My First Birch Box of June 2015

In the box was included:

-Keratase Elixir Ultimate ($15)
-Laura Geller Blush ($13)
-LA Fresh Makeup Remover ($0)
-Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow ($0)
-Vasanti Cosmetics Face Rejuvenator ($5)
- Bonus: Deepa Gurani Hair Tie ($10)

Average Total Price of the box is around $43, which is a good price compared to the $10 that I paid for the box. They sent a pretty good valued box with really good products that I have been wanting to try on my hair and skin.

Before making this purchase, I was unsure about whether or not to re-subscribe to Ipsy or to try something new. I chose the latter because I did not want a lot of makeup products since I had already been supplied with similar products during the time that I was subscribed to Ipsy. This time I wanted beauty products that would help my skin and hair feel and look better, so I opted for my second option.

Birch Box did not fail me in sending me products that I needed and I think that part of it is because of the quiz that subscribers are required to complete about their beauty preferences, before signing up to their box. I think I will try another month and see how it goes. 

I have learned that the major difference between Ipsy and Birchbox is that Birchbox sends beauty products (creams, exfoliants, masks, etc.) while Ipsy specifically sends makeup products only (lipsticks, blushes, foundation, makeup brushes, etc.) And because of this, I will be sticking with Birch Box for another month and leaving Ipsy behind for a while until I empty my makeup products, or until I feel like I want to experiment with new products.

If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, please feel free to comment down below. I would be happy to answer to them. 

Mayu Girl :)

Influenster Blossom Vox Box

This month, +Influenster sent me a free box complimentary for testing purposes. It was a big surprise for me because they had never sent me anything bigger than a bag of fruit, so I was really happy and excited when I received it.

Inside the box there were a few coupons included as well as a card that described each item included in the box or #BlossomVoxBox 

1. Hair Food Root Cleansing Shampoo ($9.99)

This shampoo smells like strawberries with a hint of ginger. It is a shampoo that claims to detoxify your hair and scalp by removing buildup. It really does do what it says from what I experienced. My scalp felt super refreshed and my hair felt really soft and smelled great. I would really recommend it because it does what it says and because it is made with healthy ingredients that will benefit your hair.

2. Australian Gold Sunscreen SPF 30 ($7.99)

This sunscreen smells really good at the beginning but as time passes by, it becomes a little too overwhelming. It gave me a headache when I put it on my neck and cheeks. I think this is best for the body and not parts that are too close to your nose or you may feel dizzy like me, I did like that it did not feel greasy and that it did not smell like regular sunscreen, at least they are trying to be different!

3. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (13.99)

4. NYC Color City Proof 24 HR Shadow (Tribeca Taupe; $2.99)

I was not really happy with this product because it feels as if I'm drawing my lids with crayola because it feels really sticky and not very smooth. It also came out of the tube while I was applying it. So from what I experiences, I would not recommend this product...

5. Beanitos ($3.49)

I was really impressed with these chips because they are really really good and are made with healthy and natural ingredients. I really liked these chips because of the thick, perfectly round chips, that were so delicious and flavorful. Definitely give them a try!!! @Beanitos #AllinaBagofChips

I ate these chips with a small salad and it almost reminded me of a decomposed taco. I really enjoyed this healthy snack from Beanitos.

6. Bear Naked Granola ($10.49/ 12 oz.)

These granola bar pouches seemed pretty normal except for the fact that one of them had a curry flavor, which was pretty interesting. The granola alone was crunchy and flavorful. I think they are a good option for healthy snacking. The only thing that was disappointing was the fact that the pouch on the left only had one small cube of caramel and the one on the right only had two pieces of almonds, everything else was granola. I wish they had included a little bit more of those extra ingredients other than granola. @livvebearnaked #livebearnaked #contest +Influenster 

7. Nasoya Pasta Zero Noodles

I am really happy that +Influenster sent me these pasta noodles because they are really healthy and do not feel heavy. They are only 15 calories per serving which is half of the pouch where they come in. Which is why they are filling but won't make you bloat. So this is how I used them: +Nasoya #nasoyapastazero #contest

1) Cook Vegetables

2) Follow instrution in package to cook noodles. Cut noodles in shorter length.

3) Mix vegetables and noodles with water.
4) Add in fish powder for flavor

5)Add chicken and lemon flavored soysauce

6) Serve with rice.

February 2015 Italy Universal Yums Subscription Box

Universal Yums is an international snacks subscription box for $13 (6+ snacks) or $25 (13+ snacks) a month.
This month, the theme of the box was Italy. I was very excited for this because I know how well known this country is for its chocolate and sweets. So I subscribed for a $13 box to get started. 

The box came with an informational card with a description and explanation of all of the snacks. It also included the clue for the next month, which I suspect it will be China. 

So here are the snack pictures and reviews: 

Salted Carame Biscotti
This biscotti was really good. It was sweet and crunchy. I really enjoyed it!

Lazzaroni Amaretti Di Saronno(2)
I didn't like these cookies much because they were really chewey and hard to take them off my teeth. I guess I had to eat them with coffee or milk so that it hadn't been so hard to eat them. 

Frutta Bon Bons(2)
These little fruity candies were chewey, sweet and delicious. I loved the tiny size of them because they do not overwhelm you with sweetness. 

Coffee N' Cream Bon Bons (2)
These candies truly tasted like coffee. Not really sweet. Definitely for thise who enjoy a cup of espresso alone. 

Ferrero Raffaello (2)
These are definitely not new to me, but I am glad that they included these because I absolutely love them! They are coated with coconut shreds and filled with a white cream and an almond. 

Di Nonna Lemon Pizzelle
These waffer cookies were pretty normal. Nothing that I hadn't tasted before, but I really liked the design on these cookies. 

Pernigotti Classici (2)

These creamy chocolate trapezoids were pretty good yet kind of boring because they didn't have any filling or crunchy about them. The taste was pretty good though, with a blend of cocoa and hazelnuts. Basically the inside of a Chocolate Ferrero. 

Pernigotti Noccioie (2)

These nut filled chocolate bars were my favorite of all because of the smooth chocolate contrasted with the crunchy nut! Definitely give it a try because they are so worth it. 

Perugina Baci
These tasted exactly like Ferrero Rocher. And of course it was delicious. 
So my overall review for this box is that it does not really provide your money's worth, but it definitely introduces you to new snacks that you have probably never tried before (unless you're from that certain country). But I really enjoyed getting the box and experiencing new flavors and sweets from Italy. I will definitely try another box and see what other surprises Universal Yums gives me. 

Thank you and have a nice day,
Mayu Girl

Follow me on my other social media  and subscribe through email or bloglovin'!

Instagram.com/mayugirl1
Twitter.com/mayugirl1

Influenster - Rader Farms Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup Almond milk

1 cup fresh strawberries

1/2 cup mangoes (Rader Farms)

1/3 cup oats

1 tbsp almonds

This is the bag that I got for free thanks to Influenster.

Instructions:

1. Blend 1/2 cup milk with mangoes and oats. 

2. Pour in cup or jar. 

3. Blend 1/2 cup milk with strawberries and almonds

4. Pour mixture over mango mix slowly so that the strawberry smoothie won't sink or mix in with the mango smoothie mix.

Follow me on Ig or Twitter @ mayu girl 1

* I received the product from Influenster complimentary to test and/or review. 

+Influenster @raderfarms #freshstart #contest

Rita's Italian Ice and Custard Cone Review

Rita's is an Italian Ice cream place where they have a variety of frozen dessert options. They range from water based to egg based ice creams, delicious toppings, waffle cones, and even custard cookie sandwiches. 

We decided to go just because we had a coupon for "buy one get one free" for any product at Rita's. We got the Sugar Free Dragon Fruit Italian Ice With Vanilla Custard Gelati, and the chocolate and Vanilla Flavored Custard Cone. 

Honestly, I thought that the custard was the sweetest thing I have ever tasted. Don't get me wrong, it was really delicious but it gets to the point where it is just too much. Maybe Rita's  should consider having smaller sizes or serving less custard on the gelati. Or maybe it's just me. I don't know. I just got really tired of the sweet custard. But I really enjoyed the Sugar Free Grapefruit Italian Ice. 

I think that the Italian ice is simply perfect because it is no too sweet and you can enjoy lots of it. The grapefruit flavor tasted more like some kind of red gummy, not really natural flavored, but it was still good. 

Overall it was a great and overly sweet treat for me. If you have a sweet tooth, you should definitely try the custards, but if you can't handle too much sweetness like me, go for the water based flavors, unsweetened ice or the Italian ice. 

Hope you liked this review blog!

Mayu Girl

Instagram.com/mayugirl1

Twitter.com/mayugirl1

How To Be Unique

Millions of people are doing the same things you always do. They are breathing, listening to the music you like, shopping at the same stores, chatting with friends, etc. So how could you ever feel any different from all of those people?

Well first of all you have to realize that it is nearly impossible to be the only one in the world to be doing something. But just because this is impossible, doesn't mean that you are like everybody else. There are many things that make you very unique such as your likes and dislikes, your friends, your way of talking and thinking, and especially your genes (lol). But if you feel as if you were falling into the doom of a cliche lifestyle, just read a little more and you will know how to become a little bit more unique than yesterday.

The easiest way to become a little bit more different than everybody else is to break out of your comfort zone and try new things! Here are some examples that I came up with:

1. Start a new hobby

-photography

-collect stuff

-cook

-sing and dance

2. Dress up like you want to dress up.

    Don't be shy, everyone has their inner weird fashion waiting to come out.

3. Make your own clothes

    For me, making my own clothes has been very fun and rewarding; I have created pieces that I love and have worn many times. This obviously takes time an practice to perfect, but it's totally worth it.

4. Play with different colors and shades of makeup

    Try: Limecrime.com, EyeCandyCosmetics.com, UrbanOutfitters.com, MacCosmetics.com

5. Dye Your Hair

    Red Hair: hereeee

    Green Hair Inspo: click here!

    Purple Hair Inspo: click here!

    Blue Hair Inspo: click heree

    Ombre: click here for inspiration

6. Learn a new language

7. Lick Your Elbow

   C'mon try it...

Okay so I ran out of ideas, but you get me, just try new things and don't be afraid to do so. Just be yourself and don't be scared to do what you want to do because you may end up regretting it. Just free yourself from... well yourself because sometimes we tend to be the only ones holding ourselves back from doing things. 

Hope you found this helpful and inspirational, please comment down below what you have done or plan to do to become more unique! Thank you for reading. Also if you have any blog post ideas that you would like me to write about, feel free to comment down below. Thank you!

Mayu Girl

twitter.com.mayugirl1

Instagram.com/mayugirl1

What's in my First Free Graze Box?

Top Left: Morning Energizer (dried pears, cherries, and walnuts) - 140 kcal

Top Right: Toffee Apple (Toffee sauce with granny smith apple slices) - 70 kcal

Bottom Left: Raspberry and Coconut Muffin (Amaretti drops, raspberry infused cranberries, almond slices, and coconut flakes) - 140 kcal

Bottom Right: Japanese Nori Crackers (Japanese seaweed rice crackers) - 60 kcal

I must say that I was pretty happy with what I got in my first free graze box. Everything was really good and most of all healthy. The best part about Graze is that you get to choose from a variety of snacks (more than 90) that range from granola bars and dried fruit, to tortilla chips with salsa and pretzels with peanut butter.

If you order a box from graze ($6) they will randomly select four different snacks that you have previously selected as your "try" options, and discard the ones that you have marked as "trash". For example I marked as "trash" a snack that had spicy walnuts and also another one that has unsalted popcorn because I don't really like any of those. But I did click on "try" on snacks such as pretzels with peanut butter and dark chocolate drops with walnuts and dried fruits.

You can also cancel your order before they have sent your healthy snack box (which takes them about a week) or you can postpone your order for later without any fee.

I got my first Graze box for free by using a code that I got from a magazine that I am subscribed to. I think that it was the best thing that I could have done because I got a box totally free and I got to enjoy four different healthy snacks of my choice along with my mom (I shared).

If you want to get a Graze box for FREE, feel free to use my code : MAYUT9Y9P

Just go to www.graze.com and enter the code before ordering so that you can get the box for FREE!

https://www.graze.com/us/p/MAYUT9Y9U

I really hope you will be able to get your box because it is totally worth it! It will make me really happy if you use my special code and get your box for free just like I did.

That is all for now, and thank you!

For more, please subscribe through email or follow my other channels:

Instagram and Twitter @mayugirl1

How to make a Layered Smoothie or Milkshake

This was my first attempt doing a layers smoothie, and it actually came out pretty good. I didn't use any recipe or anything, I just went with my instincts and hoped for the best. But I will list everything that I used and how I did it. 

Ingredients: 

1 cup of soymilk

1/2 cup of plain oats

1/2 banana 

4 strawberries

1 tbsp honey or sugar (optional)

Steps: 

1. Blend half a cup of milk, oats, and banana. (Pineapple is optional for color)

2. Pour everything in cup or jar. 

3. Blend the rest of the milk, oats, and strawberries. (Beet is optional for color)

4. Pour on top of banana milkshake. 

5. Decorate with a strawberry. 

Don't worry about how the milkshake will taste with the beet because you cannot even tanste it since you only need a small piece of it to give a lot of color (they are really pigmented and stain a lot!). 

I hope you enjoyed my original recipe for making a layered smoothie or milkshake. If you make one, please tag me and/or hashtag #mayugirl so that I can see how yours came out!

 Love, Mayu Girl

For more;

Instagram: @mayugirl1

Twitter: @mayugirl1

Pike's Peak Restaurant Review

 

(If you enter this restaurant wearing a tie tie, they will cut it and hang it on the roof of the restaurant!)

 

This Pike's Peak Restaurant was pretty interesting because if its rustic feeling and décor. It is really unique and memorable. I was impressed by the amount of ties that have been cut; they cover the whole roof and there are so many different types of ties, from ugly and old to really elegant and new.

 

So I had a steak salad for lunch because I thought that everything on the menu that was not a salad was kind of heavy for my appetite. I thought that the meat was okay, but what I really enjoyed was the cheese on it. I think it is called blue cheese, I am not sure. I just know the I really liked it. 

The place overall was really rustic and interestig. Definitely a place to visit. The only thing I didn't like was that our table wiggled and that there were a lot of flies flying around (ugh!)

 

Twitter and Instagram: @mayugirl

 

Lunch at Outback Steakhouse

Simply Grilled Mahi

Ahi with Vegetable and Rice Sides

I went to the Outback Steakhouse restaurant today, and I was really satisfied with their service, regardless of the fact that the house was packed. The food was really good and satisfying. I really liked that their menu is really varied and that the portions are the perfect size for one person. It also has several dishes under 600 calories for people who want a healthier meal. 

Just because it's called Steak House, doesn't mean that they only serve stake. They have fish, chicken, soups and salads; like any other restaurant. But let me just say, that their steak is amazing (or maybe it's the fact that meat is my favorite kind of protein, I don't know)

Overall, it is a great place to indulge your meat cravings, while having a healthy portion of protein accompanied by veggies and rice. 

Thank you for reading!

 Love MayuGirl. 

Follow me!

Instagram.com/mayugirl1

Twitter.com/mayugirl1

Unique Foods in Japan!

Sweet Beans with Mochi

Rose Petal Sponge Cake

Last Soba of the year

 

I just wanted to share some of the things that I ate in Japan that are quite different from Western foods. Some of them I had already tried before but others I found quite new. One of the things that I liked the most was the Spaghetti with the Squid Ink Sauce. It was really really good! The one that I least enjoyed was the Vegetable Yakult because it gave me a horrible stomach ache right on New Year's Eve :'( That is the only reason I had to eat my "Last Soba of the Year" after New Year's... Oh well at least I started off the year with a fixed stomach (although I ended 2013 with a horrible stomach ache...)

 

 

 

I really enjoyed my trip to Japan and I can't wait to go back again.

With much love, Mayu

 

 Follow me-

Instagram : @mayugirl1

Twitter: @mayugirl1

 

 

 

Hair Care 101

• Only shampoo the top part of your hair by massaging your scalp.  This will help prevent your ends from getting damaged, since you only really need to get rid of the dirt and oils from your scalp. 
• Only apply hair conditioner on the bottom half of your hair. Hair conditioner makes your hair heavier so don't apply on the top part to prevent it from falling.  
• Dry shampoo and conditioner protect your hair from UV sun rays. This will help your hair keep its natural oils, which will prevent breakage and dryness. 

• Do not brush your hair when it is wet, wait for it to dry. Brushing your hair right after you take a shower will only increase the chances of damage and split ends. 

• Do not put your hair in a tight ponytail, loosen it up! Love your hair by not putting it on too much pressure. Hairstyles that require tightening your hair will cause your hair to fall off.

• Avoid hair dryers, straighteners, and curlers. Avoiding these tools will help your hair heal faster from damage. 

• Don't dry your hair with a towel. Leave your towel on but don't rub your hair with it because it will damage your hair.

 

 

 I hope you found this blog helpful!

Mayu Girl :)

 

Instagram.com/mayugirl1

Twitter.com/mayugirl1

 

Panera Bread For The First Time

Black Bean Soup in a Bread Bowl

Okay so I have to admit, this may not seem as the most appetizing meal, but honestly it was really good. And yes, this was the first time that I ate at  +panerabread  . And I have to say that I loved it.

 

I didn't know that Panera baked their own bread right there (I thought that was pretty cool). I think that it is a  nice place to chill out with friends and family and have a pretty nice lunch or brunch or whatever you want. 

So if you haven't been to Panera, you should definitely try it out because their bread is awesome and they have a lot of different varieties that you can order from: sandwiches, soups and salads. 

Thank you for reading! Hope you have a nice day. Xoxo

- MayuGirl 

 

 

Instagram: instagram.com/mayugirl1

Twitter: twitter.com/mayugirl1

Things to do on an Airplane

Outfit: Top&Shorts - Original by Mayu Girl

Two weeks ago, I sat on an airplane for thirteen hours! So here are some tips to helped me from dying of boredom and a flat butt.

The first thing that came to my mind was to socialize with this guy that was sitting two seats next to me. We were lucky because we had an empty seat between us so we had some extra space. We talked about a lot of different things. It was pretty fun to get out of my comfort zone and speak to strangers, lol. 

After that, I thought that I would watch a movie, but I discovered that for some reason the economy class had to purchase the earphones for two bucks. Unfortunately, I did not bring my own earphones and I did not want give up 2 bucks for some earphones that wouldn't even last me for a day. So I watched two tv shows and three movies without audio. That was pretty fun... 

Then during lunch, I ate as slow as I could to waste some time, I drank a lot of water, which made me go to the bathroom about five times.

After that, I think I just went to sleep. Oh wait no, I did some of my homework. But that doesn't count because it wasn't fun. 

That is it for today's story, I will be posting lookbooks in the future because I just got loads of clothes in my mail and I am pretty excited to show them to you, yay. 

If you want you can follow me through:

Twitter: @mayugirl1

Instagram: @mayugirl1

Blogger or Bloglovin': mayugirl.blogspot.com

Tumblr: mayugirl.tumblr.com

  

Perfect Imperfections

 I was reading a magazine, I do not remember if it was either Glamour, In Style, or Vogue, but I read an article-slash-interview of the actress that's on that movie, you know... Okay I forgot her name, but I'll look it up later.

The point is that she said something that was really beautiful. She said that the thing that she loved most about people was their imperfections. I had never thought about it that way. I had always thought that you should accept people and love them despite of their imperfections; but she is saying that you should love what is unusual of a person, their so called imperfections. I think it is beautiful to think that you can love someones distinct characteristics. Say for example that you have a friend that is really clumsy, you could accept them the way they are, but it would be so much better if you loved their clumsy personality because he or she is fun to hang out with and laugh together.

I think that everyone should stop considering imperfections as a flaw, but rather a characteristic that will make you more lovable, perfect, and unforgettable. It is really important to realize that those little imperfections makes up the person that makes you laugh, makes you have a great time, and feel happy. So why not love that their little lovely scar.

"Flaws are my favorite part of people usually. There's nothing I love more than a good facial scar." Emma Stone (Glamour Magazine - October 2013)

Outfit:

 Top: Charlotte Russe

Skirt: Pacsun

Necklace: Shimmer

Earrings: Shimmer

Lipstick: Wet n Wild

Follow Me!

Twitter: @mayugirl1

Instagram: Mayugirl1

Blog: mayugirl.blogspot.com

Tumblr: mayugirl.tumblr.com

Take a look at my previous blog!
DIY "Eye Do My Nails"

10 Commandments For This Fall

1. You shall get cutout boots.

2. No excuses, long sleeve denim shirts.

3.  Printed leggings as well.

4. Exercise for turkey time! (and pecan pies)

5. Start saving for fall/winter clothes.

6. You shall get fall scented moisturizers.

7. You must take your booties out of your closet.

8. Go shopping if you lack one of the above mentioned products.

9. Must watch:

    a) Insidious Chapter 2 (Terror) - September 14

    b) Prisoners (Thriller) - September 20
        My love Jake Gyllenhaal in in this movie <3

    c) Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (Comedy)- September 27

    d) About Time (Romance) - November 1

    e) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Action)- November 22

10. Follow me!

      Instagram: mayugirl1
      Twitter: @mayugirl1
      Blogspot: mayugirl.blogspot.com
      Tumblr: mayugirl.tumblr.com

Just Keep Swimming

Talia Joy is such a strong girl, and a great role model for so many people going through tough situations. I admire her so much because she is such a strong girl living positively everyday making videos and other things that make her happy; she inspires so many people to live and enjoy life. I think that sometimes people don't realize that there is so much more to life than just problems. Life is full of beautiful things; the purpose of life is to seek for those little things that make you happy, learn from all of your mistakes, grow, and 'just keep swimming'.