mec's New Logo

Ok so I'm not that big of a petitioner (anymore) but this has close space in my heart,  Mountain Equipment Co-op has a new logo!
Its awful! A big box with MEC written in it.
Sign this petition and stop the madness!

https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/mountain-equipment-co-op-stop-the-change-of-the-original-mountain-logo-to-the-box-logo

Prancercise?

Recently I really got in to working out- yoga, weekly boot camp and the like. But since I moved out from being a student in to the real world it's so hard to find a time/place to work out! I have started doing my own routines using various (Free) iPhone apps (Sworkit, Daily butt workout, Daily ab workout, Daily cardio)
Alright so that being said I was looking online at Yahoo where I sadly get most of my news, when I'm not reading theTimes and Wall Street Journal of course! I read an artical about John Mayer's new song "Paper Doll" that is allegedly about T-Swizzle. The artical is also breafly about his music video in which "He and his marketing team are friggin' geniuses. Rather than just release a lyric video with some groovy background designs for his new single, "Paper Doll," they've enlisted viral Internet sensation Joanna Rohrback, the woman behind the "Prancercise" fad, who does her thing to Mayer's new tune as the lyrics scroll."
Ok, wait. WHAT? Who the heck is this Joanna Rohrback and what in the world is Prancercise??????

The original Prancercise is shown here. Ok so the newest fitness craze is some older woman prancing around her neighborhood???Which really is fine, who hasn't pranced around while listening to their iPod?
The first thing I thought of, can I do this in my house..... no not enough room, will I do this on the street around my house..... what would the neighbours think! Ok so I must buy a big house on lots of land (like the Neverland Ranch) so I can do my Prancercise in peace.

I don't think I have thought this through all the way.
What do you think of the new work out craze?

Love and Louboutin
XOXO

(Beauty) Boxes Going Bust!

Wow, today after I reviewed my June 2013 TopBox and was talking about GlossyBox I started thinking what had happened to them and how the boxes were turning out. I got the Nov, Dec 2013 boxes which varied in Dec and Jan respectfully.
In this post I will talk in depth about 3 different monthly boxes and will keep them colour coded so that hopefully no one gets confused!
Glossybox Canada
Glymm 
Luvmybox

I went on to the Glossy Canada FaceBook page and low and behold, after sending out expired products, cheep earrings that I wouldn't even let the dollar store sell, and a price upgrade ($15 to $21), they are now out of business!

As per the press release:
Dear Glossybox Fans,

We apologize sincerely for the recent lack of communication and are very sorry that we were unable to respond with an announcement sooner.

We want to thank you for being a member of the GLOSSYBOX community. We are so happy that you have chosen to discover beauty with us, as we have immensely enjoyed introducing our favorite products to you. However, sometimes good things must come to an end. Due to various reasons, we regret to inform you that all services for GLOSSYBOX Canada will be suspended from May onwards.

Please find pertinent information about your GLOSSYBOX account below:

- We will not be shipping a May Box. Those who have been charged for the order will be reimbursed.

- We are in the process of reimbursing members with fixed-term subscriptions (for example, if you signed up for a 6-month subscription in March) on a pro-rated basis.

Thank you for your support throughout the past year and beyond. We hope you enjoyed your journey with us. We wish you joy and all the best in the future.

If you have any questions or concerns about your GLOSSYBOX account, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service desk at contact@glossybox.ca.

Best wishes,

The GLOSSYBOX Canada Team

I then went to look at some of the comments- since I am nosy like that, apparently (Note that this was posted on June 1st) there had been rumors of Glossy closing up shop since mid May as no boxes were being shipped out and no one from glossy was responding to emails!

Then I found out the company that deals with GlossyBox Canada affiliate contracts advised its customers on May 10th that GlossyBox Canada would be closing down completely at the end of May. 

 Then CJ sent a second e-mail shortly after explaining the first e-mail was an error and only the affiliate program was ending operations, not the entire Canadian branch of GlossBox. Cue the start of all He// breaking loose on FaceBook, 
and Then I find out that....
Lisa Kisber, the former face of GlossyBox Canada was contacted on Twitter by several people. She tweeted that she was no longer associated to the company and that GlossyBox US had taken over Canadian operations so clients should direct questions to them.

 

 All this before GlossyBox Canada relesed a press release and stopped taking peoples money, The American branch of GlossyBox was quick to deny those rumours.

Lisa Kisber has since deleted her tweet.

Good Lord I am glad I cancelled when I did!!!!!

They will be refunding money but still, this is crazy. 

I did some more digging and found out that Glymm Box also recently when bankrupt and DID NOT return any money (To read more click Here). But to turn Lemons in to Lemonaid Nail Polish Canada offered  an Anti-Glymm Box Box, NOW SOLD OUT which features a complementary set of products with a $25 value for former Glymm subscribers!

