{Nuvaring} The Ultimate Price Paid

Posted on September 10, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

“What counts in life in not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what Difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we have led.”

-Nelson Mandela

I am Erika Langhart, you are Erika, your daughter, your granddaughter, your niece, and your wife are all Erika. Erika was a vibrant young woman who endured my fate. The difference between her and I, is that I got to live another day. Erika wanted nothing more than to live and to prosper in this world. Yet her light was snuffed out, she died due to complications caused by the third generation progesterone in the Nuvaring. To this day the FDA still claims that the Nuvaring is safe for women to use.

Erika, if she could speak would tell you that it is not safe. I am not Erika, but I can tell you that it is not safe and that there is nothing good about the Nuvaring. It will blindly launch you into a disaster that will become your every day life. Erika is only the tip of the iceberg. Many more women followed her foot steps, some went before her and some went after her. There names deserve to be remembered, their lives deserve merit, and mostly their deaths deserve to be more than deaths.

Angela, Brittany, Dana, Erika, Jackie, Julia, LaMonica, and Lindsey, they did not want to die and they should not have lost their lives. Their deaths could have been prevented, if only they had been thoroughly educated about the dangerous side affects of the Nuvaring. That is what gets the most, their deaths could have been prevented. If only they had known about the risks, they would all still be alive today. I have no doubt that all of them would join me in this fight. That they would use their voices to educate the women in their lives, in their communities, and states about the adverse affects of hormonal contraceptives.

Doctors will tell you that the occurrence of a blood clot is rare. I am living and breathing proof that rare happens. It happens every single day all over this world. The Nuvaring doesn’t give a shit if you are rich or poor, the color of your skin, or your age, its just a thing and it will strike when you least expect it. I woke up at 5:50 AM, I was a healthy vibrant young woman and by 7:30 AM I was fighting for every breath I took. Rare, rare happened on October 22, 2009 five days before my 27th birthday. The only reason I am alive is because the ER doctor paused and asked me if I was on a birth control. That one question lead to a D-Dimer test and that Test lead to the scan that revealed the massive clot in my lung. I was diagnosed with a Massive Pulmonary Embolism with Infarction, low oxygen, and sinus tachycardia. An if that wasn’t enough, to top it off I had a stroke too. In layman’s terms I was a hot mess and my future was uncertain.

1 out of 5 will survive a pulmonary embolism. You can do the math, that means four people had to die so I could be the one would lived to the tale. No one should have to go through that, it is terrifying, no one should have to wonder “is this my last breath.” I did the only thing I could, my daddy always told me “when all else fails, pray.” Pray, is exactly what I did and I needed to put the why behind the how. I needed to know why this happened to me. It was proven that my pulmonary embolism was caused by the third generation progesterone in the Nuvaring. My birth control, almost took my life. I was almost Angela, Brittany, Dana, Erika, Jackie, Julia, LaMonica, and Lindsey. But for some unknown reason, I was spared, I lived to fight another day and because of that I will not give up. I will not rest until the Nuvaring is removed from the market.

I will be damned if another woman endures my fate. My years are borrowed and in my heart I know that Angela, Brittany, Dana, Erika, Jackie, Julia, LaMonica, and Lindsey would gladly trade places with me, they can’t so I chose to fight for the tomorrows they never got to see.

To learn more about the Women who lost their lives and about the continued fight to educate women on the adverse side affects of the Nuvaring, please visit: http://nuvaringtruth.com/

{Family} Dusty Shelves & Knickknacks

Posted on September 8, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

On a hot August evening I turned right on a gravel road, drove past the church my parents were married in and took a left at the fork to head down a road I’ve traveled many times. At the bottom of the hill sits an old gray farm house with a weathered barn, a plot of land that has seen many storms. On the ramp stood my uncle George, the years have aged him, yet his eyes were still the same. He puffed on his cigar as my mama and I walked up the drive, he couldn’t take his eyes off of me.

