Tag: food

November Favorites | Beauty & Lifestyle Loves

Happy Tuesday! It’s December now, and that means it’s time to share with you all of the things I loved in November. I feel like November flew by extremely quickly! To be honest, I didn’t change up my beauty or skincare routine much at all this month, so I don’t have too many new products to share. This time around I’ll be letting you into my daily life a bit more, so you can learn more about what I love in all aspects of my life. Let me jump right into my November Favorites!

FACE PRODUCT

elf HD Lifting Concealer – $3.00 [BUY]

My skin has been in a bad mood this month! I’m not sure if it’s the change in weather, the food I’m eating, or something else, but I’ve gotten some nasty breakouts and redness. I purchased this elf concealer on a whim back in May (see the haul HERE), and it does a great job at balancing my redness. Of course, it’s not a miracle worker, but for a $3 product it’s a great item to have in your collection when you need it.

LIP PRODUCT

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish Lipgloss in Sophia – $19.00 [BUY]

I got a mini size of this lipgloss in the Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip Kit I purchased last month (full review HERE), and I’ve been reaching for it more than any other lip product recently. The pink shade is absolutely perfect with my skin tone. It’s just a great everyday color, and the formula feels nice on the lips, too. I do wish it wasn’t minty, because that hurts my throat a bit, but I can deal with it. I love this color so much!

HAIR PRODUCT

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray – $13.95 [BUY]

The winter weather is creeping in, and my hair and skin are slowly drying out. I reached for this oil spray this month to add in a bit more moisture and shine to my otherwise dull hair. I spray just one or two times on my wet hair after showering, and then brush it through to spread the product. I find that this works really well, and it also smells great. Definitely make sure to use only a tiny bit, though, as it can be heavy!

ACTIVITY

Homemade White Cheez-Its | Adventures in Polishland

Baking – Homemade White Cheez-Its Pictured

I’ve been really into baking lately, and I’m trying to make something new about once per week. I’ve been focusing on healthier options, but with the holidays around the corner I know the snacks will get sweeter and sweeter. My first treat was homemade Cheez-Its, which turned out amazing! I’ll be sharing some of my recipes with all of you soon.

ETSY SHOP

Caitlin and Co. Designs [BUY]

I discovered a new Etsy Sticker Shop completely on a whim, and made a HUGE purchase. I’m so glad I ended up splurging on these. The quality is beyond top-notch, and the colors are so vibrant and beautiful. These stickers have really helped me and my planning routine. I cannot recommend this shop enough, so be sure to check it out. If you buy something, let her know I sent you in the Notes to Seller section!

TELEVISION SHOW

Image courtesy of abc.go.com

Dancing with the Stars

I go back and forth with loving Dancing with the Stars (“DWTS”), and not watching it at all. I got into this season towards the latter half, and it’s been a lot of fun. I’m writing this blog post on the day of the DWTS finale, so I don’t know who won yet! Right now I’m rooting for Bindi. I think she is a beautiful dancer, and she seems like such a genuinely nice person. I also enjoyed watching Nick Carter on the show despite being a diehard *NSYNC fan.

SONG

Justin Bieber – What Do You Mean? [BUY]

Dancing with the Stars also turned me on to this Justin Bieber song! I’ve never been one to listen to Justin Bieber, but I’m loving this song. It has a great beat, and is just so catchy. I’m loving the reinvented JB!

I hope all of you had a great November! Please share your favorites with me in the comments, too. I love to hear what you are all loving, especially new beauty products. There is just something fun about sharing the things we’re loving most!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The Pumpkin Batch Unboxing | Wicked Good Pumpkin for October 2015

Happy Tuesday! It’s no secret that I am a huge pumpkin lover, so when I heard about The Pumpkin Batch I couldn’t believe such amazingness existed. The Pumpkin Batch is a monthly subscription box that features all pumpkin goodies. That’s right, this box is filled with 4-6 items that feature pumpkin in some way. I was lucky enough to receive the October box for review, and am excited to share it with you today. Make sure you stay tuned to the end of this blog post, as I have a coupon code for all of you!