Did you have a Glymm Box subscription only to find the boxes stopped coming, but charges to your credit card didn't?

We think that sucks. We'd like to help.

Free $25 value box to those who got Glymmed out of their money.

Anybody who was a Glymm box member at any point during the last 4 months qualifies.

Email with proof of membership (receipt, confirmation email, credit card statement etc.) to [sold out]

1. Within 24 hours we'll email you a coupon code to get this $25 value box for free!

This awesome Anti-Glymm Box includes

• 1 x Choice of: China Glaze Shocking Pink, Nova (silver glitter), or Towel Boy Toy (blue)
• 1 x China Glaze For Audrey (best selling China Glaze ever!)
• 1 x Color Club In Theory 
• 1 x White Nail File 
• 1 x mini Seche Vite Top Coat
• 1 x mini Tend Skin

Note: The box is free, you don't need to order anything else. However standard shipping rules apply (basically order $25 of other items and everything ships free or it's only $3 shipping for just the box). Limited quantity available.
I never did subscribe to Glymm, why I can't tell you because I don't know, but I do know I just had a funny feeling about it.... maybe it wasn't a good deal, or maybe I didn't like the products but boy am I glad I didn't! 

And a Third box- albeit not a beauty box but still a monthly box none the less Luvmybox has gone under, I had high hopes for this one since it was created as a side project by the Online dating phenomenon Plentyoffish.com ( POF) Which promised to ship a discreetly packaged box filled with “adult oriented and flirty items” on a monthly basis for $34.95 a month. on May 3rd we were told that

"We wanted to let all of our followers in on an exciting secret!!! Luvmybox and BoinkBoutique have merged, offering you a wider selection of box choices! Check out all the fun and sassiness here http://info.boinkboutique.com/boinkbox/

Since then we have received an email from Boink saying that 

We are writing to let you know that your May box is being assembled and will be shipping soon. Expect an email with a shipping number soon. 

We are running a little behind as taking we needed to get more inventory to serve all of the new customers. All of us here at Boink Boutique really appreciate your patience. Since we are running behind we are going to be including some extra goodies in your box this month.

If you have questions please let us know.

Best!
Chris
Boink Boutique 

Since then we have been told that "Sorry our boxes are stuck at customs at the moment. Once they are cleared you will receive an email with tracking information."

I have posted on both Luvmybox and Boink Boutique Facebook walls and emailed both as well. I haven't heard back. 

OK so to recap! 

Glossybox Canada is gone, if you had a subscription they will refund all your money for outstanding boxes. EI if you paid say...$40 for 4 months and only received 1 month you will get $30 back. 

 Glymm is gone and you get nothing back, As noted in the 'more reading', Ken Whitehurst, executive director at the Consumers Council of Canada, recommends filing a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center. “That may not get you your money back, but it will get you the satisfaction of seeing them pursued,” 

Luvmybox: I am holding out on judgment until I know for sure what is going on. I had really high hopes for this one as it was Canadian and from Vancouver. I will keep you lovely's updated! I hope that the box is in fact on its way and we aren't being duped.

We Now only have 3 beauty boxes in Canada, (That I know of). I am subscribed to 2 of them!

TopBox (Get on the waiting list NOW!!!) See my past review for more info on Top box

Luxe Box by Loosebutton I haven't used Loosebutton yet and will post what I find out!

 And 

Ipsy (Each month comes with a Makeup bag) I haven't used Ipsy yet and haven't decided if I will or not, I think I am good with TopBox and Luxe Box

TopBox knows that the us beauty mavins are skeptical after both Glossy and Glymm skewing us over and ONLY OFFERS MONTH TO MONTH SUBSCRIPTIONS, partly as a way to keep us loyal and out of a sign of good faith (Brian Lau, CEO of Toronto-based TopBox, said TopBox employs a commitment-free subscription model. “We felt that in order to maintain trust with our members … that we worked on a month-to-month model.”)

LuxeBox by Loose Button  is a more expensive box but only comes out every 3 months, As mentioned I will let you know what I think of it, (I am locked in until March 2013)

Sorry for the long winded rant blog, But I just thought it best to let you all know what is going on with the Canadian Beauty Boxes. 

~Love and Louboutin

XOXO

Beat still my heart!

I have been fantasizing about something for quite a while, the Kitchen-aid Architect stand mixer in Raspberry Ice
Would you look at that! So pretty, I can't wait for my birthday (November) to get it. My kitchen is  serious need of some PINK

 
I love the glass bowl, the pretty purple sparkles, and how it can mix muffins in a single bound.