When I approached George he smiles and said “Mandy the last time I saw you, you were this big…” The last time I was on the farm I was girl and I returned 20 some years later as a woman. A woman trying to dig for memories of a farm she barely knew. I have few memories of the farm, I remember my grandpa sitting on the swing in only his shorts and boots, a dog with one blue eye and one brown named smokey, and the unwelcoming face of my grandmother.

My fondest memory of my grandpa is from when I was about 6 George told me if I helped him plant corn, I could play with the baby chickens. I obliged because I wanted to play with the baby chickens. I planted the corn for what seemed like forever when I heard my grandpa’s voice “handy Mandy what the fuck are you doing?!” I excitedly exclaimed “I’m helping George plant so I can play with the chickens!” My grandpa said to me “you don’t need to plant no fucking corn! Come on now.” With that we were off to the grainery to play with the chicks. Grandpa sat down on a bucket and scooped one up and put the chick in my hands, he reminded me “not to tight handy Mandy you will squish the chick.” I remember how my Grandpa would sing “this little piggy” while playing with my toes and he always called me “handy Mandy.”

Being on the farm that night felt odd. I was going through the remains of lives that I never knew. As I walked through the house I so desperately wanted to remember something about my grandma. I wanted to feel connected to a woman that never took the time to know me. I touched her things, ran my fingers across the dusty shelves, and stood in her kitchen, nothing came to mind. George puffed on his cigar as I opened and closed kitchen drawers. I looked at him and said “its incredibly strange to be going through the things of a woman I never knew.” He squeezed my shoulder, in that moment he understood that I was looking for a connection to the past that just wasn’t there.

In the bedroom my Mama was going through the drawers of an old dresser, the drawers were full of photos. In one we found every single photo, card, letter, and drawing that my sister and I had sent to our grandparents. My grandma held on to my high school graduation, college graduation, and wedding invitations. Every single Christmas card that I sent to her was right there in the drawer. I held back tears as I held the photos in my hands. I couldn’t believe that grandma had kept them all, in those drawers I found truth, she secretly considered us hers. Even thou she never had a kind word to say or the time of day to give to us, she secretly loved us.

Each room was overly dusty and filled with knickknacks that they had lovingly collected. The house by the time I got there was well picked over and hardly anything was left of the couple who had 13 children. Grandpa’s music boxes lined the shelves, Indian statutes were abundant, old photos of grand kids were plenty, and somehow in what was left I got to touch the past. George kept showing me things he thought I would like and told me “take whatever you want Mandy.” I didn’t want to seem greedy so I carefully chose the items that went into my box.

My box of things has been riding around in my trunk for almost a month, I am not ready to bring her things into my home. Bringing them in means I accept that she was mine and that I was hers. Mentally I am not ready to forgive her and I am not ready to let her things which are her memories into my life. So in a box inside the trunk they will sit until the day comes that I have made peace with the woman I never knew.

Irene and Clifford

{BirchBox} Soak It Up – August 2015

Posted on August 31, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

“As summer peaks (temp-wise a d watermelon consumption wise), we’re taking advantage of every last minute. That means embracing air-dried hair, ensuring our skincare is SPF-heavy and keeping our makeup minimal. Here’s to making the most of summer’s last gasp.”

Woot! Its August which means two things, one its my two year anniversary with Birchbox, that’s a total of 24 boxes folks, and unfortunately August means summer is pretty much over. The Great Minnesota Get Together aka the state fair is in full swing, school buses are zooming down the road, and road construction is giving us its last blast of torture. On the bright side I still have my beloved Birchbox, two years of surprises and oh no they sent me that! I love getting Birchbox and get excited every month when I can unlock it to see what the mailman will be bringing me.

This month’s box is super gosh darn cute! I am loving the 3D feel of the box and it makes me just want to jump right in the pool. The pool is fake, well played Birchbox, well played! Anyways I am soaking in the last few days of summer sunshine, winter will be here before I know it. Damn winter always comes way to fucking soon, we barely get fall here in Minnesota, winter is a cheater. Cheaters never win. Enough of this crazy winter talk, lets talk about the good stuff, you know the samples!!