The Pumpkin Batch Unboxing | Wicked Good Pumpkin for October 2015

I filmed an unboxing video so you can see how The Pumpkin Batch arrives, and all of the goodies in person. I will also have photos and more information of each individual product below for you.

As I mentioned in the unboxing video, The Pumpkin Batch includes items that are made in America. I love learning about new-to-me small businesses, and I think it’s amazing that The Pumpkin Batch does all the work in finding them for me. Let’s take a closer look at each product in the Wicked Good Pumpkin box!

Puurbody Flickering Wick Pumpkin Spice Soy Candle

Puurbody Flickering Wick Pumpkin Spice Soy Candle – $6 [BUY]

I’m not a candle person, but this one smells absolutely divine. I have it sitting in my bedroom, and even though it’s not lit I can smell it faintly in the background. This candle makes an excellent gift, and I love that it is made of 100% pure soy wax with no additives. I can tell this is a handmade item because the wax is a bit messy on the top of the jar, but because I’m keeping this for myself I don’t mind it one bit.

Wicked Whoopies Pumpkin Whoopie Pie

Wicked Whoopie Pumpkin Whoopie Pie – $3 [BUY]

I shared this whoopie pie with my mom because she is a whoopie pie aficionado. She said it was really delicious, and almost as good as the fresh bakeries in our community. I love that The Pumpkin Batch includes a fresh baked good in each box, but this one did contain a very long ingredients list with preservatives. It was also a huge splurge calorie-wise. Nonetheless, it is definitely a yummy treat!

Ravens Creek Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub

Ravens Creek Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub – $12 [BUY]

I am so excited about this sugar scrub! Not only does it smell amazing, but I use sugar scrubs in my regular skincare routine so I know I will get use out of this. This is the one product I haven’t tried yet, simply because I just opened another scrub in the shower. I will be sure to report back and let you know my thoughts on it!

The Poisoned Applies Handmade Pumpkin Caramel

The Poisoned Applies Handmade Pumpkin Caramel – $7 [BUY]

Okay, it’s time to let you know about my favorite treat in the box! I cannot stress to you how delicious these caramels were! I may have accidentally eaten both in one sitting (oops). I don’t recommend you do that, though – they are so rich! While these are a bit expensive to buy normally, I highly recommend them as a special treat or gift. I’m still dreaming about them!

Kraken & Claw Kraken Corn in Harvest Brew

Kraken & Claw Kraken Corn in Harvest Brew – $5 [BUY]

The last item in the October box is this delicious popcorn. I also really, really enjoyed this! I’m a popcorn fan, so this made a great nighttime treat. This would also make an awesome gift during the holidays! I am going to have to browse through the Kraken & Claw shop to see what else they offer!

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOX + SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS

The Pumpkin Batch Unboxing | Wicked Good Pumpkin for October 2015Overall, I really enjoyed the October box from The Pumpkin Batch! While this is not a box I would get all year round, I think it makes an amazing fall time treat. There are three different subscription options for The Pumpkin Batch. A monthly subscription is $29.99 per month, but you can save money with a longer commitment. A three-month subscription is $26.99 per month, and a full year is $24.99 per month. You can also give The Pumpkin Batch as a gift, which I highly recommend for the pumpkin lover in your life this holiday season! One gift box is $34.99, and a yearly gift is $299.99.

The Pumpkin Batch has provided all of you with a coupon code for 15% off your first box in any monthly or quarterly subscription. Enter polishpumpkin15 at checkout HERE. This coupon expires on November 30, 2015, so make sure you act fast if you want to save!

What do you think of The Pumpkin Batch? Let me know in the comments!

