{Birch Box} November: “More Good”

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November

Truth: I received two Birch Boxes for the month of November. My first box was a total bust, I couldn’t use anything in the box because of the chocolate bar laying at the bottom. So I tweeted, I posted on the Birch Box Facebook page, and they reached out. I had a heart to heart with Charity and explained why I wasn’t happy with their product. Charity took the time to help me adjust my profile, answer my questions, and to find a box that didn’t have chocolate in it. Charity was amazing and she is the reason I decided to give Birch Box a few more months.

Soon I received an email telling me my new box was on its way. The box was laying in front of my door when I got home. Hearing the box jingle peaked my interest. I was all ready preparing myself for disappointment, instead I was pleasantly surprised. For the first time I absolutely want to hands down try everything in my box. There wasn’t a wrinkle cream or curl keeper in sight, and that made me happy.

Birch Box picked “More Good” as the November theme. As in you want more of a good thing, to do good, and be more thankful. The theme minus the grammar fits the month of November perfectly. We could all and use a little more good in our lives. One can never have to much of a good thing.

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

Eyeko – Black Magic Mascara, a water-resistant formula that curls and lasts all day.

Laura Mercier – Lip Glace in Opal, a rich colored lip gloss that provided high shine.

Tiossan – Body Cream, loaded with antioxidants that leaves skin silky soft.

Vasanti Cosmetics – Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator.

Lifestyle Extra
Ahmad Tea Long – a mix of different flavored teas.

All in all I am super happy with this box and I cannot wait to try all of the goodies I received.

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***

{UmCheeky} November Underwear Box (Yup, we are going there!)

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UmCheeky November

UmCheeky November


Your underwear drawer called…… It wants something pretty!

A girl has to be prepared and ready for anything life throws her way. So she mise well do it in pretty underwear.

Some people call it underwear, others call them drawers, under garments, pants, panties, and lingerie. No matter what you call them, they are simply “the barrier between your vagina and your jeans,” hey no one wants to be rubbed the wrong way. Then again many celebrities seem to brave it and go without their drawers. I prefer to call them underroos as in when you wear them you are certain to have a rootastic day! Then again I think its funny that my mail carrier has no idea that he is stuffing panties in my box!

All jokes aside let’s get down to the brass tax. UmCheeky is run by a husband wife team out of New York City. He is a former attorney who handles all of the customer service and she makes sure that the panties are cute. UmCheeky has a size range that will cover every booty on the planet from XS to XXL, you can’t go wrong with this brand. The price is pretty darn sweet too, right now they are running a special 2 pairs for $6 when you use code FALL13.

I placed my order on Thursday November 14th, 2013 and received a shipping confirmation on the 15th, and had my panties in my mail box on the 18th. That is super fast shipping ladies. I was super excited to see the purple envelope in my mail box and I couldn’t wait to rip it open. Once opened I found a nicely wrapped package in purple tissue paper and super soft adorable panties inside. I washed them tonight and cannot wait to wear my first pair tomorrow. I have no doubt that they will be as comfortable as they feel and that they will not ride up. No one likes panties that ride up, that is the worst thing ever, that and leggings as pants with an extremely noticeable VPL. Leggings as pants should be banned on all seven continents.

I know you want to get 2 pairs of very pretty panties, here is how:
Visit http://www.umcheeky.com, double-check the size chart, select your size, order and be sure to enter code FALL13 to get the 2 pairs for $6. Congratulations, you just signed yourself up for some really great underwear! Your panty drawer is going to thank you!

**I was not compensated for this post, opinions are my own*

{Julep Maven} Right At Home, November 2013

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Right At Home ~ November Modern Beauty Box with add-ons

Right At Home ~ November Modern Beauty Box with add-ons

I admit, I get pretty darn excited when I see an email from Julep in my inbox. The email is always the same, it explains the current theme and informs me that the maven selection window is now open. I love the fact that you can see what all of the boxes contain. That way you can either skip the month or pick a different style profile box. Each box contains 2 polishes along with one full-sized beauty item, every box that is except for the modern beauty box which contains two (yes I said two) full-sized beauty products. Julep does have a polish only option where you will receive three pretty polishes each month.

