Goodebox October 2012

I received my October 2012 Goodebox on Saturday - I can't believe how quickly it got to me! I mean, sure it's the end of the month - but from the time I received notification to the time I found the package in my mailbox, it was quick!

There was a slight problem this month... but it was mostly my fault. See, one of the products was substituted with another. To make that clear, Goodebox put a sticker on the product card list. Problem: someone placed the sticker in the wrong position. So, when I was comparing what I got with what was on my product card, I was confused.

It looked like I hadn't received the full size product, so I emailed them and did not expect to hear from them until Monday (I sent the email on Saturday). Oh my gosh - they replied within hours! They must have known the boxes were going to drop, and manned the email box... this impressed me to no end.

A few back and forths went by before I realized the mistake was mine - not theirs. I apologized, and the customer service rep was very nice.

There was one other problem as well: I received a Lip Glaze and a Lip Plumper from Eve Organics Beauty - the caps on both of these products had fallen off during shipment. This tells me they weren't screwed on tightly in the first place. Not Goodebox's fault - it was the manufacturer's fault. The products were dry (I live in Nevada, so things dry out quickly), but returned to normal after placing them in a warm environment for a couple of hours.

This box contains a lot of smile worthy products; here's what I got:

1) Anatomy Revitalizing Dead Sea Mud Mask: I have said time and time again that I'm not a mask kind of girl... but I will most definitely try this baby out. It's vegan and promises to heal acne and reduce wrinkles. I don't have acne, but I've had some weird breakouts lately... so I really want to give this a try. Hopefully this product will make my wrinkles cry and run for cover.
Retail price: $42 for 4 oz. jar

2) Clairvoyant Beauty's Nourishing Meadowfoam Serum - full size! If you've been reading me for any time, you know I'm a huge fan of Clairvoyant Beauty products. They're excellent and I love them. I don't always love the price... BUT this is one of the few companies out there that has great bundle deals on their skin care products. 

I've already given this product a try, and I love it. I will say, though, that I think I like the Balancing Rose Hip Oil and Hibiscus Facial Serum a tad bit better... but honestly just because of the scent!
Retail price: $69 for 1 oz. 

3) Eve Organics Beauty - Lip Plumper and Lip Glaze: I am a minimalist when it comes to my beauty routine. I admit that now that I'm older, I do have to take a few additional steps in the morning. I don't like doing them, but find these steps necessary in order not to scare my co-workers before they've had their morning coffee. Lip Plumper is not a step I want to add - I use Chapstick or lip balm, and that's a fine undercoat for me. 

For those who like these types of products, though, this lip plumper is nice. And the Lip Glaze is super subtle color and goes on smoothly.
Retail price: $15.95 each

4) Savvy Boheme Summer in Spain Whipped Cocoa Butter: Holy mother of fragrance, this product ROCKS my senses! I am in love with this whip! It smells just like a Lindt Dark Intense Orange Excellence Bar tastes... decadent! The organic cocoa and shea butters included in the product work wonders on my very dry spots (top of hands, décolletage (which is a fancy way of saying "top of the breast area").
Retail price: $14.50 for 3.4 oz.

5) Happy Face Foaming Scrub Cleanser: I am fairly disappointed in this product. 1) it did not foam. 2) It was hard as a rock, and getting it out of the container was a struggle. Once I got it out of the tub and was able to use it, I did like it - even though it did not foam. So if you buy this product, make sure you have a chisel on hand. You'll need it.
Retail price: $10 for 2 fl. oz.

6) Celtic Complexion Cream: This product was packaged beautifully (see picture above - it's the jar in the elegant organza bag). I really wanted to try this product this weekend, but was so busy with the other similar products that I did not. When I do, I will give a more thorough review - I expect to love it, but you just never know, now, do you?
Retail price: $42 for 2 oz.

Nitpicks: So, there were a couple of problems this month - the sticker announcing a substitute product was misplaced on the product card, causing confusion on what should be in the box and the lids off of BOTH lip products came off during shipment. Once again, many of the products are pretty pricey if you want to purchase them retail. However, I know for sure that Clairvoyant Beauty has great bundle prices, so that product - while pricey on its own - can be had at a remarkable discount if bundled.

