Listed on the back of our card is all the companies who participated in this month’s bags and the discount you can receive! These are some great deals and I’m planning on hitting up the Chella site right away. (Okay, I was a little bummed that I didn’t get a Chella highlighter this month, but I’ll live!!)

I’ll start with the thing I was least excited about. Before you get all huffy about that, I’ll explain. I ADORE Starlooks! Their products are absolutely fabulous and I’m a happy Starlooks subscriber, BUT because I am a happy Starlooks Subscriber and have been for a year now, I have received this pencil already. It’s the pencil included in the Birthday Box…that bummed me out a little. I wish they had opted to include Starlooks products they had NOT previously included in any of their own boxes. I also have mixed feeling on a company that has a subscription box including their products in another subscription box, BUT that is how I found Mirenesse so…. again, I’ll live This pencil is SUPER creamy and I love to put this color all over my lips and apply a little balm over it for a serious pop of color. Because I do more than just line with this, it really can’t hurt to own two This liner retails for $12

Next, I received a pair of lashes by J.Cats Beauty. I had never heard of this brand before, but I received two of their items in my bag. These lashes are made with real human hair and while I’m not thrilled with the glue that is included, I just found my new favorite affordable lashes! These beauties retail for only $3.99 and they are worth way more! I’ve only worn them once, but they held up great and I’ll likely get several more uses out of these.

Everyone else also received a full size NYX Blush. There were many, many colors and several finishes that everyone could have received. I got a “regular” blush in the color Angel. At first, I was worried this would not show up on me, but I was surprised by how pigmented, smooth and creamy this blush is. This blush reflects a lot of light so I plan to wear this high on my cheek bones above a darker coral blush.  For a $5 blush, this really takes the cake.

My second item from J. Cat Beauty was their Sparkling Cream Palette in Suzie. Only time will tell if I will use this often but I love the colors and gold is the one I would have chosen for myself since I have blue eyes. On our card it says you can apply this glitter on top of your shadow, but I would not recommend that. It’s sticky and will essentially remove all your work, however, I tried this today as a shadow base and it worked pretty well! I had to make sure I blended out well to avoid creasing (and used a primer) but I got a stunning summer look! For $4.49, this is certainly a great product to have on hand when you need a bit of sparkle.

Lastly, the product I was MOST excited about! A Cailyn Gel Eyeliner. I received the color purple (yay!!) and I cannot tell you how long I’ve been wanting to get a great pop of color in the form of a gel eyeliner! I would have been SO bummed if I had gotten the gray color.

This one is just like the Lorac liners where the lid pops off to become the brush. The formulation is really smooth and you can play with the depth of the color and make it a light purple or a deep, nearly black shade by applying it heavier.  IF I had disliked everything else in the box, this liner alone would have been worth it. This retails for $21 and that’ exactly what I’d expect to pay for a liner this great! I can’t wait to put together a smokey look featuring this liner!

Here are swatches of all my products. The NYX blush, Starlooks liner (see the pop?!), the J.Cats palette and the Cailyn liner. I loved how this month I really received an entire face! I’ll have fun putting together looks all month!

The value of my bag was $46.48 for a bag I only paid $10 for! Ipsy continues to be the bag I would MOST recommend to a friend and if you haven’t joined yet, be sure and sign up! You just can’t get a better value that this bag!

]]> http://www.therosysnail.com/ipsy-time-june-2013/feed/ 0 http://www.therosysnail.com/juniper-update/ http://www.therosysnail.com/juniper-update/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:01:36 +0000 TheRosySnail http://www.therosysnail.com/?p=4119

I emailed my lovely BFF over at Juniper about the missing soap and within just a few days, Lynn had sent me the missing soap AND a bonus Brownie from TheInspiredCookie.com!! Yummy! The customer service has been off the charts with Juniper and this month, I’ve had the strangest “double cycle” and it’s been so amazing to have these goodies and a convenient stash of feminine hygiene products so I don’t have to run to the store- especially when I’m off schedule like this month!

I can’t wait to share next month’s Juniper box! Be sure and check them out online for a simpler way to manage your period!

P.S. I did have my little cheat day and try those Key Lime cookies…OH My WORD! Heaven in a little bag! I’ll be buying more of those soon! Delicious!!

