Beauty Box Review: TopBox November 2015

 TopBox is my favourite day of the month - they are shipped out on the 15th of each month, and I usually opt for the surprise samples vs Single Brand samples.  For $12 plus taxes (CAD), you receive 4-5 luxury brand samples, usually with one being a full sized product!

TopBox November 2015 has arrived!

November 2015's kit included: Benefit Cosmetics Air Patrol, Nova Scotia Fisherman' EXtreme Skin Care Lip Balm, Revlon Professional  Style Masters Modular Hair Spray, and The Face Shop Character Mask.

November TopBox revealed!

Benefit Cosmetics Air Patrol

 Air patrol BB Cream eyelid primer contains an EnviroDefend complete known to help guard your eyelids agains sun and pollutants.  It also extends the wear of eyeshadow for long lasting colour that won't crease, fade, or smear.  

4.0ml $38.  Available at Shopper's Drug Mart and Sephora.

I like that it does keep my eye-shadow put (no flaky mess on my face from misdistribution of powder).  Compared to other Benefit eye primers I have used, however, it is more difficult to control how much comes out of the container, as it's a squeeze container vs a padded brush. This means more waste of product.

At this price point, you don't want to waste any of this eyelid primer!

Nova Scotia Fisherman eXtreme Skin Care Lip Balm

Our lip Care is created using 100% natural ingredients and contains 93% organic materials.  Apply as needed.  

9.5ml $6.99. Available at NovaScotiaFisherman.com

I am still not very fond of Fisherman's products.  I was not keen on the smell of this lip balm, and you can actually feel the salt within it.  The container includes a push bottom, so you push the bottom to get more balm up, and I put the lid down to squish it down.

It isn't very long lived on my lips, and I love my lip balm - especially during the fall and winter seasons.

Revlon Professional Style Masters Modular Hairspray

Spray Modular Hairspray on dry hair.  For best results, hold about 30 cm away from the hair.  Medium Hold Hairspray, perfect for everyday use.  

500 ml $19.95. Available at Professional Salons Across Canada

This is an aerosol spray can sample, and should last me quite a bit.  It DOES have that typical hairspray smell (a little bit less than basic store sprays), and leaves my hair quite sticky while holding down my whisps.

It DOES have staying power though - and held my curls in for a party - 7 hours - and my hair was still somewhat intact in the morning.  For my hair, this is a feat, as it's fine consistency generally leads to floppy curls really quickly. I did not even have to cake on too much spray either.

This was a redeeming factor with me.

The Face Shop Character Mask

Wash face. Pull out the mask and carefully place it on the face.  Remove after 10-15 minutes and tap lightly to absorb the remaining essence into the skin.  

3 masks for $9.  Available in stores and online at thefaceshop.ca as of December 2015

When I saw this mask, I was so stoked to put it on my face!  It was SO cute!

The application wasn't perfect (with this type of mask, it normally isn't as people's faces are so different), and once I was able to smooth it on to the best of my ability, I let it soak in for 15-20 minutes.

There was no noticeable scent, and it was cooling to the skin.   It didn't tear and was a good quality mask.

It scared Husband more than it scared Merlin (our African Grey parrot).

Don't wear this mask if you want to get lucky.

I think this would be a great girl's night mask, as it's silly, and would make for a memorable evening.

After I removed the mask, my skin was quite soft and my redness had disappeared.

***********

Until December's kit, happy shopping!

Jazz Age Jeopardy - My Murder Mystery Birthday Party!

Proof that Facebook advertising does work.

It was about a month before my birthday, and Husband asked what I wanted to do with my friends.  We've played pool, bowled, pubs, bars, nicer dinners, etc.

I saw an ad for Murder Mystery Dinners - and checked out the cost of going to a local venue - with the cost of diner, show, and drinks, it would cost each person WAY more than I would expect them to shell out.

So I posted an event to determine how many people would be interested in attending a murder mystery, and started researching DIY murder mysteries.

The free ones looked meh and had a lot of gaps into what I was supposed to do and how the party was supposed to run.

I found one that a woman would write in extra parts for a Doctor Who Mystery party, but the quote was a bit out of my comfort level.  And as much as *I* love Doctor Who, not all our friends know what the show is about, and it would be difficult for them to act out their parts. (this would STILL be SO cool).

I hummed and hawed between two better sites, and the pricing was sort of comparable, but Playing With Murder won out as not only did I find a discount code, but it included the number of players I had (19) with no upgrade cost.

I am SO happy I chose Playing With Murder - Jazz Age Jeopardy, as the 120 pages of paperwork involved with instructions, scavenger hunt clues, certificates, and character development was well laid out, and I was able to set the scene.

I think with DIY Murder Mysteries, you get out of it what you put into it.  Pinterest was awesome assistance with ideas for setting the stage, and I did a pretty kick arse decorating job.  I love creating, had most of the materials to create decorations, and it really did set the mood for the night.

Flapped Sequined Headbands I made

I made a Check In sign for the club, and you can see the handmade bottle labels behind me

If I hadn't had decorations and no one had dressed up as their characters, it would of been sub par and awkward.

I set up two photobooths - one upstairs, where guests who entered the Club had their picture taken with an intake sign;  the other was in the front entrance area.  I set up hand-made props, hats, and other accessories from our Halloween boxes. I found a frame for free, so people could "frame" themselves in the photos - as this looks really cool on Pinterest.  it works well in real life too :) 

Husband was doubtful that anyone would use it, but our guests did - they had a lot of fun with it and used the props, giggled, and asked people to take their pictures.  As usual, he said he doesn't know why he ever doubted my craziness and ideas.

Check In - I made everyone hold this when they put their coats away - as proof they were suspects!

Husband and me - we got goofy

The upper level was the Poker room where there had been some bloody mess from the past along with weaponry. 

Bullet holes were throughout this level and the remainder of the house - it was a Prohibition Age mobster-ridden Jazz Club in the 1920's afterall!


Pictures from the 1920's were also throughout the house - the basement level having old movie pictures - and was also the scene of the murder.


When Gared found out he was being murdered, he was SO stoked!  I loved his reaction :)  I think he was laying on the ground about 10 minutes before I got everyone together for Act II though.  Poor guy!

The main level was the main part of the club, with pom-pom banners creating a buzz and where the food and drinks were being served.

At first it was a bit awkward, as two guests arrived before 6pm, and the rest not until 6:10 and thereafter.  I was a bit nervous that people would bail out.

BUT, I created hype on the Facebook Page by posting the work being done to create the club, 1920's words, and talking about the food.  People put a LOT of effort into their costumes.  Every Single Person was dressed to the 9's and got into character. 

This made this party a great success!

I had no idea what my name was, but we found out that my name was "Narrator" - and I spoke like the main character on Schitz's Creek. And was told to use my indoor voice a few times - ha ha! 

A few people were confused about some of the clues (but 19 people = lots of talking + missing clues), but half guessed the right killer.

I think I chose the right parts for the right guests - it was pretty bang on! 

Friends having fun!

I would do a Murder Mystery every year if I could - but we want it to stay nice and fresh, so probably every 3-4 years unless there is demand for a higher frequency.

I should be a party planner - that would be SO much fun, as I'm SO into these kinds of things!

Pinterest and its ability to allow me to find & organize my thoughts and ideas is a fabulous tool in my life.  Unless I get lost in the Vortex.  Then that's just hours of my life gone away into outer Pinterest Space.  I really DO utilize the ideas I find on it though, so there is reasoning to my insanity.

Maybe we'll do Pirates next. I'd love to talk like a Pirate all night long!  Or in outer Space....or Zombies. SO many ideas!

If you're at all creative and have fun friends, I highly encourage you to check out the murder mysteries on Playing With Murder.  It's so simple, and worth the cost and effort put into creating an awesome party!

The Artsy Side of Crystal

Better late than never - and a little bit refocus not just on awesome products I have been given the opportunity to review, but focus on life in general.



Anyone who really knows me knows that I'm creative.



If people don't know me, they're amazed by my awesome creations.

I may be Clark Kent by day...but my true passion is being artsy!



Here's my whirlwind of September/October creations.



The Stairwell Family Tree

We painted most of the house at the beginning of September.



After painting, Husband requested a tree in the stairwell.  So I painted  a tree covering 3 walls. Then the birds. Later on, the pups.


There are also 2 leaves on the tree, as I couldn't decide if I wanted leaves on it or not - they in turn represent Husband and myself.

This was all Freehand.

The dogs...I couldn't finish these until I knew Fynn would be ok

The dogs, The Tree, The Parrots

Merlin & Rosco - Rosco even has fangs

Stryder doing his dance

Calvin & Hobbes zipping down the stairs (covering up where Fynn broke the wall 3 times)

Halloween

I won the Costume contest FINALLY at work.  I've been the Tardis, a Zombie Pirate, Parrot, and this year - Dragon!  Shazam!

My boss is also awesomesauce and let me decorate the workplace like a crime scene.  It was a lot of fun, and made me thankful Pinterest wasn't around when we got married.  

We forced all team members to wear silly hats and take Prison pictures to post on our wall.  Everyone got a laugh out of it, and people really came out of their shells :)

Handprints and writing were mainly myself and my boss - we're a bit crazy. Weapons and Evidence Tags were hand crafted by moi.

I'm in the Pen!

Merlin and me - our annual Halloween Selfie. Awesome 5 minute mesh makeup for dragon scale effect!

YES! I finally had a reason to make the Dexter Cupcakes!  Handmade Sugar Glass and all :)

My co-worker was Spaghetti and Meatballs - I was heating her up. Such a fun day!

I also created Christmas gifts for family - we're having it a month early with my family as my parents leave for Amurica on December 1st this year.  So weird.  

What's next on the creative list?  

Crystal's Epic Murder Mystery Party at the Cat's Meow Jazz Club - Prohibition Age debauchery will ensue!

Photobooth with props there will be!

Chickadvisors MasterCheeseClass - I Heart Cheese

So I know cheese isn't very good for my daily fat content.  I try not to splurge often.

I, however, was one of the 100 or so lucky ladies to be chosen to be part of Chickadvisor's Master Cheese Class held today in Toronto - I didn't even have to leave my living room/kitchen in Ottawa for it, thanks to the power of You Tube.

I received a snazzy apron, ingredient list, and recipe cards earlier last week, so I could keep organized and clean throughout the afternoon

My goods!

Sporting my newest apron (last one I got 20 years ago from Dairy Queen as Cake Decorator)

In a whirlwind afternoon, I am in a cheese coma!

Some of us were fortunate enough to spend the afternoon (either in class, or like me, via You Tube) with Christine Cushing, chef & cookbook author.

Frankly. I love cheese.  I've cut it out of most of my diet, but decided to give ChickAdvisor's awesome opportunity a go!

I cooked from home in a whirlwind, and whipped up 3 totally new recipes to add to my culinary skills - Fondant, Souffle, and Gnudi.

First time whipping eggs.  That sounds bad.

Soufflé ready for the oven!

Soufflé before it fell (which Christine says is normal - even hers fell afterwards)

The Souffle was created with mainly Canadian Aged Cheddar - I purchased St. Albert, as it was the best price, and locally sourced.  Eggs, flour, fresh herbs, and a few other ingredients one should already have in their house, and voila.

This was the first time I'd ever whipped egg whites, so I wasn't really sure what to expect...until it happened, and the egg while started to resemble whipped cream.  I poured it into the cheese mixture, and baked it for about 25 minutes.  I think it could of stayed in another few minutes, but it still tasted delightful.

I cooked along with Christine as best as I could (I didn't have my ingredients pre-prepared).  Successfully, as everything tasted fabulous!

I did half size recipes, as there are only two of us in the house - I was able to freeze most of the Gnudi for a later date - I inhaled four of them, as Husband fell asleep during this part of the class.

Mixing up the Gnudi

Still don't know what Gnudi is other than Good!

The Ricotta Gnudi is a type of dumpling - and with the fresh herbs, tasted fabulous and was SOOOOO filling. I'd make these again - and will, considering I put 8 of the freshly rolled Gnudi into the freezer already.  The parsley sauce took about 5 minutes to make - and again so simple to create.

Even Merlin, our African Grey, joined in the fun!

Merlin can cook too!

I'd love a different kind of cooking class via ChickAdvisor - I learnt a lot of new cooking skills, and Christine had a lot of useful tips.

The Fondant was the simplest, and I could literally make this in less than 10 minutes if I wanted to, and serve with fresh veggies and breads - I used a melba-type toast bread that we already had, and it was a hit.  Husband and I finished it in less than 5 minutes.  Gideon, the dog, took his broccoli piece, licked off the cheese and left the broccoli - what a goof!

You can follow Christine on Twitter & Instagram @ccfearless 

For now, I'm going to roll away and finish that glass of wine I poured...because wine was necessary in the Fondant recipe ;) That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!

I think I did this right...

Fondant - SO simple and scrumptious!

Top Box October 2015 Kit

What is Topbox?

A monthly beauty subscription kit that allows you to test out products you may otherwise have no idea about.

For $12 a month plus shipping CAD, it's a steal.

Generally I get one full sized product, and 3-4 sample sized products.  Generally the samples are generous sized.

It ships out on the 15th of each month.

If you want to join, please send me an email for a secret code to let you jump the waiting line!

Token dog appreciating the Cardboard Tube that Topbox arrives in:

The items:

This month's kit included a variety of products, including something I was running out of (hand cream).

Make Up Forever
Smokey Extravagant Mascara
A precision mascara that adds colume, length, and curl.  This clump-free mascara delivers long-lasting wear in one stroke.  Using 4D technology, an exclusive microdefining wax complex envelopes the lash surface in ultrablack pigments for far-away impact and up-close precision.  The dual-purpose, cone-shaped brush has a precision tip that separates lashes as the rounded base creates extravagent volume from any distance.  
6.8ml $28 Available at all Sephora Stores, and Sephora.ca


This mascara went onto my lashes quite easily in two strokes per eye (this is important as I'm half asleep when I do my make up at 5:30 in the morning before work).  It was thick, but not so thick that it looked cakey.  It also passed the blink test - blink 3 times after application to see if any mascara gets on your face - you know what I mean, ladies.

There are comparables out there at a better price point - I'd even say one of the CoverGirl Lashblast Mascaras would be pretty comparable at 1/3 of the price.

Needless to say, I'm still looking forward to using this to its last drop.

Delectable
Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream
Indulge your hard working hands with a well-deserved treat.  Packed full of goodness, this ultra nourishing hand cream is enriched with ingredients to smooth, nourish, and rejeuvenate hand and cuticles.  Rich and never greasy.  Enjoy super smooth, soft and nourished hands.  
60ml $15  Available at Be-Delectable.com

I was almost out of hand cream when this arrived.  Yes, I realize I can use regular moisturizers, I just find hand creams provide that extra umph my hands and cuticles need - especially with this colder weather approaching!

I only required a small dollap of this hand cream for it to effectively cover my hands - the first thing I noticed was the smell - a nice light coconut smell.  Where was my Margarita? And Cabana Boy?

*sigh*

It was effective enough, and certainly not greasy.  I do, however, disinfect and wash my hands a lot at work, especially with the cold season upon us, so it also washed off, hence reapplication required several times a day or my fingers started doing that wrinkly "I'm cold and dry" thing they do.

I like the product, and I'm on the fence as to whether or not I'll purchase it.  There are similar options at a lower price point that would do just the same job.

Elizabeth Arden
Flawless Future Powered by CeramideTM Night Cream
Flawless Future Night Cream supports skin's nightime renewal process to help brighten and even skin tone, and ease the appearance process to help brighten and even skin tone, and ease the appearance of fine lines.  It features a stress busting, mineral-rich botanical and an exclusive fragrance technology that's clinically proven to induce a feeling of well-being and relaxation for a better night's sleep.  
50ml $66 Available at Hudson's Bay the TheBay.com

I have a difficult time liking Elizabeth Arden products.  I find they make my face dry (even if they are a moisturizer), and I don't see results.

