Birch Box March

Normally i'd wait for my GB to come and post about them both but GB seem to be getting slower and slower at sending boxes so i'm not going to wait around anymore.

A note book and a short story or part of a story were the first things I found, which were hardly exciting, I miss the free chocolates and sweets, BB seem to be adding more and more paper to every box.

I receieved a large bag of bath salts.....*rolls eyes* yay! I have yet to meet anyone that buys bath salts, normally they are given as gifts or used up for the sake of it, sadly these came in a cheap plastic bag so I can't give them as gifts.

I was pleased to be able to pick my mascara this month, at least if I'm going to get yet another one I might as well be able to pick my favourite and this is one I haven't tried so it was helpful.

I also got a 2ml perfume sample....another yay! It's not my kind of scent and I've never heard of the company but I certainly won't be buying a large version.

 

 

 

Janjira isn't something I've heard of and the lack of info on the tube made me reluctant to try it but I did and after 3 days I can honestly say....it's done nothing so far, I continue for the week but I really can't see any changes.

 

 

 

Last was ANOTHER Pk product, now I love PK and I spend a lot of money with them but! I don't want one in every single box, I purchase the boxes to try new things and after 2-3 products by one company I've decided if I want to continue trying there products so lets me on BB, please.

 

TJ x

January Wins/Freebies

I don't normally brag about my goodies but a lot of people that don't enter competitions or apply for freebies often ask why I bother and if I ever actually win so I decided making a blog post on it so people can see would be helpful to get people in a more positive state of mind when it comes to winning!

Everything that you see in the photos was 100% free, I do not pay postage costs and the only time money has come into it is the fuel to go and spend voucher however even these are only used when I'm already on my way to that direction so they still don't actually add to my costs.

Some of my items are winnings from entering competitions which many on my social media see me enter, others are from vouchers and links on freebie listing sites/newspapers and websites that are giving away an item to everyone and some are trial products that big named company's send out for promotion and reviews, either way all of what you see you could win too.

I don't try to push my 'comping' onto anyone and I always tell people how to unfollow my shares but when they are interested I do tell them about the luck I've had and what beauties I've got because of what I do so here's what I won in January.....

 

As you can see it's a good mix between clothes, make up and toiletries, nothing will go to waste and if there is anything I won't use I simply save it until Christmas to go to one of my friends who will use it, I don't sell prizes and if it's something I really can't find a use for I give it away.

 

In the image the clothing you see is:

3x Lindy bop dresses rrp: £29.99ea

1x George coat rrp: £32

Tesco zip detail skinny jeans rrp: £18

 

 

 

The other items include a £70 Phillip Kingsley hamper, Gillette razor, L'occitane hand creams, Original source shower gel, chilli oil, cat food sample, Essence make up bag, His and Hers Jimmy Choo perfumes and Bath melts.

 

 

 

I also got vouchers for Tesco to try there own brand products, each voucher was for the full amount of the product not an amount off or extra points like normal vouchers.

 

 

What you don't see in the photo is also the £10 paypal funds, £5 amazon gift card and £5 morrisons voucher.

 

All in all this is £270+ of prizes and all it cost me was time :)

 

So to answer the most asked question.....

Yes! real people do actually win.

 

TJ x

Ozeri 4x3motion Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer

This week I reviewed a Pedometer that offered so much more, it was quick and easy to set up and within minutes I was walking around with this on in full use.

It offers recording your steps and distance walked as well as the speed and amount of calories worked off and time taken.

 

It's lightweight and compact and easy to carry around in your pocket or around your wrist, it comes with full instructions on how to set it up and use it and unlike some other electronic devices for monitoring these kinds of things it's actually really affordable.

 

Perfect for the new year health kick and a great way to track your progress.

 

Ozeri 4x3 Motion Pedometer

 

 

TJ x

Shoplet review - Lever Arch File and Medium Storage Box

Excuse the slightly blurry photo, please see the links for a decent one :)
So Shoplet send me a box of goodies which included this, it looks like a normal folder and it certainly does what it says on the packet but this folder is super strong, super sturdy and holds pretty much anything to can make 2 holes on, I've used folders like this in the past but found the folder moves and causes the paper to get crumpled up at the bottom but this one doesn't, it's so strong.

 

The inside is the strong metal kind instead of the usual cheap plastic you see for sale in superstores, it's easy to use with a simple lever system and a strong clip to hold pages in place but it's also not too strong that it snaps together and you risk a finger in the process.

 

Find yours here:

 Blue Lever Arch File

 

 

 

 

  The good folks at Shoplet also sent over this little beauty, don't let it's flat pack style mislead you to thinking it can't be sturdy because I've been in and out of this box so many times over the last 2 weeks and it hasn't once shown any signs of coming undone.

 

 

It's a simple click together process and once it's up it isn't coming down again without some force :)

It's a lovely vibrant colour and a handle size to store almost anything from crafts and cards to important papers or even trinkets.

 

 

We have so much family that I opted to use mine for our Christmas cards, I find often over the coming weeks they get moved, lost and sometimes crumpled so this is perfect, once the cards are gone i'll keep all our paper craft stuff in to keep it need and safe, the lid is really strong so I have no qualms about storing things on top of it or under it.

 

Find them here: Pink Storage box

Find more great items here: www.shoplet.co.uk

 

 

TJ x

 

 

Well.....

The last 2 months have been hectic, so many birthdays, a wedding, Christmas shopping, wrapping, card writing, new home improvements, basically we've only just managed to get a new computer and get online between all of the above but I'm back :)
Finally things have calmed down and we're all back in a normal routine and since I pre-plan most things Christmas is pretty much sorted for us so expect lots of updates and more regular posting.