With two toddlers, renting just never seemed like a good idea. Let’s face it, we needed our own space. Saving up for a large down payment was hard too. We really lucked out on a large tax return and we able to pay closing costs and other expenses associated with home buying, but there was no way we could put down a large amount on our home. With good credit, we had a few options. By putting down less than 20% on our home (in other words, borrowing more than 80% of our home cost from the lender) we were required to get Mortgage Insurance.

While I’ve heard people explain Mortgage Insurance as something that covers the lender, I can see how it benefits me as a borrower as well. Mortgage Insurance essentially pays your lender in the case of death, job loss or disability. Should my husband and I no longer be able to pay our mortgage payment for any of these reasons, we’re not leaving our small children (or other family members) with a large sum of debt.

Buying a home for the first time was scary, but having insurance for a life altering sudden change like these puts me at ease. While some people are under the misconception that Mortgage Insurance will cost you a lot of money, there are some things you need to know.

It’s competitive: Ask your loan agent to look into all your options. If you choose to go with a company such as Genworth, you can get a low competitive rate on this type of insurance as well as many other types that can give you a great backup plan for all life’s curve balls.

You can cancel: Once you’ve paid 20% of your loan by making on time payments, you have the option to opt out of paying Mortgage insurance should you choose. Many families opt in so they can afford to purchase a home with a smaller down payment so if that is your plan, there is a time where you’d no longer need this type of insurance and it’s easy to cancel!

Tax Deductible: There are many factors at play, but most families qualify for a tax deduction on their Mortgage insurance with can save you $300-$400 a year!

Because Mortgage Insurance is there to cover you in case of an emergency. It got me thinking of other ways to really prepare other aspects of our lives, because it’s better safe that sorry. You can use this Emergencies Calculator to find out how much you should really be setting aside for you and your family.

Overall, opting for Mortgage Insurance gave us the freedom to become home buyers in a way that was smart for us and now, we’re covered should anything drastically change with our finances. It’s great to have companies like Genworth out there to help you understand your options and get the best value you can.

This post is brought to you by Genworth and the lovely bloggers program at Brandfluential.

If you didn’t know already, we are an Aveeno family. That and I am a BIG fan of Beauty Box 5! There are a lot of great things to enjoy in Texas during the hot summer months like ice-cold Lemonade, Water rides and a Farmer’s tan but this month, I’m looking forward to my Beauty Box 5 the most! Why? Because while I’m sipping my lemonade at a water park and working on my tan, Aveeno ‘s NEW Protect + Hydrate SPF 30 Sunscreen is going to make sure I’m NOT going home with a farmer’s tan!

It’s always exciting to know about something before anyone else. (C’mon, I can’t be the only one!!) BUT what’s even more exciting is being given the thumbs up to tell the world! That’s why I’m so excited to let you all in on a super sneak peek for this months BB5! They’ve partnered with Aveeno to bring you what in my opinion is the BEST natural sunscreen you’ll ever try! But like all Aveeno products, this sunscreen has more than just one benefit for your skin.

Because Aveeno uses natural oat in many of their products, you get to by-pass the traditional SPF scent in favor of a light, powder-fresh clean scent that is perfect for all members of your family. Unlike ordinary sun protection, this lotion will also help to keep your skin hydrated. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times when you’re outside you should be staying hydrated and drinking LOTS of water, especially in my neck of the woods. So, what don’t we apply that to the largest organ of our body, our skin! You might think you’re staying moist in the ocean or that chlorinated swimming pool, but trust me, you’re not! The salt and chlorine in the water is doing all it can to take away the precious moisture from your skin. With this sunscreen, your skin in protected from the sun and from drying out!

When applied, Aveeno’s Protect + Hydrate absorbs quickly, leaves a fresh scent and a nice, non-greasy feel. This formulation is also oil-free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist recommended (I’ll be honest, I’ve even used mine on my face, no worries there!) AND it’s sweat and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Which is longer than I’ll last in the heat come August!

Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this sunscreen. I’m so excited for the next Beauty Box 5! If you haven’t already signed up be sure and check them out! For only $12 a month, you’ll receive 5 deluxe (and full size) samples of the latest and greatest in the beauty industry!

