Lifestyle – Page 32 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Lifestyle

My December Julep Maven Box!

Posted on December 15, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I will be posting about my December Julep Maven Box, and the three beautiful nail polishes I received inside. I want to start this post by informing you that Julep will be retiring the offer that has stood for quite some time now that if you sign up for the Maven program you get your first month for one penny. There is no official end date yet, but I highly suggest you join Julep as soon as possible to take advantage of this amazing deal! I will post more information about the Julep program at the end of the post, but if you would like to join for one penny, enter code PENNY2012 at checkout HERE.

This month, I chose the It Girl box from Julep. I got three nail polishes in my December box, and all are glittery and shiny for the holidays! I also got the supplies to make my own nail polish ring, but I just can’t decide which polishes to use on it! I will be sure to post a photo of my finished ring at some point. For right now, I’ll show you the polishes!

First up is Harper, a stunning turquoise glitter polish. I used two coats of Harper to achieve opacity, and I am just in love with the stunning color! Julep describes Harper as “mermaid blue,” and I definitely agree with that description. I felt as if I had mermaid scales on my fingers! Harper has opalescent glitters mixed in, so it really catches the light. I can definitely see myself wearing this polish over and over!

Up next is Ivy, a shiny blue polish. Ivy has a metallic finish, and is sprinkled with micro-glitters. Only two coats are needed for opacity, and Ivy is extremely long-lasting! The color is absolutely stunning, and appears to change shades depending on the lighting. I was very impressed with how gorgeous this polish is. If you are a blue fan, Ivy is a must!

Last but not least is Vivien, a golden glitter polish. I applied one coat of Vivien over Ivy to get the look in the photos. Vivien is full of small, gold hexagonal glitters with fine gold glitter throughout. Julep does call this polish full-coverage, but I think it would take at least four coats to wear this alone. It is very pretty as a glitter top coat, though! I love that I can wear the polishes from my Maven Box together to complete a fun manicure!

All in all, I love the It Girl box that I got in December! Julep is such a great subscription program, and if you love trying on-trend nail colors I highly suggest you join before the penny promo is up. Typically a Julep box costs $19.99 per month, which is already a fantastic deal as each polish retails for $14 each. But, with promo code PENNY2012, your first month is just one penny! I love the Julep program because you can always skip your box if you can’t afford it that month, and you can cancel at any time. Be sure to join HERE and feel free to ask me any questions!

My November Julep Maven Box!

Posted on November 20, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

You may be wondering why it took me so long this month to get up my review of my Julep Maven Box. To be honest, it is a combination of the fact that I did not receive my box until November 8th and with how busy I have been with school and other polish reviews. Let me show you what I got in the November box, and tell you more about Julep’s new changes.

Since the last time I posted about Julep, a lot has changed! The company completely re-vamped their website, and unveiled a new rewards program that lets members earn Jules, or points, in a variety of ways. Although these changes are for the better in the long run, Julep struggled a bit with the launch of their new site, and I think that is why I didn’t receive my box for so long. Nonetheless, my box was just as wonderful as usual when it arrived. I got the It Girl Box, which came with two of the coveted Julep suede nail polishes, a matte top coat, and a few nail polish remover wipes. I apologize for the photo quality — I forgot to take a picture with my camera, so this is from Instagram!

The first polish I got this month is Hailee, a khaki green suede. A suede polish is just as it sounds — it has a matte finish that is multidimensional to look like suede fabric. Hailee is very pretty, but I think it looks more of a grey or silver than a green, but it depends on the lighting. In terms of formula, Hailee is great! It is very easy to apply, and is opaque in two coats. Hailee also dries very quickly. I would not wear this polish every day, but it is definitely a unique color that I haven’t seen before.

The other polish I received in my November box is Nora, what Julep calls a “silver, aubergine suede.” In other words, Nora is a gorgeous deep purple! Just like with Hailee, Nora’s forumla is great. It is opaque in two coats, and dries quickly. Nora is definitely my favorite of the two polishes. I am much more into purple polishes than khakis!

