{Hearts on 22} Love With All of Your Heart

Posted on December 24, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Christmas is when I miss Charlie the most. Mostly because he got cheated. Cheated out of meeting Sophia. He was anticipating her arrival and received status updates on the progress of her birth. A trial kept him in New York and he couldn’t wait to hang up his traveling suit and snuggle his niece in his arms. Charlie never got to see her smile, hear her laughter or feel her tiny hand in his. Sophia never got to meet the man who dreamed of taking her to Paris and who would have spoiled her beyond her wildest imagination. Charlie died loving the tiny girl he never got to meet.

As I sit back and reflect I can’t help but to think about all of the people who have never laid eyes on their niece or nephew. Sure deadly drunk driving accidents stick in our minds. After all one drunk driver took Charlie an 4 other people out on a wintry Valentine’s Day. That was one moment in time, yet in that moment hundreds of women lost their lives to heart disease and stroke. Hundreds more died that day from a Pulmonary Embolisms or other hormonal contraceptive related side effect. Those lives never make the news, they just fade quietly into the timelines of history.

If it were not for my care team I would have joined the fading time line. I would have been another casualty not a news worthy story. There isn’t a day that goes by where I do not thank God for keeping me on this earth. For answering my silent prayer and giving me the strength to fight. For giving me the strength to stand up and shout my story from the roof tops. With each word spoken I began to heal my broken heart, I penned my name on a legal services agreement and became a plaintiff in the Multidistrict Litigation against Merck. I put myself out there in hopes that I could save one woman from enduring my hell. I love with all of my heart and in a sheer moment of utter disaster my passion was born.

My purpose is clear “educate those around me about the dangers of hormonal contraceptives, blood clots, stroke and pulmonary embolism warning signs.” I will not rest until the Nuva Ring is pulled from he market and until doctors properly inform their patients of the risk associated with the use of hormonal contraceptives. Charlie was the one who pushed me to share my story with the world. He took up my mission and would stand in the wings watching me with tears in his eyes as I brought tears to the audience. I am alive today because I listed to my heart.

When Charlie died my heart was broken and it healed each time I held our niece in my arms. Each time I heard her laughter, held her tiny hand in mine, and listen to her whisper Auntie” for the first time. To think the Nuva Ring almost robbed me of those moments. My birth control almost cheated me out of being an aunt. The Nuva Ring almost claimed my life and it changed me in more ways than I could ever explain. However it will never ever stop me from loving Sophia with all of my surviving heart. Sophia will grow up with the notion that she is one lucky little girl. Because she could be holding a picture of the woman she calls Auntie. Instead she gets to hold her aunties hand and play. She is lucky because God allowed her Aunt to be the 1 out of 5 who got to walk away from a massive pulmonary embolism on October 22, 2009.

As I watch Sophia unwrap her gifts I will be thinking about all of my sisters who lost the battle. About all of those who would gladly take my seat at the table and those who are fighting with all of their hearts. Families will gather and thousands of children will hear stories about the women they never got to meet. Heart disease, strokes, and pulmonary embolisms are taking to many aunties out of the equation. To many children are walking in memory of the woman they never got to call “Auntie” and never got to love with all of their hearts.

{BirchBox} December – “Holiday 2013”

Posted on December 17, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

HOLIDAY 2013

As you know I have a hit or seriously missed relationship with my BirchBox. The items are either total hits or major fails. Since my profile was redone by a BirchBox employee, I knew my December box would be good and that I would get products I would actually want t try. Wrong, well partly wrong. Once again chocolate was in my box, this time they put it in side the little cardboard envelope so it did not touch the items.

One thing I must say is that I am really enjoying the handy-dandy BirchBox App that they created. It allows you to track your box, view past boxes, and shop. It was nice to just click the box and see where it was instead of opening a different website to track my box. Plus I was able to see exactly what my box was going to have.

The items are a great variety and I received quite a few items that were included in the BirchBox December sneak peek video. However the size of The samples left a lot to be desired. As in I got a tiny pot of lotion, a tiny bottle of who knows what, and a tiny package of dry shampoo. I think I was spoiled by the largeness of the samples and products in my first Ipsy Glam Bag. Ipsy gave me not one but FIVE (yes I said FIVE) full-sized products! Even thou the size of my samples left a lot to be desired, I was still excited about them.

