Graze Box Review #3


My third Graze box arrived yesterday and instead of eating it all right away like the last time, I made sure to save it for the morning for you guys.

My favorite nibble overall was the summer berry flapjacks! They were so chewy and sweet and the berry-infused cranberries gave them a fruity kick. I've gotta say I loved 3/4 of my box. My mom loved the mango chutney so I gave them to her. My little sister also loved everything and had a bite of them all. Definitely will be looking forward to my Graze box every two weeks and so far I haven't been disappointed. 

Once again, I still have my FRIENDCODE available for you guys. If you sign up with my code you can receive your 1st and 5th box absolutely free! Take advantage of it. Here are the directions.

Directions:
1. Go to graze.com
2. Enter the code: KRISTA4KP
3. Tell them what you like and where you're located.

Here are the nutrition facts of the treats I've received. 



xox.

krissy

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is having a pleasant thanksgiving with your family and friends. I haven't been able to spare much time today but I figured I'd share one thing with you guys. 

Here are my yummy pink cupcakes that I contributed to the dinner table as dessert. Enjoy! :) 

(Sorry for the bad pictures)




xox.

krissy

Pre-Thanksgiving!

I hope you guys are getting ready for Thanksgiving just like I am! Remember, don't eat too much and enjoy the time spent with your family and friends.

P.S - The Kate Spade New York giveaway ends in 3 days so enter here!

xox.

krissy

Random Tuesday...


So today has been such a bland day so far. I started off the day eating Rice-a-Roni for the first time ever. Don't let the picture fool you. I don't tend to ever eat things like these but I thought I'd give it a try. Yay for junk food, I guess. 

Also Netflix hasn't been up to par lately so I've been completely bored after finishing the Gossip Girl series. Maybe I'll go back to finishing up 90210. 


I'm also now one of the many who decided to work out during the Thanksgiving break. I tried this challenge before but sadly only made it to day 7 before completely forgetting about it. So far I'm on day 2 and I'm trying to stay motivated. Toning up my legs will be a great achievement!


I figure I'd end my day watching two of my favorite movies. Hopefully this brightens up the rest of my semi boring Tuesday.

Hope you guys are having fun! 

xox.

krissy

It's Monday, But It's OK!

I'm not the greatest fan of Monday's but I'm surviving this one so far. It's officially Thanksgiving break and I'm doing absolutely nothing at the moment. I did make an escape to the mall yesterday with Andrew and surprisingly I didn't buy a thing! Then a bad snowstorm caught us out of nowhere and we were almost stranded. Was such a nice way to end a Sunday.

So far, I'm stuck trying to save money for Christmas presents and an upcoming birthday. Money management is so hard as a teenager but I'm somewhat living through it. 

I think this calls for some relaxation. Maybe some Breakfast At Tiffany's will cure my boredom.

I hope everyone's having a much more delightful Monday than I am! Enjoy. :)

xox.

krissy

CanvasPop Deal!


*Example Picture*

At CanvasPop you can upload any photos from your computer, Instagram or Facebook to be printed. With prices starting at $30 and the holiday season coming up, it's totally worth it.

As my deal to one lucky reader I'm giving away a Voucher code for $30 for free. The code expires 3 days from today and can be used on any print/size. First reader to check out with the code redeems it!

Directions:
1. Go to canvaspop.com
2. When you're all done shopping, click on the "Enter Group Buy Voucher/Promo Code Here" field of your shopping cart.
3. Enter code: RWDAZJPQEJ8B3
4. Checkout and enjoy!

xox.

krissy

Thanksgiving Break!

Hooray for Thanksgiving Break! Finally, a week off from school which is just what I needed. I have dedicated my week off for catching up on sleep, eating wonderful meals and maybe a bit of shopping. 

So far, I haven't done much and won't be doing anything for the rest of the day. I will also dedicate some of my time towards the blog of course so hopefully some fun ideas will get thrown my way. 

