything is so nicely packaged and all looks so good! 

Manicure Monday - Rainbow Honey "Rosey Bot" polish

Time for another Manicure Monday - this week I'm thinking Coral nails appear to be the color of the week so I am going to jump on the bandwagon! 

Here are the products I used for this week's Manicure:

March 2015 Mask Genie - Mask Pouch Review

Mask Genie is a newer all mask subscription service - started in January 2015! 

Mask Genie offers 2 different pouches:

• 5 masks for $12
• 10 masks for $22

The price for each pouch includes worldwide shipping!  

This subscription is a little different - you do not have a re-occurring subscription, you just email when you would like the next month! They do not have a subscription website, it is through the Facebook page. 

*As I was writing this, I saw that Mask Genie just started her website - she will only take e-mail orders now until March 28! 

I ordered the 5 mask pouch for March:

It came in a little pink organza bag & here are the 5 masks! This subscription does not come with a product card, but Genie does a youtube un-boxing and explains why she chose each mask for the pouch. Also, if you follow her on Facebook or Instagram she does detailed reviews of every mask she tries! 

Five on Friday - March 20, 2015

I'm linking up again for Five on Friday!

ONE

Mmmm, my soup of the week is another good one! It is a Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup that is so good! Nice to throw on the crockpot for the day and it makes the house smell so good!! 

March 2015 Topbox - Canadian Sample Beauty Subscription Review

TopBox is a Canadian Beauty Box Subscription - for $12 CDN a month with free shipping, you will receive 4 deluxe sample size or full size products. You fill out a beauty profile and generally receive products based on what you have identified in the profile. Also, every month you have the option to wish for a "prive" box. A prive box is a box that focuses on one brand or product for the whole box.

TopBox is a Canadian company and only ships to Canada. The only downside to subscribing to TopBox is that there is a wait-list that can take a month or two to get off of.

For March, I "wished" for the Philosophy Prive Box - a "wish" for a prive box is not a guarantee you will get it!

Here is a look at my March TopBox:

Yay! The Philosophy box! I love this brand so much, so I am excited! 

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Lock & Worth Cabernet Franc Rose & Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask)

Yay - time for another Wine and Mask Wednesday (clearly my favorite day of the week!)

My mask and wine this week are both really uniques! 

March 2015 Beauteque Mask Maven - New Mask Subscription Review

Beauteque is an American company that focuses on creating a beauty bag with Asian Beauty products. Beauteque launched their BB Bag Subscription in January and announced last month that they would be offering a new mask subscription - March is the first month!

The Mask Maven subscription is described as:

"The Mask Maven is a luxurious subscription service offering a lovely assortment of masks each month to keep your skin smooth, soft, and spectacular. 

You will receive all kinds of masks including face sheet masks, hand and feet masks, hair masks, wash off masks, and more."

Beauteque Mask Maven is $15 monthly - if you sign up for a longer subscription, you can save a little money: $14 per month if you sign up for 6 months, or $13 per month if you sign up for 12 months). Shipping per month is $3.95 for the U.S., $5.95 to Canada, and $8.95 to Europe. 

Each month you can expect to receive 9-11 masks of all varieties (they did announce for March that there would be 10 masks), and also because I signed up for a 3 month subscription when it was first announced, I will receive an extra mask in each month! 

Here is a look at the first Mask Maven:

This pouch came in a mailer and arrived much quicker than what I am used to with Beauteque! 

I am a little surprised to see 10 sheet masks (and 1 wash off mask which is probably my extra mask?) - not that I am complaining! I love sheet masks, just that Beauteque described the Mask Maven as coming with a variety of masks! 

Manicure Monday - Formula X Nail Wraps with Accent Nails

Okay, you know it's been a crazy Monday when I am writing my Manicure Monday post this late and I'm using nail wraps (this is why I have a big supply!). So, sorry it has been a crazy day. 

Now to me, the best part of nail wraps is that it looks like I spent a lot of time on my nails when I don't have any time to spare! Today I am trying Formula X nail wraps with an accent nail!

Here are the products I used for this week's Manicure:

March 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag - Beauty Sample Subscription Review

Ipsy is one of the inexpensive beauty bag sample subscriptions. You receive 4-5 deluxe sample size or full size products each month. The cost is $10 US (+ $4.95 shipping to Canada). 

Ipsy is generally make-up products with a mix of skin, nail, and hair products based on a beauty profile you complete. There is usually 12-18 products that are selected from each month! You can view your "glam room" online that tells you all the products you will receive each month (I really like to keep it a surprise so I don't check ahead of time!) You also receive a make-up bag each month with your products.

Here is a look at my March Ipsy Bag:

The theme of the March bag is "Floral Fantasy". 

Five on Friday - March 13, 2015

I am linking up again for Five on Friday! 