This stays consistent with my normal stance.

It seems relatively unscented.  And really. It's me.  I REALLY doubt the aroma will help me fall asleep or stay asleep.  If it did, I'd invest money in Elizabeth Arden Stocks yesterday.

Emani
HD Bamboo Setting Powder
Seamlessly set your makeup and optimize light-reflexion on the skin.  Fine lines, wrinkles, and pores optically fade as skin is visibly smoothed.

That description is awesomesauce!

I took out my face brush, and swatted away at the Emani powder until it was lightly dusted.  Then started dusting my face.  At first swat, I was not impressed and all I could see was powder - the reason I got away from powdered foundation.

Then I continued blending it into my skin.  And could no longer see the powder.  Or my nose pores.  Or the redness of my cheeks, OR THE POWDER.

This stuff is pretty amazing, and I see it lasting quite awhile - Sold!

The Aftermath of Not Exercising

It's been almost 4 weeks since I've been able to work out.

I ran up the escalator on Friday to go get my coffee from the Tim Hortons at the food court before work, and felt my groin overstretch.  I sort of slowed down running, but I was almost at the top - SO CLOSE.

I walked slowly the rest of the way to and from coffee.

I just started walking slowly down the stairs sometimes at work (4 flights) - I just feel pressured to go faster if someone else is behind me, so I'd rather not feel that anxiety.

I've been walking the dogs again as well.  One at a time - mainly Gideon, as Fynn's sutures are still healing and I don't want HIM to pull his leg the wrong way if he sees a Trigger (dog, person, runner, bicyclist, squirrel...anything that moves). Fynn and I did our first walk, and it was awesome - he didn't get all upset at his normal triggers, but he sat whining softly, and we were lucky enough not to get cornered, so only had to turn around once (avoiding an oncoming dog).

I've avoided the hills on these walks, again, to avoid over stretching.

Besides not doing what I've grown to love and need over the last year, I feel like crap.

It's like my metabolism just stopped, and I had to buy a new pair of pants as the one of two that fit me decided to pop a seam (after 2 or 3 years of constant wear - so they had a long haul).

Pants shopping is SO depressing.  Even when I was younger, I've had an hour glass shape.  The part that I've been working so hard on was finally starting to see some improvement when my accident happened.  So I'm back in my biggest pants, had to buy a bigger pair than normal as I'm on a super strict budget and can't get Ricki's $60 pairs that are made for real women, and had to find a pair that didn't make my legs look like sausages or give me muffin top.

Pants shopping makes me feel out of shape, huge, and just gross.

I just want a no pants party.

I had lots of no pants parties as a kid.

And right now, other than starving myself, there's not a lot that I can do.

I have been feeling so Blarg and Meh.  I have no energy for anything. It's a trek just to stay up past 7pm. Seriously.  It's taking a toll on me physically and mentally.  I'm in the abyss of negative thinking and self doubt. It's not so great.

If I get 6 hours of non-consecutive sleep, it's a bonus.

I have little motivation to do much.  I don't feel like cleaning, cooking, or anything really.  I feel really stuck.

I've likely been a grump at work too (sorry co-workers)

I've even had Husband drive us to and from work several times as I haven't been able to stay awake and needed a nap to somewhat function.

The only positive is I've finished making my Halloween costume, started Husband's Halloween Costume, am planning an epic Murder Mystery Party for my Birthday next month, and have been able to finish making some of my xmas gifts (budget + crafty talents = making things people need vs buying them).

To me, the above isn't a lot for me - I normally cram pack in hobbies and activities to stay busy and happy.  I've been more of a slothy vegetable.

3 more weeks. 3 more weeks. I can do this, right?

I am SO looking forward to working out again. It will be SO awesome!  It will hurt so much!

Soon Shaun T can kick my behind again