BIRCHBOX

I have discovered the coolest thing! It's birchbox! Birchbox is a website where you can buy high end products for both men and women, anything from make-up and hygiene to food and household items. BUT that is not even the best part, I signed for the birchbox monthly box. So every month I get a box filled with samples, and then if I like the product I can buy the fullsize from the website. This is perfect for me because I am hesitant with buying expensive things, especially things I have never tried, but now I sample them and am able to decide firsthand if it's a product I would enjoy and be willing to pay a little extra for. I also am a pretty plain person, I don't really do my make up, I pretty much wear eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss and that is it. There are several reasons for this, one being that I don't know how to put on make up and make it look natural, I also don't know what products to buy, I am not good at being a girl when it comes to make up. But this website gives tips and then sends you some samples to try, so I think there is hope for me!

Here is what I got in my June birchbox:

The box the samples came in

I tried this on for fun and actually really liked it, but I have no idea when I'd ever be able to wear it

Haven't tried this nailpolish yet

Love, Love, LOVE this perfume, I will probably end up buying the full size of it

Love this sunscreen, does not make my face oily at all, I don't feel like I am going to break out if I use it, I will probably buy the full size of this too

A box of nailfiles, they work well, a girl can never have too many of these

I also got these super cute post cards

More post cards

I also have signed up for some other sample boxes from other websites, when those boxes arrive I will do a post about that website and the products you can get there. But mostly what I am trying to say is that I HIGHLY recommend birchbox to people, both men and women. Men can sign up for a birchbox full of mens samples as well!

Tortina

I love to bake, I do it as much as I have the time for. Over the past few months my sister a long with other family members have told me to start a portfolio or something, don't hide your talent. I never really thought of it as a talent though, more of a hobby. I have been asked to make cupcakes for several weddings and I made all three of my sisters wedding cakes as well as cupcakes for her wedding. I also have made bachelorette party cakes, and birthday cakes. My sister finally got tired of me doing nothing about it and took matters into her own hands, she created a blog for me. It was just launched yesterday so there is not much to it yet. But you should still go check it out! http://www.tortinacupsncakes.blogspot.com/

Here is a sneak peek of some cupcakes that I have done recently.

Camouflage

Christmas 2012

Look what I got for Christmas! Luckiest girl ever!

POSHMARK

I've been introduced to this app where you can sell your gently used clothing, jewelry, shoe items. I just started yesterday and have already sold some things. It's called Poshmark. The only downside is that you have to have an Iphone to access this app. If you have an Iphone and are interested in joining, follow me @rach22!

A Poem of Comfort

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there
they were filled with such joy, they didn't what to say
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse
"this is heaven." declared a small boy
"we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near
he looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same
then He opened His arms and He called them by name
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace
one small girl turned and looked Jesus in the face
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her "I'll take care of mom and dad"
then he looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then he closed His eyes and He outstretched His had
"let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

Hey Hallah Remember When...

Hey Hallah, remember when we lived in New York City and it was Christmas time and you were expecting a package from someone? Do you remember how we got a notification saying that Fedex tried to deliver it but no one was home so we were going to have to wait another day or just go to the office to pick it up? Well I remember that, I remember that I didn't want to go cuz I had just gotten home from a long day of work and it was cold and pitch black outside and the office was in the BRONX! But you begged and begged and told me you couldn't wait any longer for this package...must have been from a very special someone. I agreed to go with you. We got on the subway and literally rode to the end of the line. When we came out of the the subway station I was pretty terrified. It was pitch black, I had never been to this part of town, it was extremely ghetto and sketchy. I remember us walking down the sidewalk, lost, I might add and people staring at us and cat calling and making us super uncomfortable. I remember you saying several times "But I'm so pretty they're gonna kidnap me" I remember looking at you and saying "you did not really just say that." We laugh about that now. I remember we finally walked into a Dunkin Donuts and asked directions. We found ourselves in a huge field. I remember thinking "I think we just got tricked, our faces are going to end up on milk cartons" I remember I was talking to James on my phone to calm my nerves, but the reception was pretty bad. After walking through this abandoned field we finally saw a building in the distance with a big bright sign that said Fedex. I could not even believe it, it was in the middle of nowhere and we actually found it. We ran to it like our lives depended on it. When we got there we had to wait in a line, when it was finally our turn we picked up the package AND...it was not for you! It was for mom. I remember you being so disappoint and me being mad that I got dragged out there to pick up a package that wasn't even for you. We took it with us and walked back to the subway...FAST. We didn't make eye contact with anything. When we finally got into our neighborhood we finally looked at each other and were like "we're alive!" We went to our apartment and gave mom the package. At the time it was a scary experience but now its a funny one that I'll remember forever. Thanks for going on that little adventure with me!

We are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together

Today Taylor Swifts "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together" song came on the radio. And as I was listening to it it made me think of something that happened a few weeks ago. Adam and I were driving somewhere and that song came on, I was started to sing the chorus (in my awful singing voice) and when I sang "we are never ever ever getting back together" Adam interrupted me and said "babe I know cuz we're never breaking up." I turned and looked at him and at first I was gonna say something along the lines of how rude it was for him to interrupt me during my jam, but then it registered to me what he said and I just smiled. I'm telling you, it's the little things!