“Lady! What did you get in your Soak it up Birchbox!?”

Soak It UP – August 2015

Air Repair Complexion Boosting Moisturizer: Packed with antioxidants and humectacts, this rich cream hydrates and revitalize dry dull skin.
—————————–> This was my sample choice item for the month of August, I am always in the market for trying out a new facial moisturizer. This one was just meh, it really didn’t do anything for me.

Curly Hair Solutions Silk Leave in Conditioner: This detangling treatment smooths strands to leave curls soft and frizz free, even in humidity.
——————————-> I am not a leave in product kind of girl so this one is going into the gift pile. I have a curly haired friend who will love this sample.

LAQA & Co Charm School Kit: This creamy crayon delivers a rich, easy to apply color for both lips and cheeks.
——————————>I received the sample in Cray Cray which is an apricot hue, that hue does not place well with pale freckled children, so it is a miss for me.

R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo: Style-refreshing spray saps excess oil, gives hair volume and body, and adds tousled texture.
—————————->The packaging alone is so pretty, it has a water color type painting of the desert on the can. The spay smells really good, is light weight, and sops up oil just like it claims.

Supergood Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 37: This treatment reduces dark circles, depuffs under eye bag, blocks UV rays and minimizes lines.
—————————> I love any product that depuffs and lightens my dark raccoon bags, plus this has sun screen in it too boot. That is an a plus in my book.

This box wasn’t the greatest and it wasn’t bad either. It was just sort of kind of meh for me. I will use all of the products except for the cray cray lip color. I hope you loved everything in your box this month!

Birch Box is a beauty and lifestyle subscription box program that costs $10.00 per month. For every dollar you spend in the shop you can earn 1 point. 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***

{BirchBox} for CEW Mass Appeal Box 2015

Posted on August 27, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

It’s hard to cut through the clutter in the drugstore beauty aisle—but that’s why we have the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Insiders’ Choice Beauty Awards. Every year, over 6,000 industry pros come together and vote on the year’s best and brightest products. This exclusive Birchbox collection features drugstore-available honorees from the 2015 awards—you’ll get a luxurious overnight mask, a lip pencil that packs a wallop of creamy color, and more.

I am a huge fan of the limited edition CEW Mass Appeal box, its a box filled with products that fit into my budget. Plus I love that you can buy everything at your local drug store or mass market retailer, no need to stand in line at a fancy beauty counter. This years Mass Appeal box is a great mix of makeup and skin care products. A girl needs to have a healthy foundation to apply the makeup to, skin care is number one in my book. The box was filled with brands that I all ready knew and trusted, plus there were a few brands I have never tried before.

“Lady! What did you get in your 2015 CEW Mass Appeal Box?!”

CEW Mass Appeal Box 2015:

Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands (Full size): This shea butter lip crayon offers creamy, matte color combined with nourishing moisture.
—————————->Sedona Sands is a really great neutral color that will compliment most skin tones. I love Burt’s Bees, however this product falls a little short, the color did not hold up to my daily coffee, thou it did leave my lips feeling nourished. I will probably buy the lip crayon in a different color, I like a little bit of color on my lips and not one that blends right in.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths: These mild, fragrance-free wipes remove dirt and makeup while maintaining skin’s healthy moisture balance.
—————————> Finally! a Wipe that doesn’t smell, I love me some cleansing cloths, however I do not like the scent they leave behind. This wipe leaves no scent or residue behind and that is an A+ in my beauty book.

Laneige Water Sleep Mask: This Korean cult fave works to hydrate and replenish skin overnight-so you can wake up to a soft, glowing complexion.
————————-> I gave this a whirl, however I am not sure it did anything while I slept. I woke up to the same old skin, there was no glowing in my bathroom mirror. The Koreans can keep it.