I hope you guys are having a wonderful Saturday!

xox.

krissy

Another Birthday!


First off, sorry for the horrible picture quality. It was dark and the lighting was pretty bad and my brother devoured his cake before everyone got to take a look at it. 

Yesterday was Kyle's birthday and he finally turned 13. He can finally say that he's officially a teenager and brag about it.

Now to admit that these past two weeks has piled my stomach up on junk food but it was worth it!

xox.

krissy

Birchbox - November 2013


I received my Birchbox yesterday and I was a bit excited to see what was inside. This month's theme is More Good. Here's a peek:


November is all about more thanks, giving, thoughtfulness and of course, samples. In fact, this month Birchbox will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the Birchbox shop to No Kid Hungry (a nationwide organization that works to end childhood hunger). 

Now is the time where you won't feel guilty for splurging on that tube of mascara that you so "needed"!

This is what's included in my box this month:


I can honestly say that I've received the most items in this month's box than all my previous month boxes. Overall this box does not compare to my ipsy box at all, but I did love a few of my new items. 

My overall favorites were theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in beauty queen, DDF Amplifying Elixir, and the Tiossan body cream. I'm not a fan of parfum and tea samples but I'll still use them. I didn't mind the nail polish too much but I just didn't like the color. 

theBalm Stainiac was amazing as a lip stain. I know that usually I hate lip stains for the dry feeling afterwards on my lips but this was so much different. This stain color was a mixture of a light red or a slightly dark pink. It also went on like a gloss and dried smoothly on my lips. You can use this product as a cheek stain but I just don't feel sanitary doing so. 

The DDF Amplifying Elixir is also a great moisturizer. So far I've used it in the morning and at night and my skin stays smooth and nice. It's a transparant liquid so it doesn't leave any dry marks on your face. But you should also use another moisturizer (with spf) over it, especially in the morning.

Overall the Tiossan body cream was very moisturizing and a bit hard for it to actually spread on your skin but once it did, it felt amazing. The Joie "Folle de Joie" parfum smelled great and wasn't too strong. The Color Club nail polish is basically just like every other nail polish which wasn't too exciting. The Ahmad Tea London (which was a lifestyle extra) was great but not a huge difference from just a regular cup of Lipton.

I've gotta say, my box wasn't the greatest this month but I'll still be looking forward to next month's box. 

Here's everything that was included in my box to shop for as full size items in the Birchbox shop. 

Remember, shopping this month contributes to feeding children!



xox.

krissy

Sweater Weather!

Ok, so I told you guys I would've posted about those warm fuzzy sweaters from H&M that I got about a week ago. Well, here it is! I couldn't actually get decent pictures of them in person so I snuck over to H&M's website and took the pictures of the ones I own.

One reason I'm so interested in sharing these with you guys is because winter is almost here and these sweaters are not only fashionably cute but reasonably priced too! I got so many compliments from wearing these specific ones to school due to the style and texture which I love.


Fuzzy Long Turtleneck
Price - $29.95
Available here

Ok, whoever told you that turtlenecks are out, I think they're so in this season. This particular one is a bit loose throughout and the material is super SOFT and so warm. I pulled this off by wearing it as a dress with leggings because it really was long, especially on me since I'm only about 5'7.


Bubbly Yarn Knit Sweater
Price - $12.95
Available here

I loved the fact that this sweater was just so...different. The yarn reminds me of super tiny cotton balls strung together but they're fuzzy and attract people. Literally. I walked around school and everyone just wanted to touch it because it stands out and even looks soft. I felt like a fuzzy lamb. Also dont worry about the knitting, it holds up and still keeps you warm. By the way did you see the price? At only about $13 you cannot go wrong with this!


Here are some H&M models wearing both of the sweaters. The long turtleneck is on the left while the knit sweater is on the right (in red).


xox.

krissy

The Designer Wishlist

Now who wouldn't like a new designer statement piece? I know I sure would love one!

Because of the prices and the fact that I'm an unemployed teenager it has been pretty hard for me to own a new season piece and not one from the previous year that has finally hit the clearance rack.

I'm vowing to treat myself to a specialty one day. I'm hoping to save enough money (my lunch allowance) to actually be able to afford something quite simple, nice, and new!

So, I've been scouring the internet looking for something that my eyes will fall in love with. Let's just say that I've found too many things that I'm attracted to. I want to literally buy them all, but that won't happen unless I want to be in debt. :(

Of course I'll share some of my finds with you guys. Here's a peek:

My obsession for shiny minibags!
@MillyNY


Classy watches!
@MarcbyMarcJacobs


Cute coin purses!
@KateSpadeNewYork


& Chic Parfums!
@Chanel



And so much more! I'm in heaven. <3



xox.

krissy

More Social Media Buttons!

Remember the social media post I did about a week ago?

Well I added new buttons to the right sidebar so that you don't have to refer back to the post to get the direct links. Now you can simple click and head straight on over to the blog's facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram, google +, email, and bloglovin'. You can keep up with everything there and read more about everything here.

Thanks for the support!

P.S - The Kate Spade New York Giveaway will be ending in 2 weeks! Make sure to enter to have a chance of winning a new pair of ksny earmuffs this winter!

xox.

krissy

Graze Box Review #2


Here is my second Graze box. I signed up for my box to be delivered every 2 weeks so these will be sort of daily. 

Sorry for the pictures! I would have had actual pictures if everything wasn't so yummy and I didn't eat them all without photographing them. Oops!

My favorite nibble overall was hard to choose since I really liked the "garden of england" snack but wasn't fond of the blackcurrants and I did love the "key lime pie" snack but also wasn't the greatest fan of the sponge pieces.

But...I've decided that the "garden of england" snack was my favorite out of the four due to the fact that I've never had dried apples or strawberries and they were pretty great. I love dried fruit! 

By the way, I still have my FRIENDCODE available. If you sign up using my code you can get your 1st and 5th box free! So let's say if you didn't like your first box at all. Well guess what? You can cancel at anytime! Graze is only $6 for each box. I still have four codes for you guys available so here are the directions.

Directions:
1. Go to graze.com
2. Enter the code: KRISTA4P
3. Tell them what you like and where you're located.


Enjoy! I know I sure did. :)
xox.

krissy

Yay for Friday!

I'm so happy this week is almost over. Even though it has only been a 4-day school week, I feel like I've been in class all week. I'm so exhausted and I'm hoping to end the week with a good snack and relaxation.

So far I do not have any weekend plans. I hope I get to go shopping or just have a good time to relieve myself from all of the homework and schoolwork from this week. Hopefully my wishes will come true. I need the luck!

I hope everyone is having a good Friday! It's my favorite day of the week. Have fun!

xox.

krissy

Ipsy - November 2013

I'm so excited! I'm trying a new subscription which is Ipsy. I've literally been waiting months (maybe weeks) on the wait list and it's finally my turn. Yay!


Ipsy is all about being fabulous. It's a beauty subscription bag and it's only $10 a month, with free shipping (just like Birchbox) that comes in a different makeup bag each month! They also have a points reward system for doing reviews on your monthly products (10 points each). You can save up enough points to redeem them for monthly bonus items for your glam bag


As you can see, I received a lot of full size items this month, all with a value of over $70+. I think I'm in love! This month's theme is "Glam It Up". Also the makeup bag is sooooo cute!


Pixi Beauty Bronzer in summertime
Em Michelle Phan Pillow Cushiony Lip Balm in vanilla

I've honestly never tried bronzer before so this will definitely be new to me. It's shimmery and light. I have heard about the Pixi brand and this sample size is cool. However, I know that Michelle Phan is one of the few stylists behind Ipsy so it's really cool that she's letting her subscribers try her products...at FULL SIZE!


Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Laquer in champagne
Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon in hot damn

I love trying new nail polishes no matter the brand! I've never heard of Nailtini so this will be a new experience as is most of the items in this bag. The color is close to a nude sparkle in my eyes so it's great for this season and it's also full size so it'll last awhile. The lip crayon is also amazing and bright! I love the color because you can never go wrong with reds. It goes on pretty smooth and doesn't have a dry stain feeling. Did I mention that this is also FULL SIZE. Be a Bombshell can be my new favorite!


Cailyn Built in Sponge Tip Mineral Eye Shadow in champagne
Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in amethyst 

I'm assuming that autumn's color is champagne which is really not a bad look. The Cailyn mineral eye shadow goes on like a smooth glitter dust but stays in place like a shadow. The color is really light but works well with my brown eyes. What I really adore is the Starlooks gem eye pencil in amethyst because I've never had a pencil in any other color besides black. I've never heard of these brands either so it was fun to try something new...in full size!

I definitely had fun this month going through all of the items. I will stay a glam bag subscriber with Ipsy because it was so worth the wait! Can't wait until next month. :)

You can check out more about these items online here: 


xox.

krissy


Happy Thursday!

But what's even more exciting is that tomorrow is Friday! I'm always looking forward to my Friday's which leads into the weekend.

Lately, I've been getting pretty exhausted with school. The amount of homework has just been increasing and I hardly have time anymore. I finally came through to completing an application for a college nearby that I wouldn't mind going to. I decided to major in Mass Communications if I went there which is one of my interests besides English and Journalism. I can say that I'm actually looking forward to it but also slightly scared.

I think what I really need right now is a vanilla bean creme frappuccino from Starbucks. It sounds just about amazing right now. Also a nice toasted veggie sandwich isn't half bad either. The hunger will soon kick in and I still have a few hours before lunch. Ugh!

I hope you readers are having a great day. :)

xox.

krissy

They Say It's Your Birthday!


Well, if the cake isn't clear enough, today was my second youngest brother's birthday! He finally turned 9. Usually when there's a birthday there's also a birthday cake. We had tons of cake, donuts and other junk to satisfy. I also decided to make my household favorite shrimp alfredo today. Delish!

School wise, I had a pretty decent day. I love having a 4-day school week due to the previous 3-day weekend. Even though it was a bit chilly out, I didn't mind since I was so comfy and warm in my new fuzzy oversized H&M sweater. Maybe I'll share that with you guys since it is that time of the year. Yay sweater weather!

I hope you guys had a great Tuesday because I sure did. :)

xox.

krissy

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Review


I'm always on the hunt for mascara that works with my eyelashes and so far...blah. I purchased the Benefit "They're Real" mascara from Birchbox using my rewards points (leaving me only to pay $3!) and I received the "Bad Gal Lash" mini for purchasing a Benefit Cosmetics full size product for free which was an ongoing promotion at Birchbox. This was a pretty good deal - money wise.


Naturally my eyelashes are curled upwards, medium length, pretty thick and bundled together which can suck usually since mascara can hardly make them look any better.  I still like to wear mascara because it's one of my favorite make up products. It can make your eyes pop on a any day which I love.

As you can see, the brush for the "They're Real" mascara is fit to grab and comb most of your lashes and make them look fuller and longer. In my case there is a slight difference. It made my lashes slightly more spaced and thicker but not by much. I only applied one coat because the mascara itself is not too thick and I didn't want raccoon eyes. For a value of $23, I can say that it's worth it.

As you can see in the above picture, the "Bad Gal Lash" brush is very dramatic and thick. I tend to get stuck with brushes like these and it doesn't really give me much of a change. It adds slight volume but not much more of anything else. It's really hard to apply mascara on your lower lashes with this size brush and the mascara itself is pretty thick even with one coat. Too many coats may leave your eyes too thick with mascara which leads to dryness and clumps.
Overall I would say that the "They're Real" mascara is better for me. I also love that I tired something new!

xox.

krissy

Oh My Lemony Goodness!