So what did I get in my Holiday 2013 BirchBox? “Oh, I am so glad you asked! Let’s find out!”

HOLIDAY 2013

Camille Beckman – Glycerin Hand Therapy – Midnight Monarch: A quick absorbing formula that restores skin without feeling greasy.
———————–> Winter has officially arrived in Minnesota and I was really excited to try this lotion. That is until I saw the sample size, its tiny, as in the size of a quarter tiny. Secondly, the smell is very very strong and a picture of little old ladies playing bingo came to mind. Sadly, my excitement about this product was short-lived. I am sure its great, however I just cannot get over the scent, so this one will be gifted to someone who loves the smell of bingo dobbers and musk.

Grand Central Beauty – S.M.A.R.T> Skin Perfecting Polisher (TM): This exfoliating peel is perfect for sensitive skin.
———————-> Again I was super-duper excited about this product. The sample that was included left a lot to be desired. I emptied the tiny bottle in one use. It made my skin feel soft and I wanted more of it. But the bottle had run dry.

LAQA & CO Lil’ Lip Duo – in Bossy Boots & Ring of Fire: Megawatt color with nourishing vitamin E in a crayon applicator.
————————-> Notice how the product name says “Duo?” Well I did not get a duo in my box, I only received on lip pencil. Which is fine, I got the Bossy Boots pencil, I have yet to try it. It is the perfect shade of red and I will most likely try it sometime this week. Just if you say “Duo” you should include both lip pencils. Because duo means two.

Lulu Organics – Lavender and Clay Sage Hair Powder: A dry shampoo that absorbs oil an leaves behind a lovely scent.
————————> I gave this powder a shot on Saturday and I love it. I just wish there was more in the box. The scent was lovely, it did just as it said it would and it did not weigh my hair down. I would totally buy the full-sized product.

LIFESTYLE EXTRA! Chuao Chocopod – Honeycomb
————————-> I am allergic to chocolate, so this will be going to my niece Sophia. Sophia loves chocolate.

All in all this was a pretty good box, I just wish the samples were bigger and that I had received a different scent of lotion. Then again the mystery is part of the fun.

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***

{Ipsy} Celebration ~ December 2013 Glam Bag

Posted on December 17, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Ipsy ~ Celebration

Over the past few months I have read a lot of subscription box blogs. A lot of ladies out there are reviewing the Ipsy Glam Bag. A monthly beauty box subscription program that gives you 4 to 5 deluxe samples along with full-sized products in a reusable makeup bag. I was wowed by the quality brands and diversity of the products. I knew that I needed to have an Ipsy Glam Bag in my life.

With Ipsy you sign up by completing the Ipsy Me quiz and give all of your shipping/billing information. The Ipsy Match quiz asks questions about your beauty routine, life style, eye and hair color to create a bag that suits YOU. It took me about 10 minutes to complete the quiz, at the time I was waitlisted. Bummer! So I waited and waited, and waited just a bit more until I got an email saying “You are off the waitlist! HOORAY!!” Sweet, I was off the waitlist, but the bags had all ready left the loading dock and I had to wait until December. Bummer!

So I waited just a few weeks until I got a shipping confirmation email. Insert happy dace—–>here<——-! I had seen a few sneak peeks online and was totally excited for the products. Soon I got an email telling me I could check out my bag in my "glam room." It totally knocked my socks off and the stocking began. I stocked the crap out of my Ipsy bag until it was in my mail box. Surprisingly the bag didn't take long to arrive and I eagerly ripped open the bright pink envelope to revel my little bag of goodies!

So What did I get in my Glam Bag? “Oh! I am so glad you asked, let’s find out!”

celebration ~ December’s Ipsy Glam Bag

POP Beauty – Brighten Up Your Life Eyeshadow Trio in “Smokin Hot”: Complements all eye colors and the hues blend smoothly onto the lid, adding a veil of silky luster that will outlive the day or night!
————————————–> I was hoping to get the Naturally Bare Trio, however I got the smoking hot which are colors I normally would not wear. However life is all about discovery and I am going to give this color trio a shot on New Years Eve or a formal event. I don’t normally wear dark colors for day, I stick to nudes and light pinks.