The first thing I selected was this OWN Night Cream. This is a small .75ml sample so while it reads “results in just 8 weeks”, I wouldn’t be able to test if for that long. BUT I will be able to see if this will work with my face at all. I’m in search of a new night cream for summer time so I thought I would try this one out! This sample is worth about $.50

Next, I chose a tool that will be perfect for traveling this summer. This is the Mini Kittour Flip Top bottle in the 100ml/3.3oz size. While I couldn’t find a retail value on this, I’d pay $3-4 for a reusable bottle like this. Maybe a little more I’m stoked to have this around for my value size Philosophy lotions! Now I can have some in my purse!

Another product I chose is actually a “repeat” for me because I purchase these every so often These are the Yes to Cucumber face wipes. I love the way these feel, smell and that they are 98% natural! Another travel essential! This is a sample value of about $1

Lash Cards are something that I admit I was not into at first, then I decided to become a mascara junkie and fact is I DO need these from time to time! Especially on days when I decide to spend 30 minutes on my smokey eye- the last thing I need is a mascara to come along and screw the whole thing up! These are seriously handy! This has a sample value of about $.80

This liner by Addiction NV is the reason I SKIPPED last month! I wanted this liner SO bad that when I didn’t give it, I gave up! Obviously I went back and tried again! I almost had to jump up and down for joy when I saw it in my window again!! Thank you Beauty Army!!

So far I’ve used this amazing steel silver as a shadow base (it absolutely does NOT crease!!) and a liner and it’s got some serious WOW power going on! Love this and I plan to rock it ALL summer long! This liner alone retails for $16 and pays for the box on it’s own! (both in retail value and how awesome it is!)

Last, but not least is this mark. lip gloss. I didn’t love the way the color looked online but when I got it, I totally had a change of heart! This is the perfect muted pink! I can’t wait to air this with my liner, they will make a stunning pair!  This retails for $6.50 and came with a bonus Hook up connector (man, I wish I hadn’t given away my mascara from last month!!) which sales for an additional $.50!

Overall, this month was great. While there were a few “small” samples, they were all useful and really travel friendly. I did get 2 full size items and my box had a $28 value. That’s more than double the $12 price tag! I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for Beauty Army!

I received my amazing Square Hue box just over a week ago and I admit, I’ve been too busy playing with my stunning new colors to blog about it! But I suppose I can share This month’s box was the “SoBo Collection” and I have to say, I’m LOVING the colors!

We received a gray, a bold orange with shimmer and a tiffany blue.

They called them “Lincoln Road”,  “Ocean Drive” and “Collins Avenue.”

I’m always blown away by the quality of Square Hue nail polish. They feature a shorter brush for more control, dry smoothly and overall apply like a dream. Each of these colors only needed two coats and I received full coverage and pigment just like they appear in the bottle. I like that we received mostly creme polishes (because they’re my favorite) but the orange has a nice subtle shimmer/glitter to it that is really fun for the summer season.

I’ve been showing off some Square Huge Mani’s on Instagram so be sure and tag me! Don’t forget that I’m about to launch a nail art contest of my own there so follow me so you don’t miss it!

For $21 a month, Square Hue has really given me everything I was lacking from other polish subscriptions. They offer full size polishes, current colors, a stunning formula and adorable bottles. I also praise them for sticking exclusively to polish. While I don’t mine a polish company branching out to include things like cuticle oil or nail files, I draw the like at mascaras and BB creams- no thank you! Be sure and check out SquareHue.com to sign up for your new favorite polish subscription!

The lovely ladies behind Juniper understand that your cycle is often as unique as you are. Whether your have a full 7 day cycle or a short three day cycle and no matter your flow, they’re ready to customize your box to fit your needs. They have a very interactive “interview” process where your Juniper BFF emails you so you can customize your box! In addition to that, should you get your period late (or early), you can also TEXT your Juniper BFF and let her know, that way your box next month will still be one time!