All in all, I did like my November Julep Box. I wish I had gotten it earlier in the month like I have in the past, but hopefully Julep has figured out their issues now. I do have to say that I am really excited for the December Julep Box. They were released today, and are all gorgeous, holiday glitters! Join Julep today and enter code TWOFREE at checkout. Not only will you get your first box for a discounted price of $14.99, but you will get two bonus nail polishes for free! Click HERE to sign up now!

My October Julep Maven Box!

Posted on October 7, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy October! Today I will be reviewing my Julep Maven Box, and I am excited to tell you about the three new polishes I got. Let me begin by telling you about the special box that was offered in October. On the 20th of each month, Julep releases the five boxes that will be available to choose from. When September 20th rolled around, I was quite disappointed. The October Julep boxes were to feature crackle nail polishes, along with a line of gorgeous cream finishes in fall shades. While I do enjoy crackle nail polish, I couldn’t believe that was the product Julep was featuring. Crackle is no longer on trend, and Julep usually keeps up with the times. I, along with many other Mavens, took to the Julep Facebook page to let the company know how much I love their products, but how disappointed I was with the October offerings. Guess what? Julep listened! They created a special box called Maven’s Choice, which included three cream polishes and excluded the crackles. I could not have been more pleased. Julep really listens to its customers! Let me show you what I got in my Maven’s Choice box.

At first I was surprised to see how small the Julep box was this month, but don’t judge a book by its cover! Not only did I get three beautiful polishes this month, but Julep threw in some extras! The polishes (from top to bottom) are Lisa, Eloise, and Keira. The little pots you see are glitter pots in the colors orange and black to keep it Halloween themed! Finally, Mavens got some candy corn as an added Halloween treat. For some reason my box was missing the paperwork that usually comes with each Julep Maven box to highlight that month’s colors and trends. I guess that was the trick to my treat! I couldn’t wait to try out these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Keira, a beautiful deep burgundy polish. I am not usually a big fan of dark colors, but Keira is really nice. I used two coats of this polish, and as usual the Julep formula was amazing. I did experience some trouble with linen marks on my nails hours after applying the polish, but I am going to attribute this to high humidity. To be safe, give yourself a little extra drying time if you use Keira. This polish is quite pigmented, and leaned towards brown on the nail. This color is perfect for fall, and is work appropriate. Also, did you notice how short my nails are?! I needed to try something new!

Next up is Eloise, what Julep calls a “smokey indigo blue.” Let me begin by saying that I took these photos on day three of my manicure. As you can see, there is very little wear! I used two coats of Eloise without topcoat. I absolutely love this polish! I was most excited for this one to come, and it does not disappoint. The blue shade is really unique from anything else I own, and I love that it is deep, but not dark. Eloise is one of my favorite blue polishes, and I plan on wearing it quite often!

The last polish in my October box is Lisa, a grey that leans towards brown. I was least excited to try out Lisa, and to be honest I am not a huge fan of the color on me. The polish, however, is really nice. You can get away with one coat of Lisa for full coverage, though I still applied two in the photos above. The formula was amazing, and dried almost instantaneously! This is a great neutral shade if you are looking to stay away from beiges and tans. It is definitely work appropriate, and good for those of you who don’t like bold colors.

All in all, I loved my Maven’s Choice box! Julep always manages to impress me every month, and their customer service is right on. If you are looking to try out Julep polishes, I definitely suggest the Maven program. Not only do you get great discounts on their polishes every month, but you get your first box for one penny! Just click HERE and enter code COLOR2012 at checkout! Here is some more info about the Maven program if you’ve never heard of it before:

Julep is a monthly subscription program for $19.99 each month
You begin with a style quiz so Julep knows what polishes you may like, but you have the option to choose any box you want each month
Don’t have the cash? Don’t like your box? You have the option to skip your box each month and you will not be charged!
Mavens get access to special discounts on Julep products, and added freebies throughout the year
You have the chance to win the Golden Box each month — the complete Julep collection for that month!
You can cancel at any time if you decide you don’t like Julep
Your first box is a penny… who can pass that up?!

