G is for Green! The perfect green cape!

Capes are hot right now. :)  I LOVED the green one that Blair Waldorf rocked on Gossip Girl.  When I was looking for some hot cape options online... I stumbled across a store that sold THE green cape, well a knock off.  SOLD!    (The polka dot scarf was an accident.  I stumbled across it for $3 at Target).  Now, Blair is a bit more colorful than I.... but I am loving my green cape!  I just had to share this silliness of me below... just to show you how much I love Gossip Girl fashion.   I am a bit more traditional than Blair (hence no yellow shoes), but I love Blair's style... always.

This green cape is my 2nd cape.  My first I got last Christmas from my sister from Zara.  It gets a lot of wear! :)

 Have you bought a cape?  Come back next week if you want to see some "Life and Style A to Z" approved capes!  Also.... my November Birchbox has arrived.  I will unveil it on Monday!    Lots of good stuff next week.  See you then!  Until next time...xoxo

B... Birchbox! October!

My October Birchbox arrived at the end of last week.  Have I mentioned how much I love getting my little pink box each month?  It rocks!  This month is solid.  I am happy with my products.  (Sorry for the bad photo.)

Here they are:

1.  Stila Eyeshadow (.09oz).  Full sized product .9 oz sells for $18.  Value of sample: $1.80

2.  Korres Body Butter (50ml.).  Full sized product of 235 ml  sells for $29.  Value of sample:   $.6.12

3.  Blinc Mascara (.141 oz).  Full sized product  .21 oz of sells for $24.  Value of sample:  $16.11

4.   The Laundress Delicate Wash (.5 fl. oz.).  Full sized product of 16 fl oz sells for $19.  Value of sample:  $.59

5.  Caudalie Vinoperfect Cell Renewal Night Cream (4 ml).  Full sized product of  30 ml sells for $68.  Value of sample:  $9.07

So when I visited Birchbox headquarters in September, I learned that there are 10 versions each month.  The website highlights all the products in October's various boxes here.

Total value of this month's box is $33.69.  Not bad!  I am most excited about the mascara.  I always love a good mascara!  I will report back when I have made a judgement!

Bring on November.  Until next time...xoxo

B... Birchbox! September!

Sorry for the delay.  I know I promised this post on Friday, but I could not get it together.  Story of my life... let me tell you!

Well, September has finally arrived, well my September Birchbox that is!  I would say it is a solid month.  I got 5 items in total.... and I like all of them.

Here are they are:

1.  Incoco Nail Polish Applique (12 strips).  Full sized product (16 strips) sells for $7.99.  Value of sample is $5.99.

2.  Jouer Lip Enhancer (.07 fl oz).  Full sized product (.33 fl oz) sells for $14.  Value of sample $2.97.

3.  LIV GRN Earth Eau de Parfum (approx .5 fl oz).  Full sized product (3.4 fl oz) sells for $60.   Value of the sample $8.82.

4.  Pangea Organics Facial Cream (1 oz).  Full sized product (2 oz) sells for $36.  Value of the sample $18.

5.  Friendship Bracelet (no price)

Total value is $35.78.  I am most excited about the nail appliques.  When I visited Birchbox last month Katia and Hayley were both were them and I loved them.  I was secretly hoping for animal print ones to arrive in the mail, but I will take the blue sparkles for now! :)    I know a few readers were getting their first Birchbox this month, so are you guys happy?  Until next time.....xoxo

P.S.   Two co-workers of mine also get Birchbox.  One got these items (below) and the other has not gotten her box yet (wierd).

B.P.... Beauty Product!

So, I think I have mentioned before that I am a total beauty product addict.   Love them!  I have a special fondness in my heart for "de-frizzing" hair products, concealers, and lip stains.  But, truthfully I love them all!   This week for work- I was very lucky and got to visit two lovely ladies who started Birchbox.   I am a Birchbox subscriber... so it was extra exciting for me.  I LOVE my monthly Birchbox subscription.

One of the recent products they sent was Philosophy's Purity Made Simple.  I have a enormous bottle of this as it is my daily cleanser.  It makes your skin really soft, but not greasy.  It does not suds up too much but gets off your mascara and everything else.  When I rinse and dry my skin- it almost feels like I don't need moisturizer- it is that soft.

Check this out for yourself at the Philosophy website or at Birchbox.   Have a great weekend!  Until next time...xoxo  

B is for Birchbox... August!

It is here!  (Actually it was here last week- I just could not get my act together!)    My August Birchbox arrived.  I have not tried any of the products in it, but there are some interesting ones!  I got 5 items in total this month.

1.  June Jacobs Papaya Purifying Enzyme Mask (.5 fl oz).  Full sized product (3.7 oz) sells for $62.  Value of birchbox sample $8.38.

2.  Ouidad Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel (.6 oz).  Full sized product (6 oz) sells for $16.  Value of Birchbox sample $1.60.

