Glossybox February 2021

Hello Lovelies! I have a fun—and possibly my favorite—beauty subscription box to share with you today. Not only is Glossybox beautifully packaged, it contains amazing products that truly feels like a little treat each time I open the box. 

What it Glossybox? Glossybox is a monthly beauty box that contains 5 deluxe-sized (occasionally full-sized) beauty products that can include makeup, skincare, haircare, and more.

Price: $21 a month (plus tax, if applicable) shipping included for the US, shipping to Canada is $5

Use my referral link HERE to save 20% off your first box (works on 12 month subscription also) or use my code: ANGELA-R2BA

How is it packaged? Each month Glossybox arrives in a sturdy outer shipping container. Inside, you’ll find a lovely box (sometimes themed) that is not only sturdy but reusable. Inside the Glossybox you’ll find your products nestled on a bed of shredded paper packaging and wrapped in tissue paper that’s tied with a ribbon. Honestly, this is one of the most beautifully wrapped subscription boxes that I’ve ever had the pleasure of unboxing.

Is a product card included? Yes, each box comes with a little booklet that contains prices and tells you about each product.

 

Website: Glossybox US

February’s Theme: Sing, Dance, Love, Repeat (seriously, how cute is this box?)

Here’s what I received in my February  Glossybox

 1-Avant Skincare Velvet Perfecting Rose Sugar Lip Scrub (full size, $71)—yes, you read that right, $71 lip scrub. Insane! This feels like a thick lip balm with a slight bit of exfoliation. Does it seem like it will be a good lip scrub? Yes. Would I pay $71 for it? No. Honestly, it’s very rare that I buy a sugar lip scrub even if they only cost a few bucks because I have the ingredients in my kitchen (sugar, honey).

2-SYS Moisturizing Cream (Deluxe Mini, $19.99)—I’m always excited to get any moisturizer with prickly pear because I know it will hydrate and seal in the hydration. I can’t wait to try this one out.

3-Natura Pataua Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner (Deluxe Mini, $8 set)—my first thought when I opened these was the little bottles were adorable. The second was that they could have actually filled the bottles all the way. These have a subtle fresh scent and I’m eager to give these a try.

4-Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Wow (Full Size, $15)—this is an icy pink multi-use loose powder. I don’t usually reach for these types of loose powders but I do think this would make a lovely eyeshadow.

5-Lapcos Collagen Eye Mask (Full Size, $4)—I never say no to eye masks and I’ve heard that this brand is very hydrating. I’m going to toss these in my fridge then give them a try for my next spa night.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (1 point a piece for the lip scrub, shampoo/conditioner, eye mask, moisturizer and half a point for the shimmer powder)

 

Favorite Product in February’s Box: SYS Moisturizing Cream

Least Favorite Product in February’s Box: Bellapierre Shimmer Powder

 

Value of January’s Box: $117.99

3 Full Size, 2 Deluxe Mini

 

My thoughts on my January GlossyBox: I’m still trying to get over the $71 lip scrub. Would anyone really pay that for a lip scrub?

Getting back to the box, I thought it was a decent box and a nice mix of everything. I don’t really see a theme here. When I opened the shipping box and spotted the cassette tape design I was expecting to get a ‘80s or ‘90s vibe from the products, especially when the product booklet said ‘retro’, but that wasn’t the case. I’m not really sure what they were aiming for but I still love the products in the box. 

One of my favorite things about Glossybox is that it’s like getting a little self-care treat each month. 

Another plus with this subscription is the boxes they come in are reusable. They’re perfect for storing things in and make wonderful gift boxes. The boxes themselves are also protected by an outer shipping box, which I love because that reduces the chance the items will be damaged and it saves the reusable box from being dinged up.

My code also works on all subscription choices. Using my code: ANGELA-R2BA or clicking HERE will save you 20%, meaning a year’s subscription will cost $183.40 instead of the regular price of $210.00

 

Give the gift of Glossybox.

All links in this post are affiliate links. I earn credits to spend on future boxes.