I hope if you join Julep you love it just as much as I do!

My September Julep Maven Box

Posted on September 14, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

By now you all must know how much I love the Julep Maven program! I can’t wait to show you what I got this month. Julep teamed up with fashion designer Tina Turk to create a nail polish line that coordinates with her fall clothing line. For the first time since I’ve joined Julep, I actually stayed with the style that I got by answering the quiz — Classic with a Twist. I had a little surprise when by box came in the mail, too. A bit of the packaging was coming out! Luckily everything was safe inside, and the packaging was adorable as usual.

This month each Julep Maven member got a magnet of a girl wearing clothing inspired by Trina Turk’s new line. It was a nice little surprise! Of course, I also got two nail polishes and a mascara. Both of my polishes this month were neutral shades, but are gorgeously pigmented and creamy. I can’t wait to use them over and over this fall! Let me show you both of them.

First up is Brandt, what Julep calls “off-black.” And it’s true! I wasn’t sure how good Brandt would look with my fair skin tone, but since it wasn’t a true black it looked great. The formula on this polish was a dream, and it was opaque in two coats. As with all Juleps, it also dried really quickly. I really liked that Brandt is not a harsh color, but is still considered to be in the black color family. I plan on using this on a regular basis!

Sophie is a neutral color that Julep calls “truffle mushroom.” I would describe it as a greenish brown color, but it is so pretty! Just like Brandt, Sophie has an amazing formula and was opaque in two coats. It is a perfect neutral for fall! I can also see it teamed up with a fun neon color for a nice contrast.

All in all, I really loved my September box! I got two nail polish colors that are great to have in any stash, and can be used often. I’m never disappointed with Julep! Don’t forget that you can join Julep Maven and get your first box for just one penny when you use code MAVENINTRO at checkout. Just click HERE and start shopping! Enjoy!

Julep Maven Intro Box Review & Giveaway!

Posted on August 30, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

If you are a blog follower of mine, you know how much I love Julep nail polish and being a Julep Maven member. Though the nail polish retails at $14 a bottle, the Maven program is a great way to get their polish at discounted prices. In order to let my readers try this great product at no cost, I wrote to Julep. They sent me an intro box to review for all of you, and they are giving one away for free! First, let me show you what comes in a Julep Maven intro box.

Each month Julep offers five different Maven boxes, and you choose the one you like the most based on your own personal style. The “It Girl” box always has three nail polishes in it, while the other styles have two polishes and another product (such as lotion, nail polish remover, lip gloss, etc.). I decided to pick the It Girl style to show you! The polishes I got were Morgan, Claire, and Blake.

Morgan is a beautiful deep purple polish with a hint of blue and red shimmer. None of my photographs could capture how stunning it is in person! I used two coats of this polish. The formula was perfect! I love the frosted look it has, and the shimmer adds a lot of dimension. I love purples, so Morgan will be used frequently I’m sure.

Claire is a gorgeous sky blue cream polish. I also used two coats, and again had not problems with the formula. I love cream polishes, and this one is no exception. This polish is great for people who aren’t sure if blue nails are right for them, because the color isn’t bright, but a nice pastel. This is the perfect color for spring!

Last but not least is Blake, a yellow cream polish. I loved the color of Blake, but I did have some formula issues, which is very unusual for Julep polish. My first coat was very uneven, but a second coat helped to even it out. If I did add a third coat it would have probably cleaned up the manicure, but with two coats I could still see brush strokes on some nails. Other than that small issue with the formula, the polish was really pretty. Yellow is actually a great color for nails!