Lasting Impressions: With the exception of the Lip Plumper, all the products in this box were Vegan. Now, that isn't important to me, but it IS very important to many other people out there. I imagine a whole buttload of people receiving this box were tickled to find so many vegan products in their tiny vegetarian hands, and I appreciate the work that went into curating such a wide variety of cruelty-free products.

Additionally, I have a case of the happies from my interaction with the Goodebox Customer Service team. They responded promptly, and their only concern was making things right. Turns out, they didn't really need to - but I do SO appreciate the effort. 

All in all, this box receives a big thumb's up from me!

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The Friday Five

It's almost Halloween! You know what that means: Candy, candy and more candy!

This is what I want to find in my trick or treat bag this year:

1) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: Man, this is one treat that never lets me down. Salty. Sweet. And good to eat!

2) M&M's: An old time favorite that doesn't melt in your hands... only in your mouth. Truth be told, I can't hold on to it long enough to melt... in my hands OR in my mouth!

3) Mounds: Sing it with me now: I love my Mounds, dipped in deep dark chocolate...

4) Almond Joy: Almost as good as Mounds... but with the added health benefit of almonds!

5) Starburst: Probably one of my favorite non-chocolate treats. Plus since it's fruit flavored, it's healthy... right?

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Mascara Round-Up

In the last couple of months, I received several mascara samples in subscription boxes. I've tried them all, and here are the results:

1) Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara - When I first took the brush out of container, I backed up. It's huge - Ron Jeremy huge. In fact, I was actually afraid to use the wand, but I did... very carefully. And wow, did myeyes pop afterward! I wear glasses, so it's important to me to use eyeliner and mascara so my eyes don't get lost. This is a wonderful product. Scary wonderful. And uber expensive, too.

The brush effectively separates lashes, coating each with just the right amount of mascara. My lashes have never looked this good before. I will be really sad when this product is gone - as I mentioned before, it's super expensive: $42 dollars a tube, in fact.

2) stila forever your curl mascara - This was my new favorite mascara before receiving the Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara. The brush is much smaller than the Chantecaille, and also smaller than Maybelline's Great Lash (to give you an example of size) - however, it gets the job done.

The promise of this mascara is this: "Curls your lashes instantly, this innovative formula perms your lashes the more you wear it." I wore it for one week straight, and yes, at the end of the week I felt that my lashes were curled more than without it. At $22 per tube, it's a better deal than the Chantecaille - and yet still a bit out of my price range. Still... I believe this is one product that is worth a splurge if you have the money!

3) Benecos Maximum Volume Mascara - I received this from the July 2012 Goodebox. Eco-friendly ingredients, with the inclusion of jojoba oil to "create a silky smooth, non-clumping formula." I liked the way it went on, but this mascara does NOT last. I put it on around 7 a.m. in the morning. By 10 a.m. I had raccoon eyes.

I used a paper towel in the ladies' bathroom to wipe away the gunk underneath my eyes. By noon it was back. I was unsure as to whether it was the mascara or my eyeliner - both of which were new to me. So, for two days after, I used a tried and true eyeliner along with the Benecos mascara.

Most definitely the mascara - not the eyeliner. So as much as I wanted to like this, I did not. It simply does not last.

4) Maybelline Great Lash® Washable Curved Brush Mascara - Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this has been discontinued! What the eff? I've been using this mascara for years - oh I don't even think I can count the years - at least not without giving my age away! Luckily I still have some, because I lucked into it at Grocery Outlet.

For the price, this has been my absolute favorite mascara for years. The curved brush gave my lashes an extra oomph. Maybelline suggests I use Great Lash® Washable Mascara instead. Well, NO! Reason one: it's washable. Reason two: it does NOT have a curved brush. So, while I just gave this mascara a rave review, the fact is it's not available any longer so I might have to buy a more spendy mascara to get the same effect I got from the $5 Maybelline product I used for years.