Coloring and Classics Subscription Box Review (January 2021)

Hello Lovelies,

 

I’m back again with the Coloring and Classics Box.  Adult coloring books and activity books are great stress relievers as well as great items to use while carving out a little ‘me time’. Because I’m such a fan of adult coloring books and activity books, I was eager to give this box a go.

 

Before I tell you what I received in January’s Coloring and Classics Box, let me tell you more about the box. 

What is Coloring and Classics? It’s a monthly subscription box that contains one hardcover book in your chosen genre, an adult coloring book, and an adult activity book.

There are two options: a Coffee option, which will contain 12oz of premium hand roasted coffee in your choice of ground or whole bean and a No Coffee option.

There are seven genres to choose from: Acclaimed Fiction, Acclaimed Nonfiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, or Sci-Fi.

Your first box will contain a pack of colored pencils. Each box is 2 to 3 times the value of what you pay.

Cost: No Coffee Option: $18.99 (shipping included) Coffee Option: $30.99 (shipping included)

How it is packaged: The box is a sturdy cardboard (there’s no outer packaging) and on the inside. The items were wrapped in lime green tissue paper.

Is a product card included? There was no product card included but most of the items did have prices listed on them. 

Website: Coloring and Classics or Amazon (not affiliate links)

What I received in January’s Coloring and Classics

(I selected the No Coffee option and Romance Genre)

1—Love is Blind by William Boyd  (hardcover $26.95)—this is a 2018 release and, while it looks interesting, I think it’s going to be one of those books you have to read a few chapters to see if it’s going to catch your fancy. Still it was a nice selection.

2—Mind Bending Mazes ($9.99)—these are some intricate mazes and I know the perfect person who will love this book.

3—Ancient Aliens: The Coloring Book from The History Chanel ($9.99)—this is a fun looking coloring book filled with images from the show Ancient Aliens on the History Chanel. While this will be fun to color, I’m actually going to turn some of the images into thread painting embroideries, which will be fun considering Serpent Mound—a local site—is included in the book.

 

And of course, the Chupa Chups lollipops are back and this one is orange flavored. 

Total value of January's Coloring and Classics box:  $46.93

Rating: 3 out of 3                                                                                                                                 (Each box will receive a rating. If I liked a product 1 point, if I’m unsure .5 point, if I don’t like the product 0 points)

My Overall Thoughts: This was a nice box. The coloring book was nice quality with crisp white, heavy pages and I really liked that this was something a bit different from the coloring books they’ve included in the past. The book has me intrigued and I like that it’s one I haven’t heard of before. While I’m not keeping the maze book, it’s great quality and I know that my cousin will love working the mazes and it saves me from having to order one for her birthday.

 

I’m very impressed with this box although I do wish that they would include some type of coloring utensils or maybe some pens or pencils to work the activity books with. Maybe a bookmark every so often since books are included each month. I know I say it almost every month but it would be nice to get something other than the lollipop—I have so many orange flavored ones now.

What I would like to see in future boxes:

-I would like to see a tea option for us non-coffee drinkers.

-It would be nice to have a subgenre offer

-I would like to see additional coloring implements included in each box (such as sharpeners, pencil cases/pouches, blenders, burnishers, and such)

 

Glossybox January 2021 Review

Hello Lovelies! I have a fun—and possibly my favorite—beauty subscription box to share with you today. Not only is Glossybox beautifully packaged, it contains amazing products that truly feels like a little treat each time I open the box. 

What it Glossybox? Glossybox is a monthly beauty box that contains 5 deluxe-sized (occasionally full-sized) beauty products that can include makeup, skincare, haircare, and more.

Price: $21 a month (plus tax, if applicable) shipping included for the US, shipping to Canada is $5

Use my referral link HERE to save 20% off your first box (works on 12 month subscription also) or use my code: ANGELA-R2BA

How is it packaged? Each month Glossybox arrives in a sturdy outer shipping container. Inside, you’ll find a lovely box (sometimes themed) that is not only sturdy but reusable. Inside the Glossybox you’ll find your products nestled on a bed of shredded paper packaging and wrapped in tissue paper that’s tied with a ribbon. Honestly, this is one of the most beautifully wrapped subscription boxes that I’ve ever had the pleasure of unboxing.