I hope your all ready for the holidays and new year celebrations :)

TJ xx

Loom bands by rainbow braid

You may think the looming time has come to an end, actually it's just begining, more and more mums are getting together for coffee and looming, kids are having loom parties and loom sleepovers and some of us just like the bit of us time away from the hussle and bussle of day to day life to make something that matches tomorrows outfit.

Rainbow braid were kind enough to send me a 5400 refill pack during the school holidays and me, my daughter, my friend and her daughter all got together for a girl afternoon of looming, it was fun that we could all be involved and it wasn't important what level of looming we could manage.

This is what we managed to create from the pack i was sent and as you can see i still have some left that i just haven't got around to using up yet.
Of all the bands sent, 2 snapped, now normally from a £1 pack from anywhere i get at least 3-4 that snap but these are super stretchy and don't go weak even when reused, they worked on 3 types of loom and weren't too stiff to shape into any style.

We started off with basic fishtails which most people start with and are so easy to mix and match

43 bracelets later and we moved onto some different styles, 

The rose fishtails are really easy once you've done it once so they are a great mix for girls to play around with

Starbursts are time consuming but really easy and if you drop a loom it's so easy to pick back up again 

These are hex and flat hex bracelets, they took us around 45 minutes each and are definitely not the easiest to get the hang of but they are so pretty and really sturdy especially for the school playground when they get swapped and changed

And last we made bow rings which are much easier than they look and a lovely change from a normal band, the girls love them and i do too :)

If you want to know how to make any of the styles above drop me a message and i'll give you the video links.

I won't be going back to the £1 packs from markets and small shops after using these, the quality was far better and longevity just proves that bulk buying can really work out better in the long run.

Now we've nearly used all the bands up the girls want to start working on Frozen characters and other little charms they can attached to bags, coats and put around the bedrooms so i'm really excited to help out where they'll let me. 

Beauty Box reviews

This month i received both GlossyBox and BirchBox, my BB was again left on the doorstep but thankfully no one decided to steal it this time.

I have stuck with BB simply because it seems a fairly good way of finding out which products not to buy, Of the selection this month there are only 2 i'd use however, I've found they are great for reusing the boxes and putting all the larger samples together for girly Christmas boxes....or in my case, hen girl boxes. If you can spare the cash and want to get something new and unheard of every month then BB is great for that but for high end, larger samples i'd look at wantable or similar.

 Skin and co aren't a company i've come across before, i've not heard of truffles being used in face products but this has good reviews and goes on quite nice, it's not a life changer but a pleasant surprise, the sample isn't very big and it's expensive to buy full size but it's a nice luxury treat.

Korres is a company i know about through beauty boxes, it's also the same product just a different scent that i've had before and i don't like it much, the bottle is ideal for swimming but i don't find the gel lathers much, the scent is a little too much and it's very sticky, again great for christmas boxes because someone will like it i'm sure.

Benefit is a company most ladies have heard of, sadly it's not a favorite of mine, i want to love it but after trying a few products they are just a little too rich and too ingredient heavy which my skin doesn't agree with, the cream smells nice and did leave my eye area nice and soft but i found after 2 days use face got a little red and blotchy, don't let me put you off, give it a go yourself, i just have very sensitive skin. 

A lip gloss is pretty much just a lip gloss regardless of brand, model co make some lovely product that aren't too expensive and offer a good colour range but i'm just not much of a lip gloss girl, especially now the wind is taking over and my hair plasters itself to my face.

Another company i've not yet come across so well done BB for keeping my mind open, however i just do not get on with oils, many ladies swear by them so this product may be the bee's knees, i'm just not willing to try and find out, my hair is huge, damaged and gets greasy really quick and it hates oils :(

I love little food items in the boxes it's a great way to try something you would never normally try, dried fruit is very good for you and you've not had to waste any money trying it if you don't like it but i don't eat dried fruit, or mango's so these went into the bin, it's a shame as i'd love to be given an option so i can choose something i might like to try.

And lastly, the birchbox item, i love these little gifts, my daughter puts them all to good use :)

All in all, not my best box or my worst, it sounds pretty negative but there will always be months where it just wasn't for you and those that are right up your street.

News flash, Glossy box restores faith with free box and keep custom :)

This month was my first free box and i wasn't looking forward to it.

First i loved the box design.

Then this little tub came into view, it smells great, it's silky soft and although my hair doesn't like oils  this is more of a creamy mask and left me with smooth hair, it's a great product and affordable which makes a nice change.

Nails inc use to be big in my nail collection but sadly i don't find it lasts all that long on my nails unlike other brands so i've put it in a girly box for a friend who likes to experiment, i tried it on one nail and it seems to do the job but it scratches off easily, it's a good choice since i now know that it isn't for me without having to buy it.

Another Model co product, thankfully different to my other box, it's too greyish for my brows and i didn't find it easy to apply, the biggest downside for me was it's a little like mascara and left my brows hard and tough to wipe out but again not something i'd of though of buying so they are keeping us trying new things with this.

Ultrasun is a brand my parents swear by, they've used it for a long time and my mum gave me a tube this year, its goes on easy, it's thick and i can apply my make up over it without streaks, it's more expensive than i'd normally go for but it's nice to see a high end brand in a beauty box.

Lastly was these sample packets, i really don't like packets, there's always too much for one use but by the second use they've dried out or run all over my make up draws, 'acid peel' doesn't sound face friendly and i was concerned about trying it on sensative skin so i've not got around to trying these out yet but if anyone else has please let me know how you got on.

TJ x