The theme for November is “Right at home” a time to cozy up. The colors for this month capture the notes of fall perfectly. The sneak peek email got me really excited, I am a gloss kind of girl and Julep announced that they were coming out with a new gloss. A gloss that would be included in the November Maven box.

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

November Modern Beauty – Right At Home

Blank Canvas Plumping Lip Primer
A multi-tasking marvel that plumps, moisturizes, and preps lips for flawless color application. The tingle tells you it’s working. The ongoing hydration and smoothing tell you it’s still working. Color: Pale Pink.
What did I think? I gave this product a try on Friday night and it did exactly what they claimed.
My lips tingled, they appeared a little fuller, and they stayed hydrated all
night.

Julep Lip Gloss – In Timeless
Unstoppable shine, luscious hydration. Color: Sheer Nude
What did I think? I am a gloss girl and I have tried hundreds of glosses in my day. Julep did a
great job developing the gloss. The gloss is a little on the thick side, yet
shiny, and it covered nicely. The color stood up and kept my lips hydrated for
hours.

**Bonus Item: A packet of Luxe Repair Skin Serum
A rejuvenating serum delivers deep hydration and essential nutrients to help rebuild skin structure from the inside out—for a noticeable difference in the way your skin looks and feels. Designed for all skin types, Luxe Repair can be used as a daily treatment or moisturizer for face, hands, or body.
What did I think? I admit, I was so excited about the gloss that I forgot the packet was in the box.
I haven’t tried it yet, when do I will let you know my thoughts.

I fell in love with a few of the polish colors, but I really wanted the gloss and lip primer so I kept with my style profile and chose a few add-ons. With every purchase you make on julep.com you earn Jules which are points you can use towards your purchases. I used my Jules again this month and got one of my add-ons for free. I decided to add-on Brielle which is a deep autumn orange crème and Aisha a wildberry purple crème. I cracked open Brielle on Friday night and I have yet to decide if I am a fan of the color. It looked pretty on the website, however in person it seems more like a rust than an autumn orange. The quality and pigment of the polish is great, it goes on easy and covers like a dream.

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**

{Hearts on 22} Celebrating My 4th Borrowed Year

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{Photo by Stephanie Ryan Photography}

{Photo by Stephanie Ryan Photography}


There are moments were I feel like the little girl from Schindler’s list. You know the little girl in the one scene of the movie where everything is in black and white except for her red coat. Over the past four years I have heard more stories of pulmonary embolism loss than survival. I realize that only 1 out of 5 patients will survive a pulmonary embolism, yet it still moves me. Long ago I stopped asking God why he spared me and called another home in my place. At some point you stop wondering and start living. Living my life is the only way I know how to honor the four people who died so I could be the one who walked away. I vowed to make every year, month, week, day, hour, minute, and second of my life count, as I know I am living on borrowed time.

I have crisscrossed this country, speaking in church basements, town halls, elementary school classrooms, and college campuses educating women on the side effects of birth control. Educating women on heart health, blood clots, and mostly empowering them to be their own health care advocate. They listen wide-eyed as I tell my tale and go over the symptoms/warning signs. Only to find tears in their eyes as they realize that I almost died five days before my 27th birthday.

That out of anything I say is what sticks with people, the fact that I almost died five days before my 27th birthday. I can still see my Mam’s face as she walked into my room, her fear was so thick you could have cut it with a knife, her eyes filled with tears as she whispered “It should be my laying in that bed, you are to damn young for this.” She took my hand, rubbed my head, and promised me that we were going to beat this. She allowed me to cry for one minute and then I had to put my big girl pants on and fight. I had IVs coming from all directions, wires and leads tapped to every limb, in that moment my future looked bleak, yet I knew that this would pass, and that I would bounce back.