Now that you’ve seen my It Girl intro box, it is time to win one of your own! To enter, you must click HERE. It will bring you directly to the Rafflecopter site. Julep is running the giveaway for me, but if you have any problems entering, don’t hesitate to contact me. The giveaway is live until September 7th. If you want to join Julep right away, you can get your first box for just one penny by entering the code MAVENINTRO at checkout. Go HERE to sign up!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Liebster Award (Times Two!)

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Adventures in Polishland

Thank you to MissHollyBerries & E-namel! They both nominated me for this award! The Liebster Award is usually awarded to up-and-coming bloggers with under 200 followers. I currently have 221, but had 209 when I received the first award. I’m so glad to have more readers! Now, onto the award protocol.

Official Rules!

1. Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.
2. They must also answer the 11 questions the ‘tagger’ has set for them.
3. They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.

4. They must then choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers and tag them in their post.

5. These lucky bloggers must then be told.
6. There’s no tag backs.

11 Things About Myself:

1. I love the show The Big Bang Theory. It’s hilarious!

2. I still play Words With Friends, but only with my parents & my friend’s Mom!

3. I would love to get a Kate Spade handbag. Her designs are so bright & fun!

4. The first concert I went to was in the sixth grade. I saw Britney Spears with my brother!

5. I keep my room at home messy, but while at school it’s rather neat.

6. I can’t stand country music, but can listen to almost anything else.

7. I get cold when I sleep, so I always use blankets even in the summer.

8. I think it’s fun to read celebrity magazines, even if the stories are all exaggerated.

9. I love everything that is pumpkin flavored, and aim to to eat as many pumpkin foods as possible each year!

10. The first time I ever got a professional manicure was during my sophomore year in high school for the homecoming dance.

11. I’m moving to law school tomorrow!!

11 Questions from MissHollyBerries:

1. What made you want to start blogging?

I’ve always wanted to blog, but I didn’t want it to be super personal. One of my suitemates mentioned that she read nail blogs, so I thought that would be a fun hobby.

2. Where are you from?

New England

3. What are your five favorite nail polishes of all time?

– Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Rockstar Pink

– Julep Niecy

– Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Celeb City

– L’oreal Check Me Out

– Wet ‘n Wild glitter topcoat

4. What is your dream vacation??

Disney World over and over!

5. What are some of your favorite nail polish brands?

– Julep

– Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear

– Orly

6. What are your favorite nail care products, base coat and top coat?

Sorry, this is getting redundant, but I use Sally Hansen Double Duty. It’s a base coat & top coat in one!

7. Number one nail tip you’d like to share?

Always wear a base coat, and do not substitute clear nail polish for a base coat!

8. How often do you do your nails?

Depends on when I have time. When I’m in school about 1-2 times per week. When I’m home, 2-3 times per week.

9. What do you want to do when you grow up?

Entertainment lawyer and/or sports agent.

10. What are your hobbies other than blogging and nail polish?

Shopping, reading, and crocheting.

11. What nail trends do you love, and which do you hate?

I love ombre nails and having an accent nails. I can do without stilettos and duck nails (eek!).

11 Questions from E-namel:

1. What do you love most about the city in which you currently live?
Well, I’m moving to NYC tomorrow!
2. If you were to make a bucket list, what would be #1?
Be happy with who I am.
3. Dream job?
I don’t really have a dream job. I just want to be successful.
4. 5 things you cannot live without…?
– Justin Timberlake
– Pizza
– My family
– My iPad
– Ice cream
5. Favourite cuisine?
I love Italian, Mexican, and Mediterranean.
6. List the “must have” items in your wardrobe.
Jeans, sneakers & flats, and sweaters.
7. Most inspirational quote you have come across…?
Not fancy, but I love the mantra Keep Calm and Carry On.
8. If you were to be a non-living object, what would you be? (I would be a Rubik’s Cube!)
A stuffed animal.
9. When was the last time you broke the rules? What did you do?
I don’t like to brake the rules!
10. Most expensive item you own till date?
My computer.
11. Favourite book/movie?
I love Harry Potter and Hunger Games series!