5) Clinique High Impact Mascara - This has been a favorite bonus item from Clinique on and off for a while now. At $16, it's considered a moderately priced upscale product. Quite honestly, though, I have not been impressed.

Don't get me wrong: the product works. There doesn't appear to be any raccooning with its use, and it does have staying power. Still, it didn't out perform my tried and true Maybelline, so I could not justify spending more money on a product that basically performed the same as Maybelline Great Lash.

VERDICT:  If you have the money, spring for the Chantecaille. Sure the brush size is a tad scary - so what? If you're an adult woman, you've had bigger things close to your eyes before (wink, wink). 

What else have we learned? That Maybelline sucks for discontinuing an old favorite. Boo hiss! Send them some hate mail. Who knows? Maybe you'll get a coupon!

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Green Grab Bag October 2012

Green Grab Bag is an eco-friendly monthly subscription that arrives in a reusable decorative bag. I've been a subscriber for over six months - and I am almost never disappointed.

This month is an exception.

When I look at all the items individually, most give me the happies - so maybe it is the size of the products that is disappointing. You see, Green Grab Bag has been spoiling us with some full size products - so the expectation has been built with precedent. I wouldn't even say that most of this month's products are what some consider to be "deluxe" size. Most will only give one use. Additionally, as this was their one year anniversary package, I - for one - probably expected more bang for my buck.

That said, the products are really nice - and here they are:

1) Me & the Girls Lavandula Revive Foot Softening Creme: This smells heavenly - it's a mix of lavender and mint. My little piggies want me to try it tonight!
Retail price: $25 for 1.5 oz.

2) Beesline: This product is an all-natural alternative to petroleum jelly. Poor PJ - it certainly gets a bad rap. I admit to liking it - it works great on my feet. I must say, though - I'm pretty excited at trying a natural alternative. Although I'm a big proponent of buying products made in the USA, this one is made next door in Canada. I'm down with that - but I'd like it even better if it was made with bacon. Kidding. Or am I?
Retail price: $3.99 for .5 oz.

3) Angelina Organic Skincare Coconut Hazelnut Shea Butter Sugar Scrub: I was first introduced to Angelina products in the April 2012 Green Grab Bag - let me tell you, they're wonderful products. I am sold on them and can't say enough good things about them. I'm not big on sugar scrubs - I prefer salt scrubs myself - but this one is tantalizing me with its delicious scent!
Retail price: $6 for 1.7 oz.


4) Angelina Organic Skincare Dark Chocolate Body Butter: Another decadent product from Angelina - and is the perfect partner for the coconut hazelnut shea butter sugar scrub! I hope they don't run off and elope before I get a chance to use them.
Retail price: $6.95 for 1.7 fl. oz.


5) Ferro Cosmetics Eye Shadow Duo and Brush: This was the most exciting product in the bag - you know we girls all like cosmetics. The samples are generous - I don't know if subscribers  received different shades. I received Champagne (a light neutral - kind of beige in color) and Dirt (a dark brown color). Seriously happy about these shades, as they do suit me.
Retail price: $17 (size not given on site)

6) Kohana Skin Wild Ginger Alaea Salt Scrub: I'll admit it - I am very disappointed that this sample is so small, because salt scrub is my absolute favorite kind of scrub. I will only get one use out of it - if that. Let's call it a half of a use! This product is made with Hawaiian red salt - which excites me even more - I love products made in the USA!
Retail price: $18 for 8 oz.

7) Pangea Organics Facial Cleanser and Cream: These were the most disappointing samples of all - two little tiny tear-away packets that Pangea gives away free with every order. Plus, Pangea is everywhere - I've received samples of this product from every sample box I subscribe to - and I've received bigger samples than these.
Retail price: $16 and $28

Nitpicks: The size of the products! With the exception of the eye make-up and the Beesline, in which a little goes a long way, these products will all be gone after one use.

Lasting impression: Green Grab Bag does a fantastic job of curating products the average person can afford. I do so appreciate that. If I find I love a product, I can usually afford to purchase it - whereas that is not the case with many of the other subscription services.