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The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

How to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserve

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ConfidenceUDeserve #CollectiveBias

Happy Monday! Today at Adventures in Polishland I am excited to be sharing with you how to put together a Period Confidence Kit so you can feel ready to tackle anything that comes your way during that time of the month. While it can be difficult to feel your best during your period, I like to treat myself to some extra pampering. You all know how much I love shopping at the drugstore! I’m all about the CVS Extrabucks program, and the store has tons of great products to boost my confidence whilst on my period as well. Let me show you how I put together a Period Confidence Kit using my favorite feminine care products from U by Kotex, and some extra goodies from CVS!

How to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserve

LET’S GO SHOPPING!

How to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserveI don’t know about you, but retail therapy in and of itself is a fun way to boost my mood no matter what time of the month it is! I headed over to my local CVS store to pick up all the supplies I need to create my Period Confidence Kit. CVS has a ton of products from which to choose, but I stuck to the beauty aisle and the food aisle to gather supplies. Then I headed to the feminine care aisle for the most important supply – my U by Kotex pads!

How to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserveHow to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserveMy local store keeps the feminine products in the aisle straight back from the beauty products. That works out perfectly for me! I just shop for all my makeup and skincare, and then end up in the back anyway. I began using U by Kotex four years ago, and I’ve stuck with the brand ever since. I was first drawn in because of the packaging – the black boxes stand out on the shelf, and I love the bright wrappers on the products. I continued to purchase U by Kotex because of the quality! I always feel confident on my period when I wear U by Kotex. Sometimes I even forget I’m on my period because I’m so dry and comfortable. I highly recommend trying U by Kotex if you haven’t already!

ASSEMBLING MY PERIOD CONFIDENCE KIT!

How to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserve

I like to begin my Period Confidence Kit with some sweets! I have a huge sweet tooth, and it’s always nice to indulge. I first grabbed the Milk Chocolate Pretzel Balls from Gold Emblem because they are the perfect combination of salty and sweet, but I nearly squealed in the aisle when I saw Pumpkin Cookies! Both of these goodies were really delicious (let’s be real – I’ve already enjoyed them!). Satisfying my sweet tooth is an important part to my Period Confidence Kit because I feel great after having a tasty treat. Make sure to feed your personal cravings!

How to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserveNext up comes my beauty and skincare regimen! I don’t always pamper myself, but I like to do some extra beautifying at least once per month. I was so surprised at the fabulous and affordable products CVS had to offer! Not only did I stock up on my favorite nail polish remover in the strengthening formula, but I got some amazing skincare products. The CVS brand Beauty 360 has tons of products from which to choose, but I grabbed the Detoxifying Purifying Facial Mask. This is an active charcoal mask that helps to clean out pores and reduce their appearance. I have amazing luck with a high end charcoal mask, so I was really excited to find this affordable option! I also grabbed some Deep Cleaning Pore Strips, which I try to use 1-2 times per month. Finally, my hands get really dry, especially during the colder months, so I grabbed some Dry Skin Therapy Smoothing Hand Cream. By using these skincare products, I feel really confident in how I look because I know my skin is at its best! Plus, it’s always nice to take some time out of our busy schedules for some needed TLC.

How to Create a Period Confidence Kit featuring U by Kotex at CVS! | #ConfidenceUDeserveAll in all, I know that when my period comes around for a visit every month I can still feel like the best version of myself. I grab my favorite U by Kotex pads, spend some time caring for my skin, and even eat some delicious treats. This Period Confidence Kit is great to have on hand, and also makes an amazing care package for one of your girlfriends! It’s also the perfect kit to have for a girls’ night in! My kit changes up a bit throughout the year depending on my current needs, but I always make sure to focus on my own needs during my period. It’s not easy to be confident all the time, but it certainly easier with this kit! Make sure to learn more about U by Kotex at CVS HERE!

How do you stay confident during your period? Let me know in the comments!

August 2015 Favorites | Monthly Favorites are Back!

