October Petit Vour Beauty Box Review

I am LOVING everything I received in the October Petit Vour Beauty Box!!! The camera on my phone is terrible, but I tried to get the most detailed photos as possible. (And yes, they were taken on my leg... J) This box had five different items to try out and I enjoyed using each and every one!

 I'll start with my favorite item: Schmitdt's Natural Deodorant in the scent BERGAMOT & LIME. I have been using a crystal stick deodorant for about a year and half now (you can read my previous review: here). I have seen several different types of vegan cream deodorant on various websites, but it never appealed to me. I had some idea in my head that it would stay wet-feeling in my armpits... I have been using this sample for the past three days and I am impressed! The smell is a light citrus and is not overwhelming (which I appreciate). I don't sweat very much and I am not a stinky person, but I do notice this deodorant keeps my underarms smelling fresh and feeling soft. To use, you simply dip your fingertips in the product and rub in your armpit. This is the same consistency as the typical deodorant sticks by Arrid or Secret that you purchase at the store. This is a .5 oz travel size tub, but the 2 oz size retails for $9 on their website. My only wish is that it came in a stick form. I find myself having to dig my nail into the contents of the tub to use it. It isn't creamy enough to rub your fingers across the top and use it that way—which I prefer because if it were too creamy it would probably remain wet. I have already purchased a full size version of this product that I plan to use instead of my crystal for a while to see if I prefer it over a longer period.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, Citrus bergamia (bergamot) essential oil, Citrus aurantifolia (lime) essential oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Humulus lupulus (hop) extract

This Eau de Parfum fragrance by Forager in the scent NECTAR is a breath of fresh air. This particular scent is floral, fruity, and smells of nature. It reminds me of a watercolor painting of a dewy field, full of beautiful fruit trees and flower bushes. The vial is a small sample size—which is only good for a single use—I wish there would have been a bit more so I could have used it, maybe twice, to determine more in depth feelings for the product. The scent is very light and because of that I did feel that it wore off in just a few short hours. For a full size 2 oz bottle of this perfume you'll pay $98. I do appreciate that the wooden caps are handmade by a local artisan in New York and they offer a discount on the perfume if you refill a previous bottle.

Ingredients: *no information provided on website*

This WILD MINT flavored body butter by Flo + Theo is bold, fresh, and stimulating. I recently used my sample on a healing tattoo and I was satisfied with the results. It is slightly more oily than lotion, but it is also more moisturizing for the skin. I believe the sample I received is 1 oz, but the 4 oz size retails for $28. It smells of fresh mint and herbs. It feels very clean and produces a sort of calming affect just from the smell alone. This particular product is more "powdery" than the body butter I am obsessed with by Ellovi, but I do enjoy it and would consider purchasing a full-sized tub. 

Ingredients: shea butter, cocoa butter, cocnut oil, essential oils, and vitamin A. 

I have been putting oil in my hair since I was about 13 years old. I started with a oil called BioSilk which would leave my hair feeling greesy if I applied too much. Recently I have been using Kitoko oil, but I don't think the brand I buy from is cruelty-free or vegan. I have been wondering what I was going to do once my supply diminished. I found my answer in this Petit Vour box! This cruelty-free and vegan Argan Oil by Lavina Skincare is 100% pure and organic pressed oil. I used a small amount of this oil in the ends the other night and my hair felt softer and did not feel greasy. I am not sure what size the small vial was that I received, but the 2 oz bottle retails for $35. I will most definitely be purchasing this once my supply is finished.

Ingredients: *no additional information provided on website*

Last, but certainly not least, is a lipstick by Pacifica in REBEL SOL. I love to do my makeup, but I typically focus on dramaticizing my eyes. I am not much of a lipstick girl, but I am a fan of this lip color. Rebel Sol is an intense coral shade that is both creamy and hydrating. I was astonished at how long-lasting this lipstick is. It was on my lips for a couple hours before fading and unlike most lipsticks that stay on for extended periods of time, it did not dry out my lips. This is a full size lipstick that retails for $14. I use other Pacifica products (face wash, make-up removal clothes, etc.) and I am a fan! They provide a line of gentle products that work great, smell great, are 100% vegan, and 100% cruelty-free—PLUS they are available at so many stores! What's not to like?!?!