I started out with a basic box but after talking with my Juniper BFF, I decided I didn’t need as many overnight Pads (I tend to use panty liners instead because my cycle is lighter while I sleep) but I often run low on Midol. So, we cut my pads in half and doubled my Midol. Perfect! Juniper lists the major name brand pads and tampons on their site for selection but should you want to use a brand not listed, you can just let them know and they’ll go out and grab it for you! It’s like having your own personal shopper! No late night trips for your lady needs or heaven forbid, sending your husband! I could also see Juniper being great for a teen who is just starting to manage her cycle. This would keep her from having to remind Mom or Dad when she needs these things and how many she needs. Having 2 sisters I can tell you, sometimes by the time I needed these things- my sisters had already used them all up!

Inside the golden drawstring bag, I found my pads and Midol. Everything is perfectly wrapped up. There was a little bit of a mix up here. I received an extra panty liner and I didn’t get my extra pain relievers. I’m planning to email/text my BFF and see what they can do about that

The white box contains all the tampons. By default, they include the same selection that you’d get in a variety pack. Some Super absorbance, regular and a few light. Should you need more of one or say half regular and half light, you just let them know! I love that this offers you more customization than you get in the store. I’m typically not a Super tampon user BUT you always get them in the big packs. So you can either tough it out and use them OR buy two boxes. One of light and one of regular. I decided to stick with a basic arrangement, but I love that the options are there!

Also included in the box is a super user friendly guide to tampon use. Now, every box of tampons comes with something like this, but this is the best guide I’ve seen so far. When I was a teen, my mom didn’t want me to use tampons because she was under the impression it would mess with my..um…innocence. Well, that is a big misconception! (Sorry mom!!) So I didn’t get the best introduction to tampon use. I would feel 100% confident handing this to a first-timer and telling her to give it a go. It covers everything in an easy to follow narrative.

Along with your essentials, you also get another bag of…edible essentials We all know our cravings get a little crazy when it’s that time of the month and it’s nice to have a little something around that is JUST for you on those off days.

We received honey sticks in three different flavors- YUM!

Teas. I haven’t tried these but one smells like licorice. While I don’t like to EAT licorice, I love drinking teas that remind me of licorice.

Key lime cookies. Man, if you have never had these before, try them! They are SO good! I for see a small cheat on my Nutrisystem diet with these little cookies.

A moist brownie from TheInspiredCookie.com. I love that Juniper found a way to STILL include chocolate even though it is hot outside already.

Nibnaks fruits. These have only 90 calories and are essentially all fruit so this is a healthy, sweet snack!

I should have also received a mini soap as well, but it was missing from my bag. Again, I’ll just reach out to my BFF

Overall, I think Juniper is a GREAT way to manage a less than enjoyable time in your month. It’s easy to get Juniper exactly how you want and need it so you’re not having to shop last minute. If you’re a busy woman, a teen or just someone who isn’t a fan of shopping for these types of items, Juniper is the subscription for you!

Two weeks down, 14 to go and I have to say, I’m feeling absolutely amazing! Nutrisystem, for me, was one of those programs I’d heard of and thought “yeah, right!” for so long. The thing that got me was the “results not typical” wording at the end of some testimonials. Now that I’m using Nutrisystem myself I have come to understand why they say that. It’s “typical” for a person to lose 1-2lbs in a week. Well, when you’ve been abusing your body that way I have, you tend to see results that are different from the typical person…I think this change was more than a typical diet for me. It has been a complete overhaul on my entire body. From my metabolism and energy levels to of course my weight and overall happiness. (Yes, feeling healthy makes me feel happy!) This week I’ve lost another 5.6lbs!

That brings my weight loss so far to 9.4lbs. I can’t think of the last time I successfully lost 10lbs, but with it SO close, I’m more motivated than ever!

This week has been a VERY busy week with me and my evening job and my job as a Mommy & Blogger so I did less food photographing. That’s not to say I didn’t highlight a few of my favorites on Instagram

One of the most DELICIOUS things I have probably ever tasted in my entire life. This is the Coconut Almond Bar. It tastes a lot like Almond Joy candy, but more pure. I don’t get the syrup-y sweet after taste with the Nutrisystem “version”. For my package next month, I opted to customize my meals (Yes! You can customize your month of meals down to the very last dessert of the month!) so I opted to get several of these next month! Okay, I got 5 of them! But they are THAT good!