Olay Regenrist Luminous Dark Circle Correcting Hydraswirl Eye Cream (Full size): This two part formula instantly brightens dark circles and hydrates skin for a firmer, smoother appearance.
—————————> I got this in a Target box earlier in the summer and it is amazing. I noticed a huge difference in my raccoon eyes. My dark circles have faded and my skin seems firmer.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves Mascara (Full size): This brilliant mascara wand is twisted to help pump up volume and reach even your tiniest lashes sans clumping.
————————-> The brush has a really weird shape and I found it a little difficult to use. Otherwise it did what it claimed sans clumps.

Simple Skincare Utra-Light Gel Moisturizer (Full size): This unique, ultra-light and fast absorbing gel leaves your skin with an immediate soft touch – the perfect base for your make-up!
———————–> I am totally into gel moisturizers right now and this one totally delivers.

This was a great box! As in 4 out of the 6 products featured in the box are full-sized products. The cost of the Mass appeal box is $15.00 plus shipping. I used 20 BirchBox points and paid $0.00 for the box, I love getting things for free. The Box is still for sale on the BirchBox site, so hop on over and get yourself one. https://www.birchbox.com/shop/cew-mass-2015

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

{Muppet like Dog} It was me who got rescued

Posted on August 13, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

Cullen’s Freedom Ride

It’s hard to believe that five years ago today I left work sick “cough cough” and drove 6 hours to get a dog. A dog that I had never seen, but Pam and Carrie said was the perfect fit for me. I trusted the Whipstaff Ranch ladies and I knew in my heart that this was meant to be.

They told me his name was Cullen, that he was mistreated and locked in a crate for the majority of his life. He was just another puppy mill victim awaiting death because his coloring was off and he couldn’t be sold.

The ranch caught wind of this and rescued Cullen and his brothers from their unavoidable fate. Cullen was the last to find a home, for he was to shy and afraid of the world around him. This little one would need an understanding heart and unconditional kindness to bring him out.

In their minds I was that understanding heart, Carrie and Pam believed in me and allowed me to be his mom. Cullen had this look of fear in his eyes, a fear of the unknown. He was leaving the only kind souls he knew and heading off into the unknown. He was broken, but not defeated. Carrie hugged Cullen and told him “watch over her and have a good life sweet boy” and she placed him in the back seat of the Prius. With a heart filled thanks we headed off on the long drive back to the city.

The city is very different from Solaway, it’s filled with new sounds, smells, and OMG grass! Cullen was unsure of me, he found solitude under my bed. He would only come out to eat or drink when I was at work. I spent my nights laying on the floor staring at a terrified dog, often crying and wondering “did I do the right thing.” I was freshly separated, on the heels of a divorce, and this was my companion and he didn’t want anything to do with me. That is until about a 10 days later, I was playing angry birds on my iPad and I felt something wet on my knee. I looked down and there was Cullen with his chin on my knee looking at me like “I’ll be your dog if you be my human.”

Cullen jumped into my lap and I sobbed into his scruffy little head. From that moment on he has been joined to my hip. Cullen goes where ever I go and he is never that far behind me. Overtime he found himself, the little shy dog faded and the super dog took hold.

Cullen found his bark, prefers paper over toys, only wants his treats to be chewy and not crunchy. He prefers that his dinner come from the fridge and not a bag. He thinks he’s a cat, tiny dogs are not his thing, now show him a cat and he will make a new best friend. Mention Grandma’s house and he is at the door ready to go. He is my trusty little side kick and I will go to the ends of the earth to protect him.

I may have rescued him, but in the end it was me who got rescued. Cullen has been the constant in the ever rolling sea of change. He took the loneliness out of the long nights, in his eyes I found peace and nudges from his big gray nose reminded me that I am never alone. Together we took on the world, he brought me out of my shell and helped me find myself.

This little dog of mine has seen me through the good, the bad, and the darn right ugly parts of my life. He kept me company when I was recovering from surgery, we made countless new friends both two and four legged at the dog park, and he judged all of my dates and let me know which ones were keepers. Cully nuzzled up against me as I wrote charlie’s eulogy and he stood by my side as I packed up Charlie’s things. Charlie loved cully as much as I did. He understand that the muppet like dog was the glue that held me together.