Be a Bombshell ~ the one stick in sunset: An all-in-one multiple stick with a smooth texture. Apply to eyelids, cheeks or lips for the perfect pop of color anywhere!
————————————> LOVE! I was wishing an hoping since the sneak peek product reveal that my bag would have the Be A Bombshell one stick in it. I was super excited when I opened my bag and found it in the bottom. I love it, the color is perfect and it does not dry out my lips. I have yet to try it on my cheeks, thou I have no doubt the hue will compliment my skin tone nicely.

Mirabella Eyeshadow Blender Brush: Fuses eyeshadow to create a naturally sculpted eye. Tapered domed shape provides flawless and easy application.
———————————–> I thought it was such a nice touch that Ipsy included a shadow brush in the bag to compliment the eyeshadow trio. I was in need of a new shadow brush and this one totally fits the bill.

Salon Perfect Strip Lashes: Allow every woman to have gorgeous lashes beyond what mascara can offer.
———————————> I am not going to lie…… these things are not going anywhere near my face. I have very thick lashes and will not b gluing anything to my eyeball, ever.

J.Cat Beauty Lip Pencil in Red Rose: The Big Lip Pencil is a hydrating and vibrant lipstick as well as a sculpting lip liner.
——————————–> I used this pencil a few times over the weekend it is the perfect shade of red for my skin tone. It did not dry out my lips nor did it fade with the use of chapstick.

I am very happy with my first glam bag and will try all of the products, well except for the fake lashes (those sort of scare me). It truly does live up to its name as the bag was filled with on trend products from well-known brands, I can’t wait for next month!

Do you want an Ipsy Glam Bag of your very own? Well the, 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!

{For Jilliann} From One Mama to Another

Posted on December 7, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Late Wednesday night I had an epiphany while Facebook messaging with my friend Jilliann. In that moment I realized that losing my son now made sense. That some how, some way God knew that down the road a friend would need me. That a friend would need a woman who knows what its like to lose a child. I was suddenly at peace with losing Lucia and knew that I could offer a shoulder of comfort to my dear friend.

Life is crazy, we follow the twisting roads marked with laughter and joy. No one ever tells us ‘hey life can be shitty at times.” We just hear about the happy ever afters and never about the tear-stained sidewalks. Truth is, this earth is lined with tear-stained sidewalks, we tread on them everyday and very rarely do we give the stains much thought. Thoughts, mine have been with Jilliann as I know she is just walking down the dark path of grief. Yelling “Why me? Why us? Why my daughter?” These are questions that will most likely never be answered. However they need to be shouted in order for her heart to heal.

Jilliann, I can tell you that you will never cease to question, you will always wonder what if and dream about what could have been. There are days where I drift away and wonder “what would Lucia look like today? ” I try to imagine what his laughter would sound like and if his smile could light up a room.” Then harshly I am snapped back into the land of the living and remember that my son died, not me. That my son died, that I survived and need to keep on living for him. That no matter where I go in this world my son is always with me and he will never be forgotten.

Trinity will never be forgotten, she is and will always be your little girl. For a few moments you had the sliver of happiness that we all so desperately want. You were eagerly awaiting the arrival of your sweet little girl, only God chose to shatter that sliver and you are left in the wake. Take time to be angry, curse God if you have too, stomp your feet, and cry your tears. Get the emotions out, run away, but always remember to run back. Hide for a while, but remember to return to the world when you are ready. There will always be a hole in your heart and nothing will fill the void. A wise woman once told me “You never get over the death of a child, you…. you just learn how to live with it.” She was right and that was the best advice I ever got. I didn’t have to be ok, I just had to learn to live with the fact that my child is in heaven.

Jillian, you never have to be ok with losing Trinity. In time you will find your way and you will become comfortable in this new normal. You will figure out how to live with the fact that you lost her and in time you will heal. Your heart will always be broken, yet full. There will be days where you look at the sun and smile. A random breeze will be felt upon your cheek and in that moment you will know that she is safe with God.

