Spring has finally arrived in the mini apple. We have had many days over 70 degrees and I broke out my strapless top last Tuesday. Warm weather brings the suburbanites to the city and my stress level raises just ever so slightly. Yet, the hipsters keep on peddling, the artsy folks keep on drawing, and the rest of us are counting down the days until fall. In the fall and winter months suburbanites rarely visit uptown.

Then again the suburbanites only invade us for just a little bit and in the end I love summer in Uptown. One can spend an entire day people watching down at Lake Calhoun, take your pup to the park, you just might get a date, and hell its patio season folks. There is nothing like patio season in Minneapolis. Whiskey always taste better when it’s sipped on a patio with friends. Not to mention many patios allow dogs and the muppet like dog loves hanging out under the table.

Speaking of peddling hipsters, the BirchBox theme for May is “Free Wheeling.” There theme is lost on me and I am not quite sure of “Free Wheeling” = ITS FINALLY FUCKING SPRING!!! Yea, I can’t figure that equation out, anyway as always BirchBox is either hit or miss. I’m afraid to say it but I think BirchBox is having growing pains and they do not have a handle on their shipping partner. I got an email on May 11th telling me my box had shipped with a tracking link. The link didn’t work and so I waited. I waited to check it again on May 13th, in which it told me my box was born! It hadn’t even left there Tennessee warehouse. I called customer service and she ensured me it was out the door and I would receive it by the weekend. That was a fluffy lie, on Saturday my tracking told me my box was still in Tennessee. Monday the 19th the tracking updated and said my box was in Georgia. Last time I checked Minnesota was not in Georgia. Long story short my box finally arrived the day after my surgery on May 22.

FREE WHEELING – MAY 2014

CoTZ: Oil-free mineral sunscreen.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty: a creamy eye liner for all day wear.

Nexxus Color Assure Pre-Wash Primer: helps keep color vibrant for up to twice as long – without sulfates

Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo: helps keep color vibrant for up to twice as long – without sulfates

Nexxus Color Assure Conditioner: helps keep color vibrant for up to twice as long – without sulfates

Noya Beauty Lip Gloss- in Summertime Peach: this natural gloss nourishes lips with cocoa butter and adds a pretty sheen.

LIFESTYLE EXTRA – Smarty Pants All In One Gummy Vitamin for Adults: gummies provide essential nutrients without artificial flavors

My “Free Wheeling” box was a total miss. The only product I will use is the tiny Noya Gloss. The gloss is the perfect shade for summer.

Birch Box is a beauty and lifestyle subscription box program that costs $10.00 per month. For every box ordered or every $10 spent in their shop you can earn 10 points. 100 points will get you a free birch box or $10 towards a purchase in the shop at birchbox.com. I know you’ve got friends so why not refer those friends to Birch box and earn a few points for doing so. If you would like to learn more and get a Birch Box of your very own go to http://www.birchbox.com for more information.

***I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are my own***