My Questions for my Nominees:

1. What’s the story behind your blog name?

2. Are you a morning or a night person?

3. What is your guilty pleasure television show?

4. Which food could you eat every day?

5. What is the one beauty products you can’t live without?

6. Who was your favorite teacher growing up?

7. If you could take a vacation anywhere, where would you go?

8. What are your top five favorite songs?

9. Do you have any pets?

10. What is your favorite season, and why?

11. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

My 11 9 Nominated Blogs:

1. Claws Up

2. Frugal Polish

3. Glittery and Polished

4. Samples by Entaeyen

5. Teen Polish Junkie

6. FabuLiz Beauty

7. The Grad School Diaries

8. Irnbb

9. RaRa Reid

Seems like many of the blogs I follow have more than 200 followers. If I missed you, I’ll get you next time!

My August Julep Maven Box!

Posted on August 13, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

I’ll be honest with you. When I first saw the Julep boxes online for August, I wasn’t thrilled with the options. I went ahead and chose the Boho Glam style anyway, as I had a free credit to use. I can’t pass up free polish! Now that I’ve had the chance to use the polishes I received, I am thrilled with my August box! Let me show you what was inside.

A pink box to celebrate Julep’s one year anniversary!

All August boxes came with a reusable tote bag.

From left to right, Isla, Piper, and nail polish remover.

I haven’t tried out the nail polish remover yet, but I did get the chance to use the new polish. I thought Piper and Isla would look perfect together, so I decided to a “Carly” manicure inspired by LacqueredLover.com! This style combines at least two different nail polishes in a unified look. I used two coats of each polish. One coat was very sheer, but a second coat achieved opacity. Piper is a metallic green, which I love. It is almost the metallic version of a mint, but a bit darker. Isla is a metallic white. I love the way they are both shiny and frosty. I never thought I’d be so impressed with these polishes! Here’s a cool Instagram photo of my manicure:

I love Julep products, and being a Maven member. If you’d like to join this monthly subscription, click HERE. Be sure to enter code COLOR2012 at checkout to get your first month for a penny!

One Lovely Blog Award

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Adventures in Polishland

A huge THANK YOU to Beauty Geek of WordPress for nominating me for the One Lovely Blog Award. It means so much to me that people are enjoying my blog. I can’t believe this is my second blog award, as I’ve only been around for about four months. I hope you will all continue to enjoy my Adventures in Polishland.

There are five guidelines for accepting this award:

1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you.
2. Paste the award image on your blog, anywhere.
3. Tell seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate up to 15 other bloggers for this award.
5. Contact the bloggers that you have chosen to let them know that they have been nominated.

Seven facts about me:

1) I’ve met President Obama (though before he was president).
2) I was a competitive dancer in jazz, tap, and sometimes ballet for ten years.
3) I know every word to the song “La Vie Boheme” from RENT.
4) I’ve been to Disney World four times, and Disneyland twice.
5) Full House is my favorite TV show of all time.
6) I absolutely love shopping.
7) I could wear jeans every day of the year.

My Nominated Blogs (5 WordPress, 5 Blogger):

I follow so many lovely nail blogs it was difficult to choose just ten!

Thanks again, Beauty Geek!

Little Black Bag: Take Two

Posted on July 19, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Remember a few weeks back when I posted about my first Little Black Bag? Well, I decided to splurge on one more, and boy have I learned some tricks! Little Black Bag is another monthly subscription that costs $50 per month. You pick the first item (handbag, jewelry, makeup, etc), and then are given 3-4 more items from the stylists. Then, you have one week to trade your items with other LBB members. The goal is to get lots of items at a high value. Last time, I got a purse and two ncLA nail polishes. This month, with very careful trading, I not only got a purse, but I got three nail polishes and nail wraps! Let me show you everything I got.