{Julep Maven} The Glitterati Collection ~ December 2013

Posted on December 7, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

As many of you know, the Julep Maven box is my favorite monthly box. I get giddy when the selection window opens, I eagerly wait for my shipping confirmation email, and stock the tracking number on usps.com. Nothing brightens my day like finding a black box from Julep in front of my door. Except December’s box was silver and I knew that with the new hue I was going to be in for a treat. A very glitter filled treat and I could not wait to break the seal!

Julep picked the perfect theme for the month of December. For me the holidays are all about sparkle and shine. My Christmas tree is trimmed in glitter and glitz. There is no such thing as to many glitter ornaments nor is there such a thing as too much sparkle. (I know I need help) Anyways back to Julep, the theme for December is “The Glitterati Collection.” Each polish hue fit the theme perfectly, there was a ton of sparkle and glitz throughout the collection. It was very hard to nail down my selection this month. I changed my mind at least three times. One thing I was certain of was that I was not interested in the modern beauty box, a girl only needs so many eye primers. I wanted the eyeshadow palette along with the glitziness of the December polish collection. I set my sights on the shimmery cranberry colored polish and selected the bombshell box.

“Personality is the glitter.” ~Mae West

So What did I get in my December Bombshell Maven Box? That’s a great question! I am so glad you asked!

The Glitterati Collection

Sweep Eyeshadow Palette – Neutrals: Create looks as bold or as soft as you’d like while smoothing lids. Formulated with anti-aging ingredients including Julep’s exclusive Power Cell Complex™, the five classic shades are: •Tiramisu—nude satin •Glow—golden shimmer •Dusk—mauve satin •Toffee—bronze shimmer •Cocoa—chocolate brown with gold shimmer.
————————-> I hands down love the eyeshadow! Well except for the cocoa it is to dark for my fair completion. I am a very pasty girl and the other four shades complement my skin tone perfectly. The best part a little bit of shadow goes along way and the pigments hold up all day long. One has to love that, as a busy girl on the go does not have time for touch ups.

Andrea – A brilliant bronze glitter polish
————————> I was extremely excited for this shade to arrive. As in it was the first thing I tried when I opened my box. My pent-up excitement lead to deep disappointment. I painted my toes on Tuesday night and by Wednesday the polish flaked off. As in “AJ was singing in the shower minding her own business washing her toes when the polish flaked off in sheets and went right down the drain to lake Calhoun.” I was all sorts of sad my toes were no longer incredibly sparkly, they were just plain old human toes. That is until I remembered that I had………..

Cara – A shimmery cranberry frost polish
———————–> LOVE! LOVE LOVE! The color is perfect for he season, it has a hint of shimmer with a whole lot of shine.Did I mention that I am in LOVE with the hue. Best part of all the polish has stayed in tact!

***BONUS ITEM! (Who doesn’t love a BONUS?) Hair ties from thetwistband.com
————————> I have seen a lot of these “hair ties” on the market and have yet to join the hair tie bandwagon. That is until Julep so nicely put two in the box. It’s a hair tie, nothing special or spectacular, it does the job of holding my hair back.

Once again Julep has put together a beautiful box with great products and I cannot wait to see what the next box will hold.

Julep Maven is a $19.99/month monthly nail polish & Beauty box subscription service. Each box features over $40.00 worth of never before released polishes, cutting edge treatments, and a bonus sample sized product. PLUS when you are a Maven you get free shipping and 20% off of all of the products at http://www.julep.com.

Becoming a Maven is easy and each box is put together like a beautiful present. I love being a Julep Maven and I want you to get in on the fun too! Use code “FREEBOX” to get your first box for only $3.99 (Shipping charges).

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

{Charlie} Christmas: Three Ships and Charlie Brown

Posted on December 3, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

For the first time I found myself able to sit down and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas without bawling. Christmas 2012 was hard, I mas deeply missing my partner in crime and I still harbored a lot of anger towards the drunk driver. Blinded I wasn’t able to see how incredibly blessed I was and I let the magic of Christmas slip through my fingers. Ba humbug perfectly described my mood, I wore a smile to hide the pain I was feeling inside.

