Birchbox - My First Three Months

It fits in the mailbox!

As I have previously mentioned, any time that I can order something online to take care of my impulse shopping, it will be ordered. Much like Stitch Fix, I heard about Birchbox and knew I wanted to have these adorable boxes of samples sent to me. I learned about Birchbox and Stitch Fix from the same blogger Jenna over at Eat, Live, Run. She must also like getting packages.

The interior box is a great size for small gifts in the future.

First Month: January

The products are packaged in such a way that I can't help but smile when I get the mail on the day it appears.

January Birchbox: apple/pear body lotion, fragrance, face cream, lip gloss, cleansing shampoo.

One of the reasons I thought Birchbox was perfect for me, and probably invented for me to find, is that I recently decided that my face routine was no longer working. My skin is dry, flaky, pores are very visible, I wasn't feeling clean after a wash. I also do not like my makeup in any way. I suppose the ol' "you get what you pay for" is definitely applicable for me. I buy drugstore brands and not even their high-end products. The fact is I don't like the idea that I need to spend lots of money on beauty products. I like to look natural. I don't like to spend too much time on how I look. However, as a professional in my career and with the way I dress for work I knew I had to make sure I am professionally presentable.




Second Month:February

The postcard included in each package includes a witty tie-in to what is going on around the country. This month they focused on love, of course, but mostly self-love. And not in that way. Entirely.

February Birchbox: curl cream, lotion, nail polish, tinted face cream, chocolate.

The renewed interest in finding the right products stems from a certain wonderful past supervisor who once told me, "You always look very natural. But you can also look a little bit like a zombie. You might want to think about makeup products that cover your lack of sleep." She was entirely correct. I don't sleep well and my face is evidence of that. I never thought about it that way until she pointed it out to me. I did not take it personally as it was well-meant. And she did it in a way that was comfortable for me, as in, she used her nerdy knowledge and called me a zombie. The truth was I had not thought about it at all. I was in my mid-twenties and had not spent much time in those years considering my beauty routine as part of an overall look or presentation of self. No matter how many times I told students entering career development workshops, working on mock interviews and finding that perfect suit for interviews, or etiquette workshops, I never internalized the fact that I was ignoring that highly useful information in myself.

Third Month:March

The postcard this month included a partnership with the male side of the Birchbox company and the March Madness that is inevitable.This includes a chance to do brackets and win prizes.No, I did not join the brackets. I am ready for baseball and this whole basketball thing is just a terrible distraction from Spring Training.

March Birchbox: lotion, skin tint, body glaze, fragrance, hair tie, emery board.

So Birchbox has become the way I can dive into all of these crazy products out there and see if any of them help with my concerns. So far, none of it has been entirely perfect but I do like a few of the things I have received. I am really excited that two of the three have included fragrance because I have also been thinking about changing that up. I have used the same fragrance since high school and though I don't wear it often I think changing it up, or having several options, could be a good thing. I also am highly intrigued by the skin stain (here is a link, you may want to check on a non-work device)  and the card that came with it. I would never have thought of something like this. The one product that I have definitely considered purchasing is the Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream. I don't know that it is supposed to be used on the entire face, but for the week I did so I had a lot less dryness issues. Could be an answer to my frustration there.

Overall I really like getting the small packages that bring something new to fixate on for a few days. I will probably continue to do this for a few more months at least to see if anything brilliant and perfect comes my way.

Human Nature versus Dog Nurture

Though it is not an impulse of mine. I am a tried and true dog lover.

I grew up with dogs. Labs to be precise. We bred and birthed them in our home. We cooed at, socialized, and loved them until they went to other homes. We dog-sat for friends and family members while they went on trips. My parents hunted and never are the labbys more happy than when they are prancing through tall grass on the scent. I never knew a dog to be mistreated in my presence.





Then I grew up. We still have dogs, though fewer, and are no longer breeding the beauties. I learned there are people in this world who obtain an animal only to abuse and neglect it at every turn. I won't try to rationalize these actions. It seems impossible but happens every day. And yes, we humans seem to have the nature of hurting the downtrodden or those we deem "lower" than ourselves of any species.

Then Wags & Whiskers came into my life during my random stalking of available pups online. I also will not wax poetic (as if I could) on the wonderful work they do. What I want to say is how much they mean to me. I have found a place where my own love of animals is matched if not exceeded. I have found an outlet for my desire and ability to help organize events and help from afar as I am not able to foster an animal in my own home at this time. I have found a group of people that focus on loving and caring for animals that had nothing before. I have also challenged my own skewed ideas of nature versus nurture in learning about different breeds and training methods. Not only is a dog an extension of the care it receives from the owner it is a direct reflection of that person's inner being.

I hope to live up to the examples set by my parents and the volunteers in this organization.

Wags is currently running one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. If you are so inclined I would love to donate your funds to these animals.




http://www.razoo.com/story/2013-No-Kill-Walk-For-The-Animals-1?referral_code=share

Craft Time with Brother

To sum up my hilariously easy relationship with my brother, an excerpt of a recent conversation:

Me (2/1/13): I think for my bday and to get going on your etsy plans you should make me a swift like this.

The original form of my newest impulsive obsession.

Brother:


Brother (2/25/13 - paraphrased phone call): Hey, I don't have the dude [his son] this weekend, let's make your thingy. Sound good? Do you have anything you can send me on how this thing is made? Cool. See you then.

Pretty!

A backstory. I have become more inclined to buy fancier yarn for my knitting projects. When bought in a cute boutique, such as Lakeside Yarn in Excelsior, MN, they will wind it into a workable ball before I leave the store. That is assuming I remember to ask them to do so. However, when ordering yarn off the internet it comes in a twisted, frustrating "hank." A friend who is infinitely craftier than me has her own swift, shown above, for creating a workable ball. This was completely mind-blowing to me. Now I have knowledge of, and access to, thousands of options for yarn. This could be the end of my discretionary funds.

What the hank looks like unwound and ready for the swift.

I sent my brother the text message above because he is very good at creating things from salvaged parts. He creates things from scrap metals and parts from diesel engines and other such interesting projects from ideas off the top of his head. Hence, his plans to create an etsy shop and let others appreciate these creations.

So really, being the selfless sister that I am, I asked him to create a swift for me for his own personal growth in the creative business.

Measure twice, cut once.

Focus.

Our project took place in the father's shop where we had access to so many different types of wood and tools. Once we decided on the material, Brother took over and created the swift I now call mine. I even got to use some power tools. Don't worry. There was supervision. I cannot otherwise be trusted.

Photo montage of work and materials!

Though it will eventually be stained, and I need a Nostepinne (Scandinavian for Nest-Stick) to wind onto, this swift is ready for business. And I love it.

Don't mind the fake hank. I needed a visual!

Total project time: Less than two hours
Total project cost: Less than $4.00 (all wood except dowel from Father's shop)
Project outcome: Fun times with Brother and using power tools

Also - does this suggest that impulsive behavior is a family trait?