I’ve wasted enough precious time thinking about what I can’t have or do. Its taken a while but I have come t terms with the notion that I will never carry a child of my own, that I will not run a marathon, or climb a mountain. Instead I now focus on what I can do, I can adopt a child, walk a 5K really fast with my sister, and I will settle for the top of a hill any day. Most of all I can use my story to help educate my girlfriends and strangers about the deadly side effects of birth control. I can share my story with my Legislators, Congressmen, and Representatives, to strengthen the fact that we need more research on Heart Disease and Stroke in women.

My pulmonary embolism was the ER staffs main concern and my slight stroke was just a bonus. They both wreaked havoc on my body, yet I am still standing. When I look in the mirror I no longer see flaws, instead I see a body that’s been through hell and back. I see a body that survived a pulmonary embolism with infarction and a stroke, I have no doubt that it will carry me through a lot more. I have come to terms with the fact that I will never have my pre-PE/Stroke body back. I am just happy to be standing.

I am haunted by a comment my Mama made, she said “if my daughter didn’t get to the hospital when she did, I would have been picking out her urn instead of her 27th Halloween themed birthday cake.” That comment humbles me and reminds me how close I cam to death that day. My heart goes out to the families who have had to bury a loved one who died unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism. That’s the thing, they are silent, and one never knows that they have a blood clot in their lungs until its to late. Most don’t even know why their child suddenly dropped dead, that is until the autopsy results confirm that they died of a blood clot in their lungs. I think about the women who never got to hold their niece, about the fathers who never got to walk their daughters down the isle, and about the women who were called home all to soon.

I live each day of my life for all of the women who died and for all of my survivor sisters still fighting the good fight. I will stand with my survivor sisters as we continue our wrongful injury/product liability suit against the makers of the Nuva Ring. One day justice will prevail, the souls of the lost will rest, and the broken will heal.

THANK YOU: A day doesn’t go by where I do not think about my care team at Woodwinds Health campus. Because of the ER staffs quick thinking and action I am alive today. I am alive because the doctor stopped what he was doing to ask me “by chance do you use birth control?” Extra test were ordered, a CT scan was given, and with in 30 minutes the clot was found. It was found because of that one little question and I am forever in debt to him. My stroke was stopped in its tracks because of the thrombolytics I received and for that I am forever grateful. I wouldn’t be alive today if it were not for the Doctors and nurses of Woodwinds, for they put this broken girl back together again and sent her back out into the world.

Because No Woman Deserves to Fight ALONE!

To Learn more about Pulmonary embolism and blood clots please visit the following:
Resources from the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-embolism/DS00429
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-clots/MY00109
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/deep-vein-thrombosis/DS01005
The National Blood Clot Alliance – Stop The Clot: http://www.stoptheclot.org/

To Learn more about Stroke and Heart Disease please visit the following:
Resources from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stroke/DS00150
The American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
The American Stroke Association: http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/
Power To End Stroke: http://powertoendstroke.org/
Go Red for Women: https://www.goredforwomen.org/
Please Join me in making a difference by joining “You’re The Cure”: http://yourethecure.org/aha/advocacy/default.aspx

{Love With Food} Scary Delicious October

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October

Late one night I was cruising the internet and reading box reviews. There are ladies who dedicate their entire blog to subscription boxes. I can only imagine that their mail boxes are bursting with fun. Their blogs have become a good resource and provide insight on which subscription programs are awesome and what I call “try worthy.” One particular blogger caught my eye with her Love With Food Box review. The products looked fun and interesting. I love trying new foods and ingredients, plus how could I say no to a practically free box. I used a promo code that allowed me to get my first box for only $2. So at 2am I signed myself up and waited for my box to arrive.

Love With Food is a discovery box that is chalked full of new organic, all-natural snacks for $12.00 per month.
The best part about Love With Food is that for every box sold they will donate a meal to several food banks such as the Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry. Join us to help end childhood hunger one meal at a time! It is a total win win, you get tasty snacks for your belly and you get to help put food in a hungry child’s belly. That is what sold me on Love With Food, I knew I needed to sign up and get the box so I to could help feed a hungry child.