I didn’t think my heart would heal and that I would be able to forgive. A healthy heart harbors no hate and a healthy heart is a happy heart. I had no room in my life for hatred or anger, I needed to heal on my own and to find my way. I choose to heal by doing something Charlie loved. I spent my summer walking the shores looking for glass to fill his half empty jar and with each piece my heart began to heal. I was able to love again and soon I felt like my old self. My heart will never be fully healed, the glue with hold it together and one day I will place my broken heart in the hands of another man. He will look beyond the scars and inside he will find a beautifully broken soul.

A soul that has a soft spot for beggars on a cold winters night. One who tries her hardest to find the bright side in every situation and one who never gives up. I am an unsinkable ship crashing against the waves. One who does everything in her power to make the lives of those around her better. One who cries at a song, finds joy in the smallest things, and lives a beautifully designed chaotic life.

The other day I was listening to KOOL108 when “Three Ships” came on and I was over come with sadness. Not the oh my I am so devastated sadness, but the good kind. You see “Three Ships” was Charlie’s favorite Christmas song. He would listen to it over and over on his iPod and would often sing along in his very out of tune voice. He would sing “Three Ships while in the shower in the middle of July, in the car in March, and would wake me up singing “Three Ships” in December. At the time I was annoyed and now I would give anything to hear his out of tune voice singing “Three Ships” from the top of his lungs. Until the song came on I had forgotten how much he loved it, it was the reminder that I needed to find the joy in the simplest things and to keep on singing. To keep on singing my song until I find my way home.

Tonight I found myself singing “Three Ships” while doing dishes and then I remembered that “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was on tonight. A huge part of me didn’t want to tread the waters and flipped the channel, the other part wanted to give it a shot. I sat with the Kleenex on my lap, to my surprise I didn’t need them. Instead of tears, I was filled with joy and found myself repeating some of the lines to the muppet like dog. Charlie loved “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and he would watch it as much as he could during the month of December. One can’t blame the man, his mother after all did name him after the little bald-headed character. Charlie knew the lines by heart and would often burst out with “All I want are 10s and 20s. All I want is what I have coming to me!” To Charlie December was about living through the eyes of a child, about finding the wonder in the every day, and spreading as much kindness as he could.

Even though Charlie is gone, it finally feels like Christmas, like Christmas should. I find myself looking for the spectacular in the every day and spreading as much kindness as I can. I am only one soul on this earth and I am doing my best to take care of my tiny part of the globe. I decided to get my shopping done early this year so that I could focus on my family and friends. I want to spend my holiday moments with the people I love and not in some checkout line. I want to watch Sophia’s eyes light up as the fireworks race across the cold night sky and to sing “Three Ships” to her as she drifts off to dreamland.

I ask all of you to sing your song and to follow your heart until you find your way home. Enjoy the journey and learn from the lessons. Spend time with your family, hug them tight, whisper more I love yous than you can count, because life will be over in the blink of an eye. The greatest Christmas gift does not come in a box with a fancy tag, it comes from the heart, the greatest gift of all is the gift of love.

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

{Brave} Let Thy Sea Glass Heal My Heart

Posted on November 26, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Let each piece collected heal my heart

At the close of summer I found myself with a full hand of sea glass. My excitement grew as I held my treasure up to the sun and when I got home I placed it safely into Charlie’s jar. That day would be the day Charlie’s jar would no longer hold anymore glass. It was officially full. I laid the last tiny piece on the top, I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders and I was over come by a warmth I cannot explain. In that moment with that one tiny shred of sea glass I let go of my fiancé. My mission was complete, with teary eyes I whispered “Goodbye my love, I will see you again one day.”

That one tiny piece of glass allowed me to open my heart, it gave me the strength I needed to put myself out there and to look for someone new. My friends helped me compose a profile and soon I received responses. Most were lackluster or endless email chains. I am to old for games so endless emails are not my style. In essence I am wise beyond my years, my heart is sacred and I deserve the cream of the crop. Except the cream didn’t respond to my profile. Online sites were getting old, duds filled up my inbox, and speed dating was fun, but I never came up with a winner. Hope, I was losing it and slowly retreated back into my solitude.

That is until one day a Marine emailed me in actual sentences and paragraphs. I wrote back, my two sentence responses led to paragraphs, the paragraphs led to text messages, and soon he would be sitting across from me at Burger Jones. That first date was only the beginning. To his surprise I asked to see him again and then again. Soon my birthday was upon us and he met my family for the first time.

My parents eagerly awaited his arrival and welcomed him into the fold. We had lunch at The Bronks in Lake City, picked out a pumpkin at Pepin Heights, and like always found ourselves drawn to the water. This was to be the last nice day of the year and I wanted to go for a walk on the beach. I found a few pieces of glass, my Mom she brought me a few more and so did my sister. The Marine quickly noticed that everyone was helping me and he to took up the search while skipping rocks. As my hands grew full I explained that when Charlie was alive we would search the beach for his precious sea glass. Of how I spent my summer looking for glass to fill the half empty jar Charlie left behind.

That night when I arrived home I put my spoils into a new jar, to my surprise it was filled to the brim. I snapped a photo and fired of a text proclaiming a success. The Marine’s response caught me off guard “Next summer we’ll have to fill an even bigger jar!” He doesn’t know it, but with those words read I became a teary eyed mess and in that moment I knew I was finally brave enough to let someone new into my life.

{Thanksgiving} To Shop or Boycott

Posted on November 25, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

For all of you complaining about stores being open on thanksgiving day…. Here is a bit of food for your thoughts. You are boycotting stores and complaining that people are not able to spend time with their families.

What about the airport folks, firemen, policemen, military, EMS, doctors, nurses, chefs, and so forth. What about those folks. Instead of sitting down with their families they are healing the sick, keeping our communities safe, putting out fires, flying the planes carrying our loved ones, taking our tickets and loading our luggage, heck my Mama (she’s a chef) will serve 1500 people in the Buffett on Thursday. There are thousands of people fighting to keep our country safe all around this globe. And they will be lucky to get a satellite phone call home. None of the above ever complain. Maybe the retail workers should shut up and think about the thousands of people who have worked on thanksgiving without complaint.

My mother never complains, she goes in and serves your families at Treasure Island while hers gathers around the table without her. She on Thanksgiving morning will be taking care of a paraplegic, she will do her job without complaint, and then she’ll rush home to eat and turn around and head to the casino to prepare for that nights guests. She will do this without complaint, she has worked more thanksgivings than I can possibly count on two hands. She’s never once complained.

So just maybe the retail workers will stop and pause for a moment maybe all of you will start to boycott the police station, the fire house, the ambulance service, the hospital, home health services, restaurants, gas stations, air ports, hotels, and casinos. As all of the for mentioned will be fully staffed and running on this Thanksgiving Thursday. So please before you boycott and stomp your feet, think of my mother and all of the hard working folks who have not spent a thanksgiving with their families in over 15 years before you complain about a store opening at 5pm on thanksgiving.

{TotalBeauty.Com} The HSN Collection

Posted on November 25, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Disappointment in my November Birch Box led me on a late night search for an even better monthly beauty box. I singed up for an Ipsy Glam Bag, which I will receive my first bag in December. (I am super excited for Ipsy) December at the time was so far away and I wanted something better right then and there. I pursed my favorite subscription box blogs and scoured online reviews that led me to totalbeauty.com.

The Total Beauty.com collections are the ultimate beauty goodie box, chock full of trial size cosmetics samples. Best part is that there is no subscription required. You can buy one or as many boxes as you fancy. You will get makeup samples and other beauty samples from the Total Beauty.com editor’s favorite brands, making it easy to test out beauty products and find your favorites before you spend money on the full-sized versions.

Total Beauty partnered with the home shopping giant HSN to create a collection of 9 deluxe makeup and skin care products. I was intrigued by the products and had to have the box. The collection is selling for $19.95 with free shipping on HSN.com. Since I had to have the box I typed in my credit card number and waited for it to arrive.

“What did I get in my Totalbeauty.com HSN Collection Box?” Oh I am so glad you asked! Let’s find out!

