Beauty Haul! Jury Duty!

Hi everyone!! Do you like my new blog layout? : ) My friend Lisa created it for me! She made it where I can change out the header photos too. Sweet, huh?! Thank you Lisa!

I haven't had a chance to blog every since Thanksgiving break happened!

I served on jury duty for the past two days as well! I've been getting up at 6:30AM to get ready. I normally wake up at 9AM (the perks of being self employed, I know. :P) Jury duty was such an experience. I felt like I won the lottery today when I got dismissed early!

You never really appreciate how much freedom you actually have until you have to sit hours upon hours in the juror assembling room. Imagine yourself waiting at the DMV on an airplane for 8 hours!  That was my experience on the first day.  You just sit there in a room of 100 people waiting until your name is called over an intercom. lol You're then given a number, maybe a questionnaire, and grouped for a judge's jury panel. I won't get into too much detail. I don't want to spoil it for you who haven't had a chance to serve. lol

 I sure did learn to bring a phone charger and some magazines on the second day!

 I had a pretty relaxing Thanksgiving break. We spent it with his side of the family. We had 2 house warming parties and Thanksgiving lunch and dinner at two different places. lol Then we did so much Black Friday shopping! I had a lot of fun with the Tran's, but I can't wait to spend Christmas and the New Year with my family in Michigan. I miss my Mom and Aunt's home cooking!

It feels SO good to be home! I also loved coming home to some packages at the front door!

I always get home sick after 4 or 5 days of being away. I just love the comforts of home. :)

My newest beauty find is called the Beauty Box 5. 

 

Website: https://www.beautybox5.com/

Price: $12/month

Beauty Box 5 is pretty comparable to the Birchbox & Glossybox based on the number of beauty products you receive each month.

Everything is packaged neatly, and beautifully. (That's always appreciated!)

The goodies! I always appreciate a good lip balm. I'm a chapstick/lip balm addict. It's one of those products I cannot live without. I am so bothered when I am without lip balm!! Any of you feel that way?

I never knew Ann Taylor sold iPhone cases until I went to their factory store in Woodburn (Oregon).

Tax free shopping woohoo!

Minh actually spotted this super cool yellow ombre gradient iPhone case. I totally approve! It was on sale for $9.99 and one of my favorite purchase memories of our Thanksgiving weekend 2012. :) He was surprisingly thoughtful and even picked out a pair of blue topaz earrings for me from Costco. I think he was trying to bribe me to turn the other cheek and let him go crazy with his electronics hoarding. I absolutely love the earrings. : ) If you know me, know me, I'm glued to the Costco jewelry case every time I'm there.

Another beauty surprise waiting for me was Starbox from Starlooks.

Website: http://starlooks.com/
Price: $15/month

Starlooks is offering a $99 value December Starbox gift for only $15.

December is probably the best month to sign up for any type of subscription service. You're always going to get the "it" box. : ) I sense that most companies want you to gift their service and impressive products to your loved ones (their potential new customers).

I received three full size products in my November Starbox.

I got a frosty lipstick, eyeshadow quad, and a eyelash comb/mascara shield. : )

Mascara shields are super helpful! No more mascara smudges on your freshly eyeshadowed eyelids!

The colors of the eyeshadow quad are right up my alley for Autumn.

It reminds me of one of my MAC eyeshadow palettes.

I will have to do a look with the shadows and update this post. : )

Here's a peek at my Sephora Friends & Family haul. : )

Make Up For Ever Duo Mat 205

Clarisonic Brush Head 

Anastasia Brow Serum (this worked so nicely on my friend!)

Anastasia Brow Highlight

D&G Perfume

Sephora 500 point VIB reward: NARS!  

Free VIB Sephora tote! It's my new travel makeup case, hairbrush holding bag!

I've been holding onto my VIB points for a while now, and I felt the NARS gift was a good one to pick! I still have a little over 1,000 rewards points left and I'm saving them until Christmas!
They ALWAYS seem to have the most amazing 500 point prizes during the holidays. Last year was a full size set of Lancome products!

Everyone's favorite NARS blush. :)

I have been wanting to try one of these NARS gloss sticks for a while. I'm very happy with my selection!

Butter London Teddy Girl
It's such a cute pastel, creme baby pink. It reminds me a lot of Essie Fiji (The Bachelorette Emily Maynard's favorite polish). Butter London brushes aren't my favorite. But the color and quality of the polish is excellent. 

I'll catch up with you in my next post. : ) Toodles!