With time my heart healed. I was ok with being single and went about my way. On Veterans Day a new man walked into our lives and to cully’s surprise he had cats! To my surprise cully hopped right up on the couch and sniffed Jay, wagged his tail and waited for a scratch. In that moment I knew cully approved and I slowly began to let myself fall in love with Jay.

Nine months later we are planning a wedding and mostly a future together. This little rescue dog of mine is proudly going to walk his mama down the isle. There is no better way to start the next chapter of my life, than with Cullen at my side.

photo by Stephanie Rryan Photography

For it was me who got rescued that August day.

{Ipsy} Summer Lovin’ – July 2015

Posted on July 31, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

“We’ll have whatever they’re having. Welcome back, summer, we’ve missed you.”

We need to have a heart to heart about Ipsy, I am no longer in love with the glam bag. At one time it was fun and filled with products that I would use, now its just stuff. Yet I cannot find it in my heart to breakup with Ipsy, I just get sucked in month after month, hoping things will get better. I’ve taken the beauty quiz so many times, yet every bag is pretty much a fail, a fail ladies. AJ don’t do fails. I am going to give Ipsy until the end of the year and if it does not get better, its getting the ax in January.

OK, what did you get in your bag lady!?

Ipsy – Summer Lovin’

Eau Thermale Avène Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser: This deep-penetrating, soap-free cleanser eliminates impurities and excess sebum without stripping the skin.

OFRA Cosmetics Bliss Eyeshadow: Bliss is a gorgeous shimmery powder that can be used as an eye shadow or as a highlighting powder on your cheek bones, brow bones or on the bridge of your nose.

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Lip Balm in Ruby: Hydrating formula to leave lips feeling silky smooth with a hint of color.

Jor’el Parker Classico: Exotic, inspiring, and full of surprises, Classico whisks you away from the day-to-day. Indulge in the spicy seduction of Indian Tuberose, the striking and sweet sensation of Turkish Cyclamen and the purifying calm of Spanish Mandarin.

tarte deluxe Amazonian clay waterproof bronzer: multi-tasking bronzer is formulated to blend and build your perfect level of uniform bronze. Available in the signature park ave princess™ radiant bronze shade, the waterproof formula adds instant warmth and dimension across a variety of skin tones as Amazonian clay helps improve skin clarity, texture and tone for an overall lit from within complexion.

Fingers crossed that my August bag will be ten times better than this one. I have not used a single thing out of the bag this month and I have a few friends in my life that will be very happy soon. That is the nice thing about having friends, they always lovingly accept my castoffs.

Do you want an Ipsy Glam Bag of your very own? Well then, for $10 a month (shipping is free) you will receive a Glam Bag filled with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. If you want a bag of your very own or more information please visit http://www.ipsy.com/r/1w1i Trust me you will be glad you did!

***I was no compensated for my post. Opinions are my own***

{BirchBox} Go Bold – July 2015

Posted on July 31, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

“Summer is not the time to hold back. It’s the season of wearing brights on brights on brights, driving with the windows down, and eating popsicles for breakfast.”

Dude I totally eat popsicles for breakfast and ice cream for dinner, I just do it all year round. I love summer right now everything is so fresh and light. The farmers markets are brimming with bounty from the fields, road trips with the boyfriend, and running though the sprinkler with Sophia. Not to mention my nephew Jack arrived this month, he is a cute little peanut and I cannot wait to spoil him rotten.

Here in Minnesota we are going through a heat wave, one so hot it just melts your makeup right off. I have been pairing down my routine to just a tinted moisturizer and gloss, it holds up well to the heat monster. My curly hair is another story, frizz and buns are my BFFs right now. I am waiting for cooler less humid days and stary nights. We still have a lot of summer left in MN, so I am trying to soak up every last drop, AJ ain’t got time for fancy beauty routines and Birchbox totally got my vibe this month.

“So Lady, what did you get in your BirchBox this Month? Was it BOLD!?”