ONE

 
I am drowning in cookies - I have been tirelessly making cookies for a fundraiser all week - it better pay off! Have you ever tried Skor cookies before? If you haven't - they are sooo good! You can find the recipe I use here. And I made chocolate chips before as well (but that recipe you can find right on the back of the chocolate chips!).

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Sleeping Giant Blueberry Wine + Mizon King to the Kong No. 1 Moist King Berry Mask Sheet)

Alright, I can't be the only wine-o in the blogging world! You guys should know by now, that I think I have made Wednesdays awesome! Who doesn't want to celebrate making it to mid-week with a glass of wine and a good skin refresher?! I know it makes me look forward to Wednesdays!

I'm pairing this berry mask with some berry wine! 

Manicure Monday (flower nails!)

So, I know it is not quite Spring time but the weather here in Alberta is unbelievable!! It is so warm, all of our snow is melted and the weather is going to be +16-20 Celsius all week - I'm looking forward it! 

I wanted my nails to feel "spring-y" too! I'm thinking flowers!

Here are the products I used this week:

February 2015 Beauteque Monthly BB Bag Review

Beauteque is an American company that focuses on creating a beauty bag with Asian Beauty products. Beauteque has piloted their BB Bags for a few months since July, before launching the full subscription service. This is their second bag - January was the first month!

The BB Bag is described as:

"Our BB Bag subscription delivers 7 full sized luxury products to your doorstep every month. A combination of beauty, skincare, and lifestyle products, you will receive a variety of goodies, whether it's makeup, skincare, jewellery, or much more! Not a month will go by that you aren't left with wanting more, so become a Beauteque Beauty and subscribe to us today!"

Beauteque is $24 monthly - if you sign up for a longer subscription, you can save a little money: $23 per month if you sign up for 6 months, or $22 per month if you sign up for 12 months). Shipping per month is $3.95 for the U.S., $5.95 to Canada, and $8.95 to Europe. The value of each BB bag will be $65-$85.

While $23 + shipping is a little pricey for a beauty bag, this one guarantees 7 full sized products and a good value!

Beauteque allows to customize a few products in the bag and the rest of the products will be a surprise! This month we got to select the scent of perfume mist, eyebrow pencil, and a type of cream.

Here is a look at the February 2015 Beauteque Monthly BB Bag:

Looks like lots of goodies (and masks!!) Here is a closer look at the products:

Five on Friday - March 6, 2015

Since I have been making some changes around here, I have decided to step a little out of my comfort zone and start a Five on Friday series! 

This post gives us a chance to post any 5 things that are on our minds - I love this idea and its helps you to get to know a little bit about me! 

ONE

Carrot Soup! Yum, I always make a "Soup of the Week" on Sunday for lunches during the week. I usually make a really simple carrot and ginger soup, but this week on Pinterest I found a new carrot soup recipe with coconut milk, spices, and sriracha - it was so good (I also added a little cauliflower to creaminess!) - you can find the recipe here from Rhubarbarians!    

February 2015 Beauty Box Comparison - Ipsy vs. Birchbox Canada vs. TopBox vs. Beauty Box 5

Here is a look at the basic comparison between February's inexpensive Beauty Bags/Boxes:

Overall this month I was happy with the boxes I received this month - here is a look at what I liked and disliked for each box:

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Screw it Pinot Grigio + The Yeon Jeju Hallabong Energy Live Pack)

Time for another Wine and Mask Wednesday (seriously becoming my favorite day of the week - have you started this fun weekly tradition yet?)

How adorable is this mask?! I'm thinking since this is a citrus mask, let's pair it with a citrus-y wine! 

February 2015 Beauty Box 5 Review

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription box that costs $12 US per month + $3 shipping to Canada. If you sign up for a longer subscription, you get a lower price per box: $30 quarterly, and $99 a year ( plus $3 shipping per month). 

Beauty Box 5 has been referred to as the"starter beauty box" - it does not send many high end products and the value tends to be lower than other boxes, but they have sent out really good products!

*As of late, Beauty Box 5's boxes have been very up and down - they have had some great products; however, there have been very low box values and not so good products. I would suggest that you read reviews and see if it is products you like!*

Here is my February 2015 Beauty Box 5:

This box is so colorful! The theme for this month's box is "Hooray!":
When it comes to our year, February might just take the cake - literally! This month we're turning 3 0 yipee! - and we couldn't have done it without you, dear subscriber. So, how to celebrate our birthday? Marvelous makeup and superb skincare, of course! We're so happy you joined the party -now, throw some confetti and dig in!

Manicure Monday (Gold Accent Mani) and Monthly Pedicure (Flower Toes)!

It is the start of a new month, which means not only is it Manicure Monday - it is also Monthly Pedicure Day! 

Let's start with Manicure Monday! This week I had gold in mind, so I wanted to do a gold accent/design nail! 

Here are the products I used for this week's mani: