Hydraluxe Always Cool Gel Pillow Review / OpenSky

It's been so hot here the past few weeks.  It's finally cooling off, but there's always that threat of the temperature skyrocketing for no good reason, even in October.  This was an especially hot summer, and I had issues getting comfortable at night.  I was constantly seeking the cool side of the pillow... and then I saw this product, the Hydraluxe Always Cool Gel Pillow.

It's a memory foam pillow with a layer of cooling gel.  Somehow, I was fascinated by this idea and had to try it.  I managed to finagle a credit on OpenSky, which made the pillow much cheaper than anywhere else online, so I decided to give it a shot.  My husband made fun of me; he thought the idea of the pillow was pretty silly, as was my extreme excitement for it.

They say the pillow will have a slightly chemical smell when you first get it that will dissipate if you air it out for a day or two, but I didn't notice it at all and began using the pillow immediately. You guys... it's a game changer.  Though the picture shows the bubble pattern prominently, it actually comes wrapped in a satin-like fabric that covers the bubbles, plus a white, thin pillowcase piped in your chosen color, so you don't really see the bubbles.  They recommend you use the pillowcase for maximum effect.  Only one side has the gel.

It really is pleasantly cool!  I have no idea how it works.  It stays cool for a few hours, after which your body heat warms it up.  However, if you shift to another section of the pillow, you'll get the cool sensation all over again - when I wake up, the center of the pillow is generally room temperature, but I can move to either side to get more glorious cooling action.  I love it; the memory foam is comfortable and supportive like no pillow I've had before.  If I want it to "cool down," I just let it sit for maybe half an hour, and it's cool again.  And guess what - my husband loves it, too, and has begun stealing it.  Because he apologized for calling it silly, I bought him his own.

OpenSky is a members-only shopping site, but to be a member, you just need an email address.  I recommend using a secondary email, because they email you a TON.  They have celebrity curated collections, and you can choose who to follow.  They also have a semi-complicated reward structure that allows you to earn free shipping and coupons.  I've bought the pillows and a cute purse off OpenSky and had a very pleasant experience; their prices can't be beat, even though I always double check before purchasing anything!

You can buy the Hydraluxe Always Cool Pillow on OpenSky.  Sign up using my affiliate link, and you'll get a $20 gift certificate, which makes the pillow $35.  It retails for $140 (in a bizarro world where you'd pay full retail), and can be found on OpenSky for $55 (before your awesome discount, of course).  It comes in 4 colors and 2 patterns; when the pink is in stock, a portion of your purchase goes to Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  And they make a mattress pad, too, though I dunno if I can drop $300 on that!

The Hydraluxe Always Cool Gel Pillow gets an 8 out of 10 on the Awesome Meter.  If it stayed cool all night long, it'd be a 10!  I think this would be a great holiday gift, too.  And as a bonus, they just introduced the his-and-hers set - it's exclusive to Open Sky and allows you to get a pink and a blue (or two pink, or two blue) pillow(s) for $99 (or $79 after your discount!).

*Note - All views are my own.  I am not compensated in any way for these reviews - I'm just trying to help you find awesome stuff!

October 2012 Birchbox - Goop Review!

Goop goop bedoop!

When I heard that Birchbox was doing a collaboration with Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop.com, I figured I'd opt into it.  I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of Goop; I've looked at it before, and it just seemed very focused on expensive and pretentious things.  Seriously, have you heard Gwyneth fawn over the fact that her kids like vegetables?  I mean, barf me.  And they can only watch TV in French or Spanish?  Good luck with that.  Anyway, they have some recipes, too, but they're a bit too fussy for me.  Oh, and they sell stuff, but today's main item is simple gold hoop earrings for $795.  It's not gonna happen, Gwenny.  Sorry.  However, the collaboration Birchboxes always seem somewhat better than the regular ones, and since Goop specializes in upscale stuff I can't afford, I figured maybe I'd get a little taste of it.

I've gotten off-track.  Let me show you what I got this time around.  I'm actually very pleased with it!

Ooh la la!

First up is a full-sized Essie nail polish, the Goop pick (is it just me, or does the thought of a "goop pick" make you think about Gwyneth digging for nose gold? No? Just me? Okay then).  I've gotten a lot of polishes since starting up with Birchbox, which is great because I hate buying them.  I've yet to use an entire bottle of polish.  Since I've been getting all these samples, though, I've probably saved a lot of money in manicures! This dark red is definitely classic and will work for fall and winter, and once my current gel nails are off, I'll give it a go. Full size: $8.

Next is a tiny vial (5 ml) of Joanna Vargas Daily Serum, which promises to brighten your skin with various vitamins.  My skin is mega dry right now thanks to a nasty cold, so I'm looking forward to trying it.  Full size: $85.

Next, Marie Veronique Organics Body Oil in an adorable itty bitty jar.  It has a vaguely fruity smell and is meant for use on skin, not hair.  I have been getting a ton of oils from Birchbox, and while I don't mind them, I hardly ever use them in their entirety.  I find it really hard to get the oil out of the jar or bottle - there's never a pump or easy way to dispense it!  Full size: $36 (and the full size DOES have a pump, huzzah!)

There is also a Sprout Lip Balm in Cocoa.  These come in a pack of 4 and are all-natural.  I slicked this on as soon as I opened the box - my lips are majorly chapped, again, from that icky cold, and the balm offered relief.  It goes on soft and smooth and isn't at all waxy or sticky.  After one application, my lips felt much better.  It doesn't have much of a smell - is it meant to be chocolate?  Or is it just cocoa butter?  Unclear!  The other "flavors" are cinnamon, peppermint, and citrus, all of which sound appealing to me.  You can get a pack of 4 for $18.

Lastly, I received a Luna Bar in Lemon Zest.  I do like Luna Bars, or, as I call them, lady bars, but I'm not a lemon fan.  Nope, not lemon meringue, lemon bars, or lemon cake.  I'll probably give this a try anyway, but I can tell you that I love the caramel nut brownie and peppermint stick flavors!!  Nom.  This is the "extra," and you can buy 15 for $18.75 via the Birchbox site.

Not a bad haul, I'd say!  I definitely think I got my money's worth this time around and will continue to subscribe to Birchbox.

You can use my referral link to subscribe to Birchbox, too - $10 per month, and you earn Birchbox points - redeemable for products in their store - for every item you review and everything you buy!  I've gotten lots of free or mega-discounted products by vigilantly reviewing everything I get and saving up my points for a beauty splurge!

Birchbox Review

I've subscribed to Birchbox for more than a year now, and I must say, I love getting a little gift each month in the mail - it's like a little cutely wrapped birthday present filled with girly stuff.

For $10 (including shipping), you get a box with 4-5 deluxe beauty samples, plus a bonus, which may not be beauty related - I've gotten pretty greeting cards, granola, a fruit and nut bar, etc. When you purchase items through the site, you get a point per dollar you spend. You also get 50 points for referring others, plus 10 points for every product from your Birchbox that you review. Every 100 points = $10 off your purchase. Oh, and items from your box - if you decide to buy a full-size product - ship free!

Some months are definitely better than others, and I've had some duds - eyeliner stickers? Ick. This was a pretty good month, though - check it out:

Spring themed box!

5 products plus 1 bonus. From left to right - I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh (in a foil packet - this is the bonus), I Coloniali Invigorating Tibetan Shower Cream with Rhubarb (full size $29, sample size is 3.3 fl. oz), Miss Jessie's Quick Curls (full size $32, sample size is 2 fl oz), One Love Organics Waterless Beauty Balm (full size $68, sample size is .5oz), Color Club Nail Lacquer in Jackie Oh! (full size $8, sample size is .25 oz), and WEI Pomegranate Buffing beads (20 packets for $20, sample size is 1 packet).

All in all, I'm very pleased with this box. The hot pink nail polish feels very spring appropriate, and I'm hoping the Quick Curls cream can control my frizz. I'm also excited to try the shower cream after a tough workout! These are all nicely sized samples, too.

I give Birchbox a 7 on the Awesome Meter - I'm a fan. Although some boxes can be disappointing, I think the majority contain some great products, and it's a fun way to try out new beauty trends without shelling out a lot of money. Click here to enroll - remember, it's a subscription, so you'll be charged $10 per month, though it's easy to cancel.

Garlicky Goodness - Garlic Rocker Review

I absolutely love cooking, particularly Italian food. A key ingredient in many of the items I make is garlic. Now, don't judge, but after getting frustrated with garlic presses and sick of manually cutting the garlic into teeny pieces, we came up with a solution at our house. Peel garlic. Put a sheet of wax paper on top. Pound it to death with a hammer.

I SAID, don't judge!! It works, and it's a great way to get frustration out.

However, I came across a device the other day that has changed everything in the world of garlic smashing, which, granted, is a fairly small world.

May I introduce.... the garlic rocker.

Yeah, I don't like unitaskers, either, but this one is fairly small and well worth the space in your drawer if you frequently cook with garlic.

Just position a clove of garlic underneath, press down, and gently rock back and forth. The garlic comes out in neat little squares. The garlic doesn't get minced quite as small as it might in a traditional garlic press, but it works fine for me. It requires little effort and is very easy to clean - it's also dishwasher safe! Not only that, it's made of stainless steel, so it resists the garlic odor. You can also rub your hands on it to remove the odor from your skin. Amazing!

This little sucker has made cooking with garlic much easier. I bought mine at Vat19.com because I found a coupon over at (where else) RetailMeNot that gave me $5 off my purchase. Psst - use code "cookie" (no quotes) to get $5 off your $15 Vat19 purchase through 3/3/12. It's also available through Amazon, where you can score free shipping if you're a prime member. Without discounts, it costs about $15.

9 on the awesome meter. Great product at an affordable price!

Jewelmint Review

It's no secret that I love getting stuff in the mail. I know, I know, nowadays you can order anything online and have it delivered, but I still squee when I get a package.

I heard about Jewelmint a while ago and took a look at the site's offerings but didn't bite, even though I love jewelry, particularly fun statement pieces. Jewelmint, founded by Kate Bosworth and her stylist, works as a membership subscription service. For $29.99 per month, you get a credit you can redeem for one piece of jewelry - rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and broaches. Jewelmint's designs are all unique to the site and limited edition, so if you really like something, you're encouraged to snap it up before it's gone. If, between the 1st and 5th of a month, you decide you don't want anything, you can skip that month. Otherwise, you are automatically charged, but you can save your credit and use it another month if nothing strikes your fancy. However, this IS a subscription site - your credit card WILL be charged $29.99 automatically if you do not select "skip the month" between the 1st and 5th. Shipping is included.

When you first sign up, you take a short style quiz to determine what jewelry will best suit your needs. You are then shown a personalized showroom. However, if you do not like what has been selected, you can click "see more recommendations" and scroll through other selections. Signing up and taking the style quiz is free and does not require you to put your credit card on file.

I resisted for a long time, but Jewelmint sent out a 70% off coupon for new members, and I decided that, for $9, it was worth a try.

I selected the Persephone pendant - a small silver-plated "perfume bottle" with a vintage look hanging on a 30" chain. I personally really like long necklaces; they're perfect for spicing up basic t-shirts.

Here's what I got:

This came in a timely manner in a bubble pack. The magnetized box is mint green with a black ribbon. Cute!

Inside the box, a little description of the product, "signed" by Kate and her stylist, Cher.

Nestled beneath a black sponge is the Persephone Pendant!

The top unscrews, though I doubt you could actually put perfume inside, unless you have an eye dropper. The screw-off cap is topped by a white enamel accent... a nice touch!

The pendant was fairly heavy and felt substantial, and the chain is high quality. Overall, I was pleased with my purchase; I think it will be versatile, as it will go with almost anything. The white enamel detail is a nice touch, and I love how unique it is. However, I don't know if it's necessarily worth $29.99; remember, I got this for $9 (including shipping). For $29.99, I feel like I could find something cool and unique on Etsy.

If you sign up for Jewelmint, peruse their selections, but wait until you can find a coupon to purchase your first piece - they do 50% off - 70% off, from what I've seen, and they'll send emails. I'm not sure how coupons work on subsequent purchases, but I'm determined not to buy anything else until I can get another coupon code! As usual, remember to check RetailMeNot for coupon codes!

BTW, Jewelmint has a sister site, Stylemint. Stylemint works exactly the same way, but features shirts instead of jewelry. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are the spokesgals, but I couldn't find anything I liked more than, say, the generic tees I pick up at American Eagle.

Jewelmint, for now, gets a 6 on the awesome meter.

Awesome Mascara Review

Hi there! Long time, no see! I have a bunch of fun reviews of random awesome things coming up, so stay tuned.

I'm not really a makeup person. I have a few techniques that I use over and over, but never anything complex. My eye makeup routine is particularly simple, mostly because I have sensitive eyes, an I desperately hate touching them. It creeps me out. I use eyeliner extremely rarely, and even so, I can't get close to the waterline, so I just line the corners or above the lashes. I use eyeshadow and brow pencil, and that's usually it... if I'm feeling fancy, I'll put on eyeshadow base.

I've found that one thing makes a big difference in how polished my makeup looks, though: mascara. I've had lots of issues with mascara. I hate fighting to get the waterproof stuff off. My lashes are pretty long, so when I put on mascara and blink, the lashes hit the area below my eyes and make for little black dots and smears. I also tend to get mascara flakes later in the afternoon. Not cute.

Through my Birchbox subscription, I discovered Blinc mascara. This mascara forms small tubes over each individual lash. You have to work fast, because it dries quickly, and you can't really "build" it in layers, but it's basically idiot-proof; just glide it on like normal mascara. It does not clump, which is awesome, because who wants spider eyes? Once it's on, it does not smear or smudge, and it really does stay all day. It's not waterproof, but to remove it, you apply warm water and gently push the tubes off your lashes. It's kind of strange, and it takes a little longer than just washing your face, but it's actually oddly satisfying to take off.

Anyway, this is the only mascara that has really worked for me. I've tried all the drugstore brands as well as fancier ones, but all the non-waterproof formulas smudge too easily; I'm always rubbing my eyes, and I end up raccoon-like by midday. It's also recommended for people who wear contacts. Blinc is an awesome mascara solution, and I give it an 8 on the Awesome Meter!

A quick note on Birchbox: it's a subscription service, and every month you get a box of 4-5 premium beauty samples. It's always packaged very nicely, so it feels like getting a gift each month, and I love surprises. Some months are definitely better than other months. You also get points for reviewing the items you get, buying items in their store, or referring friends, so I've gotten some awesome deals on products I've loved from their boxes - I saved up my points and got the mascara for $4. Plus, free shipping on their monthly picks. I'll review a full box next month!

Giveaway to check out!

I know some of you ladies were as enamored as I was over those dresses I posted from Shabby Apple - so pretty, so demure, so classy!

Well, if you're still drooling over their stuff, head over to Consume or Consumed, one of my favorite blogs, and enter to win a beautiful amethyst-colored dress. Gorgeous and work-appropriate! Well, now that I work from home, my pajamas are work-appropriate... but in my alternate reality, I could wear this dress to my office, where I busily harvest magic from unicorn horns. Yes, that's an office job, and yes, I have to dress up most days, but we do have biz-cas-fri.

Make sure to follow Shabby Apple on Facebook for copious coupon codes! See what I did there? Alliteration, suckas!