Ingredients: oleic/linoleic/linolenic polyglycerides (from sunflower oil), butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, diiostearyl malate, caprylic/capric triglyceride (from coconut oil), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) esters, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, euphorbia chinensis (candelilla) wax, cetyl alcohol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, flavor oil (all natural), tocopherol (vitamin E). May contain: melia azadirachta fruit extract, mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, tin oxide, vaccinium macrocarpon fruit (cranberry) extract, coccinia indica flower extract, daucus carota sativa root (carrot) extract, lycopersicum fruit (tomato) extract, and beta vulgaris (beetroot) extract.

Celebrating One Year Of Wedded Bliss

This weekend my husband, Mark, and I celebrated our first year of marriage. 

Our anniversary was Sunday, November 9th, but that didn't stop us from being super cheesy all weekend long. Saturday morning I made Mark a breakfast sandwich before leaving the house and left him a little morning message to start his day. I also left him a laminated copy of our vows on the windshield of his truck to remind him of how appreciative I am for him and everything he does for me. I have a copy of his vows taped to the side of my computer monitor at work. I enjoy reading them from time to time to remind me of the wonderful things he promised me on our wedding day. 

My parents also joined in the festivities and decorated my place at the kitchen room table with boxes of our favorite Sees candy, a card, and balloons on my chair. In the card my parents invited us to dinner in honor of our first year as a married couple. We went to a fabulous sushi dinner at our favorite little shop in Orange called Hanabi. That was a very sweet, unexpected treat from my parents that Mark and I appreciated greatly. 

The traditional first wedding anniversary gift is paper. The modern first wedding anniversary gift is clocks. I decided to implement both of these gift ideas into our anniversary this year. I wanted to keep the theme of time, so I wrapped the box in brown shipping paper and wrote a simple message on the outside. 

Once he unwrapped the package, he opened a box and saw a handmade card I created with the picture of a watch on it. Once again, sticking with the time theme, I wrote a line about how I've loved every MINUTE that we've been married. (The time on the clock is 3pm—which is the time we got married.)

Inside the card I went on to write a novel (like I always do) about how much I love him and how I can't wait to grow old together—of course meaning I want him by my side as I age, not that I am in a hurry to get old. 

Here is a picture of the faux-leather watch display case I bought him from Wolf, along with the beautiful bouquet of long stem red roses he brought home for me on Saturday evening. Mark was so excited about his watch case. He has been wanting one for several years. He loves watches, but hates having to leave them in their original box. This awesome box comes with a lock and key and was purchased from Nordstrom, so if anything ever goes wrong I can replace it. 

The watch case and time inspired gifts accounted for the "clocks" portion of our anniversary, but the traditional gift is paper. I took it upon myself to put an ad in the Celebrations section of the Orange County Register wishing Mark a happy one year anniversary. I used a picture from our wedding with my grandfather and late grandmother who passed away suddenly this year. Mark was very surprised and loved the idea!

My gift was a complete surprise! I came out to sit at the kitchen table to eat breakfast with the grandfather and was greeted with every woman's favorite blue box...

I couldn't get a good picture of it on me (around my neck), so here is the stock photo. Mark got me this sterling silver heart lock pendant on a necklace from Tiffany & Co. I was very surprised because most years I will mention something that I want or need, but this year I let him completely come up with something on his own. I absolutely love it! 

This is the top of our wedding cake. Mark's dad, Michael, bought a special bag to store the cake in, in their deep freezer. The cake was a blush pink and the frosting was designed to look like feathering or petals. It has become slightly distorted from the freezing process, but it was still in good condition. I can't say that it tasted great, but it was definitely edible. The inside is chocolate with fudge filling. 

Mark planned a nice, relaxing day for us at Irvine Park. We took a bike ride around the park with Domino, had a picnic on the park tables, fed the ducks in the pond (which Domino fell into), and frolicked around in the grass. 

That night Mark planned a surprised dinner for us at Morton's Steakhouse. We don't typically wine and dine ourselves at fancy restaurants so this was definitely a treat. We were greeted with custom menus that wished us a happy one year anniversary. It was a very thoughtful touch!

We started with a "tuna tower" which is equivalent to an poke stack at many other restaurants; however this was the tastiest one I have ever had!!! This appetizer is layered with avocado, mango salsa, some type of grains, and seared ahi tuna. They fried their own chips which are used to scoop up this delicious, chilled treat. 