Hey, it's my 100th post!


Usually it's pretty hard to find inexpensive organic/natural products for your skin but I think I've found one!


Introducing the Farmers' Market lemongrass and basil bar soap. OMG, the smell of this soap is so ridiculous (in a good way). I love sniffing it before I use it, if that's not weird enough. The texture is also nice and smooth. Definitely recommend as a face/body soap for any skin types (there is an unscented version for sensitive skin). This specific bar has a blend of organic shea, blueberry and avocado butters. All of the soaps are made with fresh ingredients for only a retail value of $4.99! 

Check it out here!

So you guys know I'm obsessed with getting perfect (or almost perfect) skin. Personally it's hard finding a soap that's natural and doesn't eventually cause me to have breakouts. This soap does wonders at such a reasonable price. 

xox.

krissy

What's On Your Wishlist?

It's that time of the year again! I love shopping for Christmas gifts only because I love giving and receiving smiles. Now I know that there are times when things are pricey so I gathered up a few simple favorites of mine that can be considered as stocking stuffers from Sephora (only because it's luxury for less) that I recommend for a guy/girly/etc all under $25.

For the Girl:
Benefit Cosmetics: Goodtime Gals
Brighten your complexion with this portable tint, primer and luminizer set. 
Available here for $17.

For the Guy/Dad:

Jack Black: Mighty Minis Duos
Protect and moisturize your skin this winter with this portable duo. 
Available here for $12.

For the Mom:
Philosophy: The Cookie Exchange Set
3 piece moisturizing set for soft lips, hair and body. 
Available here for $24.

Don't worry. We have almost 2 months to prepare and hopefully by then I'll probably have some good deals and ideas to share.

xox.

krissy

Twitter Update!


Woo hoo! We've reached over 500 followers on Twitter. I wanna say thanks to all my readers who've made this even possible. 

If you don't follow this blog already, you can follow me @KrissyDeane to keep updated with everything going on here.

xox.

krissy

For All You Starbucks Lovers...


Let's just say this will make you definitely want to spare your last $5 for Starbucks! 

For those of you who don't know, Groupon is a website that features deals and gift certificates in your local or national area. They decided to celebrate their 5th birthday on Wednesday with an amazing deal for Starbucks. $5 for a $10 Starbucks gift card. Who doesn't like Starbucks? (Besides my picky boyfriend Andrew).

There's only 1 day and a few hours left to purchase your own. This can also make a nice gift for a coffee lover. More than 100,000 deals have been sold so far according to the Huffington Post. I personally made sure to definitely get my own. Will be heading out to try the signature holiday "Caramel Brulee Frappuccino" soon. Yum!

You can purchase your own e-gift card here. Limit one per person. Limited time and quantity!

(P.S - If you refer a friend and they make a purchase, you will receive $10 in Groupon bucks).


xox.

krissy

Rivet and Sway - Review


Now I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I have 20/20 vision yet still have vision problems at times if that's even possible. My eyes are rather strange. I've never worn glasses a day in my life but maybe that can change all thanks to Rivet and Sway!

There are styles that are suggested for the frame of your face to give you an idea of the fit on your face. 

*Director's Cut*

*5th Avenue*


*High Five*

I ordered "Director's Cut" in uptown black, and "5th Avenue" in cherry blossom, and "High Five" in pink bow tie. They arrived super quick thanks to the free Fed-Ex 2-day shipping! I decided to give them a quick review to share my "Home Try-On" experience.

I've gotta say that my overall favorite is "High Five" in pink bow tie due to the smaller frame size on my face.