Is a product card included? Yes, each box comes with a little booklet that contains prices and tells you about each product.

 

Website: Glossybox US

January’s Theme: The Power of Beauty 

Here’s what I received in my January Glossybox

 

1—Lightweight Facial Lotion from Seed Phytonutrients (full size, MSRP $34)-this offers a light touch of daily moisture and, while it’s perfect for normal to oily skin, I have dry skin and need a heavier moisturizer. I did apply this to the back of my hand and it did sink in quickly, leaving my skin smooth. The good news about this face lotion is that it can be used as a makeup primer, which is how I plan to use it.  This is 99% natural, 100% vegan, rich in antioxidants, and comes in a glass bottle with a pump.

 

2—Reusable Rounds from Afterspan (2 Pack, MSRP $10)—these are the softest makeup rounds that I have had and they’re slightly bigger than some of the others I’ve used. While these are for removing makeup, I actually use these types of makeup rounds to apply toner. These are machine washable.

 

3—Sebium H20 Micellar Water from Bioderma (Full Size, MSRP $14.90)—this is a micellar water that’s a purifying cleansing solution. I’m not sure how this will work on my skin because it’s for combination/oily skin although the back of the bottle does say that this ‘removes makeup without drying out the skin’. I will try this but I’ll probably end up passing it on to a friend if it’s too drying. This is non-comedogenic, paraben free, color free, alcohol free, and hypoallergenic.

 

4—Greek Yoghurt Probiotic SuperDose Face Mask by Korres (Deluxe Mini 20ml, MSRP $10)—I haven’t tried this yet but I do love Korres and I do love probiotic products because I do see benefits from using them. I like receiving this size of probiotic masks for the fact probiotic/yoghurt-based cream masks do have a shorter shelf life and I know that I’ll be able to use this size up within 6 months of opening the product. This mask will rehydrate and rebalance the protective layer of your skin, reduce redness, and is synthetic fragrance free.

 

5—High Maintenance Cannabis Peeling Mask by High Beauty (Deluxe Mini 20 ml, MSRP $20)—if I’m going to exfoliate my face, then I have to have a liquid, non-abrasive mask, because my skin is both dry and sensitive, and this will be the perfect mask for that. Again, the deluxe mini is the perfect size because this is a product that I’ll use a couple times a month and I know I’ll be able to use up this product before the expiration date. This is made with hempseed oil (contains no THC or CBD) and natural ingredients.

 

6—CBD Drink Mix: Balance Coconut from Zolt (1 stick, MSRP $3.20)—this contains 20mg of CDB but, unfortunately, this also contains stevia, which I’m allergic to so I will be passing this to a friend.  This was an added/extra little treat for January.

 

Value of January’s Box: $92.10

3 Full Size, 2 Deluxe Mini

 

My thoughts on my January GlossyBox: This was an okay box. There were a lot of oily skin products and I wish, since there’s no beauty quiz or profile to fill out, that the products they included would be for normal skin as they should be beneficial to both skin types.

I know that I will be able to use 3 out of the 5 items in the box (I’m not counting the Zolt drink mix as it was an added treat), the two masks and the makeup rounds. I’m going to see how the lotion works as a primer as well as try the micellar water. 

One of my favorite things about Glossybox is that it’s like getting a little self-care treat each month. 

Another plus with this subscription is the boxes they come in are reusable. They’re perfect for storing things in and make wonderful gift boxes. The boxes themselves are also protected by an outer shipping box, which I love because that reduces the chance the items will be damaged and it saves the reusable box from being dinged up.

Using my code: ANGELA-R2BA or clicking HERE will save you 20%, meaning a year’s subscription will cost $183.40 instead of the regular price of $210.00

 

Give the gift of Glossybox.

All links in this post are affiliate links. I earn credits to spend on future boxes.