Look at all that great stuff! The handbag is the real highlight. It is a Nica Sinead Satchel bag that retails at $98. This bag is even more gorgeous in real life than it was online. It has a snap closure, an adjustable strap, and a gorgeous floral pattern on the front. Inside, it has lots of pockets & zippered compartments. I can’t wait to use it! I think I may make this my everyday handbag in place of my three-year-old Coach that I’ve had a hard time parting with. With this handbag alone I have already made a great deal, spending only $50 for this $98 purse.

Next, I got a set of nail wraps from ncLA that retail at $16. I got the pattern Geri. I’ve never tried any nail stickers or wraps before, so I can’t wait to see how these work! According to ncLA, all you need is clear nail polish, so one day I’ll be blogging about these. Have any of you tried them yet?

Finally, I got three Michael Marcus nail polishes, which are worth $15 each! From left to right, the colors are Brilliant Sand, Fuchsia Have a Good Time, and Paradise Pink. One thing I love just by looking at these polishes is the bottle’s shape! It’s a fun, geometric look. I’ve never seen that on any other polish before. I’m very excited to try these out as well! The colors are beautiful. Have you tried Michael Marcus out before?

You may have noticed in the photo of all my goodies together that there is one more item pictured. For the month of July, LBB provided its users with a bonus sample of Redken hair products. This bonus was the secret to my success this month! I traded my sample multiple times to get nail polish. I guess some people would prefer to have hair product versus a polish (silly, I know!). In the end, I did keep one Redken sample– anti frizz milk. I look forward to using this, too!

All in all, the value of my entire LBB is $159– over $100 in savings! If you are willing to spend the $50 up front to purchase LBB each month, then you are definitely getting a good deal. Because I do not have room for LBB in my budget, I am not going to be purchasing any more for a while. The great thing about this website is that I can choose to skip any month that I don’t wish to purchase. Perhaps one day I will splurge on this again!

If you are not yet a Little Black Bag member, please click HERE to join.

My July Julep Maven Box!

Posted on July 7, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

I have been in love with Julep Maven ever since I got my first box last month. The polish is simply to die for, and the company really takes care of its customers. Here is what I got this month!

Left to right, Lynn, Yumi, and America. Plus a lip vernis in Peony (in box). As a little bonus, some candy!

Although I am technically “Classic With a Twist” according to my style quiz, I switched to “American Beauty” this month because I liked the colors better. I have been in need of a nice, nude color like Lynn! I was also thrilled to be receiving the bonus America the Beautiful polish, which I featured in THIS post. All in all, a great month! The best part of this box was that I got a voucher from Julep for any free polish! How awesome is that? They really want to make us Mavens happy. Plus, who doesn’t love surprises?

After sporting America the Beautiful on my nails for the Fourth of July, I knew Lynn would be a good change for me. Even my mom mentioned that it was different to see me in a shade that’s not so bright! But Lynn is a gorgeous nude that is more on the peach side. It is a bit sheer, but only took two coats to be opaque. It also has a hint of shimmer in it, making it that much more beautiful. It’s perfect if you don’t like bright colors, or if you are looking to play down your nails for some reason. Of course, it’s stunning on its own as well! What do you think of these swatches? The color photographed very well.

How gorgeous is that polish?! Plus, it will look even better the next time I show it because I’ll be adding a little “sparkle” to it! Keep your eyes open for another entry about a mani upgrade in the near future!

Don’t forget, you can become a Julep Maven, too! Enjoy your first box for just $0.01 when you enter the code COLOR2012 at checkout! This is not a joke! Here are some benefits to joining:

You receive a Maven box of at least 2 polishes per month for only $19.99 (plus other goodies & freebies year long!)
Don’t like your box? Switch for another!
Don’t want to buy one this month? Skip the month & don’t get charged!
You’ll always get 20% off all Julep products in the Maven shop.
If you find you don’t like Julep, cancel any time.

Join Julep Maven today by clicking THIS link! Let me know if you joined 🙂