On a personal note, I am very happy to try two more Angelina products - I am in love with them!

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Birchbox October 2012

Ahh... Birchbox! You vex me so! You send out so many great samples to so many of your subscribers, and yet consistently send me crap. Why oh why? Whatever did I do to hurt you?

So yes, once again Birchbox was one big huge disappointment for me. They continue to send me little foil tear-away packets, and yet send wonderful deluxe samples to the rest of the masses. I think I must have pissed them off at some point in time - or they simply do not like me. Not sure what the case is... but here is my October 2012 box. Tell me... do you think it sucked, too, or am I imagining things?

In the box:

1) DDF® Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum (.23 oz) - Sometimes I get tired of receiving wrinkle creams - but this one is really nice. Does it work? I have no idea - the sample isn't big enough to really tell. However, I like the way this one goes on: it's smooth and absorbs quickly into the skin. For the price, homey won't be buying a full size product - unless she finds a sugar daddy to marry.
Retail price: $85 for 1.7 fl. oz.

2) OROFLUIDO Elixir (0.17 oz.) - People all over seem to rave about this product - and don't get me wrong, it's a good product. However - and this isn't Birchbox's fault - I have received more hair oils and elixirs in the last few months than I'll ever be able to use. So, in all honesty that why this product did not tickle or delight me when I saw it. And I shouldn't blame that on Birchbox. But I did.
Retail price: $29.99 for 3.4 fl. oz.

3) Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara (0.14 oz) - When I first took the wand out of container, I backed up. It's huge - Ron Jeremy huge. You wouldn't want a penis near your eye, would you? Okay. Maybe you would, you kinkster you. I was actually afraid to use the wand, but I did... very carefully. And wow, did my eyes pop afterward! I wear glasses, so it's important to me to use eyeliner and mascara so my eyes don't get lost. This is a wonderful product. Scary wonderful. And uber expensive, too.
Retail price: $42 for .32 fl. oz.

4) Embryolisse Anti-Aging Firming Cream (two small foil packets) - This product is totally NOT worth the price. I used the first packet up already - it smells funky. I am always a tad hesitant to use products like this when they smell odd. I know they contain oils that could be rancid, and the smell is a bit like an oil gone rancid. But, it looked good so I used it. (The color and texture didn't give the product away as old.) Considering how expensive it is, though, I surely wouldn't purchase this product based on two very small samples which are good for about two uses each.
Retail price: $80 for 50 ml

5) Luna Bar in Lemon Zest: FALSE ADVERTISING ALERT - Everything on my Birchbox account shows I should have received the peanut butter bar - which I am sure I would have loved. But I received the Lemon Zest bar. Ugh. You know? Maybe that's why I'm pissed off at Birchbox this month. I really wanted that peanut butter Luna bar!
Retail price: $18.75 for 15 bars

Nitpicks: The amount of tear-away foil packs I receive is really starting to get this sistah down - one box I received was NOTHING BUT foil packs. Plus, almost everything in this box is a luxury item, meaning "very expensive to purchase." Most people who subscribe to Birchbox don't have tons of disposable income, so I would hope that the boxes would be a mix of upscale products and actual affordable products. This box was not - although a little of the OROFLUIDO Elixir goes a long way, so I can see how that product is good value for the money.

Lasting impression: Okay, I admit it - I am very happy with the Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara. Almost too happy, because there is no way I can justify buying this product when my other favorite, Maybelline Great Lash, is so inexpensive.

Different for October: Birchbox partnered with goop, and that's the box that I received. I didn't opt in - and that was not at all Birchbox's fault. When I canceled my subscription with them way back when, I opted out of emails. That meant that I didn't receive the email asking subscribers to choose their October box (goop or Transformations).

One hears goop and thinks immediately about Gwenyth Paltrow. And when one thinks of her, flawless make-up comes to mind. So I think many people who opted for the goop box were expecting make-up/cosmetics - and with the exception of a very small lip gloss sample and the mascara - no one received cosmetics. Let's face it - that's what most of us want. So, yes, huge disappointment because of the expectation - again, that's not BB's fault - but of course I blame them anyway! Maybe I should just blame Gwenyth Paltrow instead.