Coloring and Classics Subscription Box Review (December 2020)

Hello Lovelies,

 

I’m back again with the Coloring and Classics Box.  Adult coloring books and activity books are great stress relievers as well as great items to use while carving out a little ‘me time’. Because I’m such a fan of adult coloring books and activity books, I was eager to give this box a go.

 

Before I tell you what I received in December’s Coloring and Classics Box, let me tell you more about the box. 

What is Coloring and Classics? It’s a monthly subscription box that contains one hardcover book in your chosen genre, an adult coloring book, and an adult activity book.

There are two options: a Coffee option, which will contain 12oz of premium hand roasted coffee in your choice of ground or whole bean and a No Coffee option.

There are seven genres to choose from: Acclaimed Fiction, Acclaimed Nonfiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, or Sci-Fi.

Your first box will contain a pack of colored pencils. Each box is 2 to 3 times the value of what you pay.

Cost: No Coffee Option: $18.99 (shipping included) Coffee Option: $30.99 (shipping included)

How it is packaged: The box is a sturdy cardboard (there’s no outer packaging) and on the inside. The items were wrapped in lime green tissue paper.

Is a product card included? There was no product card included but most of the items did have prices listed on them. 

Website: Coloring and Classics or Amazon (not affiliate links)

What I received in November’s Coloring and Classics

(I selected the No Coffee option and Romance Genre)

-Hart’s Hollow Farm by Janet Dailey (hardback, MSRP $27.95)—this is a 2019 release published by Kensington. While this looks like it’s going to be an amazing read, I think I’m going to add this to a future giveaway because someone will probably enjoy this one more than I will.

-Blockbuster Paint-Doku (MSRP $8.95)—this is a different type of Sudoku where you map out an image by creating a series of black and white rectangles. While the book is nice quality and spiral bound, I’m not a massive fan of this type of puzzle as I find it slightly boring. I’ll probably pass this on to a friend.

- Hamilton: An Adult Coloring Book by M.G. Anthony (MSRP $10.99)—this is a fantastic coloring book. Each page contains an image from Alexander Hamilton’s life as well as little snippets from his life that pertain to the picture. The pages are one-sided, the images are clear, the paper is crisp and white, and of a decent thickness (although I would put a piece of paper behind the page your coloring). If you’re a history fan or are currently homeschooling I highly recommend picking up this coloring book.

 

This month’s sweet treat was a peppermint candy spoon that will be perfect for hot chocolate.

 

Total value of December’s Coloring and Classics box: $47.89

 

My Overall Thoughts: This wasn’t my favorite box but it wasn’t a bad box. The items are quality items but the book and activity are not items that will hold my attention. The Hamilton coloring book is stellar. I also liked we received something other than a sucker. 

What I would like to see in future boxes:

-I would like to see a tea option for us non-coffee drinkers.

-It would be nice to have a subgenre offer

-I would like to see additional coloring implements included in each box (such as sharpeners, pencil cases/pouches, blenders, burnishers, and such)

 

A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany

"I am not a Consulting Detective," Gemma Doyle reluctantly tells 10-year-old Lauren Tierney, when the little girl comes to the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium to beg Gemma to find her missing cat, Snowball. Gemma might not be able to follow the clues to find the cat, but her dog Violet follows her nose to locate the missing kitten in a neighbor's garden shed. Gemma and Violet proudly return Snowball to her grateful owner, and Gemma basks in praise for a job well done. But a few days later Lauren is back with ten dollars in hand, wanting to once again hire a consulting detective, and this time for a far bigger job: Her mother has been accused of murdering her garden club rival.

Sheila Tierney's garden, which everyone said was the one to beat for the West London Garden Club trophy, had been vandalized the night before the club's early summer tour. Sheila confronted her former friend and gardening partner Anna Wentworth in a towering rage, and the women nearly came to blows. Later that night, after having won the trophy for best garden, Anna is found murdered and Sheila Tierney is the police's prime suspect.

Despite herself, and despite the disapproval of her police detective boyfriend Ryan Ashburton, the game is once again afoot, and Gemma finds herself and Jayne Wilson using their powers of deduction to ponder yet another curious incident.