So what was in my Scary Delicious Love With Food Box? Why, that is an awesome question! Let’s find out!

Scary Delicious October

*Chocolate Pizzelle Chips from Silk City Snacks
***Light crispy Italian waffle cookies in a 100 calorie pack

*Glee Gum – Triple Berry from Verve Inc.

*New World Caveman Cookies by Caveman Bakery
*** Made with a mix of pumpkin seeds and maple syrup

*Organic Hard Candies from Torie and Howard

*Pixo Pearls from Vinaigerie Gingras

*Happy Squeeze from Happy Family
*** Blueberry, apple, and purple carrot flavor, this has Sophia’s name written all over it.

*Toasted Coconut Chips from Dang

*Kind bar from Kind snacks

All in all this was a great box and I am glad that I signed up. A lot of the brands are new to me and I am excited to try the products. If you know me well you know that I am very big on healthy organic and natural food products, and that I am always in the market for a new favorite. This box is going to be like Christmas on my doorstep every month, I cannot wait for November’s box!

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}

{Birch Box} – Beauty Buzz October

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October
Well done Birch Box, you finally hit the nail on the head this month. Normally the box will contain one or two products that are what I consider “try worthy.” This month is a different story, I want to try every product in the box, well except maybe the chap stick and curl keeper. I am a Bert’s Bees kind of girl who does not tolerate other chap sticks well and I am pretty darn dedicated to my current for curly hair care products.

So what was inside my beauty buzz box? That’s a great question. Let’s find out!

October’s Beauty Buzz Box

*Avene – Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser – Full size $20.00
*** The pH-balanced wash whisks away impurities with calming French spring water

{What I thought of the product} – I have used the cleanser a few times this week and sadly I am not a fan. The cleanser made my face feel very dry and stiff after use. I give this product a thumbs down and will stick with my drug store brand cleanser.

*Curly Hair Solutions – Curl Keeper – Full size $10.00
*** A water-based, weightless serum that keeps curls shiny, defined, and frizz fee
I have very curly hair and I am very skeptical of products that promise to keep my curls frizz free. I have yet to try the sample and I don’t think I will. If you have curly hair like me, then you most likely have a brand that you stick to and worship, straying from that brand is frowned upon in at least 28 countries.

*DDF – Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum – Full size $85.00
*** This high-tech serum minimizes pores and softens fine lines with advanced amino peptides
{What I thought of the product} – First off, Birch Box why do you keep on sending my anti-aging products? Its getting a little old, I am only 30 years old and wrinkles are non-existent at the moment. Anyways I did try the serum and was very impressed by it. The serum is very light, goes on easy, is not heavy or greasy, and left my skin soft. I could see myself using this product on a regular basis, well that is if it weren’t for the $85.00 price tag. I am a girl on a budget and this product is definitely out of my price point.

*theBalm Cosmetics – Stainiac in Beauty Queen – Full size $17.00
*** A stain that gives cheeks and lip a sheer rosy tint.
{What I thought of the product} – I am not a blush kind of girl so I would never use this product on my cheeks. However my lips are a different story. The stain worked just like they claimed, it gave my lips a rosy hue and lasted for most of the day, even with multiple chap stick application. Again I am a girl on a budget so I can’t justify $17.00 for one lip product.

**Birch Box Find**
Chap Stick Hydration Lock in Vanilla Creme

All in all I was pretty happy with my Birch Box this month and I am actually looking forward to next months box.

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***

{Julep} October Maven – The Rebel Set

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October JulepIt’s always a great day when I come home to find a black box sitting in front of my door. For some reason Julep.com did not send a shipping notification email this month, so I had no idea when it was supposed to arrive or if my box had shipped.