BirchBox – Go Bold

Cartier Baiser Vole perfume: from a brand that knows elegance, a romantic floral scent with notes of fresh powdered lily.
————————> I didn’t know powdered lilies existed. I actually like this scent it is very fresh and simple, clean yet romantic. You definitely will not see me shelling out for the full-sized product, $106 is above my uptown hipster girl budget.

Davines Minu Shampoo: richly foaming wash that gently cleanses hair and safeguards color.
**BONUS! GET YOUR BONUS SAMPLES RIGHT HERE, STEP ON UP LADIES! GET YOUR BONUS**
Davines Minu Conditioner and Davines Minu hair serum,
———————–> if you are a regular, then you know that I love the Davines brand! I am a total fan girl, all of their products smell like heaven and clean like a dream. Its an Italian brand and it is a little bit on the higher end of the beauty budget, but it is totally worth the price. The Minu shampoo & conditioner smell so good, I love how it left my hair feeling soft and smooth.

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint: oil-free SPF formula that controls shine and leaves a soft, velvety finish.
——————–> Finally something in a shade I can wear. This is a great little moisturizer, I love that it has SPF in it, that’s one less product to smear on my face, which is a time saver. I just wish the sample was a little bigger.

stila look at me liquid lipstick in Venizia: this creamy formula glides on like a gloss yet lasts like a stain.
——————> This was the July sample choice item, we could choose from three stains. I have fond memories of my time in Venizia, so it was a no brainer to me. The color is very bright for my pasty pale skin.

Supergoop Anti-aging city sunscreen serum SPF 30: this anti aging serum blocks UV rays while hydrating skin and preventing future damage.
——————–> I always see ladies complaining about receiving Supergoop in their boxes. I have been a subscriber since August 2013 and this is honestly my first Supergoop product, so there will be no complaints from me. I love the concept of a sunscreen specifically for our faces, science has proven that our face ages faster than the rest of our bodies, so why not have an ally in your corner. I will definitely be buying the full-sized product of this.

This was a really great box for me, I will use every product I received, well except for the lip stain.

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

{Target Beauty Box} Back to College: Honor Roll

Posted on July 31, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

“Show your beauty smarts with Target’s Back-to-College Beauty Box. We’ve put together 7 of our back-to-college beauty essentials—all in one convenient box for you to try for yourself. Valued at over $20, this handpicked set of must-have beauty products makes the grade, helping you keep your look fresh and fabulous. Test them out and tell us what you think. If you love them as much as we do, find the full-size versions at Target.com/beautybox.”

Its been a long time since I have seen the inside of a college classroom, let alone a dorm room. I fondly remember being excited for the new school year and mostly excited to redecorate my door room. My room was always full of color, perfectly organized closets and a study space that would make any student jealous. College was the time where I came into my own and found my passion. I studied abroad twice, once in Scotland and once in Egypt, in those countries I found myself. I loved my college years and can’t believe its been almost 10 years since I graduated.

The Target Honor Roll Beauty Box would make any college girl beam and heck you can’t beat the $5.00 price tag, its a great deal. Thou I am not in college I knew I needed the Honor Roll box in my life and thankfully I was able to secure one before they sold out. Target Beauty Boxes always sell out. I have a pact with my friends that I will sound the alarm when a new box is available, otherwise most of them never know. Target does not openly advertise their beauty box, so word of mouth is how they get sold and sold fast.

“So Lady, what was in your super cool Target Beauty Honor Roll Box!?”

Target Beauty Box – Back to College: Honor Roll

Bathery Delicate Pouf: Gentle netting creates a rich lather for cleansing even the most sensitive skin.
————————–> This is so basic, yet so essential at the same time, a girl needs a poof in the shower.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7-Day Treatment: Semi-permanent treatment transforms fine hair, leaving it full even after multiple washes.
————————–> Right now my hair has volume from the gift of the humidity Gods. Frizz is a daily occurrence right now, so i am going to give this bad boy a whirl in the fall. Ya know when its cooler out and humidity has been pushed out to sea.