3.  Shaveworks "The Cool Fix" (1 oz).  Full sized project (2 oz) sells for $11.  Value of Birchbox sample $5.50.

4.  Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer (.25 fl oz).  Full sized product  (2 oz) sells for $36.  Value of Birch Box sample $4.50

5.   Twistband Hair Tie... one tie.  Three ties sell for $5.  Value of Birch Box sample $1.67

Total value of this month's products $21.65.  I am happier this month than I was last month.  But, I am still curious about how they pick who gets what as my friend SH got completely different items than me. What the what?  Here are her items:

Bring on September! :)  Until next time....xoxo

F... is for favorite! Product!

So, I mentioned last week in my Birchbox post that I got one of my favorite Philosophy products, Purity Made Simple.  It is the the best facial wash that leaves our skin feeling happy.  I use it daily!   I thought I would share one of my other favorite products.... also by Philosophy.  It is called The Great Mystery!  It is an exfoliator that is gentle enough for every day and you just slop it on and let it sit for one minute and wash it off.  I use it every morning in the shower while I am letting my hair conditioner do its job!

I "discovered" this on the Philosophy website as it was highly recommended.  I LOVE websites with reviews.... especially when they have both good and less than good reviews.  All the reviews raved about this product and it did not disappoint!

Get yourself some smooth, bright, healthy skin!  Until next time....xoxo

B is for Birchbox...July!

My July Birchbox arrived.  I will say after last months- it is kind of a let down!   This months box was curated by Cynthia Rowley  and had a cute new "outfit to prove it.

I got 5 items.... here they are!

1.  AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream (.58 ounces)  Full size lotion (3.4 oz) sells for $20.  Value of Birchbox sample  $3.41.

2.  Philosopy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleanser (1 oz)  Full sized product  (8 0z) sells for $20.  Value of Birchbox sample  $2.50.

3.  Redken Shine Flash Spray (2.1 oz)  Full sized spray (4.4 oz) sells  for $17.  Value of Birchbox sample $8.12.

4.  Zoya Nail Polish (.25 oz)  Full sized polish (.5 oz) sells for $8.   Value of Birchbox sample $4.00.

5.  Extra Kind Almond & Apricot Bar (aka biggest disappointment in the box) (1.4 oz bar).  12 bars sell at Amazon for $16.24.  Value of Birchbox Bar $1.35.

Total Value is $19.38.  Yes, it is still worth the $10 subscription- but hoping August will be more like June! :)  The highlight... Purity in a Bottle... I own it and use it every morning, so it will be nice to have a sample size for travel refills. The lowpoint..... the "granola bar".  Seriously?

My friend SH (also a Birch Box subscriber) got all the same items as me but got a skin oil.  I am still REALLY REALLY curious about how they pick what products go to what person and how many different options there are.  Hmmm.....

Well, until next time...xoxo

B... Birchbox! Mine has arrived!

So, you may remember that I wrote about Birchbox a few weeks ago.  Read more about it here!   In short, Birchbox is a beauty subscription program where you get a box of samples monthly.  I was eagerly awaiting my box to arrive and it is here!

There was no missing the box when it arrived at my door!  

I tore open the box to find another box!

I was excited to reveal the contents...

five luxe samples.

You also get a card that explains what each item is!

Some of the samples are small (Deborah Lippman Nail Polish Remover), but some are full sized (Laura Geller Blush and Brighten).  The Archipelago Soap smells AMAZING!  Now, was it worth the $10... I would say yes.  But, let's break it down... shall we? 

1.  Archipelago Pomegranate Soap sample (1.1 ounce).  Full size (10.8 ounces) is for sale at Amazon for $10.65.  Value of of Birchbox sample = $1.08

2.  Kate Spade Twirl sample (.05 fl oz).  Full size (1.7 fl oz) sells for $57.20 at Amazon.  Value of Birchbox sample = $1.68

3.  Laura Geller Baked Blush N' Brighten (.32 oz).  It is a full sized product and sells for $31!  Cha Ching.... Birchbox was worth it!

4.  Sircuit Cosmeceuticals Molecular Mist sample (8 ml).  Full sized product is $36 for 2 oz or 60ml.  Birchbox sample = $4.80

5.  Deborah Lippman Stripper to Go Nail Polish Remover sample (1 mitt).  Full sized product is $12 for 10 mitts.  Birchbox sample = $1.20

So.... I got $39.76 of product for $10.  How is that for a bargain!!!  Sister-in-law, you asked and I can say it was worth it... for this month at least!  I cannot wait for my July Birchbox.  Until next time...xoxo

B is for Birchbox!

Have you heard of Birchbox?  I just signed up and cannot wait for my box to come.  They say it will ship June 10th... yippee!!!  


Birchbox is a beauty subscription program.   It costs $10 a month and you can sign up monthly (renewed automatically) or annually.   Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples in a pretty pink "birch box".   Samples run the gamut.... makeup, haircare, skincare, etc.  It costs $10 a month.  I love me some samples... mostly because I am addicted to products, but also because I love to have samples when I travel.    You collect points and can use points to get a discount on full sized products... that you can buy directly on their site.  Some the companies they feature include; Stila, Juice, Marvis, Nars, Kerastase, and more!  


When my box comes next month I will post the details of what is in it!  Can't wait!  Until next time...xoxo