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Goodebox September 2012

I admit - Goodebox is one of the more expensive subscription sample boxes out there, and sometimes (only sometimes) I am not convinced that I got my money's worth. However, I can't say enough good things about the September Goodebox - it really gave me the happies!

It was curated by Greta Egan of Fashion Me Green. Admittedly, I hadn't heard of her before this box - however, she definitely picked out some gems. The theme of the box was Fashion Week Staples, and I guess I can see how these products fit into that category.

Here's what was inside:

1) Erbvia Lemon Sage Organic Deodorant (1 fl oz) - This stuff smells great! I have to admit, I probably wouldn't wear this during the day, but I will wear it at night. My friend Hot Flashes likes to mess up my clean mojo while I'm sleeping, so I often apply deodorant right before I hit the sack.
Retail price: $18.00 for 3.4 fl. oz (100 ml)

2) Bamford Body Geranium Body Lotion (1.7 fl oz) - I don't know what's going on with me - other than the change. Lately I've been having mixed results with lotions causing breakouts. This one did not - and smells HEAVENLY. I am in love with it. However, since it retails for $40, this will be the only Bamford lotion that will hit my body - once it's gone, it's gone forever!
Retail price: $40 for 8.5 fl. oz.

3) Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer (.5 fl oz) - I love Juice Beauty products, and am SO happy to get a chance to try their SPF 15 moisturizer. I haven't been disappointed in a Juice Beauty product yet!
Retail price:  $38 for 1.7 oz.

4) Zosimos Botanicals Lip Gloss in Mulberry (.14 oz) - This color is a VERY dark purple, and I didn't think it would look good on me - but surprise, surprise it does! And that's the reason you do not see it in the photo - it's in my purse!
Retail price: $16 for full size, or a mini for $3.00

5) La Bella Figure Beauty Organic Barbary Fig Seed Oil: This product promises to "brighten and illuminate with a lovely floral scent." This stuff is uber expensive, so I will probably never actually ever buy it. Don't get me wrong, though - homey will use every last drop in this precious sample!
Retail price: $125 for 1.0 oz.

6) Go! Towel - 1 poker-chip sized 100% Bamboo "Pop-Up" towel - I've seen these around, and thought it was kind of a cool thing to get in the box. I caught myself "saving" it - but now I don't know for what. Maybe I'll just break down and use it for something... look out, piles of cat vomit, here I come! Supposedly these things are reusable... if I ever break it out, I'll let you know how true that statement is!
Retail price: $14.95 for a pack of 10

7) Hess Natur $25 Eco-Fashion Gift Certificate to Hess Natur: The items on the website are fairly expensive, but they do have a fairly decent sales section. I haven't used my certificate yet - but I have until December to do so!

Nitpicks: The curator, Greta Egan, obviously is not in touch with the type of consumer that purchases these types of sample boxes. Most of us are of moderate income, and can't afford high luxury items. This item was full of very expensive products - the type that would be a stretch on most subscribers' incomes. So while these products are nice to try, I'm not sure it's very realistic to expect subscribers to run out and purchase them. 

Lasting impression: Once again Goodebox delivered a box chock-full of new-to-me products. I am constantly amazed at how many new things I am able to try through Goodebox - many of the products I've never even heard of before.

Do you want to learn more about Goodebox? Per their site, they provide trial sized healthy, eco-sensitive, innovative & effective beauty and personal care products, along with occasional samples of natural & organic health and wellness products. Cost is $16 a month - try it - I do not think you'll be disappointed!

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Giveaway Monday!

Now that the last giveaway is in the past, it's time to announce a new one! This time we're focusing on hair.

You'll get:

1) Packet of three Giovanni 2 Chic hair care products - and $1.00 off coupon.

2) One Packet of Sparklehearts hair conditioner.

Keep your eyes peeled on the contest... if entries reach 100, I will throw in something extra - and it will be a deluxe sample.

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Green Grab Bag September 2012

I am so late reviewing this... perhaps because I was slightly disappointed.