The sneak peek email was all about Kajal Eye Glider & Sharpener, which I am not an eyeliner type of girl so I wasn’t to thrilled about October’s box. That is until I learned that the Modern Beauty box would contain a deep cleaning peel-off face mask. Now that is something I can get excited for. I love trying new cleansers and masks. Plus October had a really great theme “The Rebel Set,” the polish colors were edgy and dark. I like to think I am a bit of a rebel and couldn’t waited for the box to arrive.

This month I decided to select a few add-ons and to use some of my Jules which are points you earn from making purchases on julep.com. As I reviewed the add-on selections one particular polish caught my eye “Casper” claimed to be a glow in the dark polish. I am a sucker for all things glow in the dark so I had to have it. Plus by using my Jules it was absolutely free. One can’t turn down a glow in the dark polish when its free. In addition to Casper I added on “Stevie” which is a very pretty concrete gray frost. I am not one to choose a dark shade, but I love the hue of Stevie, its dark yet warm.

October Maven Box – The Rebel set

***Kajal Eye Glider & Sharpener:
Is a two ended pencil with two different shades, Ideal for inner rims, tightlining, and smoky eyes. It was a very nice touch that the included a sharpener with the eyeliner. I am not an eyeliner type of girl so I will be passing this one-off to a friend.

***Mask Noir:
Is a gentle peel-off mask of kaolin clay and black volcanic ash that is enriched with Julep’s proprietary Power Cell Complex™, a trio of skin-boosting superstars. I used the mask the day I got it and absolutely hands down loved the way it made my skin feel. The mask is black, as in as black as night black. Which was a little odd at fist. It took about 15 minutes for the mask to dry and it peeled off like a dream. Unlike some masks that stick to your face, this one just came right off. My skin was clean and visibly brighter after the first use. I will definitely be stocking up on the mask and recommending it to my girlfriends.

Bonus Item: Candy Corn.
I hands down love candy corn and it fit very nicely as Halloween is just around the corner.

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**

{MNSure} To Be An Insurable Human Again

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I can read a benefits packet and analyze a prescription drug formulary like no buddy’s business. For three years I worked for the nations largest Pharmacy Benefit management company and was taught the ins and outs of the insurance world. I received numerous calls from people trying to get medications covered for pre-existing conditions. The only thing I could do was offer up prior authorization or connect them to a pharmacist to look for a covered option.

At 27 I was a freshly divorced pulmonary embolism/stroke survivor, I quit my job, and found myself trying to get insurance in a world that didn’t want to cover a risk. I was no longer seen as AmandaJean, instead I was seen as a pre-existing condition, a drain on an insurance plan. I was young and vibrant, yet my PE plagued me. I searched for an affordable plan, the cheapest one I found was $700 a month for sub par coverage. I couldn’t find fulltime employment, instead I became a contractor and that offers no benefits what so ever. From October 2010 to June 2012 I went without health insurance.

Going without health insurance was like jumping into shark infested waters without a cage. I quickly learned how much medications really cost and had to decide between picking up my medications or paying my student loans. Needless to say my medications trumped my student loan payment and soon the collection calls started. Medical bills started piling up and before I knew it I was $10,000.00 in the hole. CT scans and echocardiograms are not cheap, neither are trips to the ER or urgent care. Since I didn’t have insurance I would try any over the counter remedy before giving in and going to the doctor. The Doctors I saw knew I was a self pay and they did their best to hook me up with samples and alternative care.

In the fall of 2011, I worked myself almost to death and managed to get a staph infection in my knee. I begged and pleaded with the doctor to let me go home, I told him “I can’t afford this, just let me go.” I got to go home four days later and waited for the bills to come. I cried when I saw the total and cashed in my 401K to pay most of the bill off. Only to find myself racking up new and bigger hospital bills. By the time Christmas rolled around I was desperately searching for a job that would offer me good health insurance. I went back to what I knew and took a job at a collections firm. I know, collections is not my cup of tea, however their insurance plan was.