~Love and Louboutin
XOXO

TopBox Canada June 2013 Review

This month I was lucky enough to get off the waiting list (+3 months or so) and on to the TopBox mailing list!
In the past I have gotten a beauty box (GlossyBox) before and cancelled (glossy is dreadful!!) but thought I would give this one a go, and what would you know..... I love this one even more than I thought I would!!

So the spiel off the website is
Receive a Topbox each month: For only $12 a month, you will receive a Topbox with 4 carefully selected, indulgent, beauty products. Then test the products in the comfort of your own home.
There's no catch – really: There are no hidden fees and no shipping costs.
Cancel anytime If you enjoy Topbox, do nothing and your subscription will automatically continue for as long as you choose to remain a member. Topbox membership is a month-to-month subscription which begins at sign-up. You can easily cancel anytime, online, 24 hours a day. There are no cancellation fees.

What I love is that it ships from Canada(!), so the no shipping costs claim is legit,
It costs $12 (Plus tax so in the end $13.44)
From the time I got my shipping notice I waited 1 Day until it came, Canada post got it on Monday it came on Tuesday!

 This month there was also the option of  upgrading and creating a Prive Wish List and these were the options for the month of June (click the images to enlarge):

Estee Lauder Topbox
free to upgrade

Father's Day Topbox
free to upgrade

Yaby Cosmetics Topbox
add $8 to upgrade

As always, the wish list selections do not guarantee a Prive Box, unless you have the option to "reserve" from purchasing the Mother's Day Fragrance Box.

I selected the regular Topbox this month as none of the Prive Boxes appeal to me!
Also of note, Topbox included this bit of information in the Wish List selection survey:

Just a heads-up! Topbox will be sampling some of the biggest beauty launches of the Fall, and our ship dates will be changed to accommodate the timing of these launches. The August Topbox will ship on August 20th, and the October Topbox will ship early on October 1st. 

So enough about the box lets get to the good stuff!
I am in advance for the lack of pictures, my camera and computer are not agreeing My house isn't clean enough for a photo shoot at the moment! I will use stock ones when I can (None of these pictures are mine!!)

It came it a really cute tube (Same as pictured below) which will be great for presents around the holidays (I already have a plan of what I am going to use them for!), About 6 inches long and about 2.5 inches wide. 



First thing is 
NAIL POLISH!!!!! 
Anyone who knows me knows that my goo hording kryptonite is nail polish!  If I spend enough time anywhere that sells it I will buy more, Last I counted I have +76 different colours - I just finished inventory (I will post a blog on this in a little while) a few weeks ago! I am currently on the hunt for the perfect red and pink Any sugestions are appreciated in the comments!

I got a full size bottle of  Jungle Queen by China Glaze
It is from the 2012 On Safari collection, Really pretty! It is a dusty violet with heavy purple shimmer. This color is rich and full of color and sparkle, great for those purple lovers.
I can see wearing on my fingers in the winter all the time!

Next I got a Belvada mini eyelash curler (One size)- I cant wait to use this during travel as I hate taking my big one everywhere and  I need to curl my lashes since they are so short and stumpy. Its super cute and fits in the palm of my hand. 

 Next we have Sugarbomb ultra plush lip gloss (Sample size-6.5ml)

 

On the back of the pack it says "Our shimmering pinky nude gloss is guilt-free gorgeous"
According to Sephora: 

What it is:
A silky, plush gloss that glides onto lips.

What it does:
This dazzling lip gloss drenches your lips in brilliant shine and a burst of juicy color that's never sticky. Loaded with crystal brilliance, color glides on smooth. Just one stroke will give you glimmering, shimmering lips!  

I can't wait to try this!

Last we have the   Jelly pong pong Fairy Lashes Mascara

Full size in Black,
Fairy Lashes Mascara restructures lashes to make them stronger with a denser appearance. Water resistant and with a vibrant hue, lashes stay sky-high and bright for hours on end without smudging or smearing. Coat liberally on lashes to enjoy a sexy and seductive gaze. This is not for the faint-hearted Jelly Pong Pong's  first ever mascara is formulated to make eye lashes flutter & flap. 

What do I think of this months haul?  3 out of 4 full size, 4 out of 4 I will use,  Sounds like a winner in my book!!
This box is a way better deal than that other beauty box I subscribed to, If you have the time and don't mind waiting get on the waiting list NOW!!!  Also the only way I am getting off this beauty box list is if I die, mostly because it's so awesome and even thought  I hate to admit that I am a bit vain, and  part of me really likes the exclusivity of the box. I have it and a ton of other girls want it, TopBox is like the Birkin Bag of Beauty Boxes. Don't tell Hermes! 

~Love and Louboutin  
XOXO