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #6 | Publisher: Crooked Lane Books |Release Date: January 12, 2021 | Genre: Cozy Contemporary Mystery | Source: Publisher | Rating: 4 Cups

Bookshops, Sherlock Holmes, and a garden to die for? It was just as intriguing as it sounds.

Here’s what’s going on. When a young girl comes to Gemma to find her missing cat, Gemma never expected that the girl would return begging her to clear her mother of a murder charge. Unable to say no, Gemma soon finds herself trying to figure out if Sheila’s vandalized garden was motive for her to murder her former best friend and garden club rival, Anna.  While Sheila swears she’s innocent her actions, and the fact she possibly skipped town leaving her daughter on her own, has Gemma wondering if Sheila truly is guilty. To make matters more interesting, Gemma now finds herself looking after Sheila’s daughter, Lauren, while trying to catch a killer.

This cozy mystery was a pleasant surprise. While I’ve read—and enjoyed—a few of Vicki Delany’s Year Round Christmas Mysteries, this was the first in her series that I’ve read. I was a bit worried because this is the sixth book in an established cozy mystery series but I had no problem following along.

Gemma was an easy character to like. She’s rather unique and has clever reasoning as well as brilliant observation skills. And while these traits annoy some, I found that they made her rather interesting. The secondary characters, Gemma’s best friends, were just as fun and intriguing and gave this book a bit more depth.

Like most cozy mysteries, there is a love interest for Gemma, which so happens to be police detective, Ryan. Because I started so far in with this series, the relationship was established and it was nice to see a healthy adult relationship rather than a constant love triangle.

The mystery in this one wasn’t difficult to solve and I had an inkling from the start but I still enjoyed watching Gemma’s process of elimination. I also enjoyed the red herrings thrown in.

While this is a cozy mystery, this book was also very character driven yet I didn’t feel as though one aspect was more prominent than the other. They blended brilliantly to make one of the most well-rounded, fleshed out cozy mysteries I’ve read.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. There are references to Sherlock—both the books and the show—and it has a similar tone with the original Sherlock books. I look forward to reading the previous books in the series as well as seeing what types of investigations Gemma gets involved in in future novels. 

Bout of Books 30 Starts Today

Hello Lovelies,

 

I’m so excited for Bout of Books 30 to start today. What better way to kick off a new year than with a read-a-thon. The timing of this was perfect for me since I’m on vacation until the 11^th.

 

I have a few errands to run this morning before the freezing rain starts then a bit of light cleaning. Do you change your tablecloths to match the season? I’m very OCD about my tablecloths, especially the one on my dining room table and I have to change them every few weeks.

 

On the reading front, I’ll probably pop on an audiobook while I clean.  One Fine Fae by Molly Harper (the next in her Mystic Bayou series) is up next in my Audible queue. I always have a good time with Molly Harper’s books.

 As for my physical books:

 

While I don’t have my TBR set, I’m wanting to read The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter, which is the first in the The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series by Theodora Goss. I also have The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick, which is a Tudor time-slip mystery that looks amazing. There’s also The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab that I’m itching to read.

 

I’m not sure which of the three books I’ll pick up today but I’m aiming to finish at least one physical book today.

 

I have at least on E-ARC, A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany, which I need to read this week. It’s a cozy so it shouldn’t take me too long to finish it.

 

If you’re interested in following my progress, I’ll be posting updates on Instagram @simplyangelarenee as well as posting an update post here on the blog on Wednesday and Saturday.

Tudor Book Challenge 2021 Goal Post

This year I wanted to take a different approach to the reading challenges I’m participating in. I wanted to take on a challenge that would allow me to pick up books that I’ve been missing and books/genres that I’ve been wanting to get back into.

 

I’m such a Tudor/Stuart/WoR fanatic but, sadly, it’s been a minute since I’ve picked up a book (either fiction or nonfiction) about the people or the times and this is the perfect challenge to allow me to dive back into their fascinating worlds.