On Nutrisystem, I eat more CHOCOLATE than I did at any other point in my life! On busy days (when I’m working) I reach for the handy breakfast and lunch bars for a quick on the go meal. (I pair them with a salad and shakes or string cheese that are also easy to have on the go) 9 out of 10 of the bars on Nutrisystem have chocolate in some form. Chocolate chips, chocolate dipped, on a bed of chocolate. It’s absolutely dreamy! I can’t believe I’m able to eat chocolate AT LEAST once a day and see these results. Someone pinch me!

It’s delicious craving-busters like this that make this the hands down easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life. (Well, delivering my youngest was a cake-walk, but that’s another story for another day!) Those “Why didn’t I do this sooner!?” thoughts are there, but I have to remind myself that I’m doing it NOW and I’m doing it for ME!

Having lost 9.4lbs is a huge accomplishment! Since my goal is to weight 130lbs, I have completed nearly 8% of my goal and dropped my BMI from 36.2 to 34.6. I based my weight loss goal on what would be a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) for my height of 5’3, so this number is especially important to me! I can’t wait to share more with you next week and soon, I’ll have my very first Nutribear to show you! So stay tuned!

If you’re ready to become a healthier you, you can join Nutrisystem by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting www.Nutrisystem.com/NSblog.
*My Nutrisystem monthly plan and all components were provided to me free of charge in exchange for honest reviews and for sharing my journey. All opinions (and results!) are my own.

Here in Texas, the weather is already HOT so we’re gearing up for one smokin’ giveaway! With help from some AMAZING Sponsors like DormCo, we are going to fill this stunning Dorm Trunk with everything you’ll need to make this summer Unforgettable! Be sure and stay tuned in the next few weeks to hear about all or great sponsors AND for your chance to win our Grand Prize!!

While looking for something fun for my boys to do this summer, I stumbled upon a company called Blast Zone. Since my boys are little, this single rider inflatable slide, with a $350 price tag seemed perfect. I thought at this price, it’d be worth it EVEN if it only lasted one summer. Let’s face it, renting inflatables is expensive and with so many BBQ’s and get togethers planned, we were looking at a few thousand this summer. I’m happy to report that this slide will be around for a LOT longer than just this summer.

I was truly impressed with the quality and durability of this inflatable water slide. The fabric is thick, put together well and I’d guess it can really take a beating. So far, my toddlers have been pretty gentle, but as they get older, I know I won’t worry about them wearing it down.

Everything you need to operate the slide comes with your purchase. Such as the blower, stakes in case of wind and even a heavy duty tote than you can roll the whole thing into when not in use.
Setting up took at 5 minutes (including attaching the clear hose to the velcro along one side so that water sprays down the slide.) Inflating the slide takes less than 1. Filling up the entire pool area can take a bit longer, but I found that to be perfect because my kids could play for 3-4 hours with water spraying down the slide and I didn’t have to worry about the pool section overflowing into my yard. (Yes, it keeps them happy that long!!)

One concern I originally had was actually the tearing down and putting away of this product. I turned off the blower, opened the “escape valve” tube (which is a short yellow vinyl hose that you tie closed during use, you can untie this to let air escape quickly) and let it shrink down. Then I let the sun dry everything for about an hour. Just to prevent mildew, I dried some areas with a towel before rolling it up. I rolled from one side towards the middle then did the same thing on the other side then folded everything in half- it fit PERFECTLY into the bag. It was a 2 person job (one holding the bag and the other lifting the no deflated slide) but it was a MILLION times easier than I expected! The bottom of the bag is also mesh so if you don’t get all the water, it can drain out! So, essentially, when not in use, it takes up as much room as a tent. I was SO happy about that!

My boys love this slide more than anything right now and even my 2-year-old can climb up the slide with ease. The foot holes are nice and deep so even someone with larger feet can feel secure and the handles are nice and sturdy too. With kids, you’re bound to have accidents and my son has fallen backwards off the top once, BUT there is so much padding at the bottom and around the sides that he ended up giggling himself all the way back up to the top. I found this slide to be much safer than taking my children to a water park full of hard plastic and concrete.

Overall, this slide is a staple at my house now. The neighborhood kids are always knocking on our door asking if we’ll be blowing it up soon and since the blower is not louder than a hair dryer, it makes a great excuse for us Moms to sit outside and soak up the sun

BlastZone was super generous to offer YOU the chance to win your very own Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Waterslide!! Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway