March Julep Maven Colors

Julep just released their March Maven colors! 

This is also the first month for the new Modern Beauty profile. Modern Beauty replaces the American Beauty profile is a product based profile. This means that instead of nail colors, you get product. March's Modern Beauty's will receive the Rock Star Hand Creme and the Glycolic Hand Scrub. 

I am a Classic With A Twist girl and I will actually be getting my profile's box this month. Purple is my favorite color and I do not have any pastel lilacs in my collection, so Simone will be a good fit. I also like the look of the smoky taupe creme. I think that will go well with Ginger, the sand holographic from last month. 

Which Julep box are you getting?

We don't do Valentine's Day

Mention February 14th and you immediately think of hearts and flowers, candy and Cupids, love and happiness. Valentine's Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine is the most lovey-dovey day of the year. Couples shower each other with cards and gifts. Restaurants are packed and florists are run ragged. For some, it is their favorite day of the year. Not us.

My husband and I have been together for ten years this summer, and married for over five of those years. We don't celebrate Valentine's Day. We both feel that if you can only truly express how you feel for each other on one day of the year, then your marriage and relationship has problems that flowers and jewelry are not going to solve. 

Say "I love you" everyday. Do something special and meaningful, no matter how small, for your significant other often. Think of them before you think of yourself. 

1 Corinthians 16:14 - Do everything in love

February PopSugar Must Have Box

The moment of truth arrived today - my PopSugar Must Have box for February appeared on my front porch. This is only my second month, but January really underwhelmed me. Come on, February! Redeem January and make me a believer!

Uh-oh, not off to the best start. Upside down in the box. Not a big deal at all, but.....


The goods. . . 

Must Have Fashion #1  - Brokedown Spa Wrap ($84 value)

Cute wrap, and super soft but One Size Fits All which means One Size Fits Some but not me. Barely fits around my chest and is way too short to be decent. I don't really want to be flashing my bits and pieces with a teenage boy in the house. Hello, ebay! This also included a 30% off discount code to be used at BrokedownClothing.com.

Must Have Fashion #2 - Hanky Pankys Thong ($20 value)

Yes, that really is the color. My husband says he could wear them to work since he is required to wear safety orange. Color aside, they are really soft and will actually make their way into my drawer. They are one size fits all, though. Hate that!

Must Have Food - Mariebelle New York's Tresor Box, Dark Chocolate Pearls ($20 value estimated)

These are not listed on the Mariebelle website so I am guessing at the value. Good, but not that exciting. They have a biscuit center, which means wheat products. I don't eat wheat. Maybe my son will like them. 

Must Have Beauty - Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush ($7.50 value)

I am always on the hunt for good lipcolor and I hate reapplying so I am a fan of stains. This looks like a color that will work on me, unlike the baby pink lipgloss that came in my Julep Cupid Mystery Box. 

Must Have Entertainment - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks book and song download ($5 value)

I am an avid reader, when I can find the time. I am not a romance reader. Romance novels, chick-lit, chick flicks, etc. do not really interest me. Will I read it? Probably. I read everything, but it is not a book I would have purchased for myself. 

Must Have Home  - Connoisseurs Quick Jewelry Cleanser ($8 value)

Yes! Something I can actually use. I was just thinking I needed jewelry cleanser. I am guilty of cleaning my rings with an old toothbrush so this actually excites me. 

Special Extra - Conversations Hearts

Last, but not least. Conversation Hearts! My weakness. Thank goodness, Valentine's is only once a year because my sweet tooth loves Conversation Hearts. I can kill a bag in one day. Best part of the box!

I really, really wanted February to wow me and it might have, if not for the two One Size Fits All items in this box. One Size Fits All is a very risky gamble. Not everyone is a size 2-12, or a woman for that matter. You risk alienating a fairly large portion of your audience by giving them items that will not fit them. The average woman is a size 14, outside of the range of most OSFA items. 

The overall value of the box is great. I figured the value of all items in the box is right around $145, which is great for a $35 box. However, I am just not getting the happy feeling I get with Julep. 