Totalbeauty.com HSN Collection:

*Benefit the POREfessional Pore Primer – Helps temporarily minimize the appearance of pores

*Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials – Shadow primer and upper eye brightener

*Carol’s Daughter Monoi Oil – Helps reduce breakage caused by styling bleached, heat straightened and chemically-relaxed hair

*Wei East China Herbal Intensive Eye Treatment Pads – Soothes eye area and helps leave eyes feeling fresh and looking bright

*Serious Skincare Glycolic Gommage – Smoothes, temporarily lifts and tightens skin’s overall appearance
———-> This stuff is awesome! I had a few blemishes on my face and they were gone after I rinsed the product off. I loved it so much that I plunked down $55.00 and bought the entire Serious Skincare Glyoclic line. I can’t wait for it to arrive.

*Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – Hourglass-shaped brush separates, coats and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection
——————> 1, best name ever for a mascara. 2. It wasn’t gloopy and it made my lashes look long and sexy. I will be buying the full-sized product as soon as the sample size runs out.

*Elysee YouthSpan Tinted Veil – Visibly transforms skin immediately with a self-adjusting, natural-looking wash of color

*M. Asam Vinolift Skin Tightening Cream – Helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles

*Perlier Shea Butter Hand Cream – Helps provide softness, comfort and smoothness to dry hands
——————-> It is winter in Minnesota and my hands are surely showing it. So I cracked open this hand cream and gave it a whirl on the night I got my box. My hands instantly felt soft and smooth, the scent was amazing too.

I have been pretty busy lately and have not had time to crack open all of the samples I received in my box. The HSN Collection has something for everyone and it would make a great holiday gift.

If you would like to have a HSN Collection box of your very own….. then go to http://www.hsn.com/shop/beauty/bs You will be glad that you did. The box is $19.95 with free shipping. I ordered my box on a Thursday November 14th and it was on my doorstep on Wednesday November 21. That is what I call super fast shipping!

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

{Love With Food} November: Flavors of Fall

Posted on November 21, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

For the month of November Love With Food partnered with Chef Ryan Scott to bring us the flavors of fall. Whenever I think of fall I think of caramel, caramel apples, pie, maple, and thanksgiving dinner. (Thou my family doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving.) Also I love to cozy up under a blanket with a cup of apple cider and listen to the wind blow outside my window. I love fall because I can once again cook in my kitchen and not have to worry about overheating. Pork chops with apple chutney are a big fall favorite, those and pie. I admit I cannot get enough apple pie in the fall. Thou my box didn’t have any pie, it did however contain many tasty treats.

“So what did I get in my box?” Oh, I am so glad you asked!

Tuxedo Popcorn from Kukuraza
My Dad loved this, it was gone in oh about five minutes flat. I will definitely be ordering more.

Green & Black’s organic Dark 70% chocolate
I can’t eat chocolate so I handed this off to my Dad. He said it was pretty tasty.

Maple Fudge from Laura Secord
OMG This fudge is divine! It’s not to sweet and has the right amount of maple flavor. My Mama and I split the square of fudge, it wasn’t big enough, we want more.

Ginger Twist Tea from Mighty leaf

Almond, apricot, and yogurt bar from Eat Natural

Rosemary sea-salt Shortbread from Dancing Deer Baking Co.
This gets another OMG! They were light and very delightful. I am a girl who likes a savory cookie from time to time and this cookie fit the bill perfectly.

Sweet Corn Crunch from Sensible Foods
At first I thought this was a bit strange, yet I ripped the bag open, gave Ruby a few pieces and figured why not, you only live once. It was pretty good. However I would not go out of my way to get it.

Authentic Indian Spice Blend from Sensible Foods

Sweet Potato popchips from Popchips.
One word: “YUM”

Chef Scott did a great job putting the flavors of fall into a box and I cannot wait to see what Love With Food has lined up for December.

I know you want a Love With Food Box of your very own. Helping feed America’s hungry children is a big job an together we have the power to end it. Every month you will get a box that includes 8 or more healthful snacks for as little as $10.00 per month. Each box or product bought on lovewithfood.com = one meal donated to a hungry child. To get your own box or to learn more please visit http://www.lovewithfood.com for more information.

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

Have Bear Will Travel

She had to break, so I could shine