 

I haven’t picked out my TBR yet although, other than the book published in 2021, I think I should be able to shop my Renaissance/Medieval bookshelf for each prompt because my bookshelf is brimming with books I’ve not yet read.

 

Challenge Host: Laura Ann Riddling from the Facebook Group: Tudor Books in Every Nook

 

The Rules:

-One book per prompt

-Preferably a new-to-you book

-Nonfiction or Fiction (unless stated in the prompt)

-No time limit 

Prompts

-A book you’ve chosen only for the cover.

-A Tudor mystery (fiction or nonfiction).

-A book by an author who shares the first letter of your first or last name.

-A book with a time slip (can be from WoRs, Tudor, or Stuart time period).

-A book whose main character is NOT a king, queen, prince, or princess.

-A book about a battle or set during a battle from the WoRs, Tudor, or Stuart time periods.

-A book published in 2021.

-A book about Anne Seymour, Amy Robsart, or Frances Howard.

-A book about a Spanish king or queen that reigned during the Wars of the Roses, or the Tudor or Stuart periods.

-Flip a coin: Heads-biography of a man from the Tudor period; Tails-biography of a man from the Stuart period.

-Roll a dice and read a book about the person the number is assigned to:

  1: Margaret of York

  2: Charles Brandon

  3: Juana of Castile

  4: Lettice Knollys

  5: Katherine Willoughby

  6: Jasper Tudor

-A book that is the first in a series.

-A book about a murder during the WoRs, Tudor, or Stuart period.

-A book about a castle or palace.

-A book within the theme of plays, actors, actresses, Shakespeare, etc.

-A book about medicine or health during the WoRs, Tudor, or Stuart period.

-A book about the Tudor Navy or an explorer.

-A book about a York lady.

-Read a book about one of the following: Margaret of Anjou, Margaret Beaufort, Margaret of York, Margaret Tudor, Margaret Douglas.

-A book by an author you’ve never read before.

 

2021 Goals

Hello Lovelies! 

Happy 2021!

 

It’s that time of year where I set my goals for the year ahead. I’m not even going to comment about how my 2020 goals went—2020 is like Vegas for me, what happened there, stays there.

 

It’s a new year, with newish goals.

 

As for my 2021 theme, I’m still sticking with the Oscar Wilde quote I had for the last two years as a reminder that I don’t want a reinvention but rather I want to continue getting back to myself.

Blog

-Be consistent with content

-Update GoodReads—I can’t seem to remember to post on GR—I didn’t add one single book last year. I’m going to add a tracker/reminder to my reading journal that will hopefully help me remember to actually add the books I read.

-Add discussions to the blog

-Be consistent with blog visits

-Discover new-to-me blogs

-Be consistent with social media updates.

 

Reading

 -Tackle my TBR pile mountain

-Conquer NetGalley

-Shop my bookshelves instead of buying—not only will this help to curb my spending; it will help me with my goal of tackling my TBR mountain.

-Try out different genres

-Read more non-fiction

-Read more historical fiction

-Use the reading journals I received as gifts

 

House

My two house goals were left over from last year.

-Replace my bookshelves so they match my new desk—apparently, the bookcases I want to get are a hot commodity and have been on backorder. I’m hoping to have them by at least Spring.

-Turn my bedroom closet into a makeup/dressing area—because of everything that happened with the restrictions, this will probably end up being a DIY project that I’m aiming to complete by Fall 2021

 

 

Personal

-Dedicate at least an hour a day to ‘self-care’/me time/unplugging—this was something that I really need last year and I’m rolling it over to 2021.

-Exercise at least three times a week—I’ve built up a nice bit of easily storable at home exercise equipment and I need to get back into using them regularly.

-Do more yoga—this was something I was really enjoying at the start and middle of last year and I need to get back into it.  

-Remember to take my vitamins—I started using a habit tracker in my planner at the end of year that’s been helping me to remember to take my vitamins and I plan to continue using it in 2021.

-Learn something new

-Drink more water

-Create a work/home balance—I tend to work all hours of the day and I need to keep to set hours.