Happy Tuesday! It’s been quite a while since I posted about my monthly favorites, but I’ve decided to bring them back. Now that Adventures in Polishland has been dubbed (by me!) as a lifestyle blog with a beauty focus, I feel 100% comfortable sharing my favorites from all aspects of my life. Here you’ll get to see my favorite beauty products, but also my favorites in a variety of other categories. Let me show you what I’ve been loving all month long!

NAIL POLISH

Zoya – SiaZoya – Sia [REVIEW] [BUY]

I am beyond obsessed with this gorgeous blue from Zoya. Sia is the perfect nail polish, and I can’t wait to wear it again and again this fall. The pigmentation is stunning, and the color is my kind of blue. You need Sia in your life!

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top CoatSally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’m also really impressed with the newly reformulated Miracle Gel Top Coat. It makes a huge difference in a manicure’s appearance, and can be used with any polish. I’m making this my go-to top coat from now on.

BEAUTY

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in RoseL’Oreal True Match LUMI Powder Glow Illuminator in Rose [BUY]

I wanted to test out a highlighter from the drugstore, and squealed when I saw this rose gold packaging and product from L’Oreal. It was a bit pricey for the drugstore at $12.99, but 100% worth the price. It is such a beautiful highlight, and goes really welly with my fair skin. I highly recommend it!

Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos

Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos [BUY]

I got this blush in a Birchbox a few months back, and was a little intimidated by the bright tangerine color and pops of shimmer. I finally tested it out this summer and love it! I use a very light hand and find that the color is really flattering. Plus, the water resistant formula stays put all day. This blush is high end, but a great investment piece for your beauty collection.

elf Angled Blush Brush [HAUL] [BUY]

Along with the blush, I’ve been using this brush from elf. I am amazed at how nice this brush is for the price – it’s only $3! The brush is super soft, and applies blush really well no matter the brand. I’m definitely going to purchase more brushes from this line in the future. If you have any favorites, tell me in the comments!

FOOD

Nutella

I’ve loved Nutella for years and years, but I don’t buy it often because I have zero self control when it’s in my possession. My mom bought this for me as a treat, and the jar was gone in a few days. I ate it mainly with pretzels, but let’s be real, I took a couple spoonfuls as well. Nutella is an amazing treat, but that’s enough for me for a while!

STICKER SHOP

HelloAshleyann [SHOP]

My planner hobby is still in full swing, and my favorite place to buy stickers in August was HelloAshleyann on Etsy. I have a soft spot for this shop because it was the first shop I ever bought stickers from, but I also fell in love with the new, limited edition kits the shop decided to put out once per month. I’ve linked a Plan With Me featuring the Planner Nerd kit above, and although this kit is no longer available, I highly recommend you join her Facebook Group HERE to learn about upcoming kits. The sticker quality is amazing, and the customer service is, too.

SONG

Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon [BUY]

Last but not least, I love the song Shut Up and Dance! It is SO catchy in the best way possible. I don’t listen to Top 40 much anymore, but somehow this song came into my life and I’m so glad it did.

What did you love in August?! Tell me in the comments! 

This post contains some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Subscription Sunday | My First NatureBox!

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have a new-to-me subscription box to share with all of you. I’ve heard so many people talking about NatureBox lately, that I just decided to give it a try. NatureBox is a subscription service that sends you a box filled with anywhere from 3-20 snacks per month. I decided to go with 5 snacks at $19.95 per month. It sounds expensive, but each snack bag is multiple servings, and they are guaranteed to be super healthy! NatureBox also provides healthier options with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. I decided that with Back to School, these snacks would be perfect to take with me to munch on throughout the day. Let me show you what was inside my first box!

My First NatureBox | Adventures in PolishlandLook at all of the goodies inside my box! As you can see, these are over 4oz each, and contain a lot of food in each pouch. I love that these pouches are resealable, as I popped one in my locker at school and can take it out whenever I’m hungry. I’ll tell you about about each snack, too.