Olay White Strawberry Body Wash: Hydrating body wash refreshes your skin with a cooling white strawberry and mint scent.
————————> Strawberries just scream freaking SUMMER!!!!!! This body wash has a great scent and a good lather that is brought to you by petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are not my friends.

NYX Butter Gloss Strawberry Parfait: Buttery soft and silky smooth gloss tastes sweet and makes lips shine without being sticky.
———————–> NYX is a brand that I know well and love. The quality is amazing and the best part is, its easy on your wallet. Every college girl can afford a little something something from the NYX line

Goody Ouchless Elastics: Hair ties made without metal for reduced snags and pulls.

——————–> This is another great staple to include in the box, I never have enough elastics around.

CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Primer: Preps skin for smooth application & extends the wear of foundation.

——————–> BEEP BEEP BEEP FULL-SIZED PRODUCT ALERT!!!! WE GOT A FULL-SIZED PRODUCT LADIES!! FULL-SIZED!! This is a great primer for your makeup, it kept my skin looking smooth and helped my makeup last through my busy work day.

Burt’s Bees White Tea Facial Wipes: Hypoallergenic facial towelettes made with natural soothing ingredients like white tea & aloe vera to cleanse & remove makeup.

——————> Again another great essential. I love cleansing cloths, so I was glad to get a good sized pack for travel.

Target you out did yourselves. I have to say this is hands down the best most well thought out box to come out of the bulls eye. I am blown away at how practical the items are and that every product in the box is affordable.

The Target Beauty Box is not a subscription service, they are first come first served, if they are sold out then you my friends are out of luck. I just checked target.com and the Honor Roll box is out of stock. For $5 this box is a great deal, that is if you can get your hands on one, they always sellout like hotcakes. So don’t sit on the beauty fence when you see them, just throw it in your virtual cart and call it a day!

***I was no compensated for my post. Opinions are my own***

{Influenster} Sunshine Vox box

Posted on July 27, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

Influenster is a community of trendsetters, social media hotshots, and educated consumers who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influensters meet here to learn about new products from our favorite brands as well as review the products they already use in their day-to-day lives! We invite our most active and social media savvy members to participate in exclusive rewards campaigns.

Earlier this month Influenster choose 15,000 members to receive their Sunshine VoxBox. I happen to be one of the lucky 15,000 chosen and I could not wait to get my hands on this awesome box. I was thrilled to come home to a bright yellow box sitting in the lobby, it truly was a little ray of sunshine. The box is stocked full of products to get us through the final weeks of summer, from skin care to yummy treats it is sure to please everyone.

“Hey! What did you get in your Sunshine VoxBox!?”

Sunshine VoxBox – Summer 2015

Infusium 23 Moisture Replenisher Leave-in smoothing creme: Intense smoothing for long lasting frizz control and silky softness
—————————-> I am not much for leave in products, my curls are not tight, they are the big loose kind. Ya know the ones we always see in the movies and wish we had, well I have them naturally on my head. I thought I would give this product a shot and it is pretty darn great. It did not leave my hair looking greasy or weigh my curls down, kept the frizz at bay for a little while too.

Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Refreshing Clean Cleansing Cloths: Our soft Cleansing Cloths are moistened with botanical extracts of witch hazel and aloe to clean and refresh by gently lifting dirt, oil and makeup from even the most sensitive skin. This exclusive blend creates its signature botanical scent and helps give you a clean, balanced & blemish free complexion without overdrying or leaving sticky residue!
————————-> After along work day cleansing cloths are my go to product, personally when it comes to bathing products, I think they are like the best invention that has ever happened to us. I need more of them in my life, I have yet to meet a cloth I didn’t like. Witch hazel is great for the skin and I love how clean my face felt after one use. I’ll admit it took the puff right out from under my tired eyes, hello super product on our hands here ladies! The wipes are paraben and petrochemical free — which as you know is one hell of a bonus in my book.