Oh, PopSugar Must Have - how I wanted to love you. Unfortunately, I just don't think it is going to work out between us.

Julep Cupid Mystery Box Unboxing

My Julep Cupid Mystery Box arrived today! They are still available on the Julep site for $19.99. You receive 5 polishes, so this is a great value! The polish regularly sells for $14.00 or $11.20 for Mavens, making it a $70 value for regular buyers and $56 for Mavens, excluding the bonus item.

In my box I received 4 colors, the new mystery holographic and a lip gloss. Unfortunately, I did not win the $1,000 Visa gift card or get any jewelry from Baublebar. That's ok. I am very happy with my colors for the most part. 

My colors are:

Lauren Classic With a Twist - Hot Topical Pink Creme

Lucy It Girl - Modern, Dark Burgundy Creme

Susie Classic With a Twist - Muted Mint Green Creme

Eileen American Beauty - Trina Turk Fall '12 Antique Bright White 

Evangeline American Beauty Mystery Holographic - It appears to be a rosy coppery holographic. This color is not yet available on the Julep website, but the label leads me to believe that it will be released very soon. This was also the only color with the new swatch sticker on the cap. 

and as an added bonus

Camellia Lip Gloss - Light, frosty pink lip gloss

I like Evangeline, Lauren, and Lucy, a lot. I think Eileen and Susie will grow on me. I hope. Mint Green is not really my color but it might work well as an accent nail color, or as a spring pedicure color. Light pink lip gloss does not work for me. I like that they sent a bonus item, but I will not be wearing this. Looks like an ebay or trade item for me!

I painted my nails last night using Lauren, Harley and Chelsea. Lauren is a bright pink! Definitely a summer color, but I like her layered with the Chelsea glitter. I just did a quick a dirty paint job so this is Revlon Colorstay base coat, one coat each of either Lauren or Harley, one coat of Chelsea and Freedom topcoat. It would look better with two coats of Lauren, but ehhh. Whatever. I just wanted to see how it looked. 

BzzAgent Review - Café Escapes

As a BzzAgent I get the opportunity to try out new products. BzzAgent is a social marketing company. As an agent, you complete surveys and based on your responses and social activity, you are provided with products to review. I will sometimes go months without receiving a campaign and then there will be times like now when I am participating in five. Being a BzzAgent is a great opportunity to try out products that I might not normally purchase. 

One of my campaigns right now is for Green Mountain Coffee Cafe Escapes. Cafe Escapes are k-cups for Keurig coffee makers. I love my Keurig. I am the only coffee drinker in my house and it is nice to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee whenever I want, without the guilt of wasting an entire pot just to have one cup. 

I received quite the selection of k-cups from Cafe Escapes and have not had a chance to try them all yet. Here are the flavors I received. 

• Chai Latte
• Cafe Caramel
• Cafe Vanilla
• Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa 
• Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa

So far, I have tried the Cafe Caramel and the Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa. They were both good, but the Cafe Caramel was a little too sweet for me and had a cloying caramel taste. The Dark Chocolate was excellent and I could see myself buying these to keep on hand for those cold winter days when you need something to warm you up. 

I really like Green Mountain Coffee products and they are one of my go-to brands for k-cups. The variety is outstanding and they are available almost everywhere. 

If you are willing to take the time to tweet, facebook and share your experiences with new products then I highly recommend signing up for BzzAgent. 

New Julep Mystery Box

Julep has launched a new mystery box just in time for Valentine's Day!

Four colors plus a mystery holographic (I love the sand holographic and get so many compliments on it) or a voucher for a color of my choice? Plus the chance to win $1,000 or jewelry? Yes, please!

I am a big fan of Julep and they have yet to disappoint. I purchased the New Year's Mystery Box and loved everything in it. I purchased this as soon as it came available to Julep Facebook fans. I received notification that it has already shipped so hopefully I can post a review in the next few days!

UPDATE: I received my box! Check it out here.