NatureBox – Chocolate Quinoa Granola

Chocolate Quinoa Granola

I love chocolate and quinoa, so the two together were pretty tasty! These almost looked like small cookies, but were of course very crunchy. I really enjoyed these in the morning with my coffee!

 NatureBox – Cinnamon Spiced Almonds

Cinnamon Spiced Almonds

These were so good! Plain almonds can be a bit boring to snack on, in my opinion, but these were delicious. I would have liked them to be cinnamon-sugar instead of spiced, but I still loved them and ate up the entire bag.

NatureBox – Harvest Nut Mix

Harvest Nut Mix

This mix is a spin on your typical party mix, and I really like it. This snack is the one currently living in my locker at school. The protein from the nuts is filling and tasty!

NatureBox – Açai Berry Crunch

Açai Berry Crunch

This is another type of granola that included some sweetness from the berries. You can put this on top of yogurt or eat it as cereal, but I just ate it dry as a snack. It tasted great!

NatureBox – Honey Dijon Pretzels

Honey Dijon Pretzels

I’ve saved the best for last! I’m not typically a huge fan of mustard, but these pretzels were AMAZING. I ate them right up! I would definitely purchase these directly from the NatureBox shop (which is another great option this service has). I highly recommend these!

All in all, I’m so glad I tried NatureBox! I loved each and every one of my snacks, but especially those pretzels. I decided to go with the surprise option, but if you want you can pick out the snacks that NatureBox sends you each month to make sure you’ll like them. You can also mark off if you have a dietary restriction, such as a gluten-free or vegan lifestyle, on the site. Sign up now and you’ll get $10 off your first box when you use my referral link HERE. I can’t wait to taste more NatureBox goodies! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried NatureBox and what you think of it!

Subscription Sunday | August Love With Food Box

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I am reviewing the August Love With Food Box. While it is a bit late, I really wanted to tell all of you what happened with my August box. When I first received it at the beginning of the month, it unfortunately was a disaster! A cup of salsa had leaked everywhere, ruining some of the box. I snapped a photo and emailed customer service. Not only did they send me a replacement box, but they refunded my money for the month of August as well! It did take a while for the replacement to show up, which is why this post is so late. I think it’s really important that Love With Food’s amazing customer service was shared!

IMG_2984Here is a sneak peek of what the August Box looked like. It was Backyard BBQ themed!

IMG_2988

 

  • Sahale Snacks Fruit & Almond Crunchers – I actually haven’t tried these yet, but it’s a mix that you can pour in yogurt or enjoy on its own. Sounds like it will be yummy!
  • Project 7 Save Mints – I got mints from this brand in a PopSugar box and loved them! The packaging is so cute, and the mints taste really good. I was happy to get another tube.
  • Aunt Sally’s Creamy Original Pralines – Oh my! This is so delicious! I am thinking I need more of these because it was that good.

IMG_2989

 

  • Rip van Wafels Caramel Filled Amsterdam Wafel – Yum! These little wafels can be placed over a hot beverage like tea so it gets soft to eat. I loved this so much!
  • Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust – Unfortunately this is the one product that is not for me since I don’t eat meat and this is a dry rub. It says you can use it as a spice packet in general, but it’s not really my thing.
  • Harvest Snaps Snapea Crips – I love these as well! I’ve tried them before, and I already repurchased two bags of these. I highly recommend them.

IMG_2985Last but least is a bag of BOPS Sea Salt Crisps. These were good, too, but I don’t think I would repurchase them. I prefer other chips better!

All in all, I did enjoy this box and the great customer service I received from Love With Food. I never got to try the salsa after all, because that wasn’t included in my replacement. While I do love this program, and think it’s fun to get these goodies every month, as of right now I did cancel my subscription for financial reasons. If you can afford the $10-12 per month, I do highly recommend the service. I will definitely consider joining again when I have the money! If you’d like to join, use code FBGIFT at checkout and your first month will be just $2! You can join Love With Food HERE.

 

This post contains affiliate links. Subscription box purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.