Blue Diamond Sriracha Almonds: Be BOLD with a hot bite of chili and garlic flavor and 8 grams of protein per 1.5oz snack pack.
—————————> Holy flavor kick in your mouth. These little almonds will satisfy any spice craving you may have. They were a little to spicy for me, yes I am a baby when it comes to spice.

barkThins: are a twist on traditional chocolate bark. Packed with simple ingredients like pretzels, pumpkin seeds, whole blueberries, and toasted quinoa, its a new way to snack on chocolate that is anything but boring.
—————————–> Influenster included a coupon for a free pack of barkThins. I AmandaJean is allergic to chocolate so I will be passing that coupon on to a friend.

Sinful Colors Nail Polish: such a runaway favorite is that our nail polishes are incredibly affordable. From the get-go, SinfulColors’ founders didn’t believe you had to charge an arm and a leg to produce and deliver show-stopping color. At a price as low as $1.99, SinfulColors makes putting the glitz on your nails a steal, not a splurge.
————————-> I received Sinful colors in Real Teal which is a silk finish. It is a lovely color more suitable for fall than summer. Right now I am keeping my toes bright.

Vasaline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Spray Moisturizer: is a quick, convenient spray lotion that moisturizes and absorbs in seconds, to heal dry skin.
———————> I actually own a bottle of the spray lotion and I was very happy to receive a second bottle for free. I love that I can spray my legs and run, it leaves them feeling soft all day. When you are in a rush it is a great go to lotion.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

{Engaged Life} Jay Asked, and I said……………….

Posted on July 23, 2015 by NinjaInTheCity

Five years ago on July 4th I stepped into the unknown. I’ve always had a plan or a solution, for the first time in 27 years it was just me and the unknown. What lay in the unknown terrified me and kept me up at night. I was so worried that I would never make it on my own. Little did I know that first step was the beginning of one beautiful disaster.

In order to find out who AmandaJean was I, I had to lose it all. My life, it was patiently waiting for me. Navigating Fate’s pot holes and curve balls became my specialty. I have loved only to lose, I have stood only to fall, and through it all you have been by me. Together we have faced the good, the bad, and the down right ugly moments of my life.

Have Bear Will Travel became the story of a Single Uptown Girl and her muppet like dog. An for some unknown reason thousands of you joined me on my journey. I am still amazed to this very day that my story has and will continue to change lives. Through this blog, with each word I type I realize that I mattered in this world and that my second chance was worth fighting for. That God, he didn’t make a mistake, he gave me a second chance to find myself and in the process a small town girl changed the world around her.

Jay fell into my inbox on Veteran’s day and every day there after has been a dream come true. I have a man at my side who loves me completely, he see’s that I am more heart than scars and encourages me to change the world. My made up stories about his cat Dexter’s adventures make him laugh and with each smile he melted my heart. I knew that without a doubt that he was the one I was meant to spend eternity with. There was no other man worthy or strong enough to stand beside me. In Jay’s love I found the best me.

I have openly referred to the State of Wisconsin as “God’s Country” and one of my favorite places in Wisconsin is, Wisconsin Dells aka “the largest most well thought out tourist trap”. This past weekend I introduced Jay to all the things The Dells had to offer. We took a carriage ride through The Lost Canyon, took a boat ride in the Upper Dells, walked through the shops, bought the “good” gummy bears, swam in the hotel pool, and spent our nights fireside.

The pool was our refuge against the hot Wisconsin summer, I was getting my float on and minding my own business when Jay swam up. He turned me around, his eyes in that moment were brimming with love, a smirk told me he was nervous, and out from his swim trunk pocket came a simple silver band (aka the placeholder), he took my hand in his, and lovingly asked me to be his wife and I said yes. Its the end of an era, Have Bear Will Travel will no longer be about a single girl and her muppet like dog, it will be about a couple’s journey into engaged life with a side order of subscription boxes and heart health.

In this beautiful disaster, I found love. I finally have what eluded me and I am never letting go. I am over the moon excited and I cannot wait until the day I get to call Jay my husband. My dad, he is going to sit this one out and let the muppet like dog walk me down the isle. For five years Cullen has stood at my side as my faithful little sidekick, so it is only fitting that he give me away to Jay on our wedding day.