I cried the day my insurance card came in the mail. I finally didn’t have to worry about paying full price for medications or services. I had insurance and I was happy. My job with the collections firm was short-lived, I found myself without a job in January 2013 and I knew one thing: “I was not going to go without insurance again.” I set out and search for an individual plan. The prices had come down quiet a bit since my last search and I knew I could not be denied this time around, thank you Affordable Health Care Act. I decided on an individual plan with HealthPartners, I filled out the online application and waited to receive my certificate of coverage in the mail.

At first I though HealthPartners was playing a joke on me and that the stated premium amount was wrong. I called and spoke to a representative, she double checked, and said AmandaJean that’s right your premium is $94.63 per month. After a long pause, she realized that I was crying. I explained to her that having affordable insurance meant I could hold out for the job I wanted and not rush into something that would give me insurance. By the end of our conversation she was crying right along with me, HealthPartners gave me peace of mind and my life back.

MNSure is an incredible idea and now thousands of Minnesotans will be able to apply for insurance without having to worry about pre-existing conditions and cost. On Tuesday night I logged onto the site and was very impressed by the easy to navigate layout and the types of plans offered. The online form is simple to fill out and asks you questions about income, family size, health habits and so on. Once you sign up for an account you are able to see what your real estimated premium would be and review the options best suited to you.

While MNSure is not the perfect answer, it is a good start and it provides easy access to health insurance for many Minnesotans. Best part is if you are like me and have a pre-existing condition you can no longer be denied nor can you be forced to pay a higher premium than your healthy counterparts. I learned the hard way: going without insurance is a bad idea one cannot afford to go without health insurance. Insurance is now an affordable option and there are many resources out there to help you in your insurance decision.

Here are a few resources to get you started:

http://www.mnsure.org
http://www.ehealthinsurance.com ——-> (This is what I used to find my affordable HealthPartners insurance plan)
http://www.healthpartners.com
http://www.mn.gov/dhs ———> (Minnesota Department of Human Services)

{Whipstaff Ranch & Rescue} Cullen’s Story

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cullenIn June 2010 I walked away from my marriage with a little English Pointer named Freckles by my side. Freckles is a shy energetic rambunctious little soul and she was never meant for apartment life. She needed a yard, a place to run, and a 5-year-old boy to chase her around. I knew what Freckles needed, it wasn’t me, so with a heavy heart I brought her back to my ex husband and Nylan.

For the first time in 6 years I was truly alone. I didn’t have a child to look after or three dogs to take for a walk. My apartment was all to quiet and something was missing. I needed a partner with a wet nose, caring eyes, and a wagging tail. Most rescues turned me away telling me “an apartment is not a place for a dog.” I cried myself to sleep most nights and one day it hit me “Contact Whipstaff tell Carrie was happened and maybe, just maybe she will let me adopt another dog.”

With that thought I fired an email off at 4am asking if I could bring another little dog into my life. I anxiously waited for a reply, hours past and before night fall I had an answer. Carrie said “I have the perfect little dog for you, he is just like Freckles, shy, a little broken with a good heart.” She emailed a photo and I instantly fell in love with his big gray nose. I couldn’t wait to bring him home, home to his forever home.

The next day I set out on a 12 hour round trip journey to pick up my new-found friend. I followed Carrie’s directions, she really means it when she says “A GPS will not guide you to the ranch” trust me it won’t. I got to see the ranch first hand, the moment you pull into the driveway you can feel the love that they have for the animals in their care. They take in the unwanted, the un-trainable, the broken, and the lost. They take the cast offs and love them until they are whole again, only to turn around to place them in forever homes.

With a hug and a tearful thank you I headed back to Minneapolis with Cullen. I’ve had Cullen for over three years now and he will turn 4 on September 30th. A good part of his first year on earth was spent in a puppy mill and he was withdrawn and scared of the world around him. Carrie and her Mama rescued Cullen, feed him, loved him, and showed him how life could be for a dog. Because of their love a dog got rescued and that rescue became my best friend. In truth I needed Cullen more than he needed me. I was broken and hurt, when I looked into my dogs eyes the loneliness slipped away and I knew I was going to be ok.