 Mark ordered a bowl of lobster bisque wit his dinner. It was super thick and creamy with large chunks of lobster. 

I ordered a Cesar salad with my dinner. This starter salad was surprisingly large and tastefully satisfying. 

I decided to go big or go home! I ordered a 2 pound lobster which was pre-cracked and ready to devour. Although the content that is actually eaten is no where near 2 pounds, this was still delightful! The taste was rich and flavorful just as I had imagined. I was extremely happy with my choice—even at market price. Eeek!

Mark, being the carnivore that he is, ordered a porterhouse steak. This I obviously did not taste, but he seemed to be enjoying every single bite. The steak was so large he wasn't even able to finish it. Leftovers = I don't have to cook. Yay!

Morton's treated us with a free chocolate souffle in honor of our anniversary. This was so sweet and so yummy!

We had such a great day! I am so thankful I am married to the greatest man. He makes me happier than words could ever explain. I am one lucky lady!

October Vegan Cuts Beauty Box Review

The October Vegan Cuts Beauty Box has some intriguing new finds in it. Me and my vegan treats did a little pumpkin photo shoot to show off the goods! Here is a preview of the box before I dug in:

First up, we have a nail polish by Floss Gloss in the warm shade, Donatella. This polish is 4-free and retails for $8.00 for a 0.18 fl oz bottle. The color is rich and creamy with a hint of sparkle. I think I am going to use this as my Thanksgiving manicure color. It reminds me of pumpkin pie and Cinnamon. 

Next, we have this Coffee Bean-illa body scrub from Lovinah. I received a "deluxe sample" that is 1 oz. This product retails for $45 in a 8 oz container. Upon opening the small jar, I was greeted with the fragrant aroma of coffee. I was actually surprised coffee wasn't one of the first ingredients listed because of how strong the scent was. I personally did not pickup any undertones of vanilla. I am not a coffee drinker, but I do enjoy the smell. (In fact, my favorite shave oil is coffee scented and you can read my rave review about it here!) This particular scrub claims to detox and exfoliate skin, all while moisturizing with ingredients like Shea butter and sunflower seed oil. While using this scrub in the shower, I couldn't help but feel like I was rubbing myself down with actual coffee grinds. The contents looks like what is left in your coffee pot after a fresh cup is brewed. This scrub did gently exfoliate my skin; however, it isn't my favorite out of the many variations I have tried. I enjoyed the sample and will use all that I have left, but this won't be my "go-to" exfoliant. 

Third, we have Joy Juice serum by Lotus Wei. This product is designed to "dissolve negative feelings and inspire an overall sense of wellness". It is made up of mostly flowers and has a light rosey smell. I received a 10 ml vial worth about $10. The full size bottle, 50 ml, retails for $50.00. This serum came with an instruction pamphlet explaining its uses and benefits. I have used this oil-like substance twice now. As directed, I applied a small amount to my stomach and bottoms of my feet before bed. I did enjoy a restful night sleep both nights, but I am not entirely convinced that was not a coincidence. I am not typically drawn to "flower alchemy", but I know much of its power lies in ones mood and attitude, so I am going to continue using it with an open mind, until it is gone, and see if I notice any results. I am always on the look-out for anything to help me to sleep better and relax. 

Lastly, I received a deluxe travel set of Hylunia skin care products. Included was a facial day lotion, facial cleansing gel, night treatment, and healing & soothing cream. I have tried the night treatment and cleansing gel, so far and both were slightly watery... I will continue to use them and see I notice a difference in my skins appearance. I will say though, I woke up this morning and my skin did feel a bit softer. I am not table to find this exact set available for purchase on Hylunia's website, but supposedly it sells for $35.00. This line is paraben and phosphate free and claims to fight aging, acne, redness, and dryness without clogging pores. I will continue using this set until it's gone and then evaluate my skin!

Palm Springs Weekend

This weekend my dear friend, Jen-Jen, and I packed our bags and spent a few days bonding, pampering ourselves, and absorbing the sublime radiance of the desert. We stayed at the Aqua Soleil Hot Springs and Spa in Palm Springs. Friday we checked in, delivered our luggage to our room, then headed to a fabulous Asian meal.