Green Grab Bag had been hyping this bag up for a couple of months. It was curated by Whole Body at Whole Foods. I expected lots of exciting products, and what I got was... eh.

The goods:

1) Giovanni Hair Products: 2 Chic Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner, and Leave-In Conditioning and Styling Elixir. There were two deluxe sample sizes, and a set of packets that came in a foldout with a coupon on the back.

Personally, I won't use the conditioner because it contains alcohol, and I don't use alcohol on my hair. I might use it as a giveaway in the future, so keep your eyes peeled!

2) EO Refresh Breath Spray: It's not in my pics, because it leaked. I put it on the sink to dry, and forgot to include it in the group photo. I hope it doesn't feel neglected.

I was introduced to EO Deodorant Spray in the July 2012 Green Grab Bag. I have to say I love it. So, receiving another EO product wasn't a surprise or new... but I will admit that I tried it and I like it. A lot.
Retail price: $2.99 for a tube.

3) Mineral Fusion Sparkle Bronzer: I guess bronzer is THE thing right now, because I'm getting it in almost every subscription box I belong to - and just about every other month! I have bronzer coming out of my ears - and I don't use it. It's not for me.

I would have preferred a mineral face powder or eye shadow from this company instead. But you might luck out - I just may put this in a future giveaway!
Retail price: $29

4) Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion (Vanilla & Sweet Orange): I like Hugo Naturals products, but again, this isn't a new product. Maybe I had it wrong, but I was under the impression that Whole Foods would be sampling "new" products - not tried and true favorites.
Retail price: $9.99 for 8 oz.

5) Nourish Organic Body Lotion - Almond Vanilla: The scent isn't really great. In fact, it smells a bit like plastic. The ingredients are USDA certified organic, and the product is made in the USA. Now, that's something I can get behind!
Retail price: $9.99 for 8 fl. oz.

6) Everyday Shea Moisturizing Body Wash - Lavender: This product smells absolutely lovely. There was some separation of ingredients, but a good shake took care of that.
Retail price: $13.99 for ? Alaffia doesn't state the size of the bottle.

Nitpicks: Two vanilla scented lotions was overkill - perhaps different scents should have been sent - instead, two similarly scented products of the same type went head-to-head in competition. This seemed especially shortsighted, since they both cost the same (Hugo and Nourish).

Additionally, Whole Foods has a ton of great health and beauty products. Perhaps instead of sending two lotions, they could have mixed it up a bit. Maybe a deodorant or a toothpaste or a lipstick or a toner... something instead of two similarly scented body lotions.

Lasting impression: I love that Green Grab Bag reached out to a store that many people have access to. For me, this meant that if I did find a product I loved, I could just get in my car and go get it - instead of hunting it down on the Internet!

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Cinema Sunday - Damels in Distress

Damsels In Distress is a quirky little movie that gently pulls the viewer in and holds them in place until the credits roll.

The movie description on Amazon reads as follows:

A trio of girls set out to change the male-dominated environment of the Seven Oaks college campus, and to rescue their fellow students from depression, grunge and low standards of every kind.

Uh... okay. Doesn't sound like much, but believe you me, it packs a helluva punch, albeit a lightly scented, gentle and polite punch.

If you've read my book reviews, you know I don't like to give out much plot. I know I like to be surprised... and so I'm assuming you do, too.

I will say this: the movie follows three girls and their new "friend" through their sophomore year at university. Violet is the main character, and at first she seems prissy, unbending, elitist and privileged. However as layers are revealed, the viewer comes to realize she's quite naive, optimistic despite her past, and believes firmly that dance can get you through depression.

I think she's on to something.

A few years back my mom died. It was a difficult time for me - there were several other factors in play at the time - and I fell into depression. I had a friend with a trampoline. She invited me over several times, and we'd just jump up and down on it. I said once, "It's impossible to be depressed on a trampoline." I think the same is true for dance.

In any other hands, the character of Violet would be hard to stomach. But Greta Gerwig lends her a believability and innocence beyond comprehension. She seems off-putting at first, but it is Violet who brings people together, in her own very strange and compelling way.