Cullen has been by my side through thick and thin. He faithfully laid next to me on the couch during my bed rest, licked away my tears and has provided me with absurd amounts of laughter. Cullen loved Charlie as much as I did and together we mourned the death of our best friend. He watched over baby Sophia and now he sits by her side as she gives him hundreds of hugs. Cullen is no longer an introvert, he along with me has come out of his shell. He found his bark and his eyes light up like fire each morning.

I can never repay the ladies of Whipstaff for the gift they’ve given me. There are not enough words in the English language to describe how greatful I am that they saw it in their hearts to take in a matted under feed dog that became my best friend. In a recent Facebook post Carrie stated that they were in need of help with the food bill, an that several animal were in need of neutering and spaying. I wanted to help and it hit me “I can share their story on my blog and tell the world about the incredible work they do.” So that is what I did.

I hope that everyone who reads this will find it in their hearts to donate $5.00 to Whipstaff Ranch and Rescue. $5 may not seem like much, however a little adds up and can go along way. To find out more about this awesome nonprofit rescue and to make a donation please visit: http://whipstaff-ranch.com/rescue.html

{Birch Box} September’s Box

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HeritageMy first Birch box was a bust. However when researching reviews other subscribers said it was one of the best boxes ever. I beg to differ, then again their boxes contained a different assortment of products than I received. Like I said before I believe in giving everyone and everything a fair chance.

Earlier this month I received an email telling me that Birch Box was turning three and the theme was Heritage. They said that the box was going to celebrate the subscribers. To me celebration and heritage are two separate things, their theme was lost on me. My box arrived on September 10th and I was excited yet skeptical to see what the pink box contained.

So what did I get in my September Birch Box? That’s a good question! Lets find out.

September Birch Box: Heritage

Beauty Protector Shampoo: this sulfate free formula adds volume and shine.

Beauty Protector Conditioner: is formulated with natural ingredients like shea butter and apple, lemon, and orange extracts. Together, they hydrate and nourish hair with vitamins and minerals.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Sensitive Peel: a gentle peel with fruit derived acids to dissolve dead skin.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer: in Fox Hunt, a vibrant orange hue.

Soak: a rinse-free formula that takes care of your delicates, safe enough to use on baby’s clothes too.

What did I try? What didn’t I try? Was the box a bust?

I am glad you asked! I was excited to see the Juice Beauty Green Apple peel, I have heard about it from girlfriends who love it. At $39.00 I didn’t want to invest in a full sized product that I might not love. Getting the sample size in my box was awesome. I used it on Friday night and hands down love it. My skin was smooth and bright after use. I will most likely invest in the full sized product.

My toes badly needed a new coat of polish and the vibrant orange tone of Fox Hunt was right up my color ally. The polish covers well and dries quickly. I like polishes that dry quickly, as I am a dog mom on the go and I do no have time to wait for polish to dry.

I have very curly hair. I am partial to my hair care brand, so I will not be trying the Beauty Protector shampoo an conditioner. The only good thing about it is, that the samples are under the 4oz rule so I can use them as travel sized items for my carry on. When that happens I will follow up and let you know my thoughts on Beauty Protector.

Soak’s rinse free formula sort of freaks me out. I am a germ phob at heart and not rinsing something out makes my skin crawl. They say its gentle, its just I need to rinse stuff out in order to quiet my phobia.

All in all Septembers box wasn’t a bust. I love the color of the nail lacquer I received and the Juice Beauty Green Apple peel. Two products out of five isn’t bad.

Birch Box is a $10 a month deluxe beauty sample subscription program. You earn 10 points for every $10 spent. When you’ve spent $100, you earn $10 to use in their shop or you can put that $10 towards your monthly box to make it free. To find out more go to http://www.birchbox.com.

{Reviews and Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review}