Jen and I ate at Wangs in the Desert—I know the name is a little silly—but the food was amazing! We enjoyed a appetizer of seared ahi and garlic roasted edamame. For the entrees we ordered vegetable chow mien and kung pow tofu. The chow mien was made with crunchy noddles underneath a bed of roots and onions, which were sauteed in a creamy, white sauce. This dish was much different and much tastier than I expected. I am not traditionally a huge tofu fanatic, but let me tell you—this combination rocked!!!! The kung pow tofu entree was made with breaded and fried tofu pieces, diced peppers, onions, and peanuts. It was all tossed together and sauteed in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. This food was delicious, but the best part of the meal was the dessert. We devoured a pumpkin, cranberry cake concoction that was mind-blowing. The moist and flavorful layers melted in my mouth. The top was somewhat of a cream-cheese frosting. All of the flavors worked marvelously together and complimented one another. It was the perfect combination of October flavors!

This restaurant is pretty rad because running through the middle of it is a coy fish pond—or stream, you might say. There is a small bridge to cross over from one side to the next. The atmosphere is fun and lively without it being overly loud making it difficult to talk. Friday night was "boys night out", so Jen and I enjoyed the lovely, gay eye-candy that surrounded us.

Saturday morning we rise(d) and shine(d) early so we could attend a free yoga class courtesy of the hotel. We were a bit surprised when we arrived and the teacher was a 70 year old man. I immediately knew I would be out yoga-ed by an elderly man and I wasn't sure if I was prepared for that. And sure enough—for an hour—he kicked my ass. His name is George and he lives across the street in a 55+ mobile home community. He had surgery only 5 weeks earlier to remove build-up in his right hip due to arthritis, but he was still more flexible, balanced, and graceful than myself. He spoke of his trips to India to study yoga and shared the hows and whys of how yoga changed his life. He seemed like such a gentle soul with so much wisdom and life experience. When the class was over Jen and I invited him to breakfast with us, so we could thank him for such a fulfilling hour. George settled for a cappuccino, while I got some scrambled eggs, fruit and yogurt. Jen got huevos rancheros that were paired with zesty roasted potatoes. (George was very confused as to why I was taking pictures of our food...)

After lunch we bid adieu to our new friend George. He was a social butterfly who has never been married or had any children (I referred to him a as player). At noon Jen and I had an appointment to get a couples massage at the hotel spa. We arrived and met with our masseuses, Nina and Linda. Linda was my massage therapist who was very sweet and polite. She was probably in her late 50's or early 60's and was I curious if she would have the strength to really dig in and relieve my discomfort. Our massage was 60 minutes and when it was over I wanted nothing more than for it to start over again. It was THE BEST massage I have ever received—and I have enjoyed my fair share of massages over the years. She focused on my muscles and pressure points while using long, firm strides that I hadn't experienced before. She would contort my limbs in unique positions that allowed her to better access my problem areas. When it was finished I was sad, but completely relaxed. 

After our massages Jen and went back to the room and lounged around, girl-talking (literally) for the next few hours, until we got ready for dinner. Saturday night we went to dinner at Kobe Japanese Steak House. We enjoyed a drink at the bar while our table was being prepared, then sat at the sushi bar and enjoyed an assortment of rolls and sashimi. For dessert we ordered cheesecake which was very basic, but tasty nonetheless. 

After dinner we got back to the hotel and watched Shallow Hall by the pool. The hotel uses a projector and a large inflatable screen to play movies by the pool on the weekend nights. It was a really fun experience! You could swim in the pool or sit in the Jacuzzi and still see and hear the film. We swam around in the pool with our strawberry margaritas and finished the movie. Once it was over we made our way to the spa and relaxed for another hour or so. Then it was off to bed. 

Sunday morning we slept in an extra hour or two then went down to the cafe for breakfast. Jen ordered tofu and peppers. It appeared to be tofu sauteed in onions, broth, and a variety of bell peppers. Jen—a bit of a tofu conosour—felt the it was a bit too watery for her taste. I ordered a Denver omelet full of veggies and cheese. The potato slices they Incorporated into the dish were wonderful! We also ordered a side of pancakes and fruit to share. The pancakes were warm and fluffy, so I can't complain. After breakfast we packed up our stuff and headed home. Luckily there wasn't much traffic, so we were able to get back into town by the early afternoon. We had so much fun getting away, relaxing and focusing on ourselves for the weekend. Spending time like this with good people really makes you grateful for the special relationships we have. I am incredibly thankful for the supportive group of people I surround myself with. It really makes life a whole lot easier (and happier)!