The ordering process was super easy. You can pick out up to three glasses at a time online to try on at home for free. Yes, free! No eye doctor appointments needed. Once you find your favorite fit, you pack them right back up in the packaging they came in and put them in your mailbox. (Shipping label included to return try-ons). You can purchase your favorite fit online (all frames are $199) and even add your prescription so that your glasses can be made and delivered at once without any appointments. 

xox.

krissy

Social Media.

So I decided that since the majority of people use the social media with their daily routine, I'll go ahead and make pages so that you guys can keep up with the blog, posts, giveaways, and etc. Below are the links where you can like and follow this blogs social media pages:


Support and keep up to date on everything. :) 

Thanks!

xox.

krissy

Kate Spade New York Giveaway!


Enter to win a new pair of Kate Spade New York earmuffs (pictured above) this winter! Read about it here!

Giveaway is open to residents of the US and the winner will be chosen randomly by PunchTab.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email sent from PunchTab or a new winner will be announced. Good Luck!


xox.

krissy

Let It Snow!


For those of you who don't know, I live in Colorado Springs and yes the weather here is ridiculous. Colorado is probably one of the very few states where you can experience every single season in just one day!


Today was a pretty chilly day and it actually decided to snow a bit once I got out of school! All I can say is thank goodness for these earmuffs. I'm not much of a hat person since I hate "hat hair". These are probably by far the cutest earmuffs ever! 

The headband is the color teal and made from merino wool. It also says "Baby It's Cold Outside" in red across the headband which perfectly describes this weather. The fur on the ears by the way is faux fur and not merino wool but it still keeps your ears very warm and toasty. 

This is definitely great for people who love styling their hair on cold days but hate messing them up with chunky hats. It's as simple as wearing a headband.

Lucky for you guys, I'm giving one lucky reader a chance to win their very own pair for this winter! Enter Here!

xox.

krissy

All Set!

I believe I'm officially done with the changes for the blog! As you can see, the theme has changed all together thanks to a purchase I made at Designer Blogs.

The fonts and colors have also slightly changed. I will be making more changes as I go along so be prepared. Any suggestions are welcome!

xox.

krissy

Under Construction.

Just a heads up that I'll be working on the blog a bit tonight and tomorrow. A few things would look weird for now but that's because I'm changing it for the best! Don't worry, your computer isn't malfunctioning. :)

xox.

krissy

Born to be wild!

Oh, would you look at that. It's Sunday! Basically this weekend is over but honestly this has been the greatest weekend in a long time.

The costume party was great last night. I tried a lot of new foods and I think I've even made some new favorite hors d'oeuvres.



Today I went all the way to Castle Rock with my family and Andrew. We did a lot of window shopping with the exception of my mom and I. We love to shop! I had some delicious sushi for lunch while everyone else had basic Chinese food. My fried California roll (pictured above) was amazing and very fulfilling. Definitely will want to try it again in the future. Highly recommend to all sushi lovers! 
Now to look forward to the rest of the new week. Hopefully all goes well as it did this weekend. 

xox.

krissy

Semi-normal Saturday.

I'm looking for inspiration! Somewhere...hopefully it finds me first.

Today I didn't really have any plans besides a Halloween costume party with Andrew. Hopefully that goes well. I don't tend to go to costume parties but maybe this will work out and change my mind for the future. 

As for the blog, I'm searching for some amazing simple themes that'll just beautify every word here. Wish me luck!


xox.

krissy

Up and Coming Makeover!

So I've decided to change things up a bit around here. Now who doesn't like makeovers? I'm vowing to myself to improve this blog not only for myself but also for you guys! It's already November and I've noticed that my blog isn't what I originally prepared for it to be like. I plan on making that my new goal for the rest of my blogging lifetime. :) I'm so excited! Hopefully I'll have a new fun theme and plug-ins just to spice things up a bit. Be prepared!

xox.

krissy

And the winner is...

Congratulations Tiffany! You're the lucky winner to win an introductory box from Julep. Be sure to check your email to confirm and accept your prize.

There definitely will be more giveaways so be on the lookout you guys!

xox.

krissy