This movie isn't really about anything - there is no real turning point or plot development. At the end, though, I realized it was about friendship, hope, community and delighting in the simple things... like dance.

The whole cast is wonderful, but I want to give a shout out to Adam Brody. He's been a favorite of mine since The O.C., and it's wonderful to see him shine in his part. Spoiler alert: he sings. Or maybe he just lip-syncs really well... there's an actual mystery as to whether he sings or someone else does. In an interview, Adam Brody admits to singing, but then interjects he's not at liberty to say.

For $1.28 at my local Redbox, this movie brought me an evening of entertainment, and characters that will stay with me for a very long time. Rent it... you won't be sorry you did.

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Eco-Emi September 2012

Of all the boxes I received in September,Eco-Emi's was my favorite. Of course, that's nothing new. I am a huge fan of Eco-Emi - they consistently deliver smile-worthy goods!

In this month's box:

1) Facial cleansing towelettes by Burt's Bees: This product gave me the happies - it's the perfect size to take with me when I travel to California. I'll get 10 uses out of this baby!
Retail price: $3.00 for a 10-count package

2) Silken Earth Powder Blush in Honey Bronze by Aubrey Organics: I probably won't use this product - I'm not one for blush or bronzer. Yet I have to admit: I get a little girly rush when I get make-up of any sort in a box!
Retail price: $11.95 for 3g

3) An Angell crisp bar by Betty Lou's Inc. Oh yes - it's fall! That means more chocolate items in boxes - yay! Can't wait to try this delightful gem - it's organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and contains NO preservatives! (Guess that means I better eat it soon!)
Retail price: $21.49 for 12 35g bars.

4) Peppermint lip balm from Good Fortune: Oh no! Not another lip balm! This one is cool, though: it reads Speak softly and carry a big stick. I'm assuming they mean a big stick of lip balm...!
Retail price: $4 each

5) SEN CHA Original Mints: I haven't tried these yet, but I have to admit that I haven't really liked other green tea mints that I've tried. That said, this was a nice little surprise - and another reason as to why I so enjoy the Eco-Emi boxes: They're always a nice mix of products.
Retail price: $15 for a 300ct bag

6) Beauty Rejuvenating Night Creme by Biao Beauty: This is just a sample packet, so I might get two uses out of it. I prefer larger samples (don't we all). Night cremes and creams and moisturizers aren't really my bag - they should be - I do live in Nevada, after all. But honestly I get lazy and by bedtime all I want to do is go to sleep - it's a miracle if I brush my teeth first, let alone strip off my make-up and apply moisturizer.
Retail price: $24.50

7) Soft Conditioner & Bubbling Body Wash by Sparklehearts: The conditioner is a repeat product for me - it showed up in my December 2011 Conscious Box. The thing I'm not entirely clear on is if these products have "sparkle" to them or not. I gave my first conditioner sample to my friend's tween daughter - and I'll probably do the same with this one as well. It contains alcohol, and I don't use products on my hair that contain alcohol. Other than that, these are fun, reasonably-priced products aimed at girls - and I like to think I'm still a girl, even though the calendar wants to prove otherwise...
Retail price: $9.99 each (10 oz)

8) Lavender Sea Laundry Detergent by Safonique: What a cool product - and apparently also available at Walmart (which I boycott, but still... it's easy for the lemmings in the world to find!). I will probably never give up Tide, however I do like to use the more natural products on my delicates and fine washables.
Retail price: $5.97 for 50 fl. oz.

9) Crum Creek Mills Soy Nut Trail Mix: I want to like soy nuts, I really do. So far I haven't found any I like - maybe these will change my mind!
Retail price: $5.50 for 1 oz.

10) Yogi Tea: Two tea bags in Skin Detox and Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life, plus a $1 off coupon.

Once again, while I personally might not love every product, it's a great mix and I had some goodies to share with friends. Bribery will get you everywhere!

Do you want to subscribe to Eco-Emi? It's $15 a